How do you look at the timing belt???

[srkpaco]

i have an 2004 LC with 85K miles on it. The vehicle has been in Austin, TX. for its whole life, I want to look at the timing belt to see what shape it is in.

Is there a way to do this with out taking the front of the engine apart? If so pics would help.

Thanks

 

[highonpottery]

well, you're pretty much due for its replacement interval - so might as well just replace it vs inspect it. due to the location of the timing belt, i'm fairly certain it is NOT viewable without removing some engine parts, like the timing covers - which are conveniently blocked by other items like serpentine belt, hoses, etc. so that would be a negative ghost rider.

 

[gtfour43]

well, you're pretty much due for its replacement interval - so might as well just replace it vs inspect it. due to the location of the timing belt, i'm fairly certain it is NOT viewable without removing some engine parts, like the timing covers - which are conveniently blocked by other items like serpentine belt, hoses, etc. so that would be a negative ghost rider.

You dont have to remove the serp belt to pull a cover back and check the tb. I unbolted mine and was able to see the cond of the outer part of the belt.

 

[FXR UPR]

Pull the top timing cover on the pass side of the motor. 3 10 mm bolts and 1 10 mm nut. Just be sure the cover gasket is installed properly when you put it back together. A couple more bolts and you would be able to just replace the belt altogether.

 

[Porter]

This is the dustcover off the '03, perhaps the same as the 04. (my '99 cover differs in that center bolt stud remains connected to block not dustcover, with removable nut). I posted last week on this-removing the serp belt helps quite a bit for clearance on removing bolts and the cover, and really saves you time IMO. 30 minutes total for entire inspection. I inspected both my 03 and 99 this past week.

After removal of cover, I put serp back in place, cranked engine for split second and rotated entire belt in increments to view in entirety. The OEM belt on my 99 is now 7 years old, 115k , all driven by myself and in like new condition- gonna risk another year.

Safe advice is to just get the service done with water pump if you're not super confident in the condition.

 

[AimCOtaco]

Remember nobody has seen one broken (that I can find anyway) so I say push it a little longer like at least 100,000 mi as long as the water pump is not leaking.

 

[michaelshin]

I dodnt have visible coolant drip bur the water pump was weeping when removed. The belt looked fine on the flat side but not the teeth side. That is on 04 mall cruiser with 90k.