'97 Avalon Timing Belt.

[Ashes10]

My Avalon has 78,XXX miles,
and I needed to know what is the interval for changing the timing belt?
Is it 90,XXX or 60,XXX?

Thanks.

[toyomoho]

60K is the recommended miles for this year.

[Myrooni]

Originally Posted by toyomoho

60K is the recommended miles for this year.

I replaced my 1996 timing belt at 80K, and the new belt part number I was told should last longer - therefore 90K, so I am scheduled for 170K to replace my belt, water pump, and idlers.

[TMack409]

Originally Posted by Myrooni

I replaced my 1996 timing belt at 80K, and the new belt part number I was told should last longer - therefore 90K, so I am scheduled for 170K to replace my belt, water pump, and idlers.

Did you get that in writing [from the dealer]??

[CharlieAVLN]

Ok, a serious question for the experts out there. I have NEVER, EVER in my 35+ years of driving heard of anyone breaking a timing belt. If you do not use your vehicle, as it states in my 1996 AVLN manual, as a "delivery, taxi, or police car", do you REALLY ever need to worry about it?

Also, any evidence of using synthetic oil reducing/extending the life of a timing belt?

For full disclosure, my '96 AVLN has 126k on it, and I DID change the belt at 80K, and I have used synthetic oil in it since I purchased it with 40k on it in '99.

[TMack409]

Originally Posted by CharlieAVLN

Ok, a serious question for the experts out there. I have NEVER, EVER in my 35+ years of driving heard of anyone breaking a timing belt. If you do not use your vehicle, as it states in my 1996 AVLN manual, as a "delivery, taxi, or police car", do you REALLY ever need to worry about it?

Also, any evidence of using synthetic oil reducing/extending the life of a timing belt?

For full disclosure, my '96 AVLN has 126k on it, and I DID change the belt at 80K, and I have used synthetic oil in it since I purchased it with 40k on it in '99.

They do fail. And luckily for you, the Avy doesn't have interference valves so the least that can happen is that you will walk home and the worst is that you will get clobbered on the expressway when you lose power unexpectedly.

[golfinator]

I replaced belt, tensioner, pulleys, water pump, seals, and tensioner at 130k mi. (probably overkill, but didn't want to tear it down again) on my 97 Avalon. The belt still looked new. Most of my driving is a mix of short trips mixed in with the occassional interstate routes around metro Atlanta (so, 35-80 mph). A dealer service rep once told me it's not the teeth that show the wear, but the back of the belt that rides against the idler pulleys and becomes slick? No oil comes in contact with the belt or pulleys, so I don't think type of oil will have any effect on belt life.