06 V8 w/ 67k miles: Do I need to change the timing belt?

[cmpcmp123]

My search for a 4th gen continues! I found a 06 V8 w/ about 67k miles. I was wondering about the timing belt. How much is age a factor? Should I change it because it is 8 years old? I also ask because I am only likely to put 10k miles a year on this, so it could be a while if I wait for 90k miles and disregard the age.

Thanks!

 

[AleksV]

yep, highly suggested. I think its either 6-7 years, or 70-75k miles, whichever comes first. its definitely a maintenance that you don't want to cheap out on too. I would go to Toyota to get it done

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Toyota says 6yr/90k for Timing Belt service.

Its up to you how strict you want to go with that. It wouldn't hurt to change it, if its not an issue of cost.

 

[cmpcmp123]

Toyota says 6yr/90k for Timing Belt service.

Its up to you how strict you want to go with that. It wouldn't hurt to change it, if its not an issue of cost.

Cost is certainly an issue if I'm going to buy it then put $1k into it. He wanted $18k, went down to $17k pretty quick. Maybe I can get him down more. It is a 06 Sport Edition 4WD V8, w/ side airbags. Needs new tires soon though.

 

[MikeInNH]

Yes it should be done. And you do NOT have to go to Toyota for this service. Replacing a timing belt is NOT rocket-science. ANY competent mechanic can replace a timing belt...usually for about half the price of the dealer.

 

[OkieSnuffBox]

Yes it should be done. And you do NOT have to go to Toyota for this service. Replacing a timing belt is NOT rocket-science. ANY competent mechanic can replace a timing belt...usually for about half the price of the dealer.

Yes, but my local dealer has won me over with their service.

They only want $125 more than my favorite Indy shop to do the entire service (flush radiator, tensioners, accessory belt, etc.).

I'd be curious what Indy shops are making money charging $550 for that service.

 

[MikeInNH]

Yes, but my local dealer has won me over with their service.

They only want $125 more than my favorite Indy shop to do the entire service (flush radiator, tensioners, accessory belt, etc.).

Trust is very important. You have a good dealer that you trust and does good work..that goes a long ways.

Dealer near me is fine...but so are the independent mechanics (when/if I need them). I do 90% of my own maintenance. Dealers near me charge $140/hr. Independents charge $80. That's a huge difference.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Yes, but my local dealer has won me over with their service.

They only want $125 more than my favorite Indy shop to do the entire service (flush radiator, tensioners, accessory belt, etc.).

I'd be curious what Indy shops are making money charging $550 for that service.

Typically from what I have seen its because they are using lower cost parts (sometimes lower quality as well) and non-factory fluids (in some cases using "universal" coolants that do not meet the vehicle's specifications) which cut costs down but can cause problems down the line. But most owners never bother to get that involved with their vehicles to make sure good quality parts and the proper fluids are used for their service.

Trust is very important. You have a good dealer that you trust and does good work..that goes a long ways.

Dealer near me is fine...but so are the independent mechanics (when/if I need them). I do 90% of my own maintenance. Dealers near me charge $140/hr. Independents charge $80. That's a huge difference.

Good dealerships are hard to find, some good dealerships even devolve into bad ones. Its all based on idiot managers and bean counters I'm afraid; something I'm all too experienced in at the moment.

 

[jwyshrek]

All good advice and preventive maintenance is always good...

However, in my owner's manual (2005)...it states that the timing belt should be replaced every 90k or 108 months (9 years).

Where did 6yr/90k miles come from?

 

[BlackWorksInc]

All good advice and preventive maintenance is always good...

However, in my owner's manual (2005)...it states that the timing belt should be replaced every 90k or 108 months (9 years).

Where did 6yr/90k miles come from?

That was some literature we have at the dealership for Timing Belts. Toyota used to have a 6yr/60k for the older belts from early 90's and before; but they changed it to 9yr/90k and then I believe we dropped it to 6yr/90k. I'll check again at work, the 6yr/90k may have been a recent change to their service criteria, you have me curious now.

