Problem after oil changed at store - Please Help!

[joey.bai]

So yesterday I took my Camry to Speedee to get an oil change. I've been driving it without problems for as long I had it and it was no different that morning. The following afternoon, I took it to Speedee for an oil change. 20 minutes later, they bring me outside and I notice a loud knocking sound. They told me the sound was caused by a bad timing belt. They also said that I should change the water pump while I'm at it. I asked how much it would cost and they told me $700. I don't have that kind of money on me so I decided to wait it off. They also added that if the car starts to overheat, I should turn the car off and call a tow truck. Pretty strange warning for a timing belt... I drive 2 blocks down the street to fill up gas and meet up with a friend that was across the street from Speedee. He said it sounded pretty nasty and we start to leave. I drive over a speed bump in the parking lot and the engine dies. I get out to push the car and I notice that something is leaking under the car. I manage to push it to a parking spot away from cars. 5 minutes later, there is a huge puddle. I look under and see that something is leaking from the front passenger side. I go back to Speedee and told them something leaked out. A guy comes with me with oil and I open up the hood - turns out it wasn't even oil... It was coolant. My coolant was leaked dry. But, I don't think the engine overheated because the temperature gauge did not spike up.
Anyways, here's the question: Did the mechanics at Speedee rig my car? I mean, I've been driving it all morning with no problems - no knocking, but right after I get an oil change, there's magically a knocking sound and 20 minutes later, my car's dead.
Any input or insight would be welcome.
Thanks!

*I drive a 2000 Camry. 94300 miles.

[AlmightyCamry777]

There's probably no way to tell for certain if they rigged your car or not. to me there's probably no point in accusing them of it either. A car can run for a long time with no problems and then suddenly develop one, it could be sheer coincidence that this problem happened now, especially if the car has high mileage.

Does Speedy do this type of work in their shop? Changing timing belts and water pumps i mean? If not then they may have no reason to rig your car.
the only clue there may be are clean areas on your engine where there shouldn't be, like the timing belt cover area, because that has to come off for anyone to access the belt or water pump. Take a look at these areas, if they look undisturbed, i'm guessing that the tech wouldn't bother to go to all that trouble to make something bad happen in your engine in order to sell you a repair.

the loud knocking sound could be a very loose timing belt slapping the inside of the timing belt cover. Maybe that's what the technician thought they heard and they could be right.

The leak probably came from your water pump...Water pumps go bad frequently, i have had them last over 100,000 miles and some lasted only 50,000 miles, it is unpredictable how long one is going to last before it starts leaking. But if you've never changed your timing belt (4 cylinder 60,000 mile interval on most model years) then maybe it is worn out.

the timing belt drives the water pump, so if the belt were loose due to a worn out tensioner, it could indeed cause the engine to make that loud noise and possibly cause the car to overheat too (due to the belt not driving the water pump fast enough) and that might have been what they were talking about.

[joey.bai]

The shop does do the service to replace water pumps and timing belts. they quoted me at $700. By the way, is the timing belt located generally in the same area? I ask because they guy that worked on my car pin pointed exactly where the problem was. Another thing, he didn't really say that the water pump was broken. He just said it'd be convenient to replace the water pump if they were to change the timing belt.

[Mike Gerber]

The water pump is behind the timing belt. That's why many people like to change it out when they change the timing belt; most of the labor has been covered by the timing belt change.

You never said what engine the car has; I4 or V6. It's hard to judge what kind of a price $700 is without knowing which engine is in there. On the surface that strikes me as high, especially if the car is an I4. I would call around to a few shops in your area and tell them what engine you have and ask what the cost would be to change the timing belt and water pump. Again we are assuming that it is the waterpump that is leaking. No one can really know that without inspecting your car first. You didn't do any damage to the car if the engine temperture did not go above the middle of the gage on the car.

Mike

[joey.bai]

Sorry, it's a V6. The guys at Speedee said the "timing seal broke" so that's why everything leaked. But this goes beyond reasonable doubt for me... It is just to big of a coincidence for me that the problem developed right after an oil change.

[AlmightyCamry777]

Originally Posted by joey.bai

Sorry, it's a V6. The guys at Speedee said the "timing seal broke" so that's why everything leaked. But this goes beyond reasonable doubt for me... It is just to big of a coincidence for me that the problem developed right after an oil change.

Now you've got ME suspicious. Because there's no such thing as a "timing seal". There is a "timing belt cover seal" which only seals out dirt and seals in nothing. the coolant leak is probably coming from the water pump especially if it is coming from the timing belt area.