Timing belt

[auh]

I know this is a major debate and to use the search, but what's the real life of the timing belt? I found a truck with 195k that's about 300 miles away from me and the owner said he's never changed it since owning at just over 100k.

I can drive it back or have it shipped to me

 

[duggy]

I would drive it back.

 

[AMGAndrew]

220k original belt on mine. Drove it 1500 miles before I looked at it and saw this....

I'd not worry about it if you can verify it was changed before the current owner bought it and just drive it home. If not, pull the passenger side timing belt cover and take a peak. Its only a couple very easy 10mm bolts. Takes 5 minutes tops.

Run the vin on toyota or lexus owners site to look for service history.

Hell, even if you can't verify, just drive it.

 

[onpoint01]

Mine looked similar to the picture above. When I removed it I tried and tried to break the belt and couldn't do it with with hundreds of pounds of force.

 

[AMGAndrew]

@onpoint01 I never tried but now I'm curious to know what it would actually take to snap. I'd assume the belt would have to be compromised to the point of severe rot unless there was a manufacturing/materials flaw to create a weak point.

 

[flintknapper]

Toyota recommends changing at 90K miles or 7 years (IIRC). But the true service life is easily twice that mileage.

Its rare for a TB to fail without a seized tensioner, pulley or water pump failure being the cause (shreds the belt).

 

[labcab]

Whether or not it was done at 90k, it needs done now, and it's a $1k+ negotiation point on these trucks. If you're going to do it yourself, drive it back. If you're gonna have someone else do it, might as well have it done on that end. Ideally, work it into the deal and have them do it before you pick it up.

I haven't heard of any serious damage due to a broken belt, but you do risk a 1-day delay and paying someone else to do it should it break en route. Not a job I'd attempt on the side of the road.

 

[JayM]

Unfortunately, it is a prime indication of service life. None. Just change the oil and drive it ownership. How about Trans, diffs, trans case, wheel bearings, coolant, brake fluid etc. etc. These rigs can take some abuse but when they hit 200k and nothings been done but change oil things can go south.