4th Gen 90,000 Mile Service

[TeryT]

I've got about 70k on mine and wanting to budget for the big 90k service, which includes the timing belt replacement.

Has anyone done this yet, and how much $$ should I be setting aside?

Also, every time I've had a timing belt replaced, they always get me for extra stuff they say is needed - tensioners, idle pullies, & the water pump. I've always heard that it's good to just go ahead & replace the water pump while they're in there - but is this always true?

 

[greasefingers]

Terry I have been thinking about this too!

Labor is around 5.5 hours at the dealership, but I would think that it would take at least a full day for a DYI with common tools and a couple trips to the store for tools that you need.

Therefore depending on what you replace and estimating $ 89/hour for labor at a dealer, that would be $ 490+$ parts. This means something over $ 1,000 USD.

The prices for parts below are what I found at Partznet. I feel that the water pump should come from the dealer but not necessarily anything else. I buy most of my parts from Napa for my vehicles. I stay away from autozone, pepboys, advance, etc.

Parts:
Timing belt $ 53
Timing belt tensioner $ 60
Timing belt idler#1 $ 61
Timing betl idler#2 $ 61
Timing cover seal $ 4
Water pump $ 100
Coolant $ 15
Subtotal $ 400 (if you do it yourself)

 

[greasefingers]

I just did this on my 5-cyl Volvo. It tears your knuckles up! I would like to do the 90 k service myself, but I am a little scared. There are a lot of parts to remove and then you have to align the 2 camshafts and the crankshaft before removal.

I really wish someone here would do it first and teach the rest of us

 

[TeryT]

I did it on a 4 cylinder Mazda truck once. It wasn't that bad, as there were markings to make sure things lined up.

The local area Toyota dealers often have a deal to do the timing belt replacement for $399. But that includes NOTHING extra at all. (It must apply to the 4Runner as the fine print only says the Land Cruiser & something else is a little higher.)

So are you guys thinking you just go ahead & replace all that stuff in there - water pump included?

 

[greasefingers]

I have never had a water pump last 180,000 miles; which would be the next time that the timing belt would need to be replaced, so yes it would be advantageous to do it then since the timing belt drives the water pump.

$ 399 would be a great price! Lets guess another $ 200 for the water pump

 

[Rob96]

I just had this done on my 2000 T4R. For the timing belt, drive belts, water pump and thermostat it cost me $690 at the dealership.

 

[zig]

I had everything (TB, hoses, thermostat, cam and crank seals, idlers, pulleys, pump, etc.) done, and it was right around $1200. Replace the water pump for sure! Otherwise you are going to have to pay all of that labor again.

The Tundra guys have done it themselves. I've done four cylinders before, but after looking at aligning everything on this, I didn't want to risk it.

 

[greasefingers]

Come on

 

[TeryT]

Hey, I gots 20k still to go! At this pace that's probably early 2008.

 

[4dailyRunner]

Service vs. DIY

I am not a professional mechanic. I have tools and can handle basics. However, $1200 for the full change out with labor etc. is still cheaper that a full engine change...

 

[TeryT]

Resurrecting an old thread . . . I had the dealer (notice I didn't say "stealer") do mine for under $500. They recommended against changing the water pump, as they said they usually see these pumps go to the 2nd timing belt change - so I guess we'll see! (Just be sure to use the recommended Toyota coolant.)

Oh what a feeling!

 

[riverider]

I never got used to this using a belt to replace a chain for timing. So when I replaced the 89 Nissan I was glad the 98 Nissan had a chain not a belt as the 89 had. Now when thinking about buying the new 08 SR54Runner I found the V8 used a belt. I was some what shocked. But it was a good reason to get a V6 that has a chain.

Now I have talked to many people who have driven the belt TBs for well over 100K some have 150+K and never had any problems. But myself I just can't feel warm and safe with a belt inside my engine. Also it's become a great tool for the Stealerships to gander loads of cash from doing many unneeded changing of them little belts.

 

[TeryT]

I never got used to this using a belt to replace a chain for timing. So when I replaced the 89 Nissan I was glad the 98 Nissan had a chain not a belt as the 89 had. Now when thinking about buying the new 08 SR54Runner I found the V8 used a belt. I was some what shocked. But it was a good reason to get a V6 that has a chain.

Now I have talked to many people who have driven the belt TBs for well over 100K some have 150+K and never had any problems. But myself I just can't feel warm and safe with a belt inside my engine. Also it's become a great tool for the Stealerships to gander loads of cash from doing many unneeded changing of them little belts.

Yes, we all wish the V8 had the chain! I did my belt right at 90k. My wife had a Nissan Z that had a belt go out at less than 10k after the recommended time (this was before we were married). It was an interference engine (as is the 4R V8), and she was lucky it only cost her $1,700. I wonder if the extreme heat here in the desert SW may make them fail quicker?

I still had 10k left on my 100k Toyota warranty, and didn't want to take any chances. If it had gone out I would be SOL. I did one on my old Mazda 4 cylinder truck, but to have the dealer do it on the 4Runner for under $500 it was an easy decision.

 

[paraordnance]

I did TB on my 97 Audi A8. It was nasty. Not looking forward to do it on T4R, I'll just get a parts (since dealer prices are outrageous) and let them deal with it.

 

[T?@\7]

def. wish it were a chain.
def. gonna pay to have it done!!

 

[zig]

Man, I've got to do this again! Still not comfortable doing it myself, and I'll probably do it all the same.