22 year old Timing Belt ...

[cwmoser]

I just had the Timing Belt replaced in my 2002 LX470, along with Water Pump, Idler and Tension Pulleys, Crank Seal, flush Brake System, and Serpentine belt.
I thought for conversation showing what an original 22 year old Timing Belt looks like with 72,506 miles.
My LX470 was pretty much pampered all its life living in a garage and primarily a "Mall Cruiser". I did do some towing with my Travel Trailer.
It spent its entire life in California and then here in North Carolina.
The Serpentine Belt did look about worn out with some cracks but nary a crack with the Timing Belt.

So what do you guys think about the "replace Timing Belt at 10 year intervals"? Maybe a little too conservative?

Check out these images;

 

[juicemode]

Just replaced the original belt on my 2003 with 104,000. Car lived in Maui until now in CO. I too was surprised by how good the belt looked. No cracks or strange colors though I am no belt life expert. The work was fun and I’d say the peace of mind was well worth the replacement efforts. How did your water pump look? Mine showed signs of leakage insignificant enough to show on the ground or skid plates.

 

[BullElk]

So what do you guys think about the "replace Timing Belt at 10 year intervals"? Maybe a little too conservative?

Yes I think those intervals are very conservative and rather costly.

 

[Mike NXP]

Totally depends on vehicles usage / environment that it lives in. 10 years /90k miles is a good rule of thumb for all belts but doesn't always mean they are worn out. I just think since it's just a critical part of the engine working that it's more of a preventative maintenance thing.

My 100 series starting making a bit of noise on the timing idler which was my sign to dive in. I heard some squealing, and even after I took my accessory belt off the squealing remaining so I had to get it done for fear of it getting worse / seizing up / whatever.

I just picked up a 1984 Camry and the timing belt sticker shows the year 1995 on it lol, I'm going to dive in at some point soon and see what's going on but I may have you beat at almost 30 years.

 

[cwmoser]

Just replaced the original belt on my 2003 with 104,000. Car lived in Maui until now in CO. I too was surprised by how good the belt looked. No cracks or strange colors though I am no belt life expert. The work was fun and I’d say the peace of mind was well worth the replacement efforts. How did your water pump look? Mine showed signs of leakage insignificant enough to show on the ground or skid plates.

I'm curious, I have a lot of wrenches and sockets. When you replaced your Timing Belt and Seals, what special tools did you find was necessary yo do this job?

 

[PEOPLES]

So what do you guys think about the "replace Timing Belt at 10 year intervals"? Maybe a little too conservative?

The Japanese OEM-material is pretty good. Same with all the hoses, fuel lines, etc. I saw this often in the old cars my father had in his workshop.

The price/effort for replacing a dry belt vs. engine failure (of course at the worst possible moment) justifies for me the replacement. My father was even picky and said, that he never installed a used belt again, if he had to remove the head.
But I wouldn't skip a trip just because the belt is overdue by a month or so.

The "new" wet belts in some Fords/VWs can be a headache. As much effort as a chain.

 

[Bisho]

I'm curious, I have a lot of wrenches and sockets. When you replaced your Timing Belt and Seals, what special tools did you find was necessary yo do this job?

Special tools - you’ll need a crank pulley holder (I bought one, they don’t have them to rent at the auto parts store) and probably a harmonic balancer puller (which auto parts stores do rent). If you are doing cam and crank seals on the non-vvti engines you’ll want a seal puller and camshaft wrench, neither of which you’ll be able to rent.

The tools are pretty cheap on Amazon.

 

[juicemode]

This is the tool I use to hold the crank pulley to torque the crank bolt on reassembly:

https://www.amazon.com/Schley-SCH64300-Toyota-Harmonic-Holding/dp/B0051XDBBG/ref=asc_df_B0051XDBBG/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=692875362841&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4588095357101156825&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9029145&hvtargid=pla-2281435177858&psc=1&mcid=aebb1fe0be86312bba43f29479b8cba6&hvocijid=4588095357101156825-B0051XDBBG-&hvexpln=73

Probably any version of this tool will work okay.

