cnstarz

the dealer said i need:

Struts and mounts - $875
Radiator- $330 (radiator is leaking)
Valve Cover gasket- $320
Reseal Oil Pan- $275
Air Filter- $35
Coolant Flush- $130
Decarb and EFI Flush- $210

grand total of $2570
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im already ordering all four struts off someone here for $200 shipped. mounts i can get online for like $200 for all four.

Radiators only cost like $100-$170; anyone recommend a brand or place online to buy them? Perhaps Auto Zone?

Valve cover gaskets - I was looking on www.*****************.com for valve cover gaskets and there appears to be a Front right, front left, and rear right cover gaskets. is there a rear left cover valve cover gasket and are all these necessary? or will this one be fine for what i need: http://www.******************.com/de...3-1738260.html. i believe its just to fix an oil leak somewhere near the top of the engine.

already got a replacement air filter for $14 at auto zone.

coolant flush - i assume thats because they'll be replacing my radiator?

decarb and efi flush - dont really know what that is, but can i do it at like a jiffy lube for cheaper? could this be needed as a result of a seafoam job i did a few months ago?

reseal oil pan - i guess they need an oil pan gasket? does that mean this will do? http://www.******************.com/de...POS30681C.html

on parts, im only spending like $680, so i'll be saving $1200 on parts vs buying them from the dealer. I guess my only questions are regarding the Radiator, Radiator Flush, Valve Cover Gaskets, Oil Pan Reseal, and the Decarb and EFI flush.

3000

Valve Cover Gasket + tube seals is cheaper at Kragen... (It comes with all the necessary gaskets) about $35.
Reseal the oil pan with High Temp Gasket maker... about $3 @ Wal-Mart.
Radiator should only be about $200. No more unless it was an aftermarket one.
Radiator flush, just unscrew the drain plug and fill it up with new coolant.
And if you needed valve cover gaskets, might as well change all the spark plugs if you didn't already do so.

llcoolpass

"reseal the oil pan with High Temp Gasket maker..." hahha you must never actually do the car work yourself. That will not work.

3000

Guess what, I did do that and it did work. And I do the work on the car myself, why go to a shop and get ripped off?

Limen

Gotta love when you go in for one thing, and they find all kinds of stuff to fix.

llcoolpass

3000, then you are incredibly lucky.

find the radiator locally.
the suspension parts are cheap through online sources.

cnstarz

what about the valve cover gaskets and resealing the oil pans? will the links i posted earlier be suffice parts-wise?

what's a decarb and efi flush? can other places like midas or jiffy lube do them for cheaper?

edit: i checked my local midas and they can do the efi decarb and flush for only $89.99. that saves me $120. but i still need to know about the valve cover gaskets and resealing the oil pan.

TORTOISE

Damn you are quite the ******* on CL huh?

92ES5sp

Tell me about it. It works but its too easy to screwup. Id rather use a gasket.

cnstarz

does anyone know the answers to my questions?

cha41ppy

Radiators are best OEM - ebay has lots of cheapies for the corner cutter.

Yes coolant change should be done with radiator.

EFI and decarb is recommended to all if they have the BG machine. Do it if you have extra cash laying around, probably not necessary. Use seafoam or good fuel systems cleaner if you'd like instead.

Fel-pro gasket is fine. valve cover gaskets only need fixin if they're broke, SO, look for leaks closely - if you see nothing then they can wait.

They usually recommend every service under the sun - understand that their job involves more sales than it does actual mechanical work.

These are my uneducated answers to your questions and I am by no means an expert or mechanic although I do do all my own work. Take it for what its worth. Good luck

Choas

Now play nice boys

smokesgtp

I've found the hi temp rtv to be quite effective. My front valve cover is made out of it, has been good for 30k so far. If you know what you are doing and clean the surfaces correctly it works and is actually a little easier I think.

3000

Exactly, leave no spot untouched when cleaning. But llcoolpass, if the Sealant ever fails, I'll let you know.

cnstarz

thanks guys, im getting the felpro gasket from autozone today. i think there's someone on base here that can help me get some of this done. im pretty excited. are replacing valve cover gaskets easily done by noobs? i can learn fast, but im not experienced working with engines except to install an aftermarket cold air intake on my 2001 protege.

i have the haynes repair manual for 1992-2002 camrys. would that have instructions?