Questions about maintenance on 2000 Toyota Camry...

[MrToilet]

So I just finished some scheduled maintenance (90,000 mile) on my Camry:
timing belt, water pump replaced
serpentine belt replaced
spark plugs replaced
coolant flush

total cost was $675- does this seem about right? The dealer quoted me about $900 for everything. I'm just curious.

Another question - my brakes make a squealing noise only when I back up, never while going forward. I've had them checked out a couple different times, the mechanics each time were like "nah, they're OK, no problems". Any idea? They just checked them out when I got my car serviced, and they said everything was good.

 

[Doodoo]

675 sounds about right. May be a bit on the high side. My sis actually had the same braking noise on her Accord. Drove me insane because it would only happen when she was in reverse. Went to change her pads and they were wearing uneven. The top half, which you couldnt see unless you took the pad out was totally worn while the bottom was brand new. So you may want to check your pads.

 

[Billb2]

Originally posted by: Doodoo
675 sounds about right. May be a bit on the high side. My sis actually had the same braking noise on her Accord. Drove me insane because it would only happen when she was in reverse. Went to change her pads and they were wearing uneven. The top half, which you couldnt see unless you took the pad out was totally worn while the bottom was brand new. So you may want to check your pads.

Huh? Disk brakes have inner and outer "pads". Brake drums have upper and lower "shoes".

 

[Doodoo]

I meant the top half of one of the pads was totally worn.

 

[Thump553]

That's odd about the pads wearing that way. Any idea why that happened? Installed cockeyed somehow?

I've had situations where either the inside pad was worn and the outside not (or vice versa) which I presume means a caliper problem.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Timing belt? I thought only honda pulled that crap and toyota at least used a chain.

 

[redgtxdi]

Not until 2002. Prior to that it was still belt.

 

[MrToilet]

I was talking to buddy of mine (also a 2000 Camry owner). He said he paid like $950 or so at the dealership for the same stuff, and on top of that paid another $200-250 on radiatot/transmission flush.

As a sidenote, there are WAY too many Camrys on the road. Seriously, I went into a grocery store and walked past like 8 Camrys in a row.

God loves Toyota! LOL

 

[dawp]

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
Timing belt? I thought only honda pulled that crap and toyota at least used a chain.

for overhead cams, a timing belt is cheaper and easier to replace. I have one on my car too.

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: MrToilet

As a sidenote, there are WAY too many Camrys on the road. Seriously, I went into a grocery store and walked past like 8 Camrys in a row.

God loves Toyota! LOL

I spent about 5 minutes trying to get into the wrong camry at work this week. It looked identical, I was getting really ticked off trying to figure out why I couldn't get my key to work.

 

[canadageek]

true, but a timing chain lasts basically forever, and replacing it isn't THAT hard if you have the right tools for it.

 

[radioouman]

Originally posted by: canadageek
true, but a timing chain lasts basically forever, and replacing it isn't THAT hard if you have the right tools for it.

True! Just for the heck of it I replaced the timing chain on my 1994 Dodge with a 318. (It has 150,000 miles.) The summary of parts was:
$40 for Cloyes double roller timing chain and sprocket set
$15 for five quarts of oil and an oil filter
$12 for coolant
$25 for the oil pan gasket
$20 for the water pump gasket and timing chain gasket set

Fortunately, I already had the strap wrench, harmonic balancer puller, and big crescent wrench for the fan.

$112 + 5 hours of my own labor and lots of hand cleaner wasn't bad for a new timing chain.

 

[yelo333]

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
Timing belt? I thought only honda pulled that crap and toyota at least used a chain.

The civic switched from belt to chain with the current 8th gen. (2006)

 

[StageLeft]

I think that is a good price. GJ also not going to the stealership.