I am new to the 3.0L v6 in these cars but my brother has one and wants me to do the thermostat for him, as well as the timing belt and his spark plugs.
I will say that I have rebuilt engines and am very mechanicly capable. I just don't know where these things are on his engine and how hard they will be to get to. If anyone could give me directions/advise and a 1-10 beer rating on how hard all this will be to do in an afternoon. (10 beers being a huge pain in the arse and one being an oil change) Just need to know soon so I know if i can do it or not.
Thermostat- 3 beers
Plugs - Front - 1 beer; rear 6 beers - have to pull intake plenum.
Timing Belt - 10 beers due to access
I can handle access problems and tearing things apart... never set timing on a car... Are there any special tools needed to do the timing belt or is it just tear it apart, replace belt, and bolt back up????? Didn't know if you have to reset timing or not? Toyota and local garages are wanting $500 to do it and my little brother doesn't have the cash to do it... please tell me more if you you have done the timing belt yourself. Thanks
I can handle access problems and tearing things apart... never set timing on a car... Are there any special tools needed to do the timing belt or is it just tear it apart, replace belt, and bolt back up????? Didn't know if you have to reset timing or not? .....
There are a bunch of DIYs on doing the timing belt on the net, many with pix.
Also, there is a way for $10 to access all Toyota Dealer info and TSBs, as well as dealer's service manual on the net, and with that + good speed connection, you can download the whole thing.
Do some searching on this forum, saw reference to where to do this in either this 2nd gen Avalon forum, or 3rd gen Avalon forum.
I remember reading it Thur DIY on timing belt, no reset of timing needed, but you have to be sure not to CHANGE current timing.
If you do fairly easy to reset.
Also, I remember that it is a good idea to change the idler pulleys, and of course the water pump while they are easily accessible.
Since I've had problem with replacement thermostat sticking closed on a BMW I own, would not mess with good working thermostat; let sleeping dogs lay.
Kits for all this stuff available - various belts, pump, hoses, etc., inexpensive at www.RockAuto.com
.just my 2 cents.
__________________
One Tequila, Two Tequila,Three Tequila...Floor
.Gen 3 - 2005 Touring Black on Black
.2nd Toy: BMW 328ic Convertible
Also 500 bucks for that job is too steep. Its a toyota not an Audi...
My local toyota dealer asks 325 plus tax, but I'm sure you can find a cheaper shop if you look hard enough. Where are you located?
????
And here I understood that wages in Alaska were HIGH.
Overall those jobs are an easy 5-6 hours with over $100 in parts.
Plugs alone will run $10± @, ((and water pump should be done at same time))
$325?????
__________________
One Tequila, Two Tequila,Three Tequila...Floor
.Gen 3 - 2005 Touring Black on Black
.2nd Toy: BMW 328ic Convertible
Riick, Sorry I should have clarified. 325 for a timing belt change at Toyota.
I can't comment on the spark plug job, but I can imagine its a pain the ass like most cars.
Also, I haven't lived in Alaska since 2008...I don' think our Avalons would do so great in Anchorage snow.
Last edited by supercoupe91; 07-11-2010 at 11:21 AM.
I am in Des Moines Iowa. We have a great toyota dealer but I'd rather not pay them $40-$60/hr for 3-6 hrs of shop time. If i can do this stuff myself I'll just have my little brother come over and we'll do it together. Plus my dad has a camry with a 3.0L too... I am sure he'll need me to do it to his car soon too. Might as well learn on one and then know what the heck we are doing on the next one...
PS: I will never in my life buy a toyota with a timing belt! That's why I go my rav4!!!!!
I have the plugs for my '03 Avalon. I changed the plugs on my daughter's '99-same engine. Not really too bad, if you have the assortment of tools for limited access, including an air ratchet.
I have time, so when I sized up the job, I decided it was time to do a thorough throttle body cleaning, so I ordered up the gaskets to remove and clean up everything upstream of the intake manifold. It shouldn't really take much more time than working in the tight space.
Just did the original plugs on our '04 Avalon with 117,000 miles. I've been putting it off for months after reading some of the difficulties others have had. Took a little over an hour do do all 6. I've done worse plug jobs.
The plenum does not have to come off. And I didn't use an air ratchet. Besides my 2 big hands here's what I used:
5/8" flexible spark plug socket (3/8" drive)
6" extension
3" extension
1 1/2" extension
A flex head 3/8" ratchet (mine is a long Blackhawk # 34947)
3/8" fine tooth ratchet
10 mm offset ratchet wrench or 10 mm shallow socket (wrench is smaller)
Needle nose pliers and a small flat blade screwdriver to gently squeeze/pry the clip to remove the wire connector
Anti-seize lubricant for the plugs and coil hold down bolts
After letting the engine cool a bit I did the driver's rear plug first. Screwdriver used to unclip the wire connector from the coil. Use the spark plug socket with the 1 1/2 and 3" extensions and flex head ratchet in the space between the plenum runners. Duct tape the 3 pieces together where they meet. That will absolutely save you a lot of grief. No electrical tape - it will melt and fall off. After taking out the coil by removing the one 10mm bolt holding it, slide the socket assembly down and catch the plug before putting on the ratchet wrench. Once loosened, remove the ratchet wrench and unscrew the socket assembly with the plug. Install the new plug the same way with a little anti-seize on the threads (makes screwing the plug in easier). Do not plug the wire connector on yet -leaving it off gives you a little more working room for the center plug.
I did the right rear next again with the flex head ratchet. Unplug the vacuum hose on the plenum near the plug and push aside. As you remove the coil turn it 180 degrees to work it out around the obstacles. Install the new plug but not the coil yet. By reaching around and through the runners of the plenum the center plug will come out with the fine tooth ratchet. Once the center plug is in reinstall the right rear coil and plug in all 3 coils.
Front plugs only need the 6" or longer extension taped to the spark plug socket.
I used the OE Denso Iridium plugs and the engine felt more responsive even though the gap on the old plugs was 042".
A flexible spark plug socket, or any flexible socket is one that has the universal joint already added to the socket. Sears, Pep Boys or even Lowes should have it. A u-joint/flexible joint taped to the spark plug socket will do the same thing
When taking out the left (driver's side) rear plug I found it easier to run the ratchet handle through the space (hole) between the plenum runners.
Im going to change the plugs on my 03 Avy. XLS today. I bought the NGK Laser Iridiums for $6.99 at Advance. The rears dont look so bad, at least ther are only 3 of them....The biggest pain looks to be dealing with the rear plug connectors
My worst plug change was on a 97 Explorer 4x4 SOHC V6, talk about a nightmare and a knuckle buster...I changed them 3 times over 200,000 plus miles and the last time was just as much of a PITA as the first time
Just completed the plug exchange on my 03. Pretty straight forward, work from driver side for center and left plug. Passenger rear, you need to remove the PCV tube. The coil clips were the biggest pain. Overall an easy job. Used basic tools. Total time: 45 mins being the first time
3/8 standard ratchet
3/8 extensions 1.5 and 6.0 inch
3/8 swiwel
10mm socket and 16pt. shorty box in
5/8" Spark Plug Socket with rubber insert
flat head screw driver
flash light
6 NGK Iridium Laser plugs
Duct tape to manage tool connection
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