100,000K Service for a 90 Series

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I have a 2002 3.5l V6 which has just clocked up around 96,000K (yes really). We didn't get it serviced at 90,000K so have booked it in for the 100,000K service rather than the 95,000K one. Which major parts are likely to need changing? A mechanic I was chatting to asked if the timing belt had ever been replaced but as far as I know it hasn't. I'm guessing that's an expensive one but I there anything else major that usually gets done at this service?

Edit: Could be a 95 series actually given the year, excuse my ignorance!

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

The 2002 mod 90 series (they are all called 90 series even if it is a 95), should have the timing belt changed at 150000k's, where as the pre 2000 was every 100000k's, however, due to the fact the vehicle is now 10 yrs old, I would change the T belt, and while your there, get the water pump done as well, you can get a complete kit (has T belt, water pump, tensioners, new cam seals and other new seal with new gaskets) for arount the $300 mark, but due to the location of other parts, makes it a long process to do the belt (which is why it is best to do everything at the same time, as you will save $$$$ in the long run), the labour is the killer, as it can run into the $400-$500 mark.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Id definately be getting the oil and filter done to. If you missed the 90 thou one and have now booked it in for 100thou means unless the oil and filter was done at 85k it will have done 20thou between oil changes ?? Not good. Id go with croozza's advice and definately get the belt changed due to age. Funny thing is as croozza mentioned the series (96 to 99) one was due at 100 thou the series 2 (99 to 03) is due at 150 and yet if you check the part number its the same for both ?? May seem a bit expensive to be replacing water pump etc as croozza has mentioned but murphy will strike for sure if you dont and you will have to remove basically the same parts again to do water pump so double the labour. Cheers Steve (and make sure you have a good mechanic for the job)

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Funny that you both mention the water pump. We've discovered the Prado is losing water as in the radiator almost running dry (was spotted in time). Radiator was refilled and left overnight and no water lost yet needs a top-up again after a few days use. There doesn't seem to be major leak just a slow one, not sure if that's pump related though. Obviously we'll get this checked out at the service, I'm just trying to make sure I don't fall for any invented problem. The service will be done by the same Toyota dealer we purchased the Prado from so they should know what they are doing (you would hope anyway).

[glen_ep Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close glen_ep]

Like said already, the timing belt isn't due till 150,000 on late models, but if you're planning on keeping the vehicle, consider doing it early along with the water pump.

I paid the pro's to do mine (including water pump); it cost a bit over $1,000.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

OK thanks for all the feedback folks. Just as an aside are the air bags meant to be replaced after a certain length of time? I rememeber seeing some program where they said it was 10 years, something to do with the explosive charge breaking down over time.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

OK thanks for all the feedback folks. Just as an aside are the air bags meant to be replaced after a certain length of time? I rememeber seeing some program where they said it was 10 years, something to do with the explosive charge breaking down over time.

No they dont replace them, they only check them over, the thing they look for is the Talc powder inside the airbag housing has not gone hard or colated into one spot, as this effects the airbag deployment

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Hi Croozza, out of interest how do they check them ?? Never seen it done. Do they need to remove airbag from steering wheel and I imagine they would need to deactivate it some how so as to check it with safety ?? Cheers Steve

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Well it seems the water leak was coming from the water pump after all so it and the timing belt will be replaced, won't know about cam seals till they pull it all apart. My baby is in for an overnight stay, they couldn't fit everything in today. The service guy did say he sees more problems with water pumps then timing belts but (as some of you have mentioned) since we're doing one we may as well do the other.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Hi Croozza, out of interest how do they check them ?? Never seen it done. Do they need to remove airbag from steering wheel and I imagine they would need to deactivate it some how so as to check it with safety ?? Cheers Steve

I have been told that they do an electrics check, and visual inspection, there is a way that they can disable the airbags during this process so that the airbags dont go off and kill the mechanic if he accidently stuffs up a process

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I still don't have my Prado back :-(

Supposedly they found a crack in the top of the radiator while doing the pressure test. A genuine Toyota radiator was going to set me back $900 and had to come from Sydney, an aftermarket one is "only" $300 and will be there tomorrow.

Now I'm wondering if there really was a leak in the water pump after all. Surely the crack should have been found while they were investigating the water leak yesterday? Not much I can do about it I guess but you do wonder.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Bugger, the mechanic should have seen that, but it doesnt matter, it is always best to get the T belt and water pump done anyways.
However, the mechanic should have been able to get a new rad delivered within an hour. Is the mechanic a well known one or just a little backyard workshop????

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Crack in it at 100 thou ?? Possible I suppose, myn had done 175k when I sold it but I had the radiator rodded and the tanks resealed all was fine. It was fine anyway was just getting it checked in general. Had the diesel done as well when I was checking for the cracked head syndrome, was the head. As croozza said it will pay to have the pump done anyway so all should be sweet when you get it back, strange it wasnt picked up yesterday when they found the leak from the pump, or maybe the pump was just visible and when they pressure tested it today it has shown up the top tank ?? benifit of the doubt I suppose. Will be a nice bill thats for sure...Cheers Steve

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

The mechanic is a major Toyota dealership in Melbourne. I didn't take the call, not sure what time they found the problem.

I'm actually getting the T belt replaced ahead of schedule and only because they said the water pump needed replacing, figured it was best to go with the advice on here and get them done together.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

strange it wasnt picked up yesterday when they found the leak from the pump, or maybe the pump was just visible and when they pressure tested it today it has shown up the top tank ?? benifit of the doubt I suppose. Will be a nice bill thats for sure...Cheers Steve

Yes I guess you are right about the crack. For sure it will be a nice bill, at least $1300 on top of "normal" service cost I'd say.