Celica Forums General Discussion Exterior Timing Chain

According to the manual I am long overdue for changing the timing chain. Because these motors have interference heads on them the consequence of a failed timing chain is pretty serious. If those valves are still open when the piston comes to TDC, metal is fly.

I priced having it done & they want $1,500 CDN with labour. Apparently they change all three sprockets as well as the chain, including the one that controls VVT-i. Thinking I may just take the chance & see what happens.

Anybody done theirs? Had it fail?

This is it.

Not me :S what's time to have them replaced ?

can't you just buy the sprockets yourself, buy the chain and put it in? It doesn't seem to hard. $1500 sounds like that's 5 times as much as what they should charge if they were honest.

The one sprocket alone is hundreds of dollars, it controls the vvti.

oh wait...that's $1500 Canadian Dollars...what's the exchange rate?

yeah, if you buy from a dealership. get aftermarket cam sprockets...much cheaper.

Haulin_A_Doo...I'm curious...can you help me out and show me a picture of all three sprockets? Thanks...

Sorry, you have to disassemble the entire side of the motor to see the bottom sprocket. The photo above is the top two which are visible when you remove the rocker cover.

Yah, that's Canadian. Its about $1100 USD. That includes taxes, the 3 sprockets, guides, chain, gaskets, a serpentine belt & 8 hours labour.

I think of Xanadu when I see your screen name...

gee, that is a lot of work I guess but if you got the time I think you could probably save a lot still. What's the labor rate like in Ontario?

The dealership charges $75 an hour.

how much do you think the guides, chain, gasket, and belt cost? --not including the sprockets?

I donno, I haven't sat down to do the math.

Here is the next best thing, a diagram.

easiest way is to pull the engine to replace those parts.

from the looks of the pic you posted your engine is probably in need of an overhaul, you should change your oil more often the build up on the pic you posted is horrendous.

you dont have to pull the engine to replace the cam sprocket, but replacing the chain requires you to remove the timing cover which is a pita.

That engine has had full sythetic every 6000KM for most of its life. It does however have 200,000KM on it, so that might have something to do with it.

how much do the two stock cam sprockets cost? You can get aftermarket OBX ones for $100 a piece. They're lightweight and adjustable too.

I think only the one is available aftermarket. The bottom sprocket and the sprocket that controls vvti would have to be Toyota parts.

OBX sucks.

The only reason to buy aftermarket cam gears is for fine tuning of your timing when you're trying to make a lot of power. He needs stock replacements.

*edit nevermind

the chain/tensioner alone run ~ $300 USD

I have a 2003 GTS with 150k miles on it that I just bought. Has a leaky timing chain cover gasket, and was quoted around $800 or more by the dealer to replace the gasket. I wondered if it could be a DIY job, but tells an ugly story; have to remove all sorts of things (power steering, unbolt the engine and jack it up a bit, etc. I'll just add a quart of oil now and then until the timing chain starts making noise....

https://celicahobby.com/gallery/picture.php?/15433/category/em