Why $500 for a V8 Tundra belt replacement, but $100-200 for 4 cyl.- 6cyl. Toyotas????

[Tennesseestorm]

When I got a quote from our nearest Toyota dealer for a timing belt/water pump replacement for my 2000 Tundra V8 - it was somewhere around $500-$550.

A customer at work recently traded in a 2002 Highlander for a Xterra and said he got a coupon in the mail for a timing belt replacement and he would let me have it, because his wifes 2007 Highlander will not need a replacement for years and he no longer needs the coupons and said I could have them.

I went to our nearest dealers website and they have a printout coupon on there that said something like $149. for 4-cylinders and $199. for 6-cylinders. I am wondering- how in the heck is there a $300 increase between a 6-cyl. vs. 8-cyl? Are they that much more difficult than the 4-cyl? I cannot find that coupon now, but now the site says and I quote....

"Timing Belt Replacement

$159.95
You can not predict timing belt fatigue. Be prepared to protect your engine by replacing your timing belt at the recommended 60,000 mile interval. ( Some models slightly higher.)"

SLIGHTLY higher? Should I call and say- how SLIGHTLY" higher will it be for a V8 Tundra?

And why is the Tundra belt 90K recommended and others are 60K? They will probably say that is why the Tundra is higher.

[Tundrav8yamaha]

Originally Posted by Shaffer

When I got a quote from our nearest Toyota dealer for a timing belt/water pump replacement for my 2000 Tundra V8 - it was somewhere around $500-$550.

A customer at work recently traded in a 2002 Highlander for a Xterra and said he got a coupon in the mail for a timing belt replacement and he would let me have it, because his wifes 2007 Highlander will not need a replacement for years and he no longer needs the coupons and said I could have them.

I went to our nearest dealers website and they have a printout coupon on there that said something like $149. for 4-cylinders and $199. for 6-cylinders. I am wondering- how in the heck is there a $300 increase between a 6-cyl. vs. 8-cyl? Are they that much more difficult than the 4-cyl? I cannot find that coupon now, but now the site says and I quote....

"Timing Belt Replacement

$159.95
You can not predict timing belt fatigue. Be prepared to protect your engine by replacing your timing belt at the recommended 60,000 mile interval. ( Some models slightly higher.)"

SLIGHTLY higher? Should I call and say- how SLIGHTLY" higher will it be for a V8 Tundra?

And why is the Tundra belt 90K recommended and others are 60K? They will probably say that is why the Tundra is higher.

hear is my v8 tundra with 120k on miles and yes i replaced my water pump $90 is a small price to pay..


Having had this work performed On my Old 2000 Retired Truck I'll tell you the reason's why The Tundra 4.7 liter iforce 32 value v8 req the timing belt changed every 90k because the Engine was designed to last that way and 90k is factory prorated guide and In some v6 engines such as the avalon 60K is the factory guide on the 95-97 and somehow the Newer Avalon has a longer life Timing .

Other question your asking is why the different in Price well My reply is going to be simple. On some Tundra when doing the timing belt's it's advised to go ahead and replace the water-pump, Timing crank seals and cam seal's and it's totally optional at the customer's end But In my Opinion I would be paying for the so called Extras which gives you peace of mind it's done right.
If you require any part May i make a simile suggestion try anythingtoyota call and ask for Bill and Get OEM Toyota part's close to what you expect to pay vs the Markup. I saved a Lot from this Dealership He saved me close to $100 vs what the Georgia Stealership wanted me to pay(Not)

Cheer's ERIK

[DJ]

It takes more parts and more labor with the V-8 than with the in-line 4-cylinder. Been there, done that.

I changed the timing belt twice (at the recommended 40K intervals) on my wife's '86 4-cylinder Camry. Start to finish, it took about 1.5 hours each time. It was quite easy.

I changed the timing belt once (just before the recommended 90K interval) on my '00 Tundra. As I related earlier in a different thread, it took me about 10 hours total. It wasn't difficult, but there were a lot of parts to get out of the way just to get to the belt.

It's not surprising that there would be a higher charge for more parts and more labor.

[iceplyr]

I was a Toyota (T-Ten) Tech and Service Advisor for close to 20 years. I Have been out of the business for about 2 years because the business was literaly killing me. I opened my own Landscaping business.

