Yes..........take it to the dealer!

Well..........assuming you want to try & do it yourself, I can't help ya' there. I really have no intention of doing a timing belt myself anytime soon.........but I can confirm a few things & maybe shed some light for ya'.

Yes, your g/f's TB is hitting the belt cover. Mine did the exact same thing at about 80,000 miles. FWIW, I rode it that way 'til it really started getting loud which was about 90,000. (So you know you don't need to run out & do it tonite or anything)

As for belt changing........I actually let the dealer do it just 'cuz I want to keep this car for a loooong time! I went & test drove an '05 LE and I swear, my '98 rides smoother.......(maybe read that more loosely?)........and I think the seating position in my '98 is MUCH better than in the '05. I dunno.......I just like the feel of the Gen 4's better. (And believe me, I expected to feel better in the '05.....it just didn't happen).

Another thing you could do is go to a local shop & see if they'll do it for less. Oh, by less I mean......the dealer wanted $350 to change the belt. A Big O Tires around the corner from my work that does all the work on our Toyota Tacomas, said he'd do it for $300 and use a "Gates" belt. In hindsight, I could've easily gone to him too, but I chose Toyota anyway.

While the whole front cover's off, you'll hear everyone tell you to change the following.........

Water pump
Thermostat
Front Cam seal
Front Crank seal
Valve cover gasket (not head gasket, but valve cover gasket)
and anything else I forgot, but you get the idea. Once you've got that whole front end apart, you might as well spend the extra couple hundred bucks & get ALL of those items replaced so you don't have to worry about 'em again for another 80,000 miles or so! (Peace of mind!)

I did it and I'm glad I did. I swear if I detail my '98, you could hardly tell it from new. Visually and mechanically. This thing runs like a Ninja and sounds like it too. (Note: I also prefer the sound of the Gen 4 2.2L's to the Gen 5 2.4L's w/ a chain!)

 

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

^ Instructions from Toyota repair manual.

 

Thanks for the help guys... Im not worried about any problems with the job... Ive done many timing belts I just wanted to make sure there arent any special tricks to the toyotas

 

No worry, I have never done timing belt before, and I just finished one on 5S-FE, and it only took me 2 weeks!! :lol:

 

its a pretty straight forward job, just make sure and look and see if your crank and water pump are leaking while your in there it will save you hedache and time if you replace them now.

 

Thanks for the help guys... Im not worried about any problems with the job... Ive done many timing belts I just wanted to make sure there arent any special tricks to the toyotas

I will do second timing belt this fall at about 180,000 Km . Never had any problem with water pump & seals yet. My dealer says don't bother until they leak. A bad installation is worse than an old pump . Only the seals wear out. I do throw some water pump lube in once and a while. This is on 97 LE 4 cylinder driven in extreme winter cold conditions. Manual transmission can be stiff as hell -- Will go synthetic oil in trans this winter. Also planning to build an air deflector next to the engine to hopefully get more heat. I picked up a Chiltons so will do the belt myself.

 

I will do second timing belt this fall at about 180,000 Km . Never had any problem with water pump & seals yet. My dealer says don't bother until they leak. A bad installation is worse than an old pump . Only the seals wear out. I do throw some water pump lube in once and a while. This is on 97 LE 4 cylinder driven in extreme winter cold conditions. Manual transmission can be stiff as hell -- Will go synthetic oil in trans this winter. Also planning to build an air deflector next to the engine to hopefully get more heat. I picked up a Chiltons so will do the belt myself.

you must have never seen a water pump seize up then

 

you must have never seen a water pump seize up then

Thats right I never did & don't expect it will unless the seal goes. My Volvo 86 went 200,000 miles before I changed the water pump & it didn't seize just started leaking . Check your fluid levels regularly & you will catch the seal before seizing

 

what kind of mechanic would not reccomend replacing the w/p while you have the belt off? hell, thats an extra hour in labor for some gravy.

 

what kind of mechanic would not reccomend replacing the w/p while you have the belt off? hell, thats an extra hour in labor for some gravy.

a retarded one.

I will do second timing belt this fall at about 180,000 Km . Never had any problem with water pump & seals yet. My dealer says don't bother until they leak. A bad installation is worse than an old pump

If the pump and the seals fail a few miles after doing the timing belt, then you'd have to do the whole thing all over again(read: $pay$). It's preventive maintenance, not one of those "don't fix it if it aint broke". Certainly you wouldn't wait for a spark plug to break before you replace it, right? And a bad install will surely rear it's ugly head right away, and that should be covered under warranty with any shop you take your car to.

 

When you replace the belt ask for a new tensioner spring. Toyota modified the spring in order to prevent the belt from slapping. I would also replace the other belts since you have them off anyways. The job usually takes about oan hour to do, mind you I've done a few.

 

When you replace the belt ask for a new tensioner spring. Toyota modified the spring in order to prevent the belt from slapping. I would also replace the other belts since you have them off anyways. The job usually takes about oan hour to do, mind you I've done a few.

i think its sold wit hthe tensioner.

 

^ Nope. You can buy the tensioner spring. Its a few bucks at a Toyota dealership.

 

I did a search and this is EXACTLY what my GF's car is doing, I was racking my brain to try and fix it, but I couldn't figure it out. I have to go and get a PCV rubber valve cover gromet at the dealership tomorrow, any idea if the tensioner spring is what's causing it to sound like it's hitting the plastic shroud? I've already taken this apart a couple times, I'd just rather not do it a few more of trial and error. any help is greatly appreciated!!!

 

as soon as you tighten the bolt for theidler pulley tensioner, its not gonna go anywere. the spring is just there to set that initial tension. if the belt is hitting the cover, its probably not a result of the tensior coming loose, but of the belt actually stretching.