ed warren

I have a 2000 Camry 4cyl. It has 88K miles. I have an appointment at an
independent dealer when I come back from vacation to have the timing belt
changed. I am also having the waterpump and accessory belts changed. While
the mechanic is doing this work is there anything else that should be done?

Also, this car is very loud or throaty when starting off from a dead stop.
Is this normal for the 4 cyl Camry.

I feel like this care wasn't well taken care of before I bought it. I have
replaced the Struts and mounts on the front.

Is there other work that I should do? I plan to run this car for a ton of
miles. I commute 110 round trip each day.

Thanks in advance.

qslim

Might want to change the front engine seals while you're in there. Cam
seal, crank seal, and oil pump seal & o ring. Might as well since you're
already more than halfway there.

wolfgang

I'd save your money on the replacing the water pump at that low mileage ---
especially if he isn't going to use a NEW OEM one. Sound like the exhaust
flex pipe is gone -- are the engine mounts still good?

badgolferman

I just had the timing belt replaced on a 2000 Sienna at the dealer for
$259 with a coupon. I doubt the independant would do it that cheaply.
Check dealer website for service coupons. The three Toyotas I've owned
have never had the water pump replaced, the highest mileage being 164K
miles. The tensioner may need replacement, but let the mechanic decide
unless you are insistent these parts must all go.

The struts and/or strut mounts are a chronic problem area for that
design and previous one. I just live with the squeaky/thumping noise
they make because I am cheap.

johngdole

Like the other said, all the oil seals while you are in there. Valve
cover seal if necessary and if do check the valve clearances. FelPro
are good aftermarket seals. Change the spark plugs (Denso or NGK only)
and PCV valve as well.

Check the condition of the coolant hoses since you are draining the
system with the water pump change. It would be a good idea to replace
at least the rad hoses (if not the heater and bypass hoses plus OEM
thermostat) at this time.

There is no need to get OEM for most parts. Gates makes an excellent
timing component kit with tensioners (not to mention the belts and
hoses). Have your mechanic order one of these and save a few dollars
than ordering separately.

http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?br...cation_id=3487

NAPA carries Airtex, which is a good aftermarket water pump.
NAPA/Airtex is the only non-oem I'd use and has a lifetime warranty.
You might get a Good Year belt (with its name printed on it) from
Toyota (or a Dayco or a Mitsuboshi). But I have a preference for Gates.
They make excellent products.

www.airtexproducts.com

The struts and mounts have nothing to do with prior care. They've been
cheesy from the start from Toyota, the previous owner should have
gotten them replace for free during the warranty period as most people
already have. Do a search on the web about this.

Change out the transmission strainer with a new one (use the tranny kit
from Fram with a cork rubber gasket -- but I wouldn't use their oil
filters). Don't just clean the strainer and don't miss the differential
oil.

It's hard to tell when you only say loud or throaty when starting from
a stop. Can you be more specific? From the engine, exhaust, etc?

ransley@webtv.net (m

A few things to do around 85000, plugs, air filter, Pvc, rediator hoses
and a flush, belts, flush brakes fluid. Trans service and filter,
differential service.

daniel

timing component kit with tensioners (not to mention the belts and
hoses).
======================
In my experience, the Toyota coolant hoses are vastly superior to
aftermarket.
As afternarket goes, NAPA is among the best, but I prefer Toyota for
all part replacement - that way, no risk and you've got an exact
replacement part identical to the original.
Often, genuine Toyota parts are available at substantial discounts
online.
I've never seen hoses like original equipment Toyota that last for
decades with no bulging, fraying, cracking, softness or other signs or
wear or deterioration.

johngdole

Sure, buying OEM parts will get you through fine, unless you got the
TSB'ed bad strut mounts, brake rotors or tranny solenoids from Toyota
in the first place ;-)

Toyota buys parts from other suppliers. So belts and hoses from Good
Year and others make their way into the cars. You will get belts and
hoses from Good Year and brake pads from NBK, which are less than ideal
than belts and hoses from Gates or pads from Akebono. The long lasting
EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) hoses you mentioned may very
well have come from Gates.

As far as discounts go, I don't consider Toyota brake pads from NBK a
good deal even with a 20% discount. But they'll stop your car. Because
you can't make sure a Toyota batch of pads online comes from Akebono
(sometimes they do but mostly you get the cheap NBK) I consider online
purchases of Akebono pads with integrated shims better deals.

wolfgang

My local dealer is $189 (Wash Metro area - Bill Page) for 4 cyl.