Re: Avalon Timing Belt

On Feb 16, 9:08 am, jor <j...@jor.com> wrote:[color=blue]
> 2000 Avalon XLS
>
> My Avalon is in nice shape and has about 88,000 miles. The Scheduled
> Maintenance Guide calls for timing belt replacement at 90,000. My
> question is: Has experience shown that these belts break close to this
> limit? The reason I'm asking is I've had two Camrys in which the belt
> broke within a couple thousand miles of 60,000 (I know, I know...)
> Anyhow, I may replace this Avalon with a newer one but I'd like to take
> a road trip first (maybe 3,000 miles or so). Thanks.
> jor[/color]


It'll probably be ok. The newer belts IE: 2000 seem to be a bit better
than the older ones. I think that's why they rate at 90k rather than
the earlier 60k. In the overall scheme of 90k miles, another 3k is not
going to amount to much. My 89 honda is slightly past due on it's
belt change, but I kept driving it. Course, I don't hot rod, race the
engine, etc.. I'm rarely over 3000 rpm in that car..
Another thing to consider is that engine should be non interfearance
as far as the valves, etc, so if you did throw a belt, it probably
wouldn't
hurt the engine. You would just have to get a tow and replace the
belt.
With my particular honda, it's a throw of the dice vs the rpm when it
breaks.. If slow rpm, sometimes they are ok. If fast rpms, it's not
uncommon to toast some valves...
I just got a 05 corolla a week or so ago..It has a timing chain rather
than belt. The guy that sold it to me said those are usually rated at
160k lifespan, but I haven't actually looked into it. BTW, what the
belt looks like is not a very good indicator. A belt that breaks can
often look nearly like new right before it breaks.. :( About all you
can
really look at is for rounded off teeth, etc, and usually they will
look
ok.. If the belt is due for a change, I change it regardless of what
it
looks like. I also change anything else in the timing belt area, such
as water pump, oil seals, etc.. It's usually enough of a PIA to get
into, not changing the other stuff doesn't really make sense.
You don't want to have to go back in there again for quite a while..
Well, unless you *like* all that work.. Myself, I have better things
to do
than repeats of that particular job.. :(
MK