120k mi on 1 timing belt, bad idea?

[weberic3]

4th gen 4R w/120k mi and no timing belt change, bad idea?

Hi i'm about to buy my first toyota/4Runner/SUV (can i get a round of applause?)
But i'm looking at this '04 Sport V8 with 120k miles but no timing belt change yet. I know they're recommended at 90k, so should i avoid this truck (its a great deal at about $10k)?

Basically, how much harm has been done by going 120k miles on org. timing belt?


thanks so much!!!

weberic3

 

[weberic3]

Hi i'm about to buy my first toyota/4Runner/SUV (can i get a round of applause?)
But i'm looking at this '04 Sport V8 with 120k miles but no timing belt change yet. I know they're recommended at 90k, so should i avoid this truck (its a great deal at about $10k)?

Basically, how much harm has been done by going 120k miles on org. timing belt?


thanks so much!!!

weberic3

 

[peter78]

There has been no damage, YET. Since the belt has not broken, everything should be fine. The reason for changing the belt at 90,000 is because the V8 is a interference engine, which means if it breaks, you could risk serious damage to the valves.

So, before you buy, figure out how much your local mechanic will charge you and when he can do it. Then look the 4Runner over AND nurse that puppy over to your mechanic. Better yet, have your mechanic look at it, if it passes, buy it and leave it at the shop.

Also, the V8 is a great engine, 120,000 is nothing. Also, after you change the belt, you won't have to change it till 210,000 miles, or if you feel lucky, 240,000.

 

[Benjamin Choi]

it's easy to look at the timing belt, check the mileage and see that it's clearly overdue for a change... what i'd be more concerned with is stewardship.

if the timing belt, something so obvious to a caring 4runner owner like most of us, has been ignored, what other maintenance items, good driving habits have also received similar treatment?

something to think about

there are *plenty* of 4runners that were made and certainly no shortage of them

good luck

 

[peter78]

it's easy to look at the timing belt, check the mileage and see that it's clearly overdue for a change... what i'd be more concerned with is stewardship.

if the timing belt, something so obvious to a caring 4runner owner like most of us, has been ignored, what other maintenance items, good driving habits have also received similar treatment?

Good point.

 

[steve germany]

I'd run and find a better one - sounds like this one has been abused.

Hi i'm about to buy my first toyota/4Runner/SUV (can i get a round of applause?)
But i'm looking at this '04 Sport V8 with 120k miles but no timing belt change yet. I know they're recommended at 90k, so should i avoid this truck (its a great deal at about $10k)?

Basically, how much harm has been done by going 120k miles on org. timing belt?


thanks so much!!!

weberic3

 

[peter78]

Re: Re: 120k mi on 1 timing belt, bad idea?

I'd run and find a better one - sounds like this one has been abused.

Just like I see people going long distances without changing oil, I see a lot of people not changing timing belts. I bet 90% of the customers don't know if the engine they have is a interfence or non-interference and 90% of those people won't know the difference. If the person was thinking of getting rid of the car, he or she may of decided to not get a belt.

I suspect the belt may last as long as the ones on the older 3.4 V6, the only reason we never hear about it, is because it makes sense to change the belt, instead of risking serious damage. Was the car abused, hard to tell. I would look at other factors. I wouldn't rule it out, but it is not a good sign.

 

[weberic3]

hey peter, steve and ben.

Thanks for the responses. I was thinking like all of you, in that what else has been neglected.? However, should all else be perfect i'm glad to know that no damage due to old timing belt has occurred. thanks again!!
Eric

 

[jharris2]

hey peter, steve and ben.

Thanks for the responses. I was thinking like all of you, in that what else has been neglected.? However, should all else be perfect i'm glad to know that no damage due to old timing belt has occurred. thanks again!!
Eric

You could ask the seller to see his maintenance records. It's likely that he doesn't have any (or even the receipts), which is a red flag to me. I also suspect that this one hasn't been taken care of. But you'll never know if you don't ask.

 

[CRDT4R]

I know when i got mine changed, i called around for the best price. It started around 180 and I called the same dealer back 3 times and they lowered it to 120. Its prob worth it to go ahead and change it.

 

[charlier180]

There has been no damage, YET. Since the belt has not broken, everything should be fine. The reason for changing the belt at 90,000 is because the V8 is a interference engine, which means if it breaks, you could risk serious damage to the valves.

