Proactive Maintenance of a 98 Camry

On Sat, 25 Jun 2005 05:54:07 GMT, Ajanta > wrote:

>Steve B. > wrote:
>
>: Replacing the water pump with the timing belt on these cars is
>: a very good idea as you have to remove it to get to the belt anyway
>: and when it fails in the future (not if) it can take out the brand new
>: belt. Gates web site shows your belt needing to be changed at 90k
>: miles.
>
>I think the cost benefit analysis is quite clear: If I don't change the
>water pump and it doesn't break while I own my car, I save $100
>approx; if it breaks, I lose at least $250 (one timing belt job, which
>may have to be repeated anyway), and maybe more if there is other
>serious damage.

Where are you getting those prices? An accord costs almost $1000 to
have the timing belt and water pump done. I would assume a Toyota is
similar.

However, I have had 3 Hondas with more than 130,000 miles, none of
which showed any indication of failure for going past the 90,000 mile
mark where it should have been replaced. I am almost convinced that
timing belt replacement is, as CH says, snake oil. Besides, the quote
to do the work before and after a failure is not that different.