Complete and utter noob question!

[JCamry94]

#1 - I DID a search on this, and it seems a very broad subject.

#2 - Please bear with me, I'm still getting used to workin on my car, and everything that encompasses that.

The "Problem" - After running the car over 1 or 2 miles, at idle a ticking sound will come from the engine.

When I press down on the #1 Spark plug wire it taps harder.

I never noticed this before.

What should I be looking for? Is the Timing belt suspect? Any other suggestions?

Engine: 5S-FE
Mileage: 137k

And i'm 99% positive the timing belt hasn't been replaced at all yet, but I have to check the receipts.

Thanks guys...

[bootcamper]

One thing has nothing to do with the other.
How did you arrive at the conclusion that the timing belt is the suspect.

Toyota makes non-interference engines with exception to a few. Yours is a massive solid 5S-FE noninterference Engine. For such engines even if the timing belt breaks, the pistons never reach far enough to touch the valves. One of the genius of its design. the engine will just stop, as the fly wheel stops and there will be no damage done to the internals of the engine or the car. So even if your belt breaks, nothing happens to your car besides that it will roll to a stop. (ofcourse then you will have to tow to a workshop.) so it is safe to replace on time. Get Toyota OEM belts.

Most Honda is interference engine also with exception to a few. If belt breaks, their pistons would smash into the valves and break them against the valve mounts.

Now secondly, your car seems to have been driven very little and spends most of its time in your garage from the mileage and yr of your car. According to the manual, the timing belt should be replaced every 100K or every 10 years. But it is advisable to get them replaced now or at 80-90K or if you notice noticeably low mileage.

As for the sounds heard from pressing the sparkplug wire down could be something else too (perhaps, the wire may have touched the spin wheel when you pressed it down or triggered a mis-fire or something, i don't know. ).

My Advise: The ticking sound you mentioned would be properly diagnosed for FREE if you TAKE YOUR CAR TO TOYOTA Dealership's Service station. Not some quack. They would do a complete and comprehensive Multi-Point Inspection and diagnostics on your car for FREE and will tell you what all is wrong and what all needs attention and needs replaced and will give you a quote. ( But don't get it done there, unless ofcourse if you are rich, dealership is very expensive service. Esp considering the economy)

[JCamry94]

Well boot the reason I thought one thing was in fact involved with another is in my title, "Complete and utter noob question!"

I have VERY LITTLE knowledge about the timing belt, or toyota's engine making history, but I am learning.

" According to the manual, the timing belt should be replaced every 100K or every 10 years. But it is advisable to get them replaced now or at 80-90K or if you notice noticeably low mileage."

Okay, so just so I understand what you're saying, I should check my car's receipts ASAP so as to see if the timing belts has been replaced before?
What's the longest they can go without replacing? I think if I do need to soon I am going to try and tackle the job myself.

"My Advise: The ticking sound you mentioned would be properly diagnosed for FREE if you TAKE YOUR CAR TO TOYOTA Dealership's Service station."

There's one down the street




~Alright, well thanks a lot bootcamper, looks like I got some stuff on my to-do list

[bootcamper]

Good Decision. Taking your car to the Toyota Dealership service is the best and should be first thing in the list. Most people do not know this and make the costly mistake of dealing with other mechanics. After that based on your personal economy get it done either there, yourself or elsewhere you trust, in that order. Toyota would also tell you what all is important fixes and needs immediate attention and what all can wait. Be prepared. They would find a lot of things that need attention, its very comprehensive. ( They will usually give you a report with a quote, post it here w/ cost for each work so that it would benefit others.)

Now as for the timing belt, Usually, on the outside cover of the belt mounts next to the engine, there would be a sticker mentioning a date when it was last replaced (only if last done at a dealership.) I would recommend you walk into Toyota and buy their OEM belt, but not to replace it there. Replace it at a cheaper place, like a smaller workshop.
The reason I said this is because, they charge $96/hr or more for their labor here in California. (Makes me now wonder why I put 7yrs of college.)
The belt itself is very cheap, but replacing it is a hell of a job (usually 2 or 3 hrs or more). There is a DIY on how to to replace the timing belts on your type of engine on top of this forum somewhere (as you log in), but you may not have tools, harmonic pulley balancer and such gears unless you borrow some and have a good friend to lend a hand. As for how long can you use your old belt, as already said, even if you run them down to the point of complete breaking point, nothing would happen to you, your car or the engine, besides rolling to a stop and losing some time in the process.

One last thing. There is a recommended maintenance service required for your make/model/yr of engine at first 120K, 150K or and for the first 10 years whichever comes first and it is recommended you seriously do it with Toyota alone if you had this car since new for all the years of good service it has given, it can easily last upto 300K (and unless you plan to buy a new one or sell this).
Goodluck.
~Bootcamp.