$2300!!! Is it worth it?

N

NurseRunner

New member
Ok, before I start, I undertand I should have done these things a long time ago, but I am trying to make a decision now...with your help.

Finally decided to take my 97 4Runner SR5 3.4L in to the dealer for maintanence since I have 138,000 miles and all I have done is oil changes...literally. The truck still purrs and runs great, apparently it needed a timing belt changed at 60K and 120K, but I neglected my truck.

So, my question is:
Should I pay for all this "maintenance" that I have not done over the past 9 years or get a new car? How many more miles will this get me?

Please be kind...
 
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I owned a 97 2WD as well. I would say yes. I did timing belt, all belts and hoses, tune up and valve cover gasket. Changed all fluids. checked brakes, ujoints gaskets and all other pivotal points..... gave it to my daughter and her husband at 153K. They plan to keep it for quite some time....unless you want to give it away and keep that money for a down on a new one.

But ya know the question is REALLY do you want a very different vehicle at this point in time. The new 4Runners are a completely different animal that the 97's IMHO....:biggrin2:
 
NurseRunner said:
Thanks for your reply. Need to decide by Monday, when my appt is scheduled.
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Before you commit to spending that much, shop around. Dealers charge a premium on parts and labor, I bet an independent shop could save you hundreds. Have them use oem parts and your '97 will be good to go.
 
Lets see, $2300 and then you have a paid off dependable rig for another 100k. Plenty of people have over 200k on their 3rd gens.

On the other hand $2300 down payment then $4-700 a month for the next 4 or 5 years. Not only have you still spent the $2300, you will keep shelling it out every 4 months or so. Granted you get a nice new truck, but do you really need one. If you still like what you have and it still runs good and you enjoy driving it then keep it. Even assuming little things continue to fail due to age and mileage, which they will, chances of you spending a car payment every month on repairs is pretty slim. Of course it sounds like you don't repair much yourself, not meant as a shot just an observation, so perhaps a new trouble free vehicle is not such a bad idea.
 
Pat, that is along the same way I am thinking. I don't want a car payment!! Even if I fix 'er up, and keep it for another year, it would be more cost effective. I DO like the truck, I DO enjoy driving it, (regardless of my cup holder being broke and my a/c vents falling apart.) I also have a 90# Lab that loves it.

I want someting new less than I want a car payment. So thanks for your input!!


By the way we share a birthday.
 
My mom just had some major maintenance on her '99 Limited which included changing every gear box fluid ,timing belt/water pump and rear axle seals plus new rear brakes and her's came to about $2100 at a dealer.
 
Is that $2300 just for your timing belt/water pump/drive belts or is there other maintance also??? I would think that is a bit (a lot) high for just a Timing belt and water pump.

Also, if you do go the independent route, check around and find a good one. I have seen some independent shops cost people alot more money than they save. All in all for something like this I say take it to the dealer, but if you are on a budget just make sure you know where your taking your vehicle.
 
trd_4runnin said:
Is that $2300 just for your timing belt/water pump/drive belts or is there other maintance also??? I would think that is a bit (a lot) high for just a Timing belt and water pump.

Also, if you do go the independent route, check around and find a good one. I have seen some independent shops cost people alot more money than they save. All in all for something like this I say take it to the dealer, but if you are on a budget just make sure you know where your taking your vehicle.
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I agree that a lousy shop can cost one extra, but its tough shelling out dealer labor rates for the 30 - 60 -90k maintenance loaded with "checks and inspections". Provided the estimate is for straight service, then the investment of 2300 is worth it.

Hope the op hits us with an update.
 
That $2100 on my mom's Runner also included replacing both battery cables which were pretty corroded along with all the other stuff.
 
Just for timing belt/water pump, my local service dept quoted ~$1000. All the other fluids (transmission, diff's, x-case, etc.) you can do yourself easily.
 
Well I decided to go ahead with the work. I am breaking it up tho over 2 mos beacause of the financial cost. So I dropped it off today and here is the list of what Toyota will be doing. (I did not go with another shop because I figured if I am putting this much work into the truck, then I wanted it done at the dealership.)

Timing belt + 3 D-Belts
3 engine seals
air filter
battery terminal change
Lt rear axle seal leaking
This is about $900.

The rest will be:

Inductor service
Tune-Up V6
EFI
Flush all fluids (coolant, ps, brake, trans)
fuel filter
diff service
valce cover gaskets leaking
oil pan gasket leaking
front brakes

I know some of this can be done "myself", but I am not that mechanically inclined. I told them I would change the air filter, but he said he would just charge me for the filter.
 
If it is only one side of the axle leaking I'd make sure they just replace both since the other side will leak soon.
 
F the freakin dealers... i just got a cv boot replaced on mine, I poked a hole in the inside driverside cv, they told me the parts only came in sets so I said just fix it, 1 week later i got it back and it cost me $400, lame. then i went wheeling and was washing my rig and saw that the drivers side outside cv boot had come off. i took it back and then 2 days later i got it back and all they did was put a freakin hoseclamp on it. I could have done that myself. All I'm saying is buy the OEM parts online and take it to a decent priced shop.
 
no flushing, please

If you know a honest mechanic and also do alot of reading, you will find out that flushing is not good for vehicles, I know some of you will not agree with me, but this mainly applies to older vehicles, unless you have been doing it from day one, which is kind of a waist of money. Engines that are old get a build up on engine oil and transmission and when you flush it things tend to start leaking, you fix that leak and the pressure goes to another spot and then you are constantly fixing leaks. Your vehicle needs some build up on it, but if you change your oil and transmission as advised, then you don't need a flush, but if you flush it with the build up, your vehicle will start leaking fluids. If you don't believe me ask an honest mechanic thats not looking to make a profit off of "upsales" thats where they get the big commisions and they will tell you the same thing.



NurseRunner said:
Well I decided to go ahead with the work. I am breaking it up tho over 2 mos beacause of the financial cost. So I dropped it off today and here is the list of what Toyota will be doing. (I did not go with another shop because I figured if I am putting this much work into the truck, then I wanted it done at the dealership.)

Timing belt + 3 D-Belts
3 engine seals
air filter
battery terminal change
Lt rear axle seal leaking
This is about $900.

The rest will be:

Inductor service
Tune-Up V6
EFI
Flush all fluids (coolant, ps, brake, trans)
fuel filter
diff service
valce cover gaskets leaking
oil pan gasket leaking
front brakes

I know some of this can be done "myself", but I am not that mechanically inclined. I told them I would change the air filter, but he said he would just charge me for the filter.
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