4.7L 2UZ-FE Timing Belt

[J.A.]

Guys, need your help with Timing Belt replacement and pricing.

I am interested in replacing the timing belt and associated recommended components. I have considered DIY and reviewed many of the videos showing the process. And even though I have done all maintenance to date myself and have never used the dealer thus far, this is one job I am thinking I would prefer to have them do.

That said, the pricing I am getting thus far is way more than I expected. I will paste below the prices from 2 local Toyota dealers as well as what I can buy the parts for on my own if I am forced to go DIY.

FYI, I am at 16yrs on the timing belt but only 45k miles. Figured I might as well do this now or in near future since this may be my only belt change needed...even if i keep this another 16 more years.

Can you please let me know:
A) Do I have all the recommended parts listed? Anything else you would do?
B) If you have had this done recently by a Toyota Dealer Service Department and paid a price you felt was fair, please share.
C) If you had 'B' done within 75 miles of NYC and had a good experience please share the dealer info, I will go there for a quote.
D) Is this really a 10 hour job for a Toyota certified mechanic?

Thank you!

 

[xtremewlr]

Don't shy away from doing the timing belt yourself. It seems like a daunting task at first but if you are able to turn a wrench and have done other maintenance such as spark plugs, brakes or any suspension work, you can do the timing belt.

As for parts needed, here is what I used:
Aisin TK-021 timing belt kit - Amazon.com
GATES 90K38488 Accessory Belt Drive Kit - More Information for GATES 90K38488
Crank damper holder - Amazon.com
OEM Thermostat with seal
Zerex red Asian vehicle coolant

I didn't replace the crankshaft seal as it wasn't leaking. Only replace if needed. I did replace the valve cover gaskets as they were both leaking. I didn't replace the camshaft seals as they also weren't leaking and still aren't. The engine has 341,800 miles on it now.

Rethink doing it yourself. It's daunting, yes but if you can turn a wrench and can take your time, you can 100% DIY this. No special tools are needed other than the crank damper tool. It does help to have a backup vehicle so you aren't trying to rush the work. You would be down at least a couple days by taking it to the dealer either way. DIY will save you a ton of cash as you have already seen and you have the satisfaction of knowing you did the job yourself. There are also LOTS of resources for DIY here in the forums, on youtube and elsewhere, to help you get the job done right.

 

[dfontes]

You don't have to go to the dealer for this. I found a reputable shop that did everything for 2/3 the price using OE parts. If I had more time on my hands, would have just done it myself.

 

[mitch86]

I was quoted 10 hours from a local indy for this as well..seems accurate.

 

[gimlithepirate]

The Aisin kit above is one of the rare cases where "OEM" doesn't have to mean "Toyota." That right there saves a bundle.

The other one that saves a ton is SLL vs Zerex Red. No reason not to do Zerex Red.

The crankshaft seal I personally think is worth doing. Getting to it at any other time is a huge pain in the neck.

Last one is the camshaft seals. If you have a non-VVTI engine, its pretty easy to do. If you have a VVTI engine though, is absurd. Like remove camshafts to get to hard. I have one that I'm 90% sure is seeping.... but its not a measurable amount within an oil change interval so I'm living with it. I have switched to using exclusively high mileage oils in the meantime.

When I get to the next timing belt change, I'm going to have to find an Indy to do the camshaft seals on mine, and the timing belt as long as he's that deep in the tear down.

I did the timing belt myself last time. Compared to an old Isuzu Rodeo I did the same on once, I'd say this is pretty typical for a timing belt. It takes one long day. The more deliberate you are about laying out parts as you remove, the happier you will be.

 

[MikeinNH67]

In my opinion, you are living on borrowed time with that belt. Yes you are way under the mileage but more than double the time listed by Toyota. Every belt I've seen fail was because of the rubber deteriorating from age or oil getting on them. They seem to lose teeth when they fail. How will you feel if it fails?

