Serpentine Belt Replacement question on a '00 Toyota Camry

[DietDrThunder]

For those of you that have actually done it or had it done, how long did it take you or how many hours were you charged for having the serpentine belt replaced? I've replaced them on my own Buick's and Chevrolets and it took me about 10 minutes. The Phd. I work with took his Camry to the Toyota dealership and they charged him 3 hours of labor(at $90 an hour) plus $60 for the belt. I told him that he got ripped off big time. Am I wrong? Are Toyota Camry's that much harder to work on?

 

[DietDrThunder]

Surely someone here has had this done?

 

[Blieb]

You sure he doesn't mean timing belt?

3 hours is a bit much I'd imagine.

 

[DietDrThunder]

No it is the Serpintine belt, I've seen the invoice.

 

[Quixfire]

It must be a V6 engine and they must have removed an engine mount and possible other componets to access the drivebelt.

I told him that he got ripped off big time. Am I wrong?

Yes, if your friend didn't ask for your advice. Most people have their vehicle serviced by dealerships and/or garages because they value there time more than their money. I know quite a few Hot rodders and DIYers that prefer me to work on there daily drivers and some of the hard stuff on there classic cars because they don't want to deal with it. I have made it a point not to question another garages prices or diagnosis unless I am asked to by my customers.

 

[Lorax]

don't have a camry, but had it done a week ago. took about an hour at carX.

 

[DietDrThunder]

I just asked him and he say's that his camry has the 4 cylinder engine. The reason this came up was that he was asking me about it because he knows that I do all my own maintenance. His battery went dead (4 year old battery fried in the 100 degree heat) and he called the dealership to tow him in. They were about to replace his battery and they told him his Serpentine belt needed replacing. He told them to go ahead and do it. This is the same dealership that 2 months ago ruined his transmission when he took it in for service(he got 3 blocks away from the dealership when it fell apart on the highway. Being that he is a Phd. with no common sense, I try to look out for him. Now he's going around spouting that Toyota's are crap automobiles and he'll never buy another. How do you explain to someone that it is their fault for not using their brain and continuing to use the same dealership. As the old saying goes "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: Cepak
I just asked him and he say's that his camry has the 4 cylinder engine. The reason this came up was that he was asking me about it because he knows that I do all my own maintenance. His battery went dead (4 year old battery fried in the 100 degree heat) and he called the dealership to tow him in. They were about to replace his battery and they told him his Serpentine belt needed replacing. He told them to go ahead and do it. This is the same dealership that 2 months ago ruined his transmission when he took it in for service(he got 3 blocks away from the dealership when it fell apart on the highway. Being that he is a Phd. with no common sense, I try to look out for him. Now he's going around spouting that Toyota's are crap automobiles and he'll never buy another. How do you explain to someone that it is their fault for not using their brain and continuing to use the same dealership. As the old saying goes "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

Send him an anonymous letter

 

[Quixfire]

Was the three hours billed just for the drivebelt or was it for the battery and diagnosis too?

 

[DietDrThunder]

Labor

0.5 hours Battery Installation and Diagnostic - $ 45.00
3.0 hours Serpentine belt replacement - $270.00

Parts

Battery - $ 72.99
Serpentine Belt - $ 59.99

Tax - $ 10.97

Total - $458.96

 

[Blieb]

I was gonna say about lifting out some engine mounts. I know they have to do it for timing belts / chains in some cars ... wasn't sure about serp ...

My dad got over 120k out of a 96 Camry. He only got rid of it because normal things started to go, and he wanted to put the money in a new car, instead of the upkeep.

Hell, I have a buddy with 80k on a 98 Tacoma, he's never put a dime into it until 2 weeks ago when he bought a starter.

 

[Pepsi90919]

well it took 45 seconds on a 3800 and 20 seconds on a 4.3 V6, if that means anything

 

[brtspears2]

When is this belt suppose to be changed? I'm looking at the belt, the ribs in the belt are all smooth, no cracks all the way, but it's 4 yrs old and 67k miles.

 

[zixxer]

i have only seen/heard bad things about camrys.

my grandmother has a 99 and has had nothing but problems
shes already had her battery replaced 3 times (third time I put in a autozone 10 year warranty)
all kinds of windshield wiper issues,
has ALREADY had to have her timing belt replaced

among other issues


i've had my 98 200sx and have had little to no problems at all