97' timing belt

[ausmhow]

I've got a 97' avy with 62,xxx miles- Wonderful car- Love it! Going to do the timing belt (water pump, tensioners, etc...) with in the next couple of weeks. The factory service manual calls for removing both cam gears- Is this necessary? I've read in a couple of threads here that it isn't. A few timing belts that I've done in other vehicles have also called for removal of the cam gear- but I didn't have to (but also wondered why they called for it). Any info would be great!
1997 Toyota Avalon
1980 Toyota diesel hilux p/u
1969 Chevrolet c/10 6.2 diesel
1980 Yamaha XT250

[wonger]

v6 avalon.. t-belts are really easy to do.. and no the cams do not need to come off

[Qslim]

Originally Posted by ausmhow

I've got a 97' avy with 62,xxx miles- Wonderful car- Love it! Going to do the timing belt (water pump, tensioners, etc...) with in the next couple of weeks. The factory service manual calls for removing both cam gears- Is this necessary? I've read in a couple of threads here that it isn't. A few timing belts that I've done in other vehicles have also called for removal of the cam gear- but I didn't have to (but also wondered why they called for it). Any info would be great!
1997 Toyota Avalon
1980 Toyota diesel hilux p/u
1969 Chevrolet c/10 6.2 diesel
1980 Yamaha XT250

If you are talking about the cam pulleys, they don't have to be removed to change the belt. A lot of people like to change the camshaft seals at the same time though, and for that they pulleys do have to be removed.

[avalontom]

Cam pulleys need to be removed to change the water pump.

However, the water pump shaft seal should be okay if the radiator fluid was changed regularly.

Tom

[Ross_t]

Originally Posted by avalontom

Cam pulleys need to be removed to change the water pump.

However, the water pump shaft seal should be okay if the radiator fluid was changed regularly.

Tom

Isn't the recommended change interval closer to 100k miles? and it's a non-interference engine?

[ausmhow]

I've heard both 60k and 90k for the t belt change for this year Avalon- I figured since the car is eleven years old with only 62k miles I would lean toward safer than sorry- If this motor is not an interferance design, I will not worry about it for another 30k miles. Is the 1MZ-FE an interferance design?

[ausmhow]

Just did some looking around the site and it seems this motor is a non interferance design. Would like to know for absolute certanty... I used to drive my old ea82 subarus till one of the belts broke- then could limp home on two cylinders...

[Ross_t]

Originally Posted by ausmhow

I've heard both 60k and 90k for the t belt change for this year Avalon- I figured since the car is eleven years old with only 62k miles I would lean toward safer than sorry- If this motor is not an interferance design, I will not worry about it for another 30k miles. Is the 1MZ-FE an interferance design?

It doesn't hurt to change it early, but I'll run ours up to 100k before I'll worry too much. Too much normal day to day work to consider adding to the load!

[Medi.]

I have a 99 avalon with the same millage and I was wondering what should I be changing in mine. After reading your thread I guess I'll change my timing belt as well.. but what about water pump? is that expensive to change? and do I really need to?

[wonger]

most newer toyotas are 90k/7years which ever comes 1st.. not i dont know how many years are the 60k. ? years