Aisin is a great kit recommended for Honda and Toyotas, I've put them in a few Hondas and some say they make the OEM parts. I see no reason to have a dealer do this job.

 

[toyo]

I have performed many of your mods along with having purchased items from your gig. You are way beyond capable of doing the timing belt. I will walk you thru each step if you would like. I have a shop in Atlanta that specializes in Toyota/Lexus. I've literally done probably 100 of these over the years. If you need the Toyota workshop instructions I can provide that as well.

 

[mtbtim]

Do the job yourself. With the right information, provided by many sources, like the Toyota FSM, write-ups and videos like mine, you can do the job no problem provided you have the necessary tools or you're willing to invest in the tools. Tools are an investment, so don't let the expense in purchasing them deter you. A dealership or independent shop is going to charge you a fortune for this job. I'm certain after you watch my video series, you'll gain the confidence to tackle this job on your own.

PART 1

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PART 2

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[R4Adventure]

I just did this job on my 04 a few months ago. I totally agree with what others have said. If you can turn a wrench, this job isn't bad. Given the hourly rate of a service tech today, you will easily save thousands of dollars doing this job yourself.

Aisin is an OEM manufacture for Toyota. Many of the parts on the 2UZ are made by Aisin from the factory.

From my experience, the two most challenging aspects of this job was 1, removing the bolts to drop the A/C compressor (do not disconnect the lines, it just needs to drop a little) and 2, getting the belt on and set correctly. Plan on 2 full days to do this job and plan for more if you need to order more parts once you start digging into the job.

I'd also recommend inspecting the pulley on the fan bracket once removed. If it spins smoothly and quietly, you can reinstall it. If not, now is the time to replace it.

This was the kit I bought for the job, which included everything except for the fan bracket, which I ended up buying separate, but from the same store.
Timing Kit- Toyota V8 4.7L 2UZ 4Runner, Land Cruiser, Sequoia & Tundra Aisin Master Timing Belt Kit w/ Hoses (1998-2009) Kit-1151

Note that the radiator hoses are for a 1st gen Tundra, so that was kind of a waste.

If you do plan on changing your crank and/or cam seals, this tool helped a lot with removing them safely: Amazon.com

I would also inspect your radiator at this time. Mine was damaged in a few areas and needed a replacement. I found that the Denso radiator was the best value as it's OE and less than the cost of a OEM part. Denso is also an OE manufacturer. Bought mine off RockAuto.

Probably forgetting a few things, but hope this helps.

 

[J.A.]

Thanks for all the advice, feedback, PM's, etc. I did watch those vids and do think this is something that should be doable. But this is just one job I think i just want to leave to a certified pro who has done many of these in the past. The sunk labor cost is sort of an insurance policy that if anything goes wrong, Toyota is responsible for it kind of thing. And if something goes wrong here with this being an interference engine, the cost would be very high even though the likelihood of a mishap may be low.

That said, I went to 5 Toyota Service Departments in my area and out of them all found only one that seemed very fair on both the labor hours as well as rate. Most importantly the one I chose has no issue at all if I bring my own parts, which is a major savings. Also, they will give me a loner vehicle (4R or Rav4) for that day!

Their quote for parts alone was $1230. I purchased everything needed from Amazon (AISIN TKT-021) + Conicelli Online Toyota Parts for a total of $365 including shipping and tax. Please note my original chart above had the incorrect part # for the Serpentine belt...it should be 90916-02585 for a 2007 V8 4Runner. I think the part number i originally listed was for non-VVTI engines.

Labor quote was 6 hours @ 160/hr. = $960.

So total $1400 OTD, which is a total price right around what I was originally hoping for and a big difference from the $3100+ I received from the first two places i went to.

