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Timing cover oil leak

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by xliderider, Apr 10, 2015.

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  1. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Had our dealer service (non oil change interval) today at 46k miles. Was informed that there is an oil leak from the timing cover seal.

    I was told it's not a minor job to remove the timing cover and reseal due to the many labor hours involved. I was quoted $1700 for the job, 2 days of work required.

    We have an extended warranty, purchased when the car was new, that will cover the repair. However, I'm not sure if I want to use the warranty on this job. I believe it's a one and done warranty.

    Does the $1700 total sound reasonable? Is this something that absolutely needs to be repaired, or can it be put off and monitored?
     
    #1 xliderider, Apr 10, 2015
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    put off and monitored. are you losing any oil? any staining under where you park?
     
    #2 bisco, Apr 10, 2015
  3. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    No oil stains on garage floor, and no noticeable oil loss on the dipstick.

    It must be a slow leak, probably just moist/wet on the timing cover.

    Then again, I did change the transaxle oil a while ago. I overfilled the transaxle from above with a funnel and hose, so a lot of transaxle oil ran down the transaxle case and ran down surrounding areas pretty good. ;)

    I wonder if they saw some oily residue from that, and think it's coming from the timing cover?
     
    #3 xliderider, Apr 10, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 10, 2015
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    wouldn't surprise me in the least. you would expect them to clean and observe, but they'd rather have your $1,700.
     
    #4 bisco, Apr 10, 2015
  5. bingee3

    bingee3 Active Member

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    A one and done warranty ??? Not the extended warranty from Toyota ,
     
    #5 bingee3, Apr 10, 2015
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    ^ what he said. Also, &1700 to replace a valve cover gasket seems nuts. I know to do spark plugs you need to remove bottom of windshield and wipers, but still.

    If not warranty, I'd just let it leak, not a big deal.
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Apr 10, 2015
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  7. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    No, a third party warranty.
     
    #7 xliderider, Apr 10, 2015
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Can you see any leakage from the valve cover?

    This smells, that they advocate $1700 repair over minor leak, and don't even show it to you.

    I've checked valve clearance on Hondas for decades: the valve cover gasket can develop minor leaks, I never bothered to change though.

    Google "nutzaboutbolts spark plug change" to see a youtube on the degree of complexity to access valve cover. It's a stupid design to have to pull so much off to get at it, but you could DIY the gasket change yourself in an afternoon I think.

    Again, I wouldn't bother. And something smells: they don't even show you the leak. Have a look with strong light, with the ornamental plastic cover off, the front at least.
     
    #8 Mendel Leisk, Apr 11, 2015
  9. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    It more likely than NOT the crank shaft seal, which is the wear part in the timing cover. The rest if the timing cover is "glued" to the front of the crankcase with RTV (room temperature vulcanizing) silicone rubber and NOT likely to leak.

    I've replaced many of them, and it was quite easy.

    Since there is no belts to take on and off, it would be quite easy to replace, The Gen III ICE has no fan belts.

    There is no crankshaft pulley to drive a belt.

    You have to remove the center crankshaft bolt that holds the keyed crankshaft pulley to the crankshaft.

    The crankshaft harmonic balance is part #1347037020. Since it is the same pulley used for the Corolla, it will have possibly four (4) unused tapped holes, most likely M8x1.25. These holes are used to mount an additional belt pulley on the Corolla. The pulley itself as grooves in it for a serpentine belt when used for the Corolla.They are NOT used on the Prius, but they are still there.

    You can make harmonic balance pulley holder from a piece of 3/8 inch plywood. Cut a hole for the socket for the used to match the crankshaft pulley bolt, and drill two 3/8 inch holes to take the bolts that you will screw into two of the holes. This will allow to hold the crankshaft from turning to get the crankshaft pulley off.

    With the bolt off, the crankshaft harmonic balance pulls right off to expose the seal on the cover around the crankshaft.

    Lever off the seal with a screwdriver. Oil the seal lips with motor oil and drive it in with a piece of PVC pipe.

    Reassemble in the reverse order, and you're done.

    $1,700 to replace an $8 seal? No way!
     
    #9 Mike500, Apr 11, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2015
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  10. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    I was browsing around the Toyota website and decided to look at the Warranty & Maintenance Guide. Unless I'm reading it wrong, the timing cover gasket should be covered under the 60 month/60k powertrain warranty (pg. 13 on pdf linked above). I should be able to get this fixed at no cost, without using my purchased extended warranty. Excerpt below:

    "Powertrain Warranty

    This warranty covers repairs needed to correct defects in materials or workmanship of any component listed below and in the next column and supplied by Toyota, subject to the exceptions indicated under “What Is Not Covered” on pages 14-15.

    Coverage is for 60 months or 60,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

    Engine

    Cylinder block and head and all internal parts, timing gears and gaskets, timing chain/belt and cover, valve covers, oil pan, oil pump, engine mounts, engine control computer, water pump, fuel pump, seals and gaskets."
     
    #10 xliderider, Apr 14, 2015
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  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i think you're onto something. have you determined if there is a leak or not?
     
    #11 bisco, Apr 14, 2015
  12. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    I can't see anything from above, and I'm too lazy to jack the car up and remove the undercover from the car.

    I emailed the service advisor today with links to the warranty text, requesting scheduling a service appointment for the repair to be done over two days, under the 60 month/60,000 mile powertrain warranty. We'll see what kind of a response I get.
     
    #12 xliderider, Apr 14, 2015
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    all the best!(y)
     
    #13 bisco, Apr 14, 2015
  14. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Repair is scheduled for May 1st, as "Timing Cover Reseal". It will be repaired under the 60 month/60,000 mile powertrain warranty. :)
     
    #14 xliderider, Apr 17, 2015
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  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    (y) nice going.
     
    #15 bisco, Apr 17, 2015
  16. bingee3

    bingee3 Active Member

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    Good for you
     
    #16 bingee3, Apr 18, 2015
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Look your windshield wipers over after, they're probably going to remove them for access. When the dealership did our master cylinder recall they managed to scrape ours up a bit.

    Good they're doing it gratis. ;)
     
    #17 Mendel Leisk, Apr 18, 2015
  18. sghouse

    sghouse Junior Member

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    I got hit with this yesterday. Quoted $1600 for the job. I'm confident the shop isn't jacking me and they did say it wasn't critical to fix this right away. Unfortunately I am well past the powertrain warranty. :mad:
     
    #18 sghouse, Apr 18, 2015
  19. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Darn, too bad you're past the warranty. I was unofficially quoted $1700 for the job initially.
     
    #19 xliderider, Apr 18, 2015
  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Something can't be right here. Maybe they're talking about something else? I've been taking off valve covers for over 3 decades. It used to take about 1/2 hour. With the Prius, due to horrible access I believe you'd need to take off the bottom of windshield cowl, wipers and motors. For pro's in the shop that would add an extra hour?
     
    #20 Mendel Leisk, Apr 18, 2015
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