Should I change the Timing Belt? (1 Viewer)

[Julian Stead]

I recently purchased a 1998 land cruiser, I have brought the maintanence up to date but I haven't done the timing belt. The belt was done 20k miles ago but 7 years have past since then, I have bought the kit but have no time to do it as I work away from home through the week, we are having the wettest winter since records began so weekends have been a wash out plus there isn't that many hours of daylight, so my options are to wait until spring and change it myself or pay a garage to fit it.

I just want advice on what's best to do as I would prefer to do it myself as there are no land cruiser specialists anywhere near me, I have already bought the parts so a Toyota dealer wouldn't be interested, all genuine parts though.

So would you just pay someone for the peace of mind or wait and do it yourself when the weather is better and the days are longer.

 

[2001LC]

I've not seen a report of engine damage with TB break in non VVTI 2UZ-fe. Is this true of VX engine as well? If the answer is yes you'd just need a tow in unlikely event. Drive with lite foot if your really concerned, this will reduce chance of break. This assume it was done properly and with OEM belt 20K miles ago. I'd be more concerned with water pump or idler/tensioner bearings then age of belt.

 

[RND1]

I bought the Aisin Timing Belt / Water Pump kit from Amazon and had my local Toyota Dealer install it. You never know, try calling around to a couple of Toyota Dealers and ask if they will install your OEM parts?

Otherwise, I would wait until Spring and DIY. These engines are easy on timing belts so I wouldn't be concerned about the years, only the mileage.

 

[Julian Stead]

I have found a receipt for the timing belt, the truck has full dealer history up to the belt change so it should be a oem belt but no water pump was mentioned, I am not losing any water and there's no strange noises from the belt area to get me concerned, so should this be ok. The 98 vx model is the non VVTI 2UZ-fe, as I live in the UK I would say 95% of land cruisers are diesel so even most dealers here wouldn't of done much work on this engine even when they where new out.

Lucky enough is that I don't use the vehicle for work so it's just a weekend run around. But every now and then I get the panic of needing to change the belt. It's probably paranoia I know but it can't be helped.

 

[Julian Stead]

I bought the Aisin Timing Belt / Water Pump kit from Amazon and had my local Toyota Dealer install it. You never know, try calling around to a couple of Toyota Dealers and ask if they will install your OEM parts?

Otherwise, I would wait until Spring and DIY. These engines are easy on timing belts so I wouldn't be concerned about the years, only the mileage.

I don't think the dealers would do it here but no harm in trying them, Its probably a warranty issue, plus the extortionate prices they charge for parts I think that is where they earn there money.

Mileage is good on the belt as it's only just done 20k miles. The previous owner only used the vehicle when it snowed in winter so it was stood nearly all year doing nothing so the mileage has been kept low, but the vehicle has done 170k in total with no record of a water pump change which is more of the worry, but it must of been good on the last belt change as Toyota would of changed it you would of thought.

It's just a risk that some days I think about, I used to work in a dealership and the engines then would mostly be destroyed by a belt snapping but that was on more modern engines with tighter tolerances.

 

[CharlieS]

Don't worry about it. Fix it when the weather gets better.

 

[Julian Stead]

Don't worry about it. Fix it when the weather gets better.

Cheers, I will wait and DIY it. Which is what I would prefer to do.

 

[SWUtah]

I had a 99 100 series that had 60k miles on it and was 7 years old with original timing belt and water pump. It lived its entire life in southern Arizona, very dry and very hot and very hard on rubber parts. That is why I changed it. Ended up that the water pump was leaking and the timing belt was deteriorating and might of failed before I reached the 90k miles. If I was you I would check the water pump to see if there are any signs of it leaking? If it's not leaking you should be ok for awhile. I was very surprised that the belt looked as bad as it did. But I think it was the hot weather.

 

[jclarke450]

I agree with @SWUtah , I would check the WP and that will give you a chance to check the TB real quick. If it looks good, then wait. I will say as I did in another thread. I just did a change on a 4R for a friend that had 266k on the original belt and WP. WP was starting to weep a bit. Probably yours is fine for quite a while, but nice to see for yourself.

 

[hidesertwheelin]

Good info. Mine was changed in 2008 @ 100k miles. It's now 2016 W/ 152k miles. I've been thinking about having mine changed also.

 

[Julian Stead]

Thanks for the advice, I will check the water pump for signs of leakage, hopefully its ok.

Cheers