Timing belt worn after one year?

[medtro]

I am reaching out on behalf of a friend regarding a timing belt issue.

A shop replaced his timing belt in August 2025 using a shop-supplied Aisin TKT-021 kit. Just over a year later, the vehicle threw codes P0016 and P0018. He returned to the same shop and was informed that the timing belt is worn. I find it unusual for a quality belt to wear out like that within just one year and two weeks. What are your thoughts on this situation, and what do you think could have caused this?

 

[MongooseGA]

I'd be curious what the rest of the belt looks like. To me, that doesn't look like wear, it looks like damage. Was the belt pinched when it was installed? Or was it shipped with the corner of something heavy digging in to it?

 

[Patassa]

I'd want to know if they replaced the timing belt tensioner with a new one when they did the job. Otherwise I wouldn't expect that small scratch to cause the belt to jump teeth.

 

[Super77]

Counterfeit belt? Where was it sourced?

 

[bhsdriller]

only if they drove 100k miles plus and even then they can look ok

 

[NE Snowman]

damaged not worn

 

[OEMGUY0720]

I would thoroughly check the pulleys that the belt touches. It appears with that gouge the belt either was handled improperly or is a case of manufacturing defect (1st time I’ve seen).

 

[medtro]

I would thoroughly check the pulleys that the belt touches. It appears with that gouge the belt either was handled improperly or is a case of manufacturing defect (1st time I’ve seen).

I haven't seen this issue before either. If there were something on the pulley, I would expect to see more gouges on the belt.

 

[3_puppies]

it doesn't look like it is into the cords of the belt,
was it rolled all the way around and this is the only area?

 

[NE Snowman]

VVTI or non? If non I think I'd let it go, honestly looks like it was damaged during install. If it was during operation it would have marks all over it imo.
VVTI I'd let run a bit longer and check again, if nothing more maybe replace early if worried.

 

[Snow Wagon]

Hello medtro,
Has the shop figured out what caused the P0016 and P0018 codes?
Timing / belt off by 1 (or more...) tooth?
You can loosen the top 2 timing belt covers to determine if the timing is off.
Honestly, just one pic of a mark on the belt doesn't mean a whole lot.
That kit comes with a new timing belt tensioner and both timing belt pulleys.
How many miles on it since the timing belt / water pump was done?
Any abnormal noise from the front of the motor?
If it's off by a tooth, it's time to tear it apart and figure out why.
I believe the most common cause to skip a tooth is a weak / bad timing belt tensioner, usually caused by the tensioner not being replaced during the TB / WP service.
2nd most common would be old / bad timing belt.
Good luck.
Tom

 

[medtro]

VVTI or non? If non I think I'd let it go, honestly looks like it was damaged during install. If it was during operation it would have marks all over it imo.
VVTI I'd let run a bit longer and check again, if nothing more maybe replace early if worried.

2006 LX470 with vvti. It is throwing P0016 & P0018 now.

 

[medtro]

Hello medtro,
Has the shop figured out what caused the P0016 and P0018 codes?
Timing / belt off by 1 (or more...) tooth?
You can loosen the top 2 timing belt covers to determine if the timing is off.
Honestly, just one pic of a mark on the belt doesn't mean a whole lot.
That kit comes with a new timing belt tensioner and both timing belt pulleys.
How many miles on it since the timing belt / water pump was done?
Any abnormal noise from the front of the motor?
If it's off by a tooth, it's time to tear it apart and figure out why.
I believe the most common cause to skip a tooth is a weak / bad timing belt tensioner, usually caused by the tensioner not being replaced during the TB / WP service.
2nd most common would be old / bad timing belt.
Good luck.
Tom

It has about 12000 miles since the last timing belt job. There is no abnormal noise. No new technical information provided.

Shop owner planned to call his shop supplier to inquire about the belt. Shop's initial plan is for the shop to pay for the parts and split the labor cost with the car owner. Nothing has been confirmed yet.

 

[excessive]

I would bet that there is damage / wear on the pulleys

 

[NE Snowman]

2006 LX470 with vvti. It is throwing P0016 & P0018 now.

Glazed over the codes, yeah I’d have it opened up and check pulleys. Didn’t mention that they were replaced yet, is this the first 90k belt or 2nd around 180k? I’ve always had them replace all pulleys on my 2UZs during t-belt.

 

[medtro]

Glazed over the codes, yeah I’d have it opened up and check pulleys. Didn’t mention that they were replaced yet, is this the first 90k belt or 2nd around 180k? I’ve always had them replace all pulleys on my 2UZs during t-belt.

Pulleys were included in the Aisin TKT-021 kit and paid for, but I couldn't verify if they were actually replaced or not. For context, this was the third timing belt job performed on the vehicle. The water pump was not replaced during the first timing belt job and leaked afterward. Second timing belt job was performed due to water pump failure.

 

[andrewderrick]

- Is it actually out of time?
- is the connector on the VVT solenoid broken or is there a solenoid issue?
- did the crank sensor wiring get messed up during timing belt install?
- bad cam actuator?

 

[Snow Wagon]

Hello medtro,
IMO, prior to tearing it down and replacing parts, the shop needs to figure out what's causing the codes.
Pretty easy to loosen the 2 top timing belt covers to see if the timing is correct or not.
If the timing is correct, maybe it's a sensor, solenoid, or wiring.
That little mark on the belt didn't look terrible to me.
I'd hate for the shop to tear it all down and replace belts, pulleys, etc. just to have the issue remain.
Good luck.
Tom