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My wife drives a 99 4-cylinder Camry and she needs a timing belt done. We get this offer in the mail a lot from the dealership for $199 but this dealership we got was for $179. My sister also has a Camry and she tells me that she gets the same offer in her town for $179 a lot. I figure that the difference is the cost of living thing based on location. So now this one dealer has it for $179. My wife and I want to take advantage of it.
So I called them and find out that they say it takes about 4 hours and they only replace the timing belt for $179. I do timing belts on VWs myself for a lot of people. I know better. I find it odd that 4 hours for $179 is too good to be true cuz I charge $180 for labor for VW timing belts and it takes 4 hours also as the owner provides parts.
So what is the scoop or catch with that $179 coupon offer? Can anyone list all the parts and its prices (roughly) that should be changed when doing timing belts. We got the water pump replaced under warranty about 20K miles ago as it was leaky bad.
I will list the parts that tend to get replaced on a VW timing belt job. The parts are always replaced regardless unlike dealers. On VW TDI timing belts, the parts are Timing belt, tensioner, rollers, camshaft seal if leaking, water pump, engine mount bolts and serpentine belt. The engine mount bolts are stretch bolts so they have to be replaced regardless, unlike dealers where they re-use them! (it can cause engine dropped/hanging stories.)
On the Camry, I expect Timing belt, tensioner, rollers, and serpentine belt to be replaced. For $179, which is labor and timing belt only. I expect to pay extra on tensioner and rollers. What are the prices for those? Is serpentine belt something I can do? Is there anything else I miss?
Did you read the fine print? I get those offers all the time from my local dealership... the catch (at least with the offers I get) is that you only get that price if you first get the 60K mile service, which for most of the dealerships around here, runs around 400-500 bucks. So in total they are getting about 600-700 bucks...which to me is a rip off... I'm lucky to have a mechanic in the family...so I get my car maintained there.
It doesn't have a fine print on doing other services. It only says that it can't be combined with other discounts. I will scan it and upload it tomorrow, it is postcard size so not a biggie.
Hey, I noticed that you live in Milwuakee. I go there often as my family lives there as well as doing timing belts on the VW TDI. So how much and what parts do I need if I can have your family member change it out for me. I will pay cash I as I get cash for my timing belts. I can drive down one weekend with the Camry instead of the New Beetle.
I've replaced timing belt for 179.99 for i4 camry's before. WHile your at it, the drive belts replaced too (its like 30 dollars in additional parts). Meaning its would be 210+tax for all (including labor). its not a rip off...its just that some people believe dealerships are a ripoff and don't go there...
So I called them and find out that they say it takes about 4 hours and they only replace the timing belt for $179. I do timing belts on VWs myself for a lot of people. I know better. I find it odd that 4 hours for $179 is too good to be true cuz I charge $180 for labor for VW timing belts and it takes 4 hours also as the owner provides parts.
I think the 4 hours is an overstatement. The guys at the dealership should be able to do it in less time (half?) than that. I'm sure they'll pressure you to replace x,y,z (other belts, tensioner, etc.) for lots of extra money.
I think the 4 hours is an overstatement. The guys at the dealership should be able to do it in less time (half?) than that. I'm sure they'll pressure you to replace x,y,z (other belts, tensioner, etc.) for lots of extra money.
Are you sure about half hour ??!?!? Can someone move that quick??.
^^ you pay a flat rate with the coupon, that pricing includes parts+labor, so why do you care how long will it take for your car to be ready? Read my other comments above, just as long as the timing belt is out, might as well replace other drive belts (aka. alternator belt, powersteering belt, a/c fan belt) - each belt costs close to $12/each individually (or $30 when grouped with timing belt including labor) in parts and labor is FREE (yeah, its included in the count time for timing). Hence my comments above.
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