J.A.'s Toyota 4Runner Sport Edition
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Concept:
Information regarding Toyota 4Runner 4.7L Timing Belt Service.
This webpage is not a DIY step-by-step tutorial or how-to but rather a place to archive research and information I gathered
when planning to get my Timing Belt Service performed by at a Toyota Dealership by a Toyota Master Certified Technician.
Why service is needed:
The 4th Gen (2003-2009) Toyota 4Runners with the 2UZ-FE 4.7L V-8 use a Timing Belt, while the IGR-FE 4.0L V-6 models use a Timing Chain.
Timing Belt Service on the Toyota 4Runner 2UZ-FE 4.7L V-8 engine is a requirement per the scheduled maintenance guide at
90,000 Miles or 9 years (108 Months), whichever comes first.
Toyota makes no mention of Timing Chain Service for the IGR-FE 4.0L V-6 models in the Scheduled Maintenance Guide.
The 2UZ-FE 4.7L V-8 is an interference engine. An interference engine is a type of internal combustion engine in which one or more
valves in the fully open position extends into any area through which the piston may travel.
Interference engines rely on timing gears, chains, or belts to prevent the piston from striking the valves by ensuring that the valves
are closed when the piston is near top dead center. Incorrect timing, caused by a timing belt failure or breakage may result in the pistons
and valves colliding and causing extensive internal engine damage.
Professional or DIY Service:
I have considered DIY and reviewed many of the videos showing the process. Even though I have done all maintenance to date myself
and have never used the dealer service department thus far, this is one job I would prefer to have Toyota perform.
Having this job done by a Toyota Certified Technician is sort of an insurance policy that if anything goes wrong,
Toyota is responsible for it kind of thing. And if something goes wrong here with this being an interference engine,
the cost would be very high even though the likelihood of a mishap may be low.
Pricing:
Timing Belt replacement is one of the more expensive maintenance services that needs to be performed.
Both the parts and the labor are costly. I personally went to 4 Toyota Dealership Service Departments to get a detailed quote of the
parts and labor. I found that this can easily be a $3,000+ job if you do not shop around.
Labor Hours:
The 4 Toyota Dealership Service Departments had a range of hours quoted for this job of between 6 and 11 hours.
The labor rates per hour ranged from $160/hr to $220/hr.
I believe that the book rate for this job is approximately 5 hours and that the service writer adds a cushion for any unforseen circumstances.
The problem is that is everything goes smooth, they are not going to lower the quoted labor total.
So look for a service department that is willing to stay as close to that 5 hour mark as possible.
Parts Pricing:
The 4 Toyota Parts Departments quoted similar ranges of pricing for the OEM Parts recommended for this job totalling an average of $1,250 with Tax included.
The Dealer I ultimately decided to use for this job, allowed me to source all my own parts. This was a very significant savings
and I was able to source all the parts, including shipping and tax, for less than 1/3 the dealership pricing.
If going the bring your own parts route, you should really only consider using Genuine OEM Toyota Replacement Parts.
It is well known that many of Toyota OEM parts are manuafactured by AISIN. Purchasing the AISIN TKT-021 Timing Belt Kit for 2UZ-FE 4.7L engines
will help with your overall cost of this job significantly while utilizing OEM parts.
When sourcing your parts, be aware and careful to avoid counterfeits as this is all to uncommon online now.
If using Amazon, be sure to purchase from either Amazon itself or if a 3rd party seller, ensure it is a Toyota Dealer or from AISIN directly.
My Situation:
I am having the initial Timing Belt Service done at the 16 year 9 month mark on the vehicle though I have only 45k miles at this point.
So basically half the recommended miles but nearly double the service interval time.
Again, and this is important, Toyota says to do this service at 90,000 Miles or 9 years (108 Months), whichever comes first.
I am not recommending you do anything different than they state to do.
I have been on the Toyota Forums for over 20 years now and seen many folks go longer miles and years with no issue, but if you do this
you are taking a risk, even if a calculated one. Remember this is supposedly an interference type engine.
My vehicle is always garage kept in the northeast (read: not a substantially hot environment) and never parked outside, if that matters at all.
If you live in a harsher environment or subject your vehicle to more abuse, you will want to adhere much closer to the manual intervals.
Total job pricing and detailed parts listing:
The below table is what I paid in January 2024 in the NYC Tri-State area after getting quotes at 4 Toyota Service Departments in my area.
The dealer that I went with seemed fair on the labor hours as well as rate.
Most importantly they had NO issue at all if I bring my own parts, though they highly prefer to work with OEM, which is what I obtained.
When performing Timing Belt Service, it is best practice to change out the Water Pump and associated parts (thermostat and gaskets) at this time,
even though this is not listed in the Maintenance Guide to be done. The reason for this is that you should not be charged much if any additional
labor cost to do this at the same time of the Timing Belt job since all the many parts in the way of replacing this are already removed to
get access to the belt. You don't want the water pump to fail a few years after the Timing Belt Service as you will have another 6 hours of
labor cost incurred to do just the water pump by itself.
You will note on my table, that I listed the Camshaft Seals (I believe them to be part #90311-71002 for VVTI equipped 4Runners) of which two are needed
(since this is a DOHC Dual Overhead Camshaft engine) as optional. Changing these out can add significant part and labor cost.
Many will say to do this at the Timing belt service. Others will say to do this only if they are leaking.
With my mileage being 45k (half the recommended amount) I decided to forgo this part of the service.
TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT:
$153.68
Amazon
Kit: AISIN TKT-021. Timing belt 13568-09070
Incld in Kit
Amazon
Tensioner 13540-50030
Incld in Kit
Amazon
Left Idler pulley 13503-0F010
Incld in Kit
Amazon
Right Idler pulley 13505-0F010
Incld in Kit
Amazon
Water pump 16100-59275-83
Incld in Kit
Amazon
Water pump gasket 16271-0F010
Incld in Kit
Amazon
Cooling system O-Ring 96761-35035
Incld in Kit
Amazon
Cooling system O-Ring #2 96761-00103
$38.15
Conicelli
Thermostat 90916-03138
$5.36
Conicelli
Thermostat Seal 16346-50010
$41.34
Conicelli
Serpentine belt 90916-02585
$12.45
Conicelli
Crankshaft seal 90311-A0001
$24.82
Local Toyota
Formed-in-Place Gasket 00295-00103
$35.01
Local Toyota
Super Long Life Coolant 00272-SLLC2 (Qty. 2)
N/A
Cam seals (2) OPTIONAL
$16.07
Conicelli
Shipping
$326.89
Parts
$28.68
Parts Tax
$355.57
Parts Sub-total
6
Labor Hours
$160.00
Local Toyota
Labor Rate per Hour
$960.00
Local Toyota
Labor Sub-Total $
$80.45
Local Toyota
Labor Tax
$1,040.45
Local Toyota
Labor Sub-total
$1,396.02
Grand Total
Pics:
Below you will find some pics of the new as well as the old parts. Please keep in mind that you cannot really tell how much life is left in the
belt just by looking at it.
AISIN TKT-021 4.7L V-8 Timing Belt Kit with Water Pump
AISIN TKT-021 4.7L V-8 Timing Belt Kit with Water Pump
AISIN TKT-021 4.7L V-8 Timing Belt Kit with Water Pump