At 120K miles this timing belt is a TICKING Time Bomb on an interference engine.
When the timing belt or it's pulleys fail, chances are you are looking at COSTLY repairs.

One of my other vehicles (a VW) has an interference engine.
I am very, very careful to make sure that belt and puley are replaced often.
My vehicle is VERY low mileage so age determines when it gets replace, not mileage.
This past summer the belt and pulley were replaced.
I am SO GLAD that was done because I found that the pulley was starting to sieze up which is the #1 reason the belt fails on this type engine.

I have seen postings and received emails from numerous owners of this VW engine that experienced belt failures.
Some failures occured at speed and others at IDLE.
99+% of the time the engines were damaged to some degree (costing anywhere from $1K-3K to repair).

If I were the original poster I would have the vehicle looked over by a mechanic I trust and have them put together a list of items that need to be addressed.
Once you find out how much it will cost to address those issues, then speak with the seller about adjusting the asking price to reflect those issues.
If the seller refuses to budge on the price then walk away.

 

[peter78]

You could ask the seller to see his maintenance records. It's likely that he doesn't have any (or even the receipts), which is a red flag to me. I also suspect that this one hasn't been taken care of. But you'll never know if you don't ask.

The problem I had for me, is the seller was not the orginal owner. I got a CarFax and I was told by a friend that you give Toyota the VIN # and they will give you a list of all the work they have done on the vehicle. I e-mailed Toyota and they said I have to go to the dealer. I went to the dealer and they indeed did have a list of work done on the vehicle. I also did things like unsnap the air filter and realized it has been changed. So, if it had been babied and it was done at Toyota, they should have a record.

 

[VoytekNT]

What if the previous owner used private shop for his repairs/maintanance? You wouldn't know what and how was done. It seems to me that you have doubts about this vehicle and if that's the case then run from it. You want a car thay you can enjoy, not question it. That's just my $.02. Good luck anyways.

 

[spo0587]

Although I agree with everyone's point, I will tell you about my experience. Hopefully it will help you decide. In Aug 07, I was driving down the road, and much to my surprise I saw a 2003 4Runner for sale. I was looking for some time, so I jumped on it. It has 93K, and it needed a lot of work. It most likely was neglected to an extent, but still was in good shape. The MAINT light was on, the timing belt wasn't done, the air filter was horrible, the brakes were worn, the tires bald, the windshield wipers worn, and the tank was on E. It also had only ONE Key. However, I rushed, bought the thing, and I slowly began to nurse it to health. The first thing I did was replace all blades, filters, and make another key. loosing the only master without the code was not an option. Next was the brakes. Full brake job, then at 97K timing belt/Water pump/Serp-belt done by a trusted mechanic (not Toyota) for about $600. Next was tires, 4 new ones. I then changed the oil to Mobil 1 with Mobil 1 filter. My baby is running better than ever. This week I recently got the spark plugs changed. I tried to change them myself, but after seeing how far the plug was from the boot, I took it to the dealer. 83 for plugs, and 100 for labor. Not bad for the iridium. They have 120K interval. I asked the toyota master mechanic about other the trans, brake, and power steering fluids, and he told me to not worry about them since they had never been changed. Most likely do more harm than good. Thanks to this site I was able to nurse it back to health. Only things that have let me down were the stuck sun roof, and the a/c mag clutch relay. Fixed the a/c relay thanks to this site.

 

[jharris2]

What if the previous owner used private shop for his repairs/maintanance? You wouldn't know what and how was done. It seems to me that you have doubts about this vehicle and if that's the case then run from it. You want a car thay you can enjoy, not question it. That's just my $.02. Good luck anyways.

A good owner would still have the receipts, regardless of who did the work. Even if he did some of the work himself he should have the receipts for the parts/materials.

 

[Atlanta_man]

Should be cheap to inspect the belt to determine if it may have been done. You may get lucky. I'll bet a 120K belt will look ratty.

Then again, most owners are not obsessive and knowledgeable about this sort need to replace at 90K part. Most drivers run it until it breaks.

 

[peter78]

It also had only ONE Key. However, I rushed, bought the thing, and I slowly began to nurse it to health. The first thing I did was replace all blades, filters, and make another key. loosing the only master without the code was not an option.

Just curious as to how much the extra key cost? I notice you have