80es300

808mcv20l, Where did you buy your timing belt kit for $200?

808mcv20l

here you go but this is for a 97-01 ES300, the 02-06 uses a different belt I think.

not sure what year you got.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251117324213?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
That's the kit he has now, when I bought it last year all the accessory belts were Bando, looks like this year some belts are Continental which is still good.

All shipped to me via Priority mail!

Oro

The real issue here is, how do you know they installed the water pump correctly? How do you know they know your engine and parts?

A mistake with the sealant, a mistake with torque on the bolts of the pump body negates arguments against a particular brand. Did you verify the installation?

The difference between an OEM Aisin waterpump and an aftermarket one is that Aisin grinds their marks off before shipping it to the aftermarket suppliers. Did they show you the lack of grind marks on the inside of the pump to the lower left of the main seal? Almost all "aftermarket" pumps are in fact OEM.

As an avid amatuer mechaic, I have to tell you, I have very little confidence an independent or dealer mechanic would really get down and break his back to check the proper torque on the pump on this engine. It is, for multiple reasons, a real PITA to do a timing belt on. I have done it a few times. As a diagnostician, I dont' see anything in this thread, back from the beginning in 2010, that tells me it's parts related. It sounds "labor" related. Not due to parts.