Timing Belt Based on Years

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Codybear

Codybear

10 Year
Joined
Apr 18, 2014
Threads
3
Messages
32
Location
Chicago, IL
I have 71k on my 2000 LC and I'm thinking about taking it in for preventive maintenance as I will be hauling a heavy boat from Florida to Illinois next month. TB has never been done and the usual discussions here are based on miles. I know I'm beyond the 9 years, but is the TB wear more due to mileage or year? My gut says to have the TB, water pump, etc. changed as a precaution, but I just wanted to verify that I shouldn't wait the additional 3 years till I get to 90k.
 
I don't want to hijack my own thread, but how do I add my dog picture above my name? I can't seem to find anything that will select a file off of my hard drive.
 
I would think the environment in which the vehicle has been operated would factor into the belts deterioration, as in Phoenix vs Seattle for instance. But at 14 years old, I would change it.
 
Garage kept, moderate outdoor temps. Only driven to church on Sundays (100 mile round trip). Just kidding, but really mostly local driving with average speed of 35-40 mph and plenty of stop lights and not a heavy foot.
 
Had the belt replace and was very surprised to see the belt looked as good as it did for being nearly 14 years old. I'll attach some pictures.
 
The outside.

P1020263.webp
 
Timing belt, water pump, thermostat and labor ran up to $1385 in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Water pump seemed ok, except the gasket between it and the engine had developed a small leak that I did not know about.
 
And I figured out the avatar issue. It's because I'm a noobie and it takes 10 posts to upload an avatar and this post being my 10th should enable that.
 
Codybear said:
Timing belt, water pump, thermostat and labor ran up to $1385 in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Water pump seemed ok, except the gasket between it and the engine had developed a small leak that I did not know about.
Click to expand...
Ouch!

That TB doesn't look bad, of course, I really don't know what a bad one looks like. I mean, what do they look like right before they snap??
 
studawg said:
Ouch!

That TB doesn't look bad, of course, I really don't know what a bad one looks like. I mean, what do they look like right before they snap??
Click to expand...

Yes, ouch is the correct word. When I had set up the appointment, they said the TB alone was around $450 (maybe they said $495). I dropped off the car at night and when I talked the next the morning, the price jumped to $850 because it was a v8. Add in the pump, thermostat and new coolant and soon I'm at $1385. I've used an independent in the past for the oxygen sensors, but he lost his lease and I never needed any other car work to go out and find someone I trusted. If I amortize it to $100 a year, it doesn't sound so bad. At least I keep telling myself that. And when I compare it to my wife's 13 year old Mercedes, $1400 is a drop in the bucket.

As for the TB, I did not see any damage where I could have not gone for another 3 years. Granted, until it was pulled out, how would I know if it was all cracked and ready to fail? But this is a good example that a TB may not need to be replaced the first day after 9 years as I had exceeded that by over 50%. So who is willing to top my 14 year TB on an interference engine?
 
"price jumped to $850 because it was a V8" I assume you told them you had a Land Cruiser? Thats just bogus man. The only other engine in the LC is a straight 6 and those had timing chains, not belts. If its $500 to get to the TB, all the labor has been done by that point, and the extra parts aint that much. Im sorry but that service department took you for a ride I think.
 
studawg said:
"price jumped to $850 because it was a V8" I assume you told them you had a Land Cruiser? Thats just bogus man. The only other engine in the LC is a straight 6 and those had timing chains, not belts. If its $500 to get to the TB, all the labor has been done by that point, and the extra parts aint that much. Im sorry but that service department took you for a ride I think.
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I'm not going to dispute that I was taken for a ride, but I did agree to the price before they started the work so I really do not have a legitimate claim. Did they do a bait and switch, possibly. I had correctly told them I had a 2000 LC and after the revised quote, I did call another dealer and got the $850 price. I suspect I got charged for reduplication of labor costs with the water pump. The problem is that where I live, getting taken for a ride goes with the territory and while you don't like it, you start to expect it. If I told you what the adjoining Mercedes charges for their service, you would probably fall out of your chair. And people around here continue to buy Mercedes. If only Lexus or Toyota made a true station wagon (dog carrier), I could get my wife out of that damn thing.
 
$1385 isn't a bad price. Parts are ~$500-$600. Then you have to factor in labor, dealership overhead, and the 12 Month parts warranty in case anything goes wrong. It's easily 6-8 hours of labor. I'd say that's a fair price. My belt had around 150K on it with a heavy foot. It looked just like the one we replaced it with. The 2UZ is very easy on belts. I am more than happy to pay a little extra and have a 12 month warranty on parts (and labor) if something goes wrong on a 14 year old truck. I paid a hefty $1,700 for a new steering rack, 11 months later the rack goes out and I get a brand new one, no questions asked.
 
Codybear said:
I'm not going to dispute that I was taken for a ride, but I did agree to the price before they started the work so I really do not have a legitimate claim. Did they do a bait and switch, possibly. I had correctly told them I had a 2000 LC and after the revised quote, I did call another dealer and got the $850 price. I suspect I got charged for reduplication of labor costs with the water pump. The problem is that where I live, getting taken for a ride goes with the territory and while you don't like it, you start to expect it. If I told you what the adjoining Mercedes charges for their service, you would probably fall out of your chair. And people around here continue to buy Mercedes. If only Lexus or Toyota made a true station wagon (dog carrier), I could get my wife out of that damn thing.
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Funny you mentioned the wagon, I just sold my wifes Bimmer wagon and put her in the hundy. The wife, the dog and the baby all prefer the Cruiser! FWIW, dealers down here do the TB/WP/stat job for around $1000.
 
Codybear said:
Timing belt, water pump, thermostat and labor ran up to $1385 in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Water pump seemed ok, except the gasket between it and the engine had developed a small leak that I did not know about.
Click to expand...

And the SB right, per the image above? I'd agree with Nic/2000UZJ. It seems like a fair price considering your location.
 
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