Some advice needed please.

[TAZMAN]

Hi all.

Being as I'm a complete mechanical numbnutz, I went to my local garage today for a price to fully service the engine and replace the timing belt on my Surf. I've used him a number of times for different cars in the past and have been fairly happy with the cost and work that was done, however, I came away feeling a bit miffed and wondering if he was trying to have me over cos I've got a (deep breath...a "dreaded import")

After being told a normal service is £80.00p, but mine will be about £120.00p cos its a turbo diesel the filters are major expensive and difficult to source.. Well ok, benefit of the doubt given here.

The timing belt he says should be about £60.00p for labour and about £30 - £40.00p to buy ("cos it's an import mate"), but I'm sure I've seen them cheaper to buy somewhere on here, but what's worried me now is he says "If the timing belt tensioners are leaking, I could have big probs and will possibly be without my Surf for a fffffortnight, this too will be mega expensive and can only be diagnosed when the timing cover or something is removed".

Can someone tell me if they have experienced problems with the tensioners and if it is possible to spot a problem with them prior to my engine being pulled apart, or do you think this guy is trying to make some money to cover the long holiday he's probably just had?

My Surf is just over the 65,000miles and although no T-light is showing, I feel I would be doing the right thing to have it replaced and have a full service with filter changes.



Apologies for being so long winded.

Cheers

Trev

[Koi]

Hi all.

Being as I'm a complete mechanical numbnutz, I went to my local garage today for a price to fully service the engine and replace the timing belt on my Surf. I've used him a number of times for different cars in the past and have been fairly happy with the cost and work that was done, however, I came away feeling a bit miffed and wondering if he was trying to have me over cos I've got a (deep breath...a "dreaded import")

After being told a normal service is £80.00p, but mine will be about £120.00p cos its a turbo diesel the filters are major expensive and difficult to source.. Well ok, benefit of the doubt given here.

The timing belt he says should be about £60.00p for labour and about £30 - £40.00p to buy ("cos it's an import mate"), but I'm sure I've seen them cheaper to buy somewhere on here, but what's worried me now is he says "If the timing belt tensioners are leaking, I could have big probs and will possibly be without my Surf for a fffffortnight, this too will be mega expensive and can only be diagnosed when the timing cover or something is removed".

Can someone tell me if they have experienced problems with the tensioners and if it is possible to spot a problem with them prior to my engine being pulled apart, or do you think this guy is trying to make some money to cover the long holiday he's probably just had?

My Surf is just over the 65,000miles and although no T-light is showing, I feel I would be doing the right thing to have it replaced and have a full service with filter changes.



Apologies for being so long winded.

Cheers

Trev

This garage wouldn't happen to be close to where you live ****** Auto's?

Timing belt is about £20.00 Milners, complete filter kit about £15.00 from milners. Yes extremely hard to source if you run a garage.
Never heard of any one else having tensioner trouble.
Hell get the filters and I'll pop round and help you do them, drain oil & whilst that is draining change air filter and fuel filter then change oil filter replace sump plug hehehe and refill with oil.
Not done a belt on a 3rd gen so not sure how easy/hard it is compared to a 2nd gen.

[kevin01]

Parts Prices

Hi,
Try www.toyotahilux.com they specialise in these vehicles and only Surf parts including imports they have a pdf downloadable catalogue and they are UK based.
Iv'e only just bought a surf and I was suprised how cheap these parts are and they are not hard to get.
The word IMPORT with some is a licence to print money based on their greed and what they like to think of as our lack of knowlege.

Hope this helps.

Kevin

[TAZMAN]

This garage wouldn't happen to be close to where you live ****** Auto's?

Timing belt is about £20.00 Milners, complete filter kit about £15.00 from milners. Yes extremely hard to source if you run a garage.
Never heard of any one else having tensioner trouble.
Hell get the filters and I'll pop round and help you do them, drain oil & whilst that is draining change air filter and fuel filter then change oil filter replace sump plug hehehe and refill with oil.
Not done a belt on a 3rd gen so not sure how easy/hard it is compared to a 2nd gen.

