rennwerkes

What's the general consensus here about changing the camshaft seal when performing a timing belt service?
Is it also necessary to pull the camshafts when doing this?
I'm about ready to schedule my car for the timing belt service but have been getting mixed info on the camshaft seal job.
TIA!

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What year and how many miles?

rennwerkes

2002 at 86k.

nathanoj

I am also interested to know.... my miles is 20K lesser than rennwerkes though..

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Last year I had my timing belt changed on my 03 Tundra with 45,000 miles. I asked them to change the water pump, seals and tensioner. The mechanic at the dealership came out and told me he would be happy to do whatever I wanted but he felt I would be wasting my money to do anything other than changing the belt. He said Toyotas are built solid and he has never seen these items go bad so quickly. He said I should wait and change the other items when I have the belt changed the second time. Ultimately you need to get the price difference and weigh the cost difference vs the risk. Personally I would just change the belt with the understanding the mechanic should change the other items if he sees a problem while he is in there. I would also request they return the old parts to you.

Poqman

I also had my timing belt changed at 86k miles on my 2002. I told the dealer to change the belt and "anything else" that they felt showed wear. I was shocked that with an open wallet, they only changed the belt. They said the other parts looked fine and there was not a maintenance schedule for replacement on the water pump, tensioner, cam seal, etc. It didn't concern me too much since I had a 3 year, 50k mile warranty if those parts fail later. BTW, it's been a year and my car now has 99.8k miles and no problems since the TB change.

cjs18

The FSM procedure shows the cam seal replacement being done on the bench.

For what it's worth I didn't replace anything but the belt on my '02 with 37K miles. It could be a different situation with 80K.

rennwerkes

Interesting about other dealers only doing the minimum amount of work.
I just called my service rep and he told me they recommend doing everything at once including camshaft seals. $2400!

momssc

Don't bring it there, they are obviously on drugs..........

rennwerkes

I don't know.
I called another reputable shop that specializes in Lexus and they also recommended the same. Change EVERYTHING!
So what's the consensus? Leave the camshaft seals alone if the visual inspection says that they're okay?

toxic

Good timing. Just got mine back from the dealer and a belt change thanks to the coupon I got in the mail from LEXUS for a $499 belt deal. I too gave them an open wallet to change what it needed. I requested a water pump change just because I am old school and I didn't want to have to pay the labor charge to have it replaced later. I considered it insurance. Shop said they only replace the cam seals if they are leaking.

TOXIC

rennwerkes

Any chance someone that's actually had their cam seals changed could chime in?