I have a 2008 V8 4x4 and ive read where some of yall got the dealer to do timing belt, water pump and seals for 700-900 bucks. I live in Annapolis MD and i called 3 dealers and they all said between 1100 and 1300 bucks..... What would yall do? Go independent? Do yall know any dealers around MD or VA that have lower prices? Thnx
PLEASE help! Timing belt cost, advice
- Thread starter Buddy2012
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20034RunnerV84x2
New member
I'd do it myself. It isnt too hard.
Hapeacres
New member
I dont know what else to do but keep calling around to get lower prices. Are there any Toyota specialty shops around your area? I met a Toyota mechanic on this forum and brought it over to his shop in Manchester NH. I paid 1090.00 for timing belt, water pump, gaskets, thermostat, serp belt, sway bar bushings, PCV, spark plug change, oil change, and alignment. They did a lot of other things for free like cleaning my cat converter, greasing the drive train, lubed steering shaft and even replaced the plastic coverings in my dash. Too bad you werent a little closer. Check the dealer websites for specials and try to pit the dealers against each other. They want to do to the service, thats money for them!
I had an independent shop do it for me for just over 1k out the door. That included all Toyota OEM parts and antifreeze. That is about $200 less than the dealer and the individual came highly recommended. If you can get a good recommendation go for it, otherwise I would go dealer for it since independent shops could use lower quality parts.
If you want Toyota to do it; those are what you are going to pay. I live in the D.C. area and it happens to be, now, the 1st or 2nd most expensive place in the country to live.
It is almost the exact opposite of helpful when you live in D.C. to ask others what they paid. All it does it make you realize how expensive the area is.
This it, fyi, why my better half and I are leaving to move back home in TN. Cost of living is 40% cheaper. We both are moving with jobs that pay about what we make now, only with the MUCH cheaper cost of everything it is like a HUGE raise.
It is almost the exact opposite of helpful when you live in D.C. to ask others what they paid. All it does it make you realize how expensive the area is.
This it, fyi, why my better half and I are leaving to move back home in TN. Cost of living is 40% cheaper. We both are moving with jobs that pay about what we make now, only with the MUCH cheaper cost of everything it is like a HUGE raise.
superman3043
Senior Member
I think DC Runner hit the nail on the head here. Once I saw what area you were in, I immediately chalked it up to a cost of living difference. I paid around $750 for the service and, if I recall, it included timing belt, water pump, drive belts, hoses, and coolant. This was a price I got from multiple dealerships on both ends of the state of South Carolina.
Sorry about that man, it really sucks. I remember my 1st visit to DC many years ago and I was charged $12 for a sandwich in a little shop... I nearly shat!
Sorry about that man, it really sucks. I remember my 1st visit to DC many years ago and I was charged $12 for a sandwich in a little shop... I nearly shat!
06SPRTRUNNER
New member
i really lucked out on mine. i am at 73K on my 06 4.7 and i took it to the dealer to get an oil change and they said my water pump was leaking and replaced everything under my extended warranty( water pump, timing belt, and thermostat and did a coolant flush) all for like 200 bucks, and since my family is really good friends with the owners of the dealer i got a loaner car for 3 days while they had my 4runner. i was stuck driving a 2012 5.7 tundra platinum edition. it made me jealous but i missed my 4runner
You don't need a Toyota only mechanic. Some companies like Saab - you need specialized tools to work on them. Not with Toyota. Toyota is not an exotic vehicle. They are GREAT and well engineered and built vehicles..but not exotic.
Since Toyota is one of the most popular vehicles made in the past 20 years....I defy you to find a independent who's NEVER worked on a Toyota. Maybe the local independent who's surrounded by GM/Ford and Chryco plants in Detroit....but that's about it.
I agree that the DC area is part of the cost...but you still should be able to find a good independent who will do it cheaper then then dealer.
Since Toyota is one of the most popular vehicles made in the past 20 years....I defy you to find a independent who's NEVER worked on a Toyota. Maybe the local independent who's surrounded by GM/Ford and Chryco plants in Detroit....but that's about it.
I agree that the DC area is part of the cost...but you still should be able to find a good independent who will do it cheaper then then dealer.
I am sure there are lots of repair shops in Annapolis that can do the job. Keep calling and asking. Obviously dealer prices include dealer parts. Be careful with independent shops with parts if OEM parts are important to you. My guess is that you can get an independent shop using aftermarket parts for about $650. $150 for parts and $500 labor. A timing belt on a these is not an easy job. There are a lot of parts that you have to remove and it is time consuming.
superman3043
Senior Member
Oh and also, know that the initial quote from a dealership is never the bottom line offer. I ask service reps to work with me every time I have something done and you'd be amazed at how much they can come off of the price if you'd just ask them.
Aftermarket parts are fine. But they have to be good aftermarket parts. Gates is one of the OEM belt providers for Toyota. You go to the dealer and buy a timing belt...there's a good chance it'll be made by Gates. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Gates belt over a Toyota belt. But the cost probably isn't that much of a difference. If it gives you piece of mind..then buy OEM parts.
Neither....
Timing belt is the rubberized version of a timing chain. Belts were used instead of chains.
The main reason manufacturers went to belts is cost. Timing belts are cheap..easy to install...and because they run dry (no oil lubrication) it's a lot easier to design and build into an engine.
Timing belts however have a much shorter life expectancy then a timing chain. A chain should easily last 250k miles. The longest belt I've heard of is 100k miles. So if you're like most people who buy new cars...you'll never have to worry about replacing a timing chain..but might have to fork over a few hundred for a timing belt change.
The one advantage a timing belt has over a chain is the cost and ease of replacement. This really becomes apparent on interference engines. If you're like me who keeps their vehicle over 250k miles then you have to replace a timing chain before you're ready to sell it. And the cost is 4-5 times what a timing belt costs. Also many decent back-yard mechanics will tackle a timing belt..but not a timing chain due to the added complexity. Timing chains won't necessarily break..but over time they do stretch. If the chain stretches too much it may jump a tooth...and this will have the same effect as a timing belt breaking. But at least with a timing chain it starts making noise (rattle) to let you know when it should be changed.
Timing belt is the rubberized version of a timing chain. Belts were used instead of chains.
The main reason manufacturers went to belts is cost. Timing belts are cheap..easy to install...and because they run dry (no oil lubrication) it's a lot easier to design and build into an engine.
Timing belts however have a much shorter life expectancy then a timing chain. A chain should easily last 250k miles. The longest belt I've heard of is 100k miles. So if you're like most people who buy new cars...you'll never have to worry about replacing a timing chain..but might have to fork over a few hundred for a timing belt change.
The one advantage a timing belt has over a chain is the cost and ease of replacement. This really becomes apparent on interference engines. If you're like me who keeps their vehicle over 250k miles then you have to replace a timing chain before you're ready to sell it. And the cost is 4-5 times what a timing belt costs. Also many decent back-yard mechanics will tackle a timing belt..but not a timing chain due to the added complexity. Timing chains won't necessarily break..but over time they do stretch. If the chain stretches too much it may jump a tooth...and this will have the same effect as a timing belt breaking. But at least with a timing chain it starts making noise (rattle) to let you know when it should be changed.
I like these types of mechanics because they are all very experienced in that brand. Here, we have a couple of Toyota-Only and Subaru-Only mechanics whoe are much cheaper than the dealer and have built a stellar reputation over the last 10-20 years. They are always packed but still quite a bit cheaper than the dealer and in my opinion, sometimes know more than the dealer Techs do (especially the newer ones).
I took my Subaru Forester to an experienced shop (well-rated) once since my trans fluid was leaking slightly and I saw the shop while in that area and rememebered it. He told me after a checkup that I probably had a pan gasket issue. Okay fine, I thought it was okay for a few days and went to my Subie guy after a few days. He said the dealer (GF took the vehicle there last time to get the trans fluid changed) had overfilled the trans fluid and he simply needed to take a bit out. He took out a little bit and the leak was gone! It was free too. So, I will not take it to some random shop that works on everything if I have a dedicated shop available. I called another shop that recommended the aftermarket timing belt "kit" since Gates makes the belt etc. My Subie-only guy said they call him all the time to buy those kits and the water pump blows. In fact, he sometimes doesn't even change the water pump at 100,000 miles unless it is leaking, and has not had an issue. The other shops push the kits. Turns out, the kits are slightly more expensive than if he buys everything at the Subie dealer.
I will continue to go to the dealer or to a Toyota-only or Subaru-only shop.
superman3043
Senior Member
Pretty sure that the 2UZ uses a belt where the 1GR uses a chain.
The fan/accessory belt is something different all together.
