99 solara timing belt

[keez315]

Hi guys, just wondering if the 99 solara V6 has a non-interference engine, the dealer nearby told me it us, wanted to check here though. How hard is the job to do? How long? What is needed to buy? Thanks

[PXLpainter]

Hey Victor - are you out there? Got any info you might know about the 3.0 to share?

[THarms]

Originally Posted by keez315

Hi guys, just wondering if the 99 solara V6 has a non-interference engine, the dealer nearby told me it us, wanted to check here though. How hard is the job to do? How long? What is needed to buy? Thanks

Changing the timing belt can be a little tricky and time consuming if its your 1st time and there is not much room to work since it sits so close to the wheel well. Recommend taking it to a mechanic. They idler pully should be inspected as well as the cam seals. I also recommend the water pump be replaced every 2nd timing belt repalcement (ie ~120K miles, ~240K miles, etc) as preventative maintenance. Its also a good time to replace the drive belts since they have to be removed anyway to replace the timing belt.

[integraGSR]

on a 99 should be the 1MZ-FE engine. non interference motor. can be kinda tricky doing this timing belt as stated above because there is not much room to work with from the timing cover and the right side wheel well. my dealer charges 4 hours for replacing this t-belt. no special tools needed. sometimes maybe you will need a chain wrench to get the crank pulley off, but most of the time you can get it off by using an air hammer and with the vibration, the pulley should come off.

['02TundraTN]

I just had the TB replaced on my wife's 2000 solara 3.0. I waited longer than I should have 114,000 miles. Changed TB, tensioner, cam seals, crank seal, water pump, drive belts. $700.

[Jason.MZW20]

For 99+ model years, the timing belt replacement is 90,000 miles, not 60,000. But, you can go as long as you want until it breaks since it's non-interference. That's not true for the VVT-i 1MZs, however, but those were never offered on the 1st gen Solara. The 2nd gen's 3MZ is also interference and still belt driven, so be wary.

Also check the condition of the silicone RTV on the primary and secondary oil pans. The 1MZ uses a ton of RTV, so if it hardens, you'll likely get an oil leak somewhere.