I can tell you an un-jaded veiw of all aspects of the dealership (including service and parts depts) and customers point of view.

I would love to get the word out about how dealerships operate. I am not trying to make any money from this or any fame-I just want the truth out so the dealers have to be more competitive.

My email is tandmirrigation@yahoo.com
send me an email and I will answer it if I can. If I don't know I'll tell you.

BTW
The tundra timing belt is pretty easy to do. It can take a VERY skilled technician about 2 hours to do this. Replacing all the seals and water pump is a very good idea. If one of them were to fail, then you are into all that labor again for a $12.00 seal or $90.00 (or so) water pump(plus labor to repace them).
The best way to find out if you re being hosed on any job is to find out what Toyota pays for the labor (under warranty) ie 2.5 hours and multiply that by 1.5 (customer mark up) which is 3.75 hours round to 4 and multiply that by the dealers labor rate, add in the parts and that is what you should pay. If you realy wanted to be a stickler you could say that what Toyota pays is book time and you should not have to pay more than the manufacturer. Book time is figured to be the average a Toyota trained or ASE certified technician should be able to complete the job in.

[Tennesseestorm]

I see. It just seems like such a drastic increase. Also, wouldn't you know that it would also be the one with an interference engine.

I knew that when I bought the truck that it had not been changed- so I cannot complain. I really did not stop to realize how much more operating costs would be on the Tundra vs., say, a Camry. Things like fuel mileage, etc.

Sometimes I ask myself- "what were you thinking" - everytime I stop at a fuel station - which is often.

I will just bite the bullet and pay the $500 belt/wp replacement - then onto my transmission service.

[iceplyr]

When I worked for a dealer in the Los Angeles area we charged 1750.00 for the V8 engine in cluding all seals water pump and drive belts. And we got it. We got it because everyone else in the area was getting it.

Cheers

[Tennesseestorm]

Thanks. Email sent.

So, for $500, I should be ecstatic?

[iceplyr]

Like I said I have been out for a while (2004) but last I knew Toyota did not make an interference engine.
The timing bet can go as long as 120,000 miles or more I have personaly seen timing belts that have had 300k miles on them. But on the flip side I have seen them break at 20k miles. But as with any mechanical part it can break any time it wants to.

[iceplyr]

Yes from a dealer 500-550 is a GREAT deal. Yes 4 cyl are easier. BUT the Avalon is a royal pain. It's a give and take.

[Tundrav8yamaha]

Originally Posted by iceplyr

Like I said I have been out for a while (2004) but last I knew Toyota did not make an interference engine.
The timing bet can go as long as 120,000 miles or more I have personaly seen timing belts that have had 300k miles on them. But on the flip side I have seen them break at 20k miles. But as with any mechanical part it can break any time it wants to.

wrong the iforce v8 is an interference engine timing belt break so does your engine they use chains on 4.0 liter v6 if i recall..

[Tennesseestorm]

I think I have heard that it is a chain on the 4.0L. I think the 3.4L V6 is still a belt and it is a non-interference engine. I should have bought the 03' Tundra V6 SR5 2wd.

[jasbus]

Originally Posted by iceplyr

When I worked for a dealer in the Los Angeles area we charged 1750.00 for the V8 engine in cluding all seals water pump and drive belts. And we got it. We got it because everyone else in the area was getting it.

Cheers

yet another reason not to live in LA. Funny, I can find tons of reasons not to live there, but not one reason to.

My dealer tech told me $475 to change the belt, without the water pump.

[Tennesseestorm]

BTW - what in the world did you hit with your white Tundra? that was the first time I had seen it.

Wow, it looks like you hit a tree going 100 mph or a 18-wheeler. You are lucky to be alive!

The passenger cage seemed to hold up extremely well, but it looks like something was coming in the dash panel.

[Tundrav8yamaha]

Originally Posted by Shaffer

BTW - what in the world did you hit with your white Tundra? that was the first time I had seen it.

Wow, it looks like you hit a tree going 100 mph or a 18-wheeler. You are lucky to be alive!

The passenger cage seemed to hold up extremely well, but it looks like something was coming in the dash panel.

I missing something hum

[06TundraBoy]

Originally Posted by jasbus

yet another reason not to live in LA. Funny, I can find tons of reasons not to live there, but not one reason to

I miss LA