Dealer Drive Belt Replacement Problem

[Ironsidesusa]

I need info on the procedures to use for replacing the drive belt on my 1997 Camry along with the proper belt tensioning steps. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Ironsidesusa

Background:
I have a 1997 4 cylinder Camry that I bought used (in very good shape) back in July of this year. In late September, after driving it for about 2000 miles (w/no problems), my wife and I decided it would be a great car to have at our Florida winter home in the Tampa area.

Although I usually do general maintenance on my own vehicles (oil changes, anti-freeze replacement, plugs, wires, filters even did a radiator once etc.), I decided this time I would have a local Toyota Dealer do the maintenance (drive belt replacement) just to be sure no problems could erupt on our way South from Massachusetts. I figured certified mechanics who have the proper tools, manuals and training should be able to provide an added level of insurance that the job was done right.

Needless to say, my "ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" approach has resulted in a nothing but trouble instead. (I should have left well enough alone or done it myself.) About 500 miles south on Interstate 95 the serpentine belt began to disintegrate (an eight inch section on one side of the belt separated) and had to be replaced at another Toyota dealer near Beltsville, MD. (the name of where we ended up fixing the drive belt problem will certainly make for a good tale after the matter has been settled but for the time being I am not a happy camper.) The disintegrating belt also damaged the heat/sound insulating material under the hood. (wearing a large hole in that material due to the belt separation whipping around and hitting it as the drive belt rotated)

Immediately upon returning back to Massachusetts I met with the Toyota Dealer. After fully explaining the situation (complete with photos of the belt and the hood insulation damage) I gave them the defective belt. Their response was apologetic and they acknowledged that 'Unfortunately sometimes this happens". They indicated I should probably receive payment for the belt replacement expense involved in "about two weeks". As far as the collateral damage to the heat/sound material under the hood is concerned they asked to see the car, at which time I explained it was in Florida. She said before they would reimburse me for the hood insulation material, I would have to remove it an mail it to them. (Seems kind of unreasonable to me since I have photos of that damage that she saw.)

It has been over three weeks and I have not as yet received any compensation for the added expense I have encurred in this matter. I guess it's time to consider alternate courses of action to receive reimbursement. Step one as I see it -It's time to bone up on the drive belt replacement procedures in preparation for the customer/dealer confrontation that may be in the near future.

I believe that either the local Toyota Dealer's workmanship or drive belt product (or both) were defective and were the cause for my problem.

[dc_98_cam]

It seems unlikely that a newly installed OEM timing belt would fail, unless there had been some sort of installation error. ... Maybe the upper idler pulley was left loose, without being properly tightened or torqued. .... I would inquire about the particular mechanic who did the work on you car, and what level of experience he had acquired.

[Mike Gerber]

I you feel you are being given the run-around at the dealership, I would call Toyota corporate at 1-800-331-4331 and discuss the issue with a customer service rep. That rep will then contact that dealership on your behalf. In my experience, when complaints come from the coroporate level, dealerships seem to move a lot quicker.

Mike

[toyomoho]

Any issues with other parts driven by the timing belt, oil and water pump, idlers. Did one of these parts seize up and cause the belt to fail. If no other problems this is highly unusually and the first dealer should make it right. If the first dealer has issues they can contact the second dealer that fixed the car for details.

All the service occured within the “Toyota family” and would expect Toyota to make it right for you.

[sheepwundr]

if you are talking about drive belts not timing belts the procedure is easy. the alternator belt is right there with a threaded tensioner. loosen 12mm on the side of the tensioner(this is the lock), then loosen the other long threaded 12mm. you may have to loosen the 14mm bolt where the alt. attaches to the bracket.reverse procedure to tighten. to do the power steering belt you will have to remove the ps tire and the dust shield(2 10mm bolts for shiled). to remove belt there is a 12 or 14mm bolt on a bracket just under the pulley, loosen that and yank down on the belt to get tension off the belt. to tighten will need a prybar to move the pump back to get tension back on the belt. the belts should have a small amount of slack in them not a lot. too tight and you will do harm to alt or ps pump, too loose and you will be in the same boat as your trip. from start to finish you can do this by yourself with hand tools in maybe an 1 1/2 hrs. you seem like you know how to do some work on cars. if you are ever in the ri mass area and need a hand just give me a shout ill see what i can do for you.

[sheepwundr]

people he wanted drive belt help not tbelt. read before answering.

[JMSinMD]

What I would do if I was the service advisor in this case is to have you take it to a local Toyota dealer down in Florida and have them confirm that the failure of your serpentine drive belt caused further damage to the vehicle, have them fix the issue and reimburse them. That is the route your dealer should take.

[Ironsidesusa]

Thanks all for your inputs.

sheepwundr is correct. The problem I experienced was not with the timing belt. My problem was with the drive belt (a.k.a the sepentine belt).

Since I had bought the car used, and it had just over 98K miles on it, I decided before driving it south to get the timing belt replaced. When I brought the car to the MA dealer to have the timing belt work done they said they usually replace the other belts as well at the same time. I said OK. At the time I was left with the impression that to get at the timing belt the others would have to be removed. I said OK replace the timing belt and the other belts too.

The second Toyota Dealer in MD indicated that the drive belt was improperly installed by the MA Dealer ("Found drive belt in wrong position") Does anybody have any idea exactly what that quote means? Is there a tensioning adjustment, bolt tightening and/or torquing to certain specs that may have not been done properly when the new drive belt was installed? Can you refer me to the appropriate Gen 4 manual section that Toyota Nation has available here (the "PDF" files) so that I can bone up on the step-by-step procedures the dealer's mechanic should have followed?

Ironsidesusa

[Ironsidesusa]

Thanks again all for your thoughts/inputs on this problem.

The Closing Chapter
Having met with the Service Advisor and getting her word that I would receive a check in about two weeks, I waited and I waited and I waited. After three weeks passed by and I had received no check for the damages and rework that had to be done, the whole thing really started to tick me off! So I decided to write her a letter reiterating the details of our meeting and the promises she had made. The letter included photos of the belt & the collateral damage done to my vehicle.

No answer or telephone call was the Service Advisor's response. So I wrote another letter, this time to the owner of the dealership (attaching the Service Advisor letter I had written.) Within about a week of sending the second letter I received a check for $350.

I now get coupons from that dealership for reduced prices on oil changes, brake jobs etc. It will be a cold day in HELL before I go back to that place for anything! Nuff Said!