 

[JB.]

I thought it was 9 years.

I only had mine done because I hit the 9 year mark (116k). Belt looked brand new.

 

[cmpcmp123]

So I might be good till 9 years?

 

[Antoddio]

I will tell you after 8 years and 88k miles the old belt looked brand new. Only slightly dirty. If someone would have wiped it down, they could have sold it to me as new no questions asked. No cracking anywhere in it. If I were a gambling man id say you have less than a 5% chance of failure. If a timing belt change is 1k and a used motor if something bad did happen is what 2k on eBay plus some install labor? Id say your chances of it breaking are similar to the chances of the mechanic screwing something up anyway. Might be worth a roll of the dice.

 

[RaceTRaCk]

Replaced my 04's recently. Had 175K KM. Belt was in very good shape but I would've followed the 6year mark if I had the truck when it was newer.

 

[segafan1989]

Regardless of where you get it done. Use ONLY OEM parts for this type of maintenance. This is not something you want to scrimp out on and use cheap parts.

 

[JB.]

So I might be good till 9 years?

What I would do, is monitor the fluid level carefully. If it remains stable, I wouldn't be in too much of a hurry to change the belt.

Also, there is a weep hole down at the bottom cover. Not easy to see, but you can monitor that for any signs of coolant (pics).

I blinked at 116k even though I had no leak. Belt looked brand new but (and Bayesian logic dictates I should include the following) [MENTION=10028]DiskDoctr[/MENTION] reported some interesting info about his recent timing belt job.

 

[Climb14er]

The OP's question and this thread is really an important one!

The good-old timing belt question... should I or shouldn't I?

Well... I just had the same experience and read through A LOT of threads on the subject.

My V8's water pump began to leak at 52K miles. How do I know this? I took the 4Runner to the local dealer which I have an excellent relationship with. Both the service manager and his lead #1 mechanic are good friends of mine. They take really good care of me. Not that I've needed much servicing. This is the FIRST problem I've had with the 4Runner other than the clunk which they ended up fixing.

Anyway, I had the front brakes done, rotors turned, and they only charged me $211.00 and I got a fifty buck visa card coming in the mail. The mechanic noticed the leak from the weep hole in the water pump.

Damn!!!! Evidently, there have been problems with the water pump leaks in the model years in the V8's around 52K miles. OK... the service manager told me that he'd comp me the water pump. I told him that I still have time left on the extended warranty that they graciously sold me for only 600 bucks and we might as well use it.

I asked the mechanic to double and triple check the timing belt, idler pulleys, tensioners... the whole timing belt system while he had the whole thing apart... and to do the timing belt 'thing' if he thought it was necessary..

Guess what?

The mechanic told me that the timing belt had another FIFTY TO SIXTY THOUSAND MINIMUM miles left of service... maybe more!

He told me that he'd NEVER seen a timing belt go on a 4Runner V8 the whole time of the 4th Gen!

OK... sure... many would have said... do it anyway... the whole thing is open and ready anyway. Yes... I said that to the mechanic!

Sure... anything can break... we've all seen it happen in life. Things happen all the time.

With the case of the timing belt, I specifically asked the mechanic based on his many years of experience if we should replace it. He said... 'it didn't need it and won't need it for many, many thousands of miles more'.

Anyway, YMMV... being that it's an interference engine... one should do what they want to do.

BTW... the service manager said to me on the side... if anything were to happen to the engine with a timing belt failure... we'll replace the engine FREE with a factory re manufactured certified one!

This post is not to brag or tell others what to do. It's to share that the whole timing belt thing, according to the lead mechanic... is VERY conservative!!!!

The way water pumps go with Toyotas... I'll probably do both the timing belt and water belt in another 50K miles anyway.

Once again... YMMV! Just saying! :tea: