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From: badgolferman on 21 Jan 2010 12:40
1997 Camry 4 cylinder LE Automatic 180K miles

Yes, the time has come for the 60K mile timing belt replacement. The
last two times I had the belt replaced the Toyota dealer told me the
water pump is fine and left it in. After 180K miles I am beginning to
think it should be replaced also. The Toyota dealer quoted over $700
for these two procedures. To be fair they also included some other
seals and rings in that area.

Apparently Toyota recommends 60K mile timing belt replacements on 1998
and below vehicles and 90K mile replacement intervals on 1999 and above
vehicles. Why? Aren't the same belts and materials used between a 98
and 99?

I am seriously considering just taking it to a local garage for the
work. Their quote was under $500 but I'm not sure yet if that included
all the seals and rings that get replaced. If I buy the parts from the
dealer it is around $275. How much inferior would the parts be that a
local garage would use?
From: ron on 21 Jan 2010 13:38
I haven't had a timing belt done but a few years ago did a complete 60K
service on my 02 Highlander (inc front pads). I found a factory trained
independent Toyota mechanic that used ALL Toyota factory parts and he was
just damned near half of what the dealer wanted, and the dealer brought the
parts while I was there!

So I'd suggest looking for one.

Ron


--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: news(a)netfront.net ---
From: Ray O on 21 Jan 2010 14:48

"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman(a)gmail.com> wrote in message
news:xn0gpen0ochbsz001(a)reader.albasani.net...
> 1997 Camry 4 cylinder LE Automatic 180K miles
>
> Yes, the time has come for the 60K mile timing belt replacement. The
> last two times I had the belt replaced the Toyota dealer told me the
> water pump is fine and left it in. After 180K miles I am beginning to
> think it should be replaced also. The Toyota dealer quoted over $700
> for these two procedures. To be fair they also included some other
> seals and rings in that area.
>
> Apparently Toyota recommends 60K mile timing belt replacements on 1998
> and below vehicles and 90K mile replacement intervals on 1999 and above
> vehicles. Why? Aren't the same belts and materials used between a 98
> and 99?
>
> I am seriously considering just taking it to a local garage for the
> work. Their quote was under $500 but I'm not sure yet if that included
> all the seals and rings that get replaced. If I buy the parts from the
> dealer it is around $275. How much inferior would the parts be that a
> local garage would use?

Timing belts on Toyotas rarely break before 90k miles, and I believe that
the engine on yours is freewheeling so while a broken belt will leave you
stranded, it shouldn't damage the engine.

If the water pump is original, I'd consider replacing it. Whether or not
you replace the camshaft and crankshaft seals depends on what their
condition is. If they appear to be dry, I'd leave them alone.

The quality of the parts that independent shops use varies widely. Some use
OEM parts, some use quality aftermarket parts, and some use the cheapest
stuff they can find. My preference is for OEM because you know what you are
getting.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)


From: spsffan on 21 Jan 2010 16:07
ron wrote:
> I haven't had a timing belt done but a few years ago did a complete 60K
> service on my 02 Highlander (inc front pads). I found a factory trained
> independent Toyota mechanic that used ALL Toyota factory parts and he
> was just damned near half of what the dealer wanted, and the dealer
> brought the parts while I was there!
>
> So I'd suggest looking for one.
>
> Ron
>
> --- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: news(a)netfront.net ---


Good advise! Many independent specialists are both lower priced and
perform higher quality work overall that you can get at a typical
dealer. Of course, some don't. Look for one that has been around a long
time and where the shop is always busy.

But I always wonder about the term "factory trained" for an automobile
mechanic. I see this all the time, and it just doesn't make sense.

It seems to me that those who work in automobile factories just slap the
same parts in the same place all day long, day in, day out, and don't
have or need any particular knowledge beyond how to do that.
Furthermore, what particular know how would one get from dealing with
brand new cars fresh off the assembly line? What the world needs is
mechanics that can fix and maintain cars that have seen actual road
service.

This is not to say that the manufacturers don't indeed have mechanic
schools, and I'm pretty sure that most do. But that isn't the factory.
From: ransley on 21 Jan 2010 16:40
On Jan 21, 11:40 am, "badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolfer...(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
> 1997 Camry 4 cylinder LE Automatic 180K miles
>
> Yes, the time has come for the 60K mile timing belt replacement.  The
> last two times I had the belt replaced the Toyota dealer told me the
> water pump is fine and left it in.  After 180K miles I am beginning to
> think it should be replaced also.  The Toyota dealer quoted over $700
> for these two procedures.  To be fair they also included some other
> seals and rings in that area.
>
> Apparently Toyota recommends 60K mile timing belt replacements on 1998
> and below vehicles and 90K mile replacement intervals on 1999 and above
> vehicles.  Why?  Aren't the same belts and materials used between a 98
> and 99?
>
> I am seriously considering just taking it to a local garage for the
> work.  Their quote was under $500 but I'm not sure yet if that included
> all the seals and rings that get replaced.  If I buy the parts from the
> dealer it is around $275.  How much inferior would the parts be that a
> local garage would use?

700 is way to much, dealers often do specials on timing belts and
pumps, even 500 is high, shop around
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