Timing Belt

[hpeeler]

Have any or you guys had your timing belt replaced and if so at what mileage?
I just had the oil changed at the local jiffy on my 01 (99K mi) and they told me I needed to have it done at 90K. Thanks
Hal

[Puffnstuff]

Yes 90K is the magic number for a belt change.

[greenbunch]

mine is at 105,000 and still on the stock belt. I'll get around to it hopefully within the next 10,000 miles.

[DJ]

Originally Posted by greenbunch

mine is at 105,000 and still on the stock belt. I'll get around to it hopefully within the next 10,000 miles.

If it doesn't get around to you first. If it breaks, you'll need a new engine.

Mine's at 86,xxx miles now and I'm replacing the belt next week.

[slowyota]

90K is the minimum..I don't think we've heard of any belt failure even with 90k+ miles. I plan on replacing mine at 110k (just turned 90k).

In fact I had a 95 4runner (non-interference engine) the dealership told me not to replace the belt until it broke...185K miles later when I got traded it on on the Tundra the belt still hadn't been replaced. And it was recommended to replace that belt every 60K.

[pagemaster]

Originally Posted by slowyota

90K is the minimum..I don't think we've heard of any belt failure even with 90k+ miles. I plan on replacing mine at 110k (just turned 90k).

In fact I had a 95 4runner (non-interference engine) the dealership told me not to replace the belt until it broke...185K miles later when I got traded it on on the Tundra the belt still hadn't been replaced. And it was recommended to replace that belt every 60K.

Well the Tundra is a interference engine. I have heard of someone who's belt failed and he needed major work. He is a member on this forum and his failed withing 2k of the recommended interval.

[DJ]

Originally Posted by slowyota

90K is the minimum..I don't think we've heard of any belt failure even with 90k+ miles. I plan on replacing mine at 110k (just turned 90k).

[...]

The "Scheduled Maintenance Guide" that came with my '00 Tundra says:

Timing Belt

Replace every 90,000 miles. A qualified technician should perform this operation.

That is unequivocal. It is not a "minimum".

I suggest you read Not Done Crying!!!!!! Broke Timing Belt which describes a belt that broke at 98K.

Here is something to consider. How long do you intend to keep the truck? How many timing belt changes does that entail? If you lengthen the change interval beyond what Toyota recommends, will that, in effect, let you change the belt one less time before you sell the truck? If not, then you are simply increasing your risk at no benefit to yourself.

That's why I'm changing mine just before the recommended interval. I expect to be on a long hunting trip when 90K hits, so I'll do it now while I have the time and the weather is good. When I'm deep in the mountains in several feet of snow, I won't have any concern about it.

[pagemaster]

I suggest you read Not Done Crying!!!!!! Broke Timing Belt which describes a belt that broke at 98K.

That is the person I was talking about earlier

[richards6402]

My 02 has 99K on it and the Toyota mechanic told me I "have a little time but would not wait too much longer"!!!! I have it scheduled a week from now.

Do not wait too long as the mechanic said it has an interferance engine and if it fails you have major engine problems.

Recommendation: Get the water pump and drive belt changed at the same time and save you $$$$$ if you would have had to replace the pump later. Good preventative maintenance. A former Toyota mechanic (has own business now) is doing everything for $460. I hope he was not fired for not being good enough!!!

Richie

[bhoges17]

I did mine in my 97 Tacoma way after 90k and it still looked brand new. My buddy at Toyota says they hold up fine. He was the one who told me to wait. I think Ill do my 05 Tundra around 100k or so. Hope its not too much of a pain.

[slowyota]

LOL. Make a little comment about 90k is a minimum and watch others flip out.

Intention of the post was this..the belts Toyota put in these engines are tough. And yes you should replace them, but I highly doubt that the belt is going to break at exactly 90K. In fact I bet you'd be hard pressed to find a belt that has actually broke..in the case that you provided it was the belt tensioner, not the belt that broke.

[Tennesseestorm]

It being an interference engine is one reason why I was thinking that the 3.4L V6 may be a good thing, because they are non-interference engines.

My old 90' Lexus LS400 (4.0L V8) still had the original timing belt when I sold it at 249K. However, it was not an interference engine, so no big deal if it was not replaced- if it had of broke- the engine would have been OK.

My fathers old work truck- a 1988 Nissan 4WD has the 3.0L V6- now has 262K. My uncle bought it new in February of 1988, with 3 miles on the odometer. My dad bought it from him in 1999 when it had 205K. Dad asked him when he last changed the timing belt and he said "NEVER". Needless today, dad changed it the same week. It was definitely the original. It was getting paper thin and there were shreds of the belt in the cover. As mentioned, that truck now has 262K and other than the starter going out at 239K, he has not had a minutes trouble out of it and it was not a well-cared for truck. Still no interior squeaks or rattles either- which is pretty amazing. My uncle ran it hard when he owned it. Always full throttle. Too bad the newer Nissan trucks are not as good as the 80s models.

On another note- one 2000 V8 Tundra I am considering has 165K. The owner (original) said that he did not change the timing belt until around 125K, so it went 35K beyond the interval. Talk about chancing it. At least now I know it has been changed if I do buy it. The other Tundra I am considering has 99K and I have to check to see if it was replaced.

Now I am on thin ice with my 1985 Mercedes V8. Not a timing belt, but it has timing CHAINS (double) and it is an interference engine. With these cars, its not really the chains that break so much, but rather the tensioner, upper rails, and/or guides that break. Over the years, that plastic becomes brittle (on the rails/guides) and they can break and become lodged in the chains. If they do, the engine is destroyed. I have saw some for sale on e-bay and when you see the valve cover with a hole in it (toward the front) you know whats happened.

Mine has 268K now and I have no idea when/if they were last changed. I have got my monies worth out of it, so I am not really worried about it. Its so old, its really not worth the $$$ to replace. Chain replacement is about $500 on this car, but adds up to about $1000 for all of the others to be replaced- tensioner, guides and rails. Not worth it in my opinion. I only gave $1000 for the car. lol.

[DJ]

Originally Posted by slowyota

LOL. Make a little comment about 90k is a minimum and watch others flip out.

[...]

And what would it mean for Toyota's recommendation to be a "minimum"? Does it mean "don't change it before 90K, but you can change it long after that if you want to?"

LOL. Make a little comment about what Toyota actually recommends and watch others flip out.

[VJJ552]

I thought Tundra V8's had a timing chain ??
At least that's what the dealer told me.

[Tennesseestorm]

No, I think it is a belt. The Lexus V8s have belts too. If I am not mistaken, the last of the Toyotas that had timing chains were the I-6's that were in Cressidas, Supras and Land Cruisers. Someone correct me if I am wrong.