 

[toyo]

Thanks for all the advice, feedback, PM's, etc. I did watch those vids and do think this is something that should be doable. But this is just one job I think i just want to leave to a certified pro who has done many of these in the past. The sunk labor cost is sort of an insurance policy that if anything goes wrong, Toyota is responsible for it kind of thing. And if something goes wrong here with this being an interference engine, the cost would be very high even though the likelihood of a mishap may be low.

That said, I went to 5 Toyota Service Departments in my area and out of them all found only one that seemed very fair on both the labor hours as well as rate. Most importantly the one I chose has no issue at all if I bring my own parts, which is a major savings. Also, they will give me a loner vehicle (4R or Rav4) for that day!

Their quote for parts alone was $1230. I purchased everything needed from Amazon (AISIN TKT-021) + Conicelli Online Toyota Parts for a total of $365 including shipping and tax. Please note my original chart above had the incorrect part # for the Serpentine belt...it should be 90916-02585 for a 2007 V8 4Runner. I think the part number i originally listed was for non-VVTI engines.

Labor quote was 6 hours @ 160/hr. = $960.

So total $1400 OTD, which is a total price right around what I was originally hoping for and a big difference from the $3100+ I received from the first two places i went to.

Your local dealer is $160.00 an hour? That's higher than the local Lexus dealers in Atlanta. I get a tremendous amount of work from customers coming from my local Toyota dealer due to them taking advantage. If the labor time calls for .3 to R&R a cabin filter they will charge almost $40.00 to swap it out which is just crazy. I never charge to replace any filters at all. It literally takes 5 minutes to change a cabin filter and maybe 1 minute for an engine air filter.

 

[J.A.]

Your local dealer is $160.00 an hour? That's higher than the local Lexus dealers in Atlanta. I get a tremendous amount of work from customers coming from my local Toyota dealer due to them taking advantage. If the labor time calls for .3 to R&R a cabin filter they will charge almost $40.00 to swap it out which is just crazy. I never charge to replace any filters at all. It literally takes 5 minutes to change a cabin filter and maybe 1 minute for an engine air filter.

$160/hr is from a Toyota dealer almost 30 miles away, though it is well worth the drive.

The two local dealers, both of which I have purchased new vehicles from in the past, are $179/hr. One quoted 10hrs labor, the other 11 for this job.

The Toyota dealer in the Bronx was $220/hr (8 hours quote for this job) and the Manhattan dealer didnt even call me back after taking down lots of info on the job and vehicle.

 

[J.A.]

Got the Timing Belt done. To memorialize the info in this thread, I have created a page on my site dedicated to my 4.7L 2UZ-FE Timing Belt change.

I have all the parts detailed for a comprehensive timing belt change for the 4th Gen 4Runner V-8. This includes pics of the NEW and OLD parts. Again, my vehicle is 17 years old at the time of its first Timing Belt change but it has only 45,000 miles. So about half the miles but double the time for a Toyota recommended service interval. I must say the belt looked practically new. That said, if I were going to get rid of this vehicle at the 20 year mark like I did with my 3rd Gen 4Runner that I also purchased new, then perhaps changing the belt at such a low mileage wouldn't have made sense (in hindsight looking at the great condition of the removed parts). BUT, since I will probably keep this to 30+ years, I have no regrets at changing this out as it might be my only time doing so anyhow, and the piece of mind knowing it is done is well worth it.

Take a look and let me know your thoughts...
Toyota 4Runner 4.7L Timing Belt Service

On a side note:
1) good thing I locked in my pricing in Dec 2023 as the hourly labor rate went up in the new year to $185/hr, a 15% increase, saving me $150.
2) I got to drive a virtually brand new 2023 4Runner Limited loaner vehicle for approx. 100 miles. The pros and cons of these newer 4Runners compared to the 4th Gen are to be saved for another thread, but let me tell you the very few improvements (leather ventilated heated and cooled seats, heated steering wheel, 360° camera system, radar cruise control, optitron gauges) over my my 4th Gen V-8 Full-Time 4WD Sport Edition has very very much reinforced my decision to keep it until it dies!!!!