What’s the oldest timing belt you’ve seen?

And what condition was it in? Really curious as I’ve heard of 20 year old trucks with like new timing belts.

 

This person claimed they didn't change the timing belt until 500k. He never posted anything that proved it so we'll have to take his word for it. I've seen some timing belt pictures on the Facebook page where they are literally hanging on by a prayer.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/highest-mileage-1st-gen-thread.11039/page-7#post-1384667

@Tundra2 belt was pretty rough looking.


https://www.tundras.com/threads/crackhead-resurrection.94083/page-7#post-2385438

 

I’d heard of a one owner (not sure if it was here or TS) with around 360k or so that became aware of the need for the timing belt change (many aren’t car maintenance savvy). Had it changed and the tech showed him the old belt and it looked fine. We’ve all seen the belt carnage for some at much lower mileage, crazy how different two can be.

 

This is my serpentine belt belt I did a few weeks ago. Is this an indication of how my timing belt looks? Truck has always been in California.

@shifty`

 

Maybe, maybe not. You can pull back the timing belt cover and peek at it. 10mm bolts. 10 minute job.

Do you know if your belt has ever been changed?

 

A little frayed and some mild dry cracking. Not bad. Assume the worst with the timing belt though.

 

I had the 1st timing belt replacement done on my 06 last month. So 17ish years and 97,000 miles. I have no idea what condition the original belt was in since I had a shop do the work. The original fan/serpentine belt looks good. It was supposed to have been replaced when they did the timing belt but the shop forgot to order the belt. I told them dom't worry about it I'll replace it and save a few bucks on their parts upcharge.

 

Oh really? I didnt know it was that easy. Any videos on how to do it?

Truck is an 05 with 77K on it, original belt.

 

Ya mines an 05 with 77K on it, original belt.

 

Yeah, naw, I've got 2k less miles than you, mines already been replaced once.

Rubber ages. Even in ideal climates like Cali has to offer. And with such low mileage, you need to be worried about cam seal leaks and potential water leaks under the timing cover that would degrade the belt. Unfortunately low mileage is NOT really a good thing in these trucks, every gasket and seal that comes in contact with a fluid tends to degrade, shrink, crack, rot, and the belts are no different. Don't go by the serpentine belt, it sits out in the open; the timing belt is behind a hot cover that is prone to "silently" dripping.

If the OEM tells you to change the belt every 9yr/90k miles, whichever comes first, there's a reason. The 2UZ-FE in particular, is an interference engine. Low interference, but as at least two people found out this month already, you will almost certainly transform your engine into a boat anchor if that belt snaps at any significant RPMs.

At minimum, peel back the easier-access timing cover and check the belt, manually turning the engine over to inspect every last inch of it. And check for evidence of oil/coolant leaks near the base of the timing covers, to see if you have the typical VVTi cam seal leaks other 05-06 V8 folks have.

 

Got it, understood. Is there any links out there for videos on how to peel back the timing cover? Hard to do?

 

Black plastic cover at the front on both sides of the engine. Couple of 10mm bolts I believe will allow you to peel the cover back far enough to see the outside of the belt on the Cam gear. Look for cracks or fraying. Those would be the obvious outward signs, but are no guarantee that the belt is still ok. Difficulty level 2/10. Just need the right tools and very little mechanical aptitude.

 

I just want to emphasize this point, heavily, in bold italic, it can’t be stessed enough.

Someone on here recently was commenting on a shop he goes to who had an array of snapped timing belts from vehicles that rolled into their shop, some looked brand new - killed by age. Showed a picture. It was eye opening for sure, some of the belts looked damn near new.

At the age of that vehicle, you’re running on heavily borrowed time, especially knowing the truck hasn’t seen regular use, regular use helps keep belts of the type limber, not stiff. Every day you drive that truck may be your last. And if you happen to be unlucky enough to be spinning at any significant RPM, you now have a sub-80k mile boat anchor, and what makes your truck special today now makes it “neglected enough to need a new engine”. An engine that’ll cost you 4x-8x what it does to change the belt at any Toyota specialist’s shop.

Just do the right thing and change the belt. You’re only doing it 12k miles earlier than Toyota’s recommended mileage, despite being almost doubly overdue on Toyota’s recommended age.

 

I had my timing belt changed in June of this year for the first time in this truck's life. Granted I only have 48,000 miles but I wasn't going to chance it since I inherited this 01 AC Tundra. Belt looked almost brand new but still why play roulette?

 

As @shifty` is saying, You can look at it if you feel like it but you need to change it even if it looks good, they don't all show signs of age the same way. I wouldn't drive that truck an inch until it was replaced.

 

Also have to remember that good belts can fail due to tensioners or idlers failing. I think this is what causes the new looking belts to fail.

 

Noted. Just got two quotes here in Nashville....1,850 and 1,900!

 

That’s high, but may be reflective of the current economy.
I bought my truck at 99k miles and changed the belt myself at 212k. I’m assuming the belt was done once before me, but possibly not. Could have been a 212k mile belt. Didn’t look too bad when I changed it.

 

Not on a Toyota, but I had a customer come in with a 1995 Impreza on it's original belt in 2018. The car belonged to a grandma before she passed and was never driven. It had less than 6k miles on it, but the belt was 23 years old when we replaced it along with every other petroleum based product and fluid in that car.

 

Well here it is boys. 18 year old belt, looks pretty damn good. The water pump was leaking however. Pics below.

 

Thank Jesus that 18yo belt is being replaced. Glad you got that squared away.

 

Those are Atlanta stealership prices

Cheapest I've found here out the door with OEM parts (Aisin) was $1,600.

Don't trust looks. Reality is, that split perpendicular to the sides could've been the start of something. Likewise, you see the water pump is leaking clearly, and leaks dripping on the belt will rapidly turn even new belts into garbage.

You're doing the right thing.

 

I'm going 150k on my next belt and pump. Tired of changing timing belts that look brand new. They last a lot longer than 90k.

 

In ideal circumstances ... sure, possibly.

I've just seen too many belt-broke sob stories on here to buy into that.

 

There ya go. Now that’s following the science!!! Good luck to you sir!