I agree here. I trust my mechanic's integrity, knowledge, honesty, and competence over the dealership... I'm fortunate.. but if you don't know someone good.. go to the dealer.. less to worry about.

I paid 350 for labor... waterpump, belt, tensioners, cam seals, ect.

 

I am doing mine tomorrow will cost about $350.00 for everything

 

 

Anyone have a good experience with a shop in nor cal??

 

Most mechanics does not even change the Cam and Crank seals because it's too difficult and it's true.

 

I brought my care into a local Toyota dealer this morning for timing belt, water pump, and seals. They gave me a quote of $675. However, they just called to say that my tensioner is "not smooth" and should be replaced. I told them to put it back together (I'll have my guy replace it) - Lexus wants $215 for the tensioner part. That's why I'm online looking for a better price.

 

It's not that bad if you have the right tools. It takes me an extra 15 mintues to do those 3 seals. But it's true, most of the time shops will get lazy and not do it even though they bill you for it! I had a guy come to me a month ago because his car was leaking oil like mad. Timing belt and seals job was supposedly done at 200k. I check it and found out the belt was done but his GS300 had the original factory seals and the car had 240K miles

Try to source one from Carson Toyota. You can get the timing belt tensioner for around $60-70 I believe. If it's your accessory belt tensioner that went out, then that will run you about $150 from them.

 

my mechanic charged me 300 for timing belt, water pump, seals, rear rotors, and brakes and my oil changed..
(hes a friend of the family)

 

I'm sorry, but i respectfully disagree. I work at the dealer, I did my timing belt, water pump, tranny drain/fill, coolant drain/fill (pink SLL) for the cost of my price on parts, it was like 160 for all OEM if I do recall. The timing belt kit comes with belt, a couple seals for the water pump, and thats about it. I did this on the 3uz, which is not any different than the 1uz, but I have yet to see 1 cam seal leaking. I have done the belts before, I have yet to do a single cam seal on a UZ, however I have done a few on the the 2jz. Cam seals for the UZs are not easily gotten a hold of either, I fear for the person who must replace it.

 

Sorry to hijack....but my 2000 GS400 has 38,000 miles on it. The timing belt says so many miles or years....since my car is 9 years old, should I get it done?

 

Lets compare apples to apples here, half the posts above do not mention what model GS.
Cam seals on a UZ motor is way more involved than a 2jz.
Thank goodness they last quit some time.
Replacing cam seals will almost double the labor rate on a timing belt job for a GS4xx.

If you mechanic says he replaced the cam seals on your UZ motor ask to see the old ones.

 

If it was my car, I would say yes, but just the belt and leave the idlers, tensioner and water pump for the next 90k.

 

timing belt & water pump = 800 @ dealer

 

Labor should be about $300-$400 depending on the shop... I opted to do it myself

 

how many seals are there to replace when doing the water pump and t-belt change?