Hey everyone, I’ve got an 03 Toyota Highlander that just hit 140k miles. It’s been running perfectly with no issues until now. I recently took it to the shop and they found a timing cover leak. They’re recommending a reseal, which will cost $865, and they’ll replace the valve cover gasket while they’re at it.
It’s leaving a small puddle about the size of a golf ball in my garage, so I’ve been keeping an eye on the oil levels.
Does $865 sound fair to you? Everything else is working perfectly, and I’d like to keep the car running for a while.
It really comes down to trust. If you’ve used that shop before and they’ve done good work, it’s probably worth going with them. You might find someone cheaper, but you don’t always know what you’re getting with a new place.
@Cortland
Yeah, I’ve had work done there before and they’ve been solid. They offer a 36,000 mile / 36-month warranty on parts and labor too. If it leaks again, they’ll fix it for free.
Kerry said: @Cortland
Yeah, I’ve had work done there before and they’ve been solid. They offer a 36,000 mile / 36-month warranty on parts and labor too. If it leaks again, they’ll fix it for free.
Sounds like you found a good mechanic charging below the usual rate.
It’s worth looking up other shops in your area just to compare. A price that’s good in one place might not be in another, and the quality of work can vary a lot.
Congrats on having such a solid SUV. My 07 Highlander hit 245k miles, but it’s cost me over 10 grand in repairs over the years (not counting tires and brakes). I’d say get a few more quotes before making a decision.
That price sounds reasonable with how things are these days. I’ve got an 08 V6 RAV4 with 224,600 miles, and it doesn’t leak a drop. If it’s been well-maintained, I say keep it going as long as possible. You can’t beat the older Toyotas. I looked into a new Highlander Platinum Hybrid, but I wasn’t convinced—newer ones just don’t feel the same.
@Lei
I had to replace my 2014 Highlander recently and found a 2017 with 96k miles. The dealer kept trying to push newer models on me, but I stuck with the 2017. It’s old enough that my husband can still do the routine stuff like oil changes and brakes when money’s tight, but it’s new enough to be reliable. I like staying a generation or two behind on tech—my husband’s driving a 2004 Avalanche while we wait for the next round of used Tacomas to drop in price.
Make sure to ask if they need to pull the engine for the job. My 2016 Highlander had the same issue twice. The first time it was fixed under warranty, but it started leaking again during the pandemic, and by then, the warranty had expired. I’ve just hit 120k miles, and since they need to pull the engine to fix it, the repair will cost me around $3000.
That sounds like a good deal. Highlanders are known for oil leaks, and timing cover leaks are common. It’s a big job, though—pretty sure the engine has to come out. If I were you, I’d get it done and plan to drive the car another 140k miles.
It sounds like they’re just replacing the front seals, which is normal when doing the timing belt. If the price includes the timing belt, it’s a good deal. If this really is a timing cover leak, though, that’s usually more expensive and comes up with engines that have timing chains. Unless it’s a 4-cylinder, which is a bit different.
@Christie
Yeah, for the timing cover gasket, they’re charging $800 for parts and labor, and they’ll do the valve cover gasket too since they’re already working in that area. They’re offering a timing chain kit for $250—parts only—since they’ll be doing the timing cover anyway. It looks like everything will come out to around $1k.
Hopefully they’ll replace the water pump and spark plugs too while they’re at it. You should only have to pay for the parts since the labor’s already being done.