Newbie Q's: Timing Belt,Brake Fluid, Repair Manual

[DeafBug]

Hello, I have lurked around in the past but never signed up. Now I did as I have several questions. I drive a TDI (diesel) New Beetle and I do all my work myself except for major work, which I have none so far. I also do timing belts and pump swaps for other TDI owners. So that's a brief background about me.

I did search and the results was too huge to dig thru it but I found some interesting posts. Anyway I have a few questions. My wife drives 1999 Camry 4-cylinder engine. I don't know what are the specs or engine codes for it. Any information will help so I know what engine code/type to watch for when I start reading up in this forum.

The dealer told us that the brake fluid is lifetime and never needs to be replace. (BS sirens going off in my head.) I bought the Motive PowerBleeder so I could flush the brake fluid for both cars. The only question I have is where to go and get blue stuff. So that I can track it. Well, clear will do as brake fluid is already yellowing. Also what DOT number is used. VW uses DOT 4. So what does our Camry use? (I know it is on the cap but I am work and she's at work.)

There is 70,000 miles on the engine and I do timing belts for TDI so I want to try to do a timing belt on this gasser. What am I looking for? Any special tools? I saw this website and it is great but I don't know where to go from there. http://www.yotarepair.com/Timingbeltinstructions.html
What parts are needed to replace? The water pump as been replaced at 54,000 under warranty. So I don't think I need to replace it at 100,000 miles. How often does a timing belt have to be replaced? I am assuming 100K.

One last thing about the timing belts, on the VW TDI, I always adjust the timing so it is at a sweet spot. Do you have to adjust it afterwards?

And finally, where and what is a good repair manual? I use the Bentley manual for my Beetle. I see several people mentioned Haynes but is it complete and including all the information you need. The reason I asked is that they do have some manuals for some VW and the people over at the VW forums say they are not good for experts only for shade tree mechanics. Bentley only does European cars so no Japanese.

Thank you for your help.

[jhbhatia]

What you have is a plain jane 2.2 i4 5sfe. Spec - 135hp! Strong engine. 60K benchmark is a good period for a timing belt change. DOT 3 brake fluid. at 60K miles i would also recommend changing the alternator belt and the a/c fan belt .
Hopefully this limits ur search parameters

Edit: Good manuals... are the BIG GREEN BOOK - shop toyota manuals. Ebay is a good buy...they are pricey but they are well worth it!

[tater_tot]

i have a haynes manual for my 93 and they give step by step on removal, inspection, and installation. i havent changed my timing belt yet, though i really need to, so i wouldnt be able to tell you about adjusting it to a sweet spot. but i agree with what was said previously about the brake fluid and the time to change the belt

[cam2Xrunner]

If the dealer changed the waterpump they might have changed the belt while they were at it. Check your service records. I'd reccomend changing the brake fluid every 2 years-24k miles or just whenever you change your brakes.

[CamNub]

Engine is 5s-fe, Its actually 133 hp lol.

Nice to see another Mn member. Where u from?

Lots of ppl have a Haynes manual so im assuming it works pretty good. And whats TDI?

[DeafBug]

Thanks, Guy for your help. I will see if I can find a Haynes or something at a libraries and poke around it before committing to the Toyota shop manual.

Well, that's a lot of hp, more than the TDI. But in the TDI world, the answer is the torque. It has super high torque for a low RPM. And the torque is part of the hp formula. I actually chipped my TDI so it is up close. But soon I will be putting in bigger injectors so I will get up there. But that's not the point, it's just the wife's car we can't afford to do dealer cost.

I had a 1981 Firebird V8 that I had swapped the engine and tranny but that was with a help of a friend who is an expert. So I am not quite fond of gassers. Diesels is a lot easier to maintian. The only negative thing about diesel is troubleshooting and the replacement parts can be sky high. For example a brand new fuel pump can be $2,400. I just never got a kick for gassers until I started working on diesels. That's just me.

I did look at the invoice when we picked up the car on the waterpump. They only did the pump. That's reminds me, I need to go back and have them top off the coolant. What coolant can you use for the engine. It is the pink stuff but is it the same as what VW uses cuz I have some. They need to top off the coolant as the air pockets got out and the amount of coolant is low in the overflown tank.

CamNub, I am in Maple Grove, MN. And you? Do you have skills? Wanna help on the timing belt?

TDI is Turbocharged Direct Injection. Not the same concept as TDI that Toyota is using for their engines that they are coming out with as it is still called TDI, IIRC.

Are the links on the bottom good and reliable? I see four of them and two are Toyota Timing Belt and books4cars.com.

[88 LE]

Originally posted by DeafBug
There is 70,000 miles on the engine and I do timing belts for TDI so I want to try to do a timing belt on this gasser. What am I looking for? Any special tools? I saw this website and it is great but I don't know where to go from there. http://www.yotarepair.com/Timingbeltinstructions.html
What parts are needed to replace?

http://www.yotarepair.com/5S-FEtimingbelt.html

Only special tool you need is a pulley puller (bolt type) to remove the crank pulley. Don't use the jaw type.

While your at it you might as well replace the 2 accessory belts too. They need to be removed anyways to replace the timing belt.

One last thing about the timing belts, on the VW TDI, I always adjust the timing so it is at a sweet spot. Do you have to adjust it afterwards?

No. Just make sure that belt is installed properly and that everything is aligned.

And finally, where and what is a good repair manual?

Nothing beats the factory (Toyota) service manuals.

You can order them by calling the number below. Just tell em what your looking for.

1(800) 622-2033

Toyota Service Publications
750 West Victoria St.
Compton, CA 90220-5538

[CamNub]

BLoomington. Nah, I wouldn't be much of a help...Im still a kid.

You might wanna ask smokingtiresv6, He also lives in Mn, and he might wanna help you.

[mykngdom4avvti]

I like DOT 4 brake fluid, but the car only requires DOT 3.
These cars have water pump problems, but if a dealer did the work and it was under warranty, you can be sure they didn't change the belt.
Toyota is putting a new transmission fluid in it's cars called Type T-IV. It says on the filler cap that under normal driving conditions this fluid should never need to be changed. This is rediculous to me, and the same should be thought for your brake fluid. Bottom line, as any fluid deteriorates, as it will, it "attacks" the rubber parts of your car. So if I were you, Id change the brake fluid about every two years.