'91 Accord: need opinion on various problems

I took my '91 Accord LX to the dealer yesterday to replace the timing belt.
(Car has 195k mileage.) The technician noted the following additional
problems:

1. Front engine mount broken.
2. Alternator noisy
3. Power steering pump leak

According to the CSR, there are four engine mounts and if the front mount is
broken, the car will shake more when shifting gear. The noisy alternator
was probably due to worn out bearings inside. For the power steering, I
actually had a leak two years ago and another dealer had replaced the entire
power steering assembly for me. (Cost me $1200 at that time.)

Since this car probably is worth < $2000 today, I was wondering which of the
above items are critical issues that need to be fixed. The timing belt
package already cost me $1000. I would really prefer not to spend more
megabucks on this car.

Any comment/suggestion welcome.

Thanks,

Dave

 

Often times it's just the front seal on the power steering pump that leaks
and this is easily replaced. There's no need to replace the whole pump.

 

They charged $1000 to do the timing belt ?! I hope that's Canadian money.

 

The timing belt package was $580 (include replacing timing belt, balancer
belt (if equipped), water pump, and external drive belts). They found oil
leak while replacing the timing belt. So they got my approval and charged
another $370 for replacing the cam seal, crank seal, oil pump, balancer seal
and retainer. As a result, total cost was $950.

- Dave

 

I don't believe that you were cheated or ripped off considering that they
done much more than just replace the timing belt. You should be advised
that with older cars such as the one you have--you will have to learn to
deal with this sort of thing since every part on your car--eg starter,
distributor, transmission, etc.--will eventually wear out. Rich people buy
new cars every two or three years to avoid having to deal with these sorts
of problems. I'm not rich so usually keep cars for at least five or more
years. One mechanic once told me--"as long as you don't have to replace
the engine or transmission--you are ahead of the game".