Dealer service blows! Timing cover loose...

[threedom]

The upper timing belt cover almost came off our car. The gasket was getting wrapped up in the timing gears. I noticed it when I went to change spark plugs, rotor and cap. Well, they don't even carry the bolt or the gasket and said basically, tough noogies!
I was able to get a 6x1x25 bolt @ Home Depot and reuse the gasket. I don't think I will ever have someone service our car unless it's a last resort, and I will plan on finding a good indy rather than utilizing the hacks at our local dealer.
They also told us that there's no differential to put fluid into, because it's a front wheel drive car, even though the owner's manual said to change it. It really steams my clams!

[97KaMuRi]

Originally posted by threedom
The upper timing belt cover almost came off our car. The gasket was getting wrapped up in the timing gears. I noticed it when I went to change spark plugs, rotor and cap. Well, they don't even carry the bolt or the gasket and said basically, tough noogies!
I was able to get a 6x1x25 bolt @ Home Depot and reuse the gasket. I don't think I will ever have someone service our car unless it's a last resort, and I will plan on finding a good indy rather than utilizing the hacks at our local dealer.
They also told us that there's no differential to put fluid into, because it's a front wheel drive car, even though the owner's manual said to change it. It really steams my clams!

dude that sucks man.

[denuder]

Who is your local dealer? Toyota of Durham or Fred Anderson?

[88 LE]

Originally posted by threedom
The upper timing belt cover almost came off our car. The gasket was getting wrapped up in the timing gears. I noticed it when I went to change spark plugs, rotor and cap.

Damn.

Well, they don't even carry the bolt or the gasket and said basically, tough noogies!

WTF?

They can order the parts.

They also told us that there's no differential to put fluid into, because it's a front wheel drive car, even though the owner's manual said to change it. It really steams my clams!

F**king idiots.

If that was the case they might as well get rid of the tranny and bolt the axles straight to the crankshaft.

Even my 1/8 scale r/c car has a differential. 3 to be exact.

[threedom]

Toyota of Durham.

Sure they said they could order the parts, but I didn't want to wait, it was a simple low torque screw and the gasket wasn't too bad, it's only a dust shield type gasket. Anyway, it's been uncovered for I don't know how long, I mean you could look down and see the timing belt. One screw was very loose and one gone.

Ok, to be fair to them it was 3 years since they did the work, but the car had only 21k miles then and now it only has 36k. It has been my wife's car since it had 17 miles, way before we met. She never took it anywhere but that dealer for anything except tires. I don't think it should have came loose regardless of the time.

I plan on doing everything myself if at all possible.

BTW, Where do I get the factory service manual?

[jhbhatia]

Originally posted by threedom
They also told us that there's no differential to put fluid into, because it's a front wheel drive car, even though the owner's manual said to change it. It really steams my clams!

Do you have a 5sfe? and if so...is it auto? (at least thats what i'm presuming) I know the differential and the tranny have their own drains...but the dealers refill those with ATF...Ie. UNLESS you have a m/t...then the linkage is not the same (duh!!).

[threedom]

I have a four cylinder automatic.

[88 LE]

Originally posted by threedom
BTW, Where do I get the factory service manual?

You can get them from the dealership or through some 1-800 number.

I don't know what the number is, but its been posted on this forum so doing a search should find it.