I'll answer my own question and maybe it will help someone else. I found out that yes the belts do normally wear out that fast and crack due to engine heat and there's nothing you can do about it. living in a hot climate doesnt help either.
the best sites for quality drive belts are
http://toyotapartstore.com [$26 bando that toyota uses] and
http://www.autoparts-autoparts.com [$26 ac delco]. conti or advantex arent recommended brands.
in my case the dealer charged $26 for the bando belt and put it on for $33 with a 1yr part/labor warranty so I was pleased with that price.
Linear Mode