 

[Exiled]

While I generally agree that Toyota's recommended replacement interval is conservative, I'd rather be safe than sorry, A someone pointed out, the engine failure won't come in my neighborhood, it's going to happen in BFE!
Also, in hot dry climates rubber components deteriorate at a much faster pace. When I did the first timing belt replacement on my '99 (at ~125K) the belt was in similar condition as the one pictured here. I'm aiming to do a second replacement this coming spring, at about ~100K.

 

[BullElk]

Engine failure ? Other than a slight possibility that would happen with a ‘06-07 VVTI model, what do you mean by engine failure ?

 

[juicemode]

Agree engine failure might not be the correct wording for us non-VVTI people. I don’t have first hand experience but my research has led me to believe a broken timing belt in my 2003 LX would not guarantee bent valves.

 

[PEOPLES]

I know just some old kind of engines (Volvos) which do not have a interference between valves and piston in case the timing belt rips off. Sure, if there is not interference, then just a new timing belt is necessary.

This is what I found in google: Interference Engines - The Complete List - https://yourcarangel.com/2014/07/interference-engines-complete-list/

 

[Pighead]

Don't timing belts stretch over time? Would that affect timing? Any way that you could measure the length of your original timing belt and compare it to the new one?

 

[Rhetoric]

I love these timing belt chats.

The real damage I would incur would be having a dead vehicle on the side of the road while my wife and kids are in it. Doesn't matter if it's 1 or 1000 miles from home. It's still dead and I have to solve that issue quickly. And the icing on top would be, when I got home, my 07's valves and much more would be toast.

Now if you don't use this thing for family duty, YOLO. Change that belt out in the Hardee's parking lot.

 

[97 AZ LC]

Don't timing belts stretch over time? Would that affect timing? Any way that you could measure the length of your original timing belt and compare it to the new one?

Ironically it's chains that stretch with miles and wear. A well made belt does not stretch - that's one of its great advantages over a chain.

 

[97 AZ LC]

I know just some old kind of engines (Volvos) which do not have a interference between valves and piston in case the timing belt rips off. Sure, if there is not interference, then just a new timing belt is necessary.

This is what I found in google: Interference Engines - The Complete List - https://yourcarangel.com/2014/07/interference-engines-complete-list/

Nobody really knows why Toyota called this wrong when the 4.7L came out, but they did. Once you get on a list like that you can never get off of it.

 

[cwmoser]

Don't timing belts stretch over time? Would that affect timing? Any way that you could measure the length of your original timing belt and compare it to the new one?

That is an excellent theory.
I will say that my Engine does seem smoother with the new Timing Belt.
Probably true, or maybe my want it to seem better because of the money I spent.

 

[BullElk]

I agree that’s my engine with new timing belt service definitely idles and runs smoother. However, it is definitely louder when accelerating. And doesn’t seem as quick as it was before but that may be in my head.

If timing chains were more of an issue than belts then why wasn’t the 80 series chains ever a maintenance item?

 

[97 AZ LC]

I agree that’s my engine with new timing belt service definitely idles and runs smoother. However, it is definitely louder when accelerating. And doesn’t seem as quick as it was before but that may be in my head.

If timing chains were more of an issue than belts then why wasn’t the 80 series chains ever a maintenance item?

I don't think I've ever seen a timing chain maintenance interval. Most manufacturer maintenance schedules only run to about 120k or so. Timing chain wear and elongation is heavily impacted by gritty oil from failure to do timely oil changes. That said it's amazing how many car manufacturers are having timing chain problems under 100k miles these days - BMW, Nissan, Chevy to name a few. They have cheapened them so badly it's like they don't really care about longevity anymore. Engineering ineptness is likely another factor. An in-line six cylinder, even with two cams, has a much shorter belt/chain run than a V engine and is less susceptible to elongation.

 

[gray rider]

That is an excellent theory.
I will say that my Engine does seem smoother with the new Timing Belt.
Probably true, or maybe my want it to seem better because of the money I spent.

How much is the labor cost for typical timing belt and water pump replacement these days?