Fan Belt Replacement?? Necessary??

[SMiko1]

Hi everyone,

I took my 2000 Solara SLE V6 in for a 40,000 mile servicing (I follow the severe driving maintenance schedule). It says I should change the oil/filter, rotate the tires and check tire pressure, and inspect a variety of systems.

My dealer is trying to get me to do a couple of extra services that they recommend for the 40,000 mile mark. One is a brake system flush for $79.95. That seems ok, I guess, since I am still on my original brakes.

The second procedure the jackals, um, I mean, the dealer is recommending is fan belt replacement. They will replace the belts (not the engine timing belt, which is replaced at 60,000 miles). The cost for this service is $119.95.

I wanted to throw it out to you guys to see if this is something I should consider, or are these guys a bunch of buttheads trying to sell me unneeded maintenance procedures? I've never heard of a fan belt replacement service procedure before, but then I'm a mechanical dumbass.

What do you guys think?

[Mole]

we dont have a fan belt.

our fans are electric.

as long as you dont see any rips or tears on the current belt you have (alternator pulley is a good visual place to check for the rips or tears.)

[el guapo]

Are you apt to replacing the belts yourself? I replaced both of the drive belts about a month ago and the two belts cost me about $20-25 and an hour or so of work. One belts runs from the crankshaft to the alternator and A/C, the other runs from the crankshaft to the power steering pump.

You're going to need a 12mm socket (for almost all the bolts), a 12mm open wrench (for one bolt on the alternator), and a 14mm for the alternator pivot bolt. Oh, and a 10mm for the splash shield behind the front right wheel.

I'd replace the belts now before they snap when you least expect it.

[SMiko1]

Thanks for the speedy replies. I decided to go ahead and let them do it when I found a coupon for my dealership that lowered the price to replace the belts to $89.95 from $119.95 (limited time only ).

Considering you guys say the belts cost around $25 and about an hour of work to replace them, $89.95 seems like a good price for the belt replacement job.

I also had them do the brake system flush for $79.95. Is that a good price for that service? How necessary is that service? Will it extend my brake life? Make the brakes work better? Bring about world peace? Inquiring minds want to know.

Seriously, though, I have no problem paying for service that actually accomplishes something since I am mechanically retarded (I wouldn't want to do anything more complex than an oil change or air filter change). But, like anybody, I don't want to pay for crap that is worthless. I don't want to be the butt of jokes at their annual XMas party, "Yeah. I got the guy to buy the fan belt replacement AND a brake flush!!! AHAHAHAHA!!"

So I turn to you, my fellow Solara Guys (and Gals), to get the 411 on this stuff.

Thanks again

Seann

[Jackass-Jeff]

The 2 belts we have are "Serpentine" and "V=Rib"

It's easy to replace =P The belts are like $10-20 each

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

i got my timing, altenator, a/c fan belt and p/s belt changed for 299 on my gen 4 camry last month. It was at 80K miles, at 40K miles..
I'd much rather do a brake service than a brake flush.

[hari-bhari]

yea when i was around 51k, i had the pads replaced and the fluid replaced. flushing is not necessary. i was all the way up to 76k and it was just fine

[Mole]

i got my timing, altenator, a/c fan belt and p/s belt changed for 299 on my gen 4 camry last month. It was at 80K miles, at 40K miles..
I'd much rather do a brake service than a brake flush.

brake flush may be considered depending on where and how you drive.

my fluid was baked at 70k miles.
had to flush and fill some good stuff in

[SMiko1]

Cool. It sounds like they didn't do me too badly...

The car seems to run better. But that might just be like when you got new sneakers as a kid. You thought you could run as fast as hell!