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My 2000 4Runner has a burning odor under the hood which is relating to the need for new gasket valve covers. At the present mileage (172K) I'm planning to do the timing belt & water pump.
Just did the rear brakes & all the belts except timing...
One of the car repair services has brought up the seals for front cam & crank shaft, idler pulleys w/bearings & intake spark plugs...all of which probably need attending to as I bought the truck in 2003 with 70K miles & haven't gotten into any of these repairs.
All parts will be Toyota with the exception of water pump/seals. I know this is an interference engine & if my timing belt blows there goes the engine...
Since you have neglected the repairs for along time I would suggest you get them done. Sounds like a very reasonable price to get all that done. I paid $900 recently to get my timing belt, drive belts, waterpump and hoses replaced on my 92 4runner.
I would also recommend you get you radiator hoses replaced at this time too.
My 2000 4Runner has a burning odor under the hood which is relating to the need for new gasket valve covers. At the present mileage (172K) I'm planning to do the timing belt & water pump.
Just did the rear brakes & all the belts except timing...
One of the car repair services has brought up the seals for front cam & crank shaft, idler pulleys w/bearings & intake spark plugs...all of which probably need attending to as I bought the truck in 2003 with 70K miles & haven't gotten into any of these repairs.
All parts will be Toyota with the exception of water pump/seals. I know this is an interference engine & if my timing belt blows there goes the engine...
Estimate was $1,500
I love my 4Runner & plan on keeping it. Thoughts?
$1500 sounds a little high. I'd take it to another shop and get another estimate. Do you have a highly-reputed local shop that you trust?
That said, what you're talking about does involve a lot of work.
Also, Toyota 4Runners have a reputation of never dying, so it's probably worth doing the maintenance.
By the way, is "intake spark plugs" simply a typo?
That actually isn't a bad estimate for all of that work and parts. Some of the labor operations are duplicated though and I would look at how much they are charging in labor for each things. For instance, say the timing chain is a 3 hour job. Well, the water pump needs to be removed to do it so there shouldn't be anything more than a very minor labor charge for putting the new one on, if any at all and since everything is out of the way, the seals that you are having replaced are right there and again what would be in the book for say 1.2 hours is really only a 10 minute job when you have the whole front of the engine apart anyway.
So, the estimate seems right, but check the labor operations and make sure they aren't double dipping anything on the labor.
$1500 sounds a little high. I'd take it to another shop and get another estimate. Do you have a highly-reputed local shop that you trust?
That said, what you're talking about does involve a lot of work.
Also, Toyota 4Runners have a reputation of never dying, so it's probably worth doing the maintenance.
By the way, is "intake spark plugs" simply a typo?
This is a reputable shop.
intake spark plugs/not a typo...that's what they said....
I have a friend of a friend who works on major big trucks & he will be giving me a quote as well as another shop.
Yeah, it does sound like a lot of work but I love my 4Runner & the reputation is worth upholding...it's paid off as well....
This is a reputable shop.
intake spark plugs/not a typo...that's what they said....
I have a friend of a friend who works on major big trucks & he will be giving me a quote as well as another shop.
Yeah, it does sound like a lot of work but I love my 4Runner & the reputation is worth upholding...it's paid off as well....
Not questioning the price or anything, but to the best of my knowledge there is no such thing as "intake spark plugs." There are "intake/spark plug covers," but spark plugs are just spark plugs.
Not questioning the price or anything, but to the best of my knowledge there is no such thing as "intake spark plugs." There are "intake/spark plug covers," but spark plugs are just spark plugs.
Anywhooo... Good luck!
Must be the covers then!
Thank you all very much!!!!
4Runners are awesome vehicles (I've had the 1997, 2001, '02, & 03)...I don't know what I'd be driving if it wasn't a 4Runner except possibly a Honda Passport...which is no longer made...)....my xmil was a used car dealer so been lucky to try out many different SUVs...but love the 4runner best.
That actually isn't a bad estimate for all of that work and parts. Some of the labor operations are duplicated though and I would look at how much they are charging in labor for each things. For instance, say the timing chain is a 3 hour job. Well, the water pump needs to be removed to do it so there shouldn't be anything more than a very minor labor charge for putting the new one on, if any at all and since everything is out of the way, the seals that you are having replaced are right there and again what would be in the book for say 1.2 hours is really only a 10 minute job when you have the whole front of the engine apart anyway.
So, the estimate seems right, but check the labor operations and make sure they aren't double dipping anything on the labor.
If the job was priced right, it would give the base price for the t belt then anything else would be an add-on.
Example
R&R timing belt - 7.4
replace water pump - add .9
replace tensioner and idler - add .7
replace cam seals - .9 each
and so on
(not the actual times for this job)
The seals will definitely take more than 10 minutes.
To the OP
The intake spark plug wording may have meant replace the spark plugs while the upper intake plenum is off for the valve cover replacement.
Any reason why they're not using Toyota replacement seals? The oem seals lasted 172K. It's also a good time to replace the all the coolant hoses and thermostat.
$1500 is a decent price considering the work involved.
If the job was priced right, it would give the base price for the t belt then anything else would be an add-on.
Example
R&R timing belt - 7.4
replace water pump - add .9
replace tensioner and idler - add .7
replace cam seals - .9 each
and so on
(not the actual times for this job)
The seals will definitely take more than 10 minutes.
To the OP
The intake spark plug wording may have meant replace the spark plugs while the upper intake plenum is off for the valve cover replacement.
Any reason why they're not using Toyota replacement seals? The oem seals lasted 172K. It's also a good time to replace the all the coolant hoses and thermostat.
$1500 is a decent price considering the work involved.
The way it's been priced is following:
Valve gasket cover/timing belt/water pump @ $606
(tire kingdom quoted me $650 on the above)
Seals: front cam/crank/2 idler pulley w/bearings @ $403
Intake spark covers @ 380
Due to the awesomeness of this truck, I want to do the right thing by it!!!!
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Even if you get only another year out of it the $1,500 is a bargain, you'd be spending 2-3 times as much on a new car payment, and have to continue on for 4-5 years. If you like it fix it. The real risk is if the transmission goes out, that's close to $3,000 (automatic).
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