Timing Belt - OEM or Conti? Best Source to Buy From?

malone · Jul 18, 2009

I have a 1996 Corolla 1.6L 3-speed auto.

Continential has a pretty good reputation in other cars, but based on my searches here I'm getting the impression that OEM is better. True?

I'm quoted by a local Toyota dealer $108.68 CAD ($97 USD) + tax for timing belt, valve cover gasket, and 4 washers.

Now, through a different source I was quoted $58 CAD ($52 USD) for all the above except that the belt and tensioner are Conti brand. Add maybe $5 for OEM.

The dealer quoted me $22.50 CAD + tax for auto transmission fluid for 3-speed but I'm not sure if that's per litre or complete 3 litres. The other source quoted me $24 USD for 3 litres of Lubromoly ATF III. Add $13 USD for an auto transmission filter kit.

Does anyone have suggestions?

REN69 · Jul 21, 2009

Sumitomo seems to make a lot of the OEM "rubber" for Toyota, they also make a lot of the spark plug wires.

Flashmn · Jul 20, 2009

Conti is just fine as are most non OEM brands. Toyota doesnt make their belts anyways, I think european assembled ones use gates and japanese ones use sumitomo.

ToyotaHankins · Jul 20, 2009

Don't mess around with after market parts. Get OEM. Try http://www.toyotapartscheap.com/ for parts. they are a good price.

kevmac · Jul 18, 2009

Why are you monkeying around with the timing belt?:disappoin Get the oem. Experiment with parts that are less critical and time consuming to change like a valve cover gasket.

I recommend purolator filters: trans, oil, air. @ pepboys.
Don't buy dealer oils. They are proably repackaged anyway. Get dex/merc fluid anywhere. If you want to do something really nice and expensive, get synthetic trans oil (mobil1, valvoline, redline, amsoil, royal purple). To flush, pull the plug and refill. Repeat twice (3 total) after a few miles each time to get it to about 92% flushed.

Don't forget to change the differential fluid:hammer:

Timing Belt - OEM or Conti? Best Source to Buy From?

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