2000 Toyota Camry V6 3.0 engine, Coolant empty:?

Tiny
LISZT85
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Similarly the water pump estimate is as follows:

Reference 42340 New Water Pump $109.52

I found what I believe is the same water pump on ebay for about half the price:

Please tell me if you think that my mechanic uses superior quality (better known brands?) Parts and if you think that explains why his prices are almost double that of what I'm able to find.
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Monday, August 30th, 2010 AT 7:32 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Those in bracket means applicable for those with VIN as specified for body models.

I am not familiar with online ordering of parts so is not able to comment on them.

I would get my fellow technicians who are based in the U?S to help on this.

Hang on and they should be with you shortly.
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Monday, August 30th, 2010 AT 8:25 AM
Tiny
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Great, thanks. I really appreciate the help. I'm a student here on a budget. Its a huge deal as far as I'm concerned if I can save $300 by buying this stuff off ebay.
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Monday, August 30th, 2010 AT 8:31 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Usually when you buy direct from a source, it wuld be cheaper than through the mechanic. Simple reason is that the mechanic would incur transportation and other cost and on top of that, they would mark up for some profit so the cost to the customer would be higher.

Seems my fellow technicians are not onliine at the moment so you would have to hold on.
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Monday, August 30th, 2010 AT 8:49 AM
Tiny
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No problem, I'll wait for as long as it takes.
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Monday, August 30th, 2010 AT 8:52 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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First of all thank you for your donation. What part's are you trying to purchase online. Let me know and I will give you a hand with them.
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Monday, August 30th, 2010 AT 12:17 PM
Tiny
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Hi, thanks. So these are the parts that I'm trying to buy online: rear struts and a water pump. These are the estimates that I got from the mechanic:

Reference. 271680 Quick strut $224.56
Reference. 271681 Quick strut $224.56
(W/ Chassis # SXV20 W/Chassis #VCV20 W/Chassis#MCV20)
Reference 42340 New Water Pump $109.52

However, I was able to find these parts with the same reference numbers on ebay for about half the price quoted here. I'm afraid though that if I buy my own parts, the mechanic might refuse to give me the 24 month warranty that he usually offers on his work. I can save $300 if I buy this online. However, if the mechanic does what I suspect he might do if I offer to buy the parts online, is it really worth the $300 saved?

Thanks.
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Monday, August 30th, 2010 AT 12:57 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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If he won't stand behind his labor then I would use someone else to put your part's on.I could see him not warranting your part's you brought him but if he won't warranty his labor to put them on just because you wouldn't let him make money on the part's he was trying to sell you. The quick strut is the whole strut assembly with the spring strut mount etc it's a bolt in unit. If you were handy with with tool's even you could put it in. There made by monroe they have the sense trac srut's on them. There 169.78 ea plus shipping on www. Rockauto. Com just the struts that come on the quick strut's are 60.79 ea plus shipping. If I were you I would just get the strut's without the spring's and have them replaced. To replace just the strut it's only less then a hr labor more the what he is doing by replacing the whole assembly. Look at how much you would save by just getting the strut itself and having someone put it in. Now for your water rockauto. Com has the water pump for 45.79 plus shipping it's a airtex brand which is a good brand. So I would think about doing what I suggested doing and save yourself some money.
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Monday, August 30th, 2010 AT 2:50 PM
Tiny
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Looking at the reference number that was given in the estimate, I guess the water pump that he wanted to put in was the following:

GATES Part # 42340 #121 Cast Aluminum, Standard Rotation - Timing Belt Driven *May Not Include Pulley* Water Pump (Standard)
Timing belt driven

Does this sound right? I'm going to do as you say. I'm buying the rear struts (I might buy the entire assembly) and I'm going to buy the water pump from rockauto.

Thanks for your advice! The idea has saved me $200 already.
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Monday, August 30th, 2010 AT 8:26 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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It doesn't make sense it look's like the water pump pulley is part of the pump and doesn't come off.I would check and make sure the pulley come's with it I don't see how they could use your old pulley. Hey put this number in the how did you hear about us box when you place your order at rock auto and you will save 5 percent off your order 36088372968957 it's good until sept 19th. If your not going to put the strut's on yourself I would get just the strut's because even the little bit of labor difference in replacing just the strut's the price difference of the part's verus the whole assembly more then make's up for the little bit of labor difference you will pay. But that's all up to you.
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Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 AT 12:05 PM
Tiny
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Thanks for that code, I'll be sure to use it when ordering!

Part no. 271680 Quick strut $224.56
Part no. 271681 Quick strut $224.56
(W/ Chassis # SXV20 W/Chassis #VCV20 W/Chassis#MCV20)

When ordering these parts, what do I do for what's in the brackets?
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Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 AT 2:51 PM
Tiny
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I wouldn't worry about it if you look on rock auto they don't list different suspension option's they even list those same part number's for your car that the shop gave you for the whole strut assembly. So I think you can just go ahead and order what you need to order.
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Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 AT 4:35 PM
Tiny
LISZT85
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So I talked to the mechanic and asked him if I could buy some of the parts and if he would put them in for me. He said he can't warranty anything and so he wouldn't put them in for me unless I buy the parts from him. I asked him if he could warranty just his labor and not the parts and he said that its not possible.

So I guess I should stay away from this place? Would you suggest an AAA owned place?

What do you think of AAA owned facilities? Is it likely that they'll install parts that I give them? I'll give them a call but I'd like your opinion.

Thanks.
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Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 AT 7:47 AM
Tiny
LISZT85
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AAA refused to do it too. To have an independent mechanic put it in would save me $200-300 but I no longer know if its worth saving that money when I have to give up getting a 24 month/24000 mile warranty on the work and parts if I get my local mechanic's to do this. Man, this is tougher than I thought it would be!
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Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 AT 7:52 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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It's pretty sad that they won't even warranty there own labor if they don't make the money on the part's too. Even if you bringing them in the same exact part's there going to be putting in.I thought people are hard up for money and are will to be flexible to stay in bussiness and would be happy just to make the money on the labor alone. So you can't find anyone to put your own part's in and just warranty there labor to put it in?I would be happy to just make the money on the labor alone. Let me know what you found out.
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Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 AT 1:57 PM

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