Clearly it is a time or mileage replacement schedule. It is due to be replaced.

Gadget

www.URDUSA.com

 

replace it

 

timing belt replacement


It is a good question , Timing belts are like tires after milage is reached they are more prone to fail... this can lead to hi cost repairs like the need to replace heads or valves so would be wise to change this now when thing are all good then to take the chance on it failing .

The book talks about oil change say every 7000 miles but you are better changing this every 3000 for this is about the time most oils start to brake down .

If you treat the runner with a little tlc you will get some good use from it .

Have a good one and enjoy

 

I am jumping in a bit late on this issue, but I was under the impression that "modern" toyota engines are not interference engines. this would mean that a broken timing belt will strand you where ever you are when it finally breaks, but the cost to replace will always be the same. valves and heads do not come into play on these engines. (too bad honda doesn't follow this approach to their engine design)

 

Your manual is probably stating "whichever comes first" (90K or 72 months). Since 72 months have passed, it's time to replace the timing belt. The engine is a non-interference engine, but if it quits on you there will be a towing bill that may exceed the cost of the timing belt replacement.

 

99 4runner timing belt

Folks - my friend has a 89 nissan 4x4, just so happen this weekend he was changing his timing belt on v6. He is anal like me on maintenance so i took alook at his belt. the old belt was six years old and we laid the new belt next to it and you could not tell the difference between new and old belt. he showed me a few things also in the process - it is the tension whole running that wears on belt not age. his belt had 60k on it and his teeth were still good as new, belt was not cracked and stretched. i finally saw the inside of the housed timing belt area --it is so dry and clean 90k is nothing on it. while the engine isnt running there little if any stress on it. using the manual logic--i brand new vehicle that was never run for six yrs should have the belt replaced. that has no logic to it. i am going to 90k thanks for opinions.

 

IN our dealership and my personal experience, any toyota 98 and before you shoudl change it at around 60K, 99 and new say that they "recommened" to change them at 60K but it wont hurt if u go till 90K when it should really be replaced.

 

I 1st replaced mine at 175k. It had some wear on it but not much. Redo your H2O pump when you are in there. The bely does not like antifreeze.

 

If you ever compared most timing belts with the ones in our 4Runners, the timing belts in both the 3.0 and 3.4 are about twice the size as most timing belts that I have changed out . Yes most of the ones that I have changed were in cars but there is just no comparison. I changed out my timing belt on my 90 4Runner at 180K when the front seal of my engine went. When I remeved the belt it started to show signs of wear but really did not look that bad. I now have a 98 4Runner and It has 136K on her. I am planning on changing out the belt pretty soon, I figure sometime around 140-150K. I will be installing a new water pump and also will be checking out the idler and tension pulleys. For some reaso I think I read somewhere that the 3.4 engines are interference engines, I believe it was in my Autodata timing belt replacement tech manual. What is up with that I always praised Toyota for building non-interference engines now they went and screwed that up. They must not be selling enough replacement parts or something. The bottom line, I would not be afraid to go over 100K with these timing belts, but that would be your decision. Take care of a Toyota and it will take care of you for countless miles! Ron

 

zman8537 thanks much for the reply. My 1999 3.4 is non-interference - timing belt can break and it will not ruin the heads. I agree with you totally, 90K is nothing on a timing belt if the engine is kept cool and not railroaded. I baby mine to death, like I have my 94 toyota pickup that has 170K on it and it still runs like a dream - it has a timing chain though. Toyota knew what it was doing when it set the replacement at 90K they knew some folks would drive it harder than others and wait to the last minute to change it if not risk it another 10K or so. I am not at all worried about my timing belt with only 71K on it - yea, it has 7 yrs of life on it but I bet when I do change it at 90K and probably 9 yrs on it - it will look like a new belt. It is all about heat and pressure - which boils down to lubrication and cooling.

Thanks much for weighing in on this subject.

FB

 

Hey first time poster.
Just recently did the timing belt on my 99 4runner with a 3.4. Truck has 190k km on it with original belt. It was in pretty bad condition. Looked like a tank tread all cracked up, and the water pump was leaking pretty good. Depending on your weather conditions as well. Here in Canada we get extreme cold and severe hot, putting lots of stress on cars. I would still follow your owners manual as close as you can. You'll regret it when you neglect it.

 

at 138k w/ original belt

It is recommended not to go over 100k with original timing belt. Mine (99 V6 4runner) is at 138k, belt started to show signs of cracks. You can buy time safely up to 120k, but if you travel far from home replace it at recommended 90k miles for peace of mind.

While at it, also replace the water pump and use Toyota OEM gaskets and parts, the after market is paper thin vs. Toyota's metal gaskets. Also replace the tension pulley bearing and all belts while at it. The tension pulley tends to go bad and cause squealing noise.

I believe 99 and up are non-interference engines, so a broken belt shuts you down but doesn't damage the engine, but who wants to be shut down in the fast lane at 70 mph?

good luck with it

 

I would replace it, and since you have it that far down, go ahead and replace the water pump and idler pulley - it will save you some money in the long run.
On another note, has anyone tackled the rear camshaft seals? how hard is it to replace them on the V-6 2001 model 4Runner?

 

Do not look at it that manufacturers recommend every 90,000 - 120,000 miles. Timing belt change should be done every 60,000 miles. Breaking the timing belt is associated with the renovation of the engine. I know this from experience, because I once broke a timing belt. Please note that when replacing the timing belt or tensioner belt replaced. Top pay for auto mechanics, because the exchange is complicated.

 

I bought my 4Runner on Feb 18th, 6 weeks later, with a plan on what I wanted to do it, I was given no alternative when on my way to Walmart, the belt broke. Turned out that the Tensioner pulley had frozen up turning my belt to spaghetti. Thankfully, the 3vz is a none interference motor. So you have a clear and present choice, drive it until it breaks, or change it while its still running. Check your pulleys and change your water pump while in there. If there is any kind of noise from the bearings in your pulleys, change them too.