Timing Belt Replacement

[Solorange]

First off I tried the search function and didnt find anything. And by the way I dont know if you guys knowtice this too but I think the search function sucks. I type in timing belt and i may get one result back relating to timing belts and then the rest is random stuff like SC or Carbon fiber products.

Anyway back to the subject. My car has 77k on it and its getting to that time of replacing they timing belts. I was wondering if any of you have done this on your own or if its just worth having toyota do it. Im am mechanically incline and i am able to do it. But after reading in chiltons manual how to do it. It looks like a lot of work. I just dont know if i feel like doing it or if it will save me a lot of money. And it doesnt look easy. You have to take a lot of stuff apart to get to both belts. Things like having to take out in inner fenders and stuff like that. Is that all really necessary. Is there and easier way? How much are the belts priced around? Thanks for the tips in advance! ~ Chris

[newroc]

when you're in search, put a check in the box next to "search all terms".

my car is around that mileage also, toyota dealer quoted $850 for timing belt and water pump. neighborbood garage from my car dealer did it for $250, and that's including parts/labor.

[Solorange]

Ouch that will hurt the pockets. I dont plan on replacing the water pump though. That is a part that shouldnt wear out. If it ever goes out thats when ill get a new one. But has anybody done this before? Is it really that hard or is it not worth my time?

[WTF??]

Dont even bother doing it yourself man

If you are going to do the timing belt, its BEST to replace the water pump too since its just in the same neck of the woods... if you dont replace the pump, itll cost you another couple hundred bucks to do...

just like if youre going to put in aftermarket springs, might as well do the struts too to save on the labor costs

but yeah your 77k mile solara is about due for a change in the pump... mine started leaking at that time and how the hell can we ever know??

just do it and save yourself the trouble!!!
you DEFINATELY dont wanna bust your pump nor belt... Im sure Jon11582 can vouch for this with experience

[StockSolara]

First off I tried the search function and didnt find anything. And by the way I dont know if you guys knowtice this too but I think the search function sucks. I type in timing belt and i may get one result back relating to timing belts and then the rest is random stuff like SC or Carbon fiber products.

Anyway back to the subject. My car has 77k on it and its getting to that time of replacing they timing belts. I was wondering if any of you have done this on your own or if its just worth having toyota do it. Im am mechanically incline and i am able to do it. But after reading in chiltons manual how to do it. It looks like a lot of work. I just dont know if i feel like doing it or if it will save me a lot of money. And it doesnt look easy. You have to take a lot of stuff apart to get to both belts. Things like having to take out in inner fenders and stuff like that. Is that all really necessary. Is there and easier way? How much are the belts priced around? Thanks for the tips in advance! ~ Chris

Yeah. . . man go search around for local shops and they should quote you a lot cheaper for this tune-up than Toyota would. . .I was quoted $450 total including labor, belts, water pump, coolant flush, timing belt tensioner. . . That's pretty cheap for a local shop to do all of that

[Solorange]

So you guys dont think its worth my time to do it myself? Ill have to call up elden my mechanic at the Car Store and see how much he is willing to fix it.

[gottabfast]

It's not that hard...If you've got the tools it's not hard...unhook some engine mounts support the engine and jack the car up to give yourself room. You'll need a pulley puller and basic hand tools, that's it. It may take you a while, but it's an afternoon well spent. I've already done this on my dad's Sienna minivan with the 1MZ V6. Do the water pump while you are in there, if it fails anytime soon it will take the timing belt with it, I know from first hand experience here, I just got done replacing both on my 99 Solara. The w/p broke in spectacular fashion and stripped the teeth on the timing belt.

[Solorange]

Ok im convinced now that i need to replace the water pump. I usually only fix it if it breaks, but what the hell i guess it cant hurt. Now do you guys repleace the water pump or just the gaskets for it? Just wondering so i know what im talking about in case the dealership tells me i dont need to fix it or whatever i can tell them to do it anyways.

[gottabfast]

The gasket comes with the water pump. IIRC it's just a metal sheet that fills the gap.

[Solorange]

But what I want to know is if the water pump generally goes bad or if the gasket wears out. So do you have to replace the water pump or just the gasket. I know if you replace the water pump you also replace the gasket.

[JAYDEE23]

it is highly recommended to change you water pump while doing the timning belt..on this site anyway

but there are good reasons for this..many have not i am sure and some of those may get lucky..but while everything is disassembled why not..even if it is a couple hundred extra isnt it worth the pc of mind that you dont have a potential $1000 repair on your hands

also looks good for resale if these are done already...do it!

as far as doing it yourself..you can "borrow" tools from autozone for free if you buy parts there..or rent em cheap..get quality parts though..another unecessary gamble if you go w/ cheap crap

good luck

[gottabfast]

But what I want to know is if the water pump generally goes bad or if the gasket wears out. So do you have to replace the water pump or just the gasket. I know if you replace the water pump you also replace the gasket.

The water pump can go bad...The bearings on the pulley go bad and the housing will fracture. The reason you replace the water pump while you're in there is that if the water pump goes bad and freezes up it will rip the teeth off the timing belt and then you will be paying to replace the timing belt again. Also, apparently if the pump pulley comes apart and fall out they can damage other things.

[Solorange]

So I did some calling around and I talked to my mechanic who works at the toyota car store which is a shop that rebuilds wrecked toyotas, sells toyotas, and repairs customers toyotas. They are also a certified by toyota to repair cars. He was telling me that on v6's you shouldnt have to replace the timing belt until around 130k. He said his 98 camry he just changed it and it was at 130k and he said the old belt still looked good. He was explaining to me that the v6s have an automatic tensioner. So as the belt stretches it will always be tight. He said if it was a 4cyl then it would be time to change it. He said it was a good idea too to replace the water pump and he quoted me around 800 bucks for everything.

Then i called the dealership and they told me the time to start paying attention to it is in the 60k to 90k range. For replacing the water pump, timing belts, and all the accessary belts they quoted me 500 or less. I was quite surprise cause everytime ive priced stuff the toyota car store is always cheaper. So i looks like im going to have the dealership do it. But im going to wait until I buy my rims first. So ill probably wait till after this winter. My car should be around 85k by then.

[WTF??]

^changing the waterpump and timing belt just vary in when you should change it... if you pull it off to 130k then youre extremely lucky... on most cars, the water pump and belt should be changed around 60k-100k... but i say better sooner than later because if the belt snaps, youre going to pay a LOT more...

Its like a car battery... are you going to change it when it DIES or change it every 4-5 years? The main differences is that the pump n belt would cost you more if they die

back @ 77k i paid $450 for
-timing belt replacement
-water pump replacement
-new spark plugs
-coolant flush
-tranny fluid
-oil change

Its good to know ppl