Horrible noise under timing belt cover - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Tommy · 12-26-2004, 08:12 PM

today my car started making this screaching grinding noise coming from the timing belt area.

when i stop the car, i can see smoke coming out of the timing belt cover, this cant be a good thing.

the belt obviously isnt broken, as the car still runs, but what is wrong? and how much is it gonna cost me?

88 LE · 12-26-2004, 08:50 PM

Check the idler/tensioner pulleys.

Their bearings, so when they go bad they'll seize up or make grinding noises.

IIRC theres 2 of them on a 3S-FE.

Also check the water pump to make sure its not seized.

Tommy · 12-26-2004, 08:59 PM

ah 88 to the reply.

is the smoke normal with this? it almost sounds like the belt is slapping against the cover, but as far as i can tell its not.

i really dont feel like doing this myself. its 20degrees outside and there's like no room for changing the belt in there. I looked into prices and seached the site for average costs and $200-$300 seemed the norm for belt replacement but if the pulleys are shot what do you think the cost might be?

88 LE · 12-26-2004, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevethecleric

is the smoke normal with this?

If the bearings are seized its very possible that you'll see smoke.

The bearings/tensioners/pulleys are suppose to spin along with the belt. But if its seized the belt drags along it causing friction which creates heat. You get the point.

Quote:

I looked into prices and seached the site for average costs and $200-$300 seemed the norm for belt replacement but if the pulleys are shot what do you think the cost might be?

Timing belt replacement on a 4 cyl. is about $200 from a Toyota dealership.

Then add on the price of the tensioner/pulleys. I don't know how much they cost though.

Tommy · 12-27-2004, 09:00 AM

water pump seized i guess, its leakin coolant like a mofo. made it about half a mile from my house and the car lost all power, max speed was 25mph. limped it back home and it stalled just as i was pulling in. does this make it worse?

88 LE · 12-27-2004, 12:33 PM

Sounds like your water pump took a shit.

Replace the water pump. Its about $40 from Autozone or $120 from Toyota.

Check the timing belt. If its all chewed up, replace it. About $35 from Toyota.

Check the bearings/idlers/tensioners. Replace if their bad.

Replace the tensioner spring. ~$3 from Toyota.

And while your at it, you might want to replace the 2 accessory belts too.

Tommy · 12-27-2004, 02:43 PM

im not doing the work, its too cold plus i hate working in that confined space.

Took it to the shop, bastards are charging me about $500 to replace everything. im fuckin pissed.

fredk · 12-27-2004, 05:28 PM

turned out to be an awfully expensive confined place huh?

Tommy · 12-27-2004, 05:39 PM

have you ever changed a timing belt on a camry? there's no room what so ever.

fredk · 12-27-2004, 05:46 PM

hundreds of em, 1 hour job, wait till ya gotta do one on a maxima with a vg30

fredk · 12-27-2004, 05:48 PM

I could have talked you through it, it isnt that bad once you get the wheel off and the motor mount out of the way

Tommy · 12-27-2004, 06:02 PM

well, ive never done it before and its 20 degrees outside...not really wanting to spend the entire day learning how to do it and freezing my ass off. ive spent the last 2 months battling this car. Starting with an engine swap in november and then fixing all the other crap thats broken since then. In all, ive spent around $1500 in the past 2 months just on repairs, and ive done all the labor up until this shot.