I recently purchased an amazingly immaculate ‘07 Limited V8 with 172k on the odometer. 3 previous (and evidently loyal) owners who had this truck serviced at Toyota dealers only. CarFax shows 40 service events over the 14 years of ownership. The timing belt was replaced once at 87k....so it has been 85k since that service was done. I called 2 Toyota dealers in my area for quotes on doing this service. Both came in around $1500! I really wanted to keep getting the 4Runner serviced at a dealer to carry on the service tradition of Toyota only services. But DANG!!! I called a local shop who has done a lot of work for me over the years and who I trust. Their estimate is $780. Guess where I made the appointment for the job? Lol!

Local shop might be using a less expensive kit and have a lower hourly rate? You can get an Aisin kit on rock auto for $200


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I will ask what brand of parts they will use. When I had my ‘99 (or perhaps it was my ‘02) timing belt done they used the NAPA kit. I just looked it up online and for the ‘07 the NAPA kit is $380. I think the labor rate being charged is the difference. I think the local shop charges $75/hr. vs. $120/hr. at the dealers.

I’m not sure if my quick glance at rock auto was for everything needed for the job. Might be good to double check.

Also see if they're replacing the water pump. Not every place does that and it looks like they're more affordable as a result.

Yep, the kit has a timing belt, water pump, tension and idler pulley. They are also replacing the serpentine belt. The service writer said the water pump is the most expensive part of the kit when he was breaking down the quote.

yup... parts is everything... back when younger. I had a $600 camry timing belt job done by local shop... and 1yr later, water pump bearing crapped out and overheated, left me hanging in walmart parking lot...

Basically the shop used the cheapest chinese junk parts around I guess, but it guess it passed their 6month warranty period...bastards.

good thing I had the old parts that shop had given me back... so I fixed it by myself by replacing with the old factory water pump and nothing else...lol. I was cash strapped back then... And that original water pump lasted another 150k miles....and passed the camry to my cousin at 300k miles...lol....broke student needs free cheap running car. And the car is still running today, its on like 400k-500k miles now...as their backup car now.

lesson....used toyota factory parts...not aftermarket junk by shops who say...oh yes...we use everything is oem parts...lol....they play word games.... ask them if its from toyota dealer parts...then you're ok.

I did my 05 seinna timing belt job...bought aisin timing belt kit which included belt, water pump, gasket, idler bearings, tensioner and basically complete kit except the cam seals.... I did that at 150k miles and car now has 242k miles and running great, no problems... Aisin is good parts which several guys have said are toyota part brands....works good for me.

Get an Aisin kit. They make components for Toyota. Basically OEM.

@ Honda pc - On my previous 3rd gen 4Runner the same shop did my timing belt job with NAPA parts. I am assuming they still are using our local NAPA dealer because I see NAPA’s van at this shop making deliveries quite often. That being said I went to NAPA’s website and the kits they sell for my 4th gen with the V8 are either Aisin or their own brand (which are more expensive than the Aisin BTW). This shop has a great local reputation and has been in business over 30 years. Employs probably 8 mechanics and has 8 or 10 bays which are usually always occupied. 4.8 star average reviews. Ima gonna trust their work. They have never let me down. The $50/hr. difference between their rate and the Toyota dealer rate is probably why they are $700 less to do the same job. Plus the dealer said they’d have the 4Runner for 2 days vs. 8 hours.

You are not getting genuine Toyota parts & sealant , and I bet they wont use the Factory Service Manual when installing. Its your money though

How can you tell if your timing belt has been changed? I have an 07 with no knowledge of prior maintenance.

Many service departments will put a sticker somewhere in the engine bay. When mine was done at 85,000 miles they put the sticker indicating the service, the date and the miles on the plastic engine cover. I have also seen them put on the inside of the hood.

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Well azgold... your comment got me thinking. Because my 4Runner has been treated so kindly by its 3 previous owners with Toyota ONLY services in it’s long life I decided to call a third dealer today for an estimate. The only bummer is this one is over 60 miles away. And I am glad I did. Janay, the service writer asked if the 4Runner had been there before for service. I said “actually it has. According to CarFax the last owner had it serviced there quite a bit.” She asked for the VIN and after looking it up said “holy cow! I know that 4Runner! It belonged to our Parts Manager who retired recently. That was a very nice truck that he took excellent care of.” She then gave me several quotes for the service. She said if they get in there and believe there is a lot more life left in the water pump then the “timing belt only” service would be $700. Timing belt and water pump is $1129...and the timing belt, water pump and tension pulley is $1179. So...I have changed my mind and am going with the genuine Toyota service. This old girl deserves a little more pampering. BTW, I told Janay to do the complete service @ $1179. Yes, that is $400 more than the independent shop but $400 less than the other 2 Toyota dealers. $1500..What is up with that? Plus the service department where I am going is rated #3 out of 25 here in Ohio. The other 2 are near the bottom. Thanks for planting that seed of doubt in my decision to go with the independent shop azgold! I feel way more confident that my money is buying quality work and parts.

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That was a good choice and I hope it works out great and lasts a long time!

She went in this morning at 7:00 and asked to keep me posted on the progress. I received a call about 8:30 and was told the mechanic was having trouble removing a few of the bolts. The heads were so rusted there were no edges left on them to put a socket on. Called about noon and was told that after soaking the troubling bolts in penetrating oil they still managed to break 3 off in the block. Had to use an extractor to remove them but was told that the process got the tech behind and the 4Runner wont be ready until tomorrow. Really glad I took it to a dealer. The mechanic doing the job has been there 31 years and owns an ‘08 4Runner V8...and is all to familiar with issues like this.