Need advice about repair list

[montanafan]

I have a 2001 Toyota Tacoma with 124,000 miles on it. I took it to a nearby Toyota dealer's service department and told them I'd noticed several problems - a whirring noise when I pressed on the accelerator, a hot oil or brake fluid smell, sometimes it took a couple of tries to get it started, the type of smell from a busted or leaky radiator hose, poor gas mileage, and sometimes it didn't seem to want to idle. They came back with this list of things I should have done to it:

Replace air fuel ratio sensor and rear oxygen sensor - $517.40 - said the whirring noise might be the rear oxygen sensor which was loose.

Replace fuel filter - $137.73
Clean throttle body housing of carbon - $74.53 - replacing the fuel filter and cleaning the throttle body housing would help the idling problem.

Replace spark plugs and wires - $175.21 - this would help with the starting. (But didn't seem to be sure this was the cause of the problem.)

Waterpump/Timing Belt replacement - $522.57 - they wanted to replace the waterpump because I was low on coolant, but they couldn't find any leaks, so they figured the problem was with the water pump and that was probably the leaky radiator hose smell. And that the timing belt should be changed because it hadn't been before and it was time.

Replace valve cover gaskets - $352.24 - they were a little loose and leaking some oil onto the exhaust manifold.

So I think I'm going to have the water pump and fuel filter replaced, but I'm not sure about how urgent or necessary some of the other stuff is.

1) Would I really need to have the two sensors replaced?
2) Would it be a good idea to have the timing belt changed when they replace the water pump, or could it wait for another time?
3) Should I have the throttle body housing cleaned when the fuel filter is changed, or wait and see if just changing the filter helps the idling?
4) Even the service department guy talked like the plugs/wires and the valve cover gaskets weren't anything urgent, but can I put them off until June?

I'm a little concerned that they may have stacked the list with some unnecessary things thinking I wouldn't know much about this stuff because I'm female. They would be correct about the not knowing much about it, but hopefully someone here can offer some advice.

 

[Bartman39]

First things first which engine...?

I remember those Toyota trucks had some pretty expensive down stream O2 sensors so might not be to far off on that one...?

Damn expensive fuel filter...? Cleaning the carbon from the throttle body most likely is a very expensive can of carb cleaner...?

Plugs and wires...? When were they last changed or have they been...? If thats the original miles on them then yes do so...

Water pump change is a good idea if the timing belt needs to be replaced but the reason I asked about what engine is the V6 has a very very thick timing belt and was told by Toyota it was good for basicly the life of the truck...?

The valve cover gaskets if memory serves are thick rubber and it might be the valve covers just need to be snugged up a bit...? You could do so and wash the engine and know within a short time if they still leaked...

Money can be saved no doubt and taking it to another independant shop you trust might also give a different opinion...?

 

[T2urtle]

1. when sensors go bad you get a check engine light. You should replace them if you have the cash, they are common sensors that can fail at any given time.

2. get the belt and pump done at the same time. doing the belt you just 2 minutes away from taking off the pump. In many cases they dont charge you extra for labor, just parts.

3. I dont think you need either. But you can do the filter first and see how it goes.

4. plugs and wires could be your main reason why it isn't starting nicely or idling. The gaskets you can wait till later, all its going to do is leak a little more oil. Not a HUGE deal.


You stated gaskets so i assume V6.


Your truck problems seems that are advising you that you need a tune-up. I would call around and try to lower down some of the prices. These are all generic repairs that all cars needs. A lot of it can be done at home aside from the belt/pump and maybe the valve cover.

If someone came to me needing those repairs i think i can get them out the door with a bill about $500 and like 3 hours, minus the timing belt/water pump job. So i would say try to find someone a little cheaper locally.

 

[PottedMeat]

Replace valve cover gaskets - $352.24 - they were a little loose and leaking some oil onto the exhaust manifold.

jesus, how can that be $350+?

i'd definitely do the timing belt + water pump, googling says a 5VZFE should have one at 90k miles...

 

[jlee]

jesus, how can that be $350+?

i'd definitely do the timing belt + water pump, googling says a 5VZFE should have one at 90k miles...

No kidding..that seems awfully high.

I replaced both o2 sensors in my Tacoma myself - I think I bought them from URD. Should not be a difficult install, though I am having a bit of difficulty figuring out why you'd get a whirring noise from a bad o2 sensor (my truck also threw a CEL when the o2 sensor(s) went bad).

 

[montanafan]

Bartman39 - It's the V6 engine. The plugs and wires were replaced at around 60,000 miles. The Toyota dealership didn't like the fact that they were not their brand.

T2urtle - My check engine light has been on for several years now. It came on and I took it in to a couple of shops at the time and they couldn't find anything wrong, so I just gave up on it.

PottedMeat - Yes, it's 90,000 miles for the timing belt, so if I'm going to keep the truck I think I'll get it changed.

jlee - Maybe whirring isn't the best description of the noise, but every time I accelerate there is a noise that seems to be coming from underneath the passenger side and it stops when I take my foot off the gas. Oh, and it only happens when I'm driving, not when I'm sitting still and just pumping the accelerator.

Thanks for the advice and suggestions. I've talked to some other people too and they they all seem to agree with you guys that nothing seems urgent, and to take my time and shop around for someone to check it out more thoroughly and maybe get it the job(s) done more cheaply.

 

[5150MyU]

Rear O2 sensor-tighten or replace-clean the MAF-that air ratio thingy.MAF Cleaner $5.00+your time
Your CEL code would help.
Fuel filter is under the hood(Granted you need the right tools and common sense safety)$20.00+your time---maybe it is an expensive filter add $$$
Clean Throttle Body+Idle Speed Motor-Brake Clean/Carb clean.$5.00+your time

Where the timing belt comes into play.

A little bit of timing belt stretch and the water pump being worn,and the idler pulleys play can cause a significant change in engine timing(depending on the engine)so keep that in mind.
That said you're due for the pump and belt.