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So my cam seals are leaking and the dealership will replace them, the timing belt, and water pump, etc for about 3 grand. I've usually used them in the past for repairs, but that's a lot of money for an older car.
A recommended local garage will do it for $1300. When I talked to them they acted like doing the timing belt/water pump/seals package is no big deal.
To what extent do you 'get what you pay for' in this situation???
You will pay at least 5-6 hours labor plus parts...
FrankT you're exactly right. I'm wondering if it's better to use a local mechanic instead of the lexus dealership and save around $1500 on labor. The local garage is recommended by a friend, but the dealership (who I totally trust but can't really afford) warns me against it.
I reckon most on this forum could do the job themselves, but I definitely can't!
It's not actually a big deal. If the shop is competent and you trust them, let them do it. Of course the dealership doesn't want you to think anybody else can do it.
It's not actually a big deal. If the shop is competent and you trust them, let them do it. Of course the dealership doesn't want you to think anybody else can do it.
thanks firelizard, that's how I'm leaning too. My only concern is the cam gear assembly, which the dealership put on the list to be replaced, but the local mechanic hadn't heard of and doesn't include in their normal timing belt/water pump/cam seals package. Does anyone know the story with that?
There's nothing particularly special about the 3UZ cam sprockets and they don't need to be replaced during a timing belt change unless they are damaged or leaking oil.
Dealership has an advantage in that they have access to factory service manuals for their cars, that point out things like this.
OP I don't think I've ever had my cam gear assembly replaced, and I've had my TB/WP changed twice at the dealer. Once at 120k and again at 223k. Seems like an added cost to me. Like firelizard said, there is no need to replace it unless it is damaged. Your indy could do your usual TB/WP service and let you know if he sees anything that raises a red flag. I think you'll be ok though.
Go with whoever will guarantee the best work. I just went through a nightmare of having my campus shop do my TB/WP. The crucial parts went ok, thanks to a good friend of mine; he did the pump and the belt and all that related dangerous stuff. Top notch. But then he went out of town and some other gorilla put the rest of the stuff back together. Didn't tighten the negative battery cable (transmission and interior electrical started acting up), didn't plug in the radiator fan switch (car took forever to heat up and shredded my mpg), didn't hook up that little vent thing for the ECU, didn't plug in something down by the A/C compressor that looks important, and on top of all that and probably more, managed to eff up the thermostat housing and my radiator is now bone dry after only two weeks.
Of course, the coolant leak was discovered after I'm 270 miles away from said campus shop. They warranty their work but I can't drive it up there without dumping $50 of coolant all over the interstate. Luckily, they were willing to work with me and are footing the bill for a local shop to fix the leak.
Either do it yourself if you can guarantee your own work (since parts for a complete job are only $200), or spring for somebody else who will guarantee their work. You don't want the stress/damage of cut corners.
I would save the money and just do research on local shops and find one with good reviews, for certain things, yes it's nice to use oem parts, but a different brand timing belt isn't going to make your car run any differently. You could use the other $1500 and do lots more for your car.
I think it is safe to say all of us have a reputable Indy that we go to in addition to (or instead of) the dealer for service. Mine is actually a Lexus/BMW/Mercedes shop. When I found them, I checked reviews online but I also went down and met the owner. They do the same if not better work than the dealer, and it's closer to my house. Do your research but if they've done this sort of work before I'm sure you'll be fine.
So my cam seals are leaking and the dealership will replace them, the timing belt, and water pump, etc for about 3 grand. I've usually used them in the past for repairs, but that's a lot of money for an older car.
A recommended local garage will do it for $1300. When I talked to them they acted like doing the timing belt/water pump/seals package is no big deal.
To what extent do you 'get what you pay for' in this situation???
I'd go with an independent mechanic, someone that knows Lexus/Toyota. Most dealers are too expensive and end up finding something else wrong and charge you for the time. At least that's been my experience out here. Good luck!
Thanks all for your advice. I went with a highly rated local garage instead of the dealership and saved some money on the new cam seals, water pump, timing belt package. Unfortunately they confirmed that there's a leak in the cam shaft ["VVT cam seals leaking from front crank seal"]. Too expensive to take out the cam shaft and fix it, so they told me to just keep on driving and monitor the oil level. I drove home on the highway a noticed a big fresh drop of oil right under the new cam seal. :-(
I'll probably post again in a few weeks, once I've seen how much oil continues to leak, and see what others have experienced/done in this situation.
In the UZ motors, the intake cam seal and the Oring inside the VVT assembly are maybe the oil leaks, you mention.
Lexus replaces and does not rebuild the VVT assembly but it can be easyly rebuilt as shown in the link from firelizard's post #6.
If the crank seal is leaking, that should had been replaced with the timing belt; 30 min of extra labor if that.
01-03-17, 10:14 AM
Use Dealer or Local Garage for Timing Belt?
