DIY 1MZ timing belt, how hard is it?

[dominoSLEV6]

How hard is it to change the timing belt on the 1MZ-FE, and has anyone here done it before? I'm gettin to that point where I need to get a new one, and I'd rather save the money and do it myself if it's possible.

I've searched around and found a few responses about it, so don't tell me to search. I just want to know if there's anyone that could give me any advice on DIY with this, or if anyone who HAS done it DIY can give their $.02 on whether or not it's worth it to not bring it to the dealer.

Thanks

-chris

[Solorange]

Good question, cause I need to do mine right now too and I was wondering the same thing. Ive priced it already at the dealership and they told me $500 for the timing belts and water pump. Ive looked in the chiltons manual too and they say its an all day job. But a few pointers or a good tutorial may convince me to do it myself as well.

[dominoSLEV6]

I found a website that explains it in a VERY rough detail. I would get a manual if I decide to do it. Right now I'm trying to figure out what the overall cost difference would be. It is an all day kind of job as well. The small guide I found mentions taking out the radiator, fan shrould assy. and much more. As much as I don't want to, I may end up letting Toyota do this one for me.

-chris

[Sap Z]

i think theres only one person on here that did it himself.

[dominoSLEV6]

IF you could point me in their direction I'd appreciate it. If you can remmeber anyhow.

-chris

[Sap Z]

umm...damn..i'm too sleepy to do a search. i dont think he started a post about it. I just remmeber doing a search on timing belts and read about this dude.

do a search,,may take you a while but you will find him!

[Solorange]

Ive priced it at two dealerships and one quoted me $500 and the other $550. This is including the water pump too. There estimated time is like 4.5hours to do it. Ive read in my Chiltons manual that it will take 8 hours so it is an all day job and its not very descriptive. Probably a two day job for me since Ive never done it and I want to make sure its done right. With that in mind I am leaning towards the dealership to do it too cause its not worth my time and if i do screw it up then I have to pay for the new valves as oppose to if they screw it up. I would say im pretty mechanically incline too, but this job I would rather have an experience person work with me on it because too much money is a stake. Let me know if you find any more info.

[dominoSLEV6]

I'm looking into it more. I'm going to runa round to a few places wednesday and get pricing quotes on it. Depending on what I'm quoted I will decide from there. I just hate to have other pople doing things with my car. Not so much because I don't think they will do it right (although I worry that a little bit), but mostly because I know I will need a new timing belt again whether it's on this car or another, and then I'll just be taking it in again. It would be nice to know that when I need a new timing belt I'm familiar with the process and can order the parts and simply do it myself, the way I've done most everything with my car.

-chris

[Solorange]

^agreed im the same way.

[bronzemaxell]

I'm looking into it more. I'm going to runa round to a few places wednesday and get pricing quotes on it. Depending on what I'm quoted I will decide from there. I just hate to have other pople doing things with my car. Not so much because I don't think they will do it right (although I worry that a little bit), but mostly because I know I will need a new timing belt again whether it's on this car or another, and then I'll just be taking it in again. It would be nice to know that when I need a new timing belt I'm familiar with the process and can order the parts and simply do it myself, the way I've done most everything with my car.

-chris

if you are mechanically incline to do it, i would suggest you take a look at what tools you need first, crankshaft pulley bolt is pretty tricky to take off, last time my friend did it, along with putting in new waterpump, ended up taking the both cam gears off in order to take the back timing belt cover off to access the waterpump. shops use impact high speed air gun to spin off the crankshaft bolts. if you have the right tools, besides the allen wrenches, rachet socket, and a couple of hours, it will be fun to do, it will be easy if you've done it once. took us about 4 or 6 hours.

[Sap Z]

FOUND ITTTTT

THE DYI ON TIMING BELT CHANGE

this is the post
http://www.solaraguy.org/viewtopic.php? ... iming+belt

[dominoSLEV6]

if you are mechanically incline to do it, i would suggest you take a look at what tools you need first, crankshaft pulley bolt is pretty tricky to take off, last time my friend did it, along with putting in new waterpump, ended up taking the both cam gears off in order to take the back timing belt cover off to access the waterpump. shops use impact high speed air gun to spin off the crankshaft bolts. if you have the right tools, besides the allen wrenches, rachet socket, and a couple of hours, it will be fun to do, it will be easy if you've done it once. took us about 4 or 6 hours.

I'm pretty sure I'm defintiely doing this now with those instructions posted just after this was posted. I have all the tools I need, my father works as the director of manufacturing for an airtool company and even holds 3 patents on airtools... so we've got a few supplies laying around as you may imagine. Almost anything I ever run into I have everything I need laying around. Even electrical crap. Wiring and all kinds of stuff.

-chris

[PASolara]

Its real easy just hard becasue of space. I did mine while I had my motor out and was real easy. So it would just be hard becasue of limted space while in teh car.