Thanks Nigel, that would be brilliant. It would give me a chance to see the master at work
I'll get the gear and when it's convenient for you. I'll be ready.
I dont mind using my Surf as a guinea pig to do the belt.
The garage is closer to you than me, theyre mostly cowboys up by me......oooooh hush my mouth.
I've looked on here and not found any reference to the tensioners either, so I'm hoping he's wrong, but I remember now he did quote it as a 4runner and not a Surf

Cheers

Trev

[TAZMAN]

Hi,
Try www.toyotahilux.com they specialise in these vehicles and only Surf parts including imports they have a pdf downloadable catalogue and they are UK based.
Iv'e only just bought a surf and I was suprised how cheap these parts are and they are not hard to get.
The word IMPORT with some is a licence to print money based on their greed and what they like to think of as our lack of knowlege.

Hope this helps.

Kevin

Hi Kevin.

Thanks for the link mate, very handy to have.
I think youre right about the Import part, it seems to be just another band wagon for them to jump on, so it's a question of shopping around more. It's taken a while but more and more Insurance companies are taking on imports and when there's enough of them, the prices will become competitive, hopefully garages and the like will do the same.

I hope you are enjoying your new Surf as much as I am mine.

Cheers.

Trev

[Guest]

Hi Kevin.

Thanks for the link mate, very handy to have.
I think youre right about the Import part, it seems to be just another band wagon for them to jump on, so it's a question of shopping around more. It's taken a while but more and more Insurance companies are taking on imports and when there's enough of them, the prices will become competitive, hopefully garages and the like will do the same.

I hope you are enjoying your new Surf as much as I am mine.

Cheers.

Trev

Supposedly the 3rd Gen belt is easier to change than the 2nd Gen. Or rather the 3.0 is easier than the 2.4 which is a bit of a pig.

Mine had the Belt changed by a local garage including parts and new oil, air and fuel filters plus a coolant flush and new antifreeze, all for the princely sum of £100. I couldn't be bothered at the time to do it myself

So they are trying to stitch you up mate. Take Nigels offer, might even help myself if I'm around.

Cheers

[speedymacfish]

milners?

Great link posted on here, found it most pleasing!
But who and where are milners? Do the do mail order?


G.

[Koi]

Great link posted on here, found it most pleasing!
But who and where are milners? Do the do mail order?


G.

Milners Tel: 01629 734411
Website: www.milnerconv.co.uk
Mail order: Yes

[NiftyNev]

Hi all.

Being as I'm a complete mechanical numbnutz, I went to my local garage today for a price to fully service the engine and replace the timing belt on my Surf. I've used him a number of times for different cars in the past and have been fairly happy with the cost and work that was done, however, I came away feeling a bit miffed and wondering if he was trying to have me over cos I've got a (deep breath...a "dreaded import")

After being told a normal service is £80.00p, but mine will be about £120.00p cos its a turbo diesel the filters are major expensive and difficult to source.. Well ok, benefit of the doubt given here.

The timing belt he says should be about £60.00p for labour and about £30 - £40.00p to buy ("cos it's an import mate"), but I'm sure I've seen them cheaper to buy somewhere on here, but what's worried me now is he says "If the timing belt tensioners are leaking, I could have big probs and will possibly be without my Surf for a fffffortnight, this too will be mega expensive and can only be diagnosed when the timing cover or something is removed".



Can someone tell me if they have experienced problems with the tensioners and if it is possible to spot a problem with them prior to my engine being pulled apart, or do you think this guy is trying to make some money to cover the long holiday he's probably just had?

My Surf is just over the 65,000miles and although no T-light is showing, I feel I would be doing the right thing to have it replaced and have a full service with filter changes.



Apologies for being so long winded.

Cheers

Trev

This guy must be thinking that the 3 litre has a hydraulic tensioner.I have a 2.4 but I'm sure the 3 litre is the same with a tensioner that is spring loaded.Check the bearing in the tensioner while you are doing the belt and make sure it is ok.Also check water pump and any other bits under timing cover while it is off.

I have heard that someone has changed the timing belt on a 3 litre in half an hour.Much more complicated on the 2.4s.Follow the advice of the others and do it yourself.

Neville

[andy]

The tensioner is hydraulic and has to be compressed in a vice or similar , then you slot a 1.5mm rod through the top to get it back in , then release it once it's all bolted back .

I dont think that it could be done in 1/2 hour , maybe 1 1/2 the first time , then an hour after that .

[NiftyNev]

The tensioner is hydraulic and has to be compressed in a vice or similar , then you slot a 1.5mm rod through the top to get it back in , then release it once it's all bolted back .

I dont think that it could be done in 1/2 hour , maybe 1 1/2 the first time , then an hour after that .

Thanks Andy

Just been checking and the tensioner is totally different to the 2.4s.

I think the guy who said half an hour had a slow running watch.

Neville