What is the highest mileage you have gone on Camry before changing the timing belt?

[camryguy2]

Just curious who has gotten the most mileage out of timing belt. I have 2000 Camry 4 cyl. LE and has 98K miles on it and still the original belt. I wonder how long I can go without having to change it (knowing car has non-interference engine so if the belts breaks i will just get stuck but not damage the engine). I know Toyota recommends changing the belt at 90K.

Also, what are some of the early signs like change in sounds etc that indicate belt is getting weaker if any?

[Nervous]

SEARCH!
How long has your timing belt lasted?

[ycartf]

It didn't break, but the belt on our 1990 V6 Camry reached 124,050 miles before it "jumped time" and I replaced it. We didn't know when the previous owner had replaced it (turns out they hadn't) and found it to be the original belt, WP, seals (weeping a little), and pulleys (still quiet).

[Mister_Perkins]

i drove 160,000 miles in my red 93 before the belt broke. (was leaking oil on the belt from leaky cam seal and crank seal)..

the 93 is the beater Manual thats about to rot in half

[JohnGD]

Even if you're concerned about cost, I wouldn't run the timing belt and water pump beyond the 6-year/90K mile recommended interval. You maybe able to safely go 7-year/105K miles like Hondas do. But their engines run cooler than the 2000 (Gen 4) Toyota sludge makers.

I don't think you can hear an "old" timing belt unless it's really stretched and hitting the timing cover. Yes, this has happened and Toyota issued a TSB about Gen 4 timing belts really stretching.

You're more likely to hear bearing noises and water pump noise first. Maybe a slight reduction in engine performance because a stretched timing belt retards the timing.

In addition, the 4-cyl does NOT have an automatic tensioner, therefore it's more likely for the belt to jump teeth when they stretch. That's if one tooth from the stretched belt doesn't come against a sprocket cog, causing the belt to snap first.

Otherwise if you do your own work I think 5-year/60K miles is a better interval. You should change out the pulleys, water pump, oil seals, valve cover gasket set, all belts, and maybe the thermostat and radiator hoses while at it.

Originally Posted by camryguy2

Just curious who has gotten the most mileage out of timing belt. I have 2000 Camry 4 cyl. LE and has 98K miles on it and still the original belt. I wonder how long I can go without having to change it (knowing car has non-interference engine so if the belts breaks i will just get stuck but not damage the engine). I know Toyota recommends changing the belt at 90K.

Also, what are some of the early signs like change in sounds etc that indicate belt is getting weaker if any?

[Yuko]

I'm not too worry about the timing belt on my camry even thou it's about 9 years old. Like JohnGD said, there's not much signs of a failing timing belt other than when it breaks.

On our 5S-FE, the timing belt drives the oil pump, water pump, one cam pulley that turns two camshafts, rides on one idler pulley and a tensioner. That's a lot of work and pressure for one belt. Not to mention that I drive that little engine hard and high in the rev count.

Knowing it's a non-interference engine, I would still change mine at 90k (and water pump, ect.) so that it can never break while I'm rushing to college for a midterm. That would suck if it did.

[pmesfun]

130k on original timing belt

[OceanView]

120,000 was the highest but I may go to 150,000 next time

[LittleWhiteBubble]

I'm really not sure if the p.o. ever did mine.... I'm at 175k miles and don't plan on changing it until it goes.

[LynchburgCSI]

Originally Posted by LittleWhiteBubble

I'm really not sure if the p.o. ever did mine.... I'm at 175k miles and don't plan on changing it until it goes.

I have a feeling you just jinxed yourself.

[ajkalian]

There's two components to think about when you talk about when to change the timing belt. The first is whether it needs it because of wear and tear, and the answer is usually, it doesn't. Mine both went 100,000 miles between changes and both looked in great shape when I changed them.

The second component is stretch. I didn't pay attention to this the first time around, but the second time I measured the old belt's circumference and compared it to the old one. The old one had stretched 1/2" which equals about 2 teeth on the belt. So the timing would be affected for sure. The longer you wait, the more the belt will stretch and the more your engine will get out of time. I don't know how, or if, the ECU can compensate for this.

And after I had installed the new belt, the car ran much better. All subjective of course, but it seemed snappier and more responsive.

Common sense would tell you that 90,000 miles isn't an absolute. But rather a compromise between, service life of the belt and engine performance due to the belt stretching.



.

[LittleWhiteBubble]

Haha I hope I didn't. But it may have been done, the p.o. got the car handed down from his father-in-law so there aren't any maintenance records. It could have been done right before it traded hands, but I don't know. It runs good and I push it pretty hard most of the time. Once the belt goes, I'll just tow it to the mechanic I guess. Being a non-interference engine, it's going to cost the same amount whether its already broken or not.

[Cartang]

Camry 99 V6 SC , Changed last week timing belt with water pump , 97,200 milles

[BMR]

I'd have to look in my maintenance log book, but I think it was at around 230k miles on the Camry. And that was only because the water pump started leaking. The belt looked fine.

[Gothmog3VZ]

Originally Posted by LynchburgCSI

I have a feeling you just jinxed yourself.