I’ve gotten sick and tired of paying mechanics to do a half-ass job. I watch numerous videos and try to determine who knows what they are talking about.
After going over numerous blogs and youtubes I was almost going to not attempt changing the spark plugs in a 2005 Toyota Highlander V6. You have to take a bunch of crap off the engine to reach the rear ones.
Once I got into it, the only real tricky part was one bolt that you had to do by feel. It was time-consuming though. The timing belt will need to be replaced in another 40,000 miles - that one DOES seem way too difficult to do. Today’s price is $2,200 or so to replace it. (The car is only worth about $8,000).
Like so many things, if I knew then what I know now I would have passed on it. (Huh - a rubber timing belt!? Not a chain!!!???)
I am going to tackle the Honda van’s motor mounts.
had to pull the intake on a 2012 charger. a few “ feel me “ bolts. and a lot of plugs and hoses to unplug reroute or remove.. The intake gaskets were about a buck apiece.(6) . ordered the plugs online for about 30 bucks. entire job costs less than $40. and almost 2 hours of my time. Im going back to something before 1972 asap. and good luck with the honda motor mounts. dont forget to use a torque wrench. the intake is plastic. and will crack.
The timing belts are a kevlar fiber, rubber ix. They are very durable. More durable than a steel timing chain. It should easily last 200,000 miles.