Toyota services. Good prices?

[TN_Soljah808]

So, I called my local Toyota dealer and this is what they offered me over the phone. My vehicle has 165K.

• Oil Change: $28.95
• Timing Belt: $374
• Water Pump: Part: $136 Labor: $75
• 4x4 Service: $298

I will be doing the Oil change, Timing Belt, and Water Pump. However the price for the timing belt is only for that. No other parts. Is there anything else I should have them change with the timing belt (other belts)? I’m not very mechanically inclined so I don’t know what to ask them over the phone.

Also the guy over the phone didn't know what was included in the 4x4 service. I'm not sure if this is something I should do. Please let me know.

I can't do anything myself due to deployment. I don't want anything happening to my new toy with my wife driving it.

 

[LodeRunner]

The Toyota dealership is without question going to be more expensive than a local garage.

- Timing Belt: If that price is JUST for the timing belt, that's robbery IMO. There are timing belt kits that include a water pump and all the necessary belts, thermostat, etc. online for about $250-300. I think the service guide estimates that job at 4 hours, so you can estimate about $250 in labor for that job.

- Water pump: Seems a bit pricey. I found one on Amazon for about $70. Since the water pump usually gets replaced with the timing belt anyway, I would just buy one of the kits I mentioned, and have them install that. You'd save a couple hundred bucks probably.

- 4x4 service: This is most likely a changing of the front and rear differential fluids and the transfer case fluid. Most places charge about $100 for each service, so $298 is about right. IF you decided to do this yourself (it's very easy), you would spend a little over $100 using Amsoil or other good synthetic gear oil.

Bottom Line: You can definitely save yourself some money with a little research on this site, and going to a good local shop instead of the dealer. If you're deployed right now, though, and just want some peace of mind to get it done right without and issues, then just bite the bullet and take to the dealership.

Hope this helps!

 

[TN_Soljah808]

I asked them to clarify if it was just the timing belt. And yes they don’t change anything else out; just the belt for that price. I may just have to deal with the price for this service. I don’t want to go home and deal with installing everything myself. I just wanna have fun! I just asked here because I don’t want to drop all this $$$ and should have changed smaller items while there in that far changing everything out.

After this I will most likely install everything myself. The Army has mechanic DIY shops with lifts and all the tools you would ever need and mechanics to assist (not do it for you). They charge something like $2 dollars an hour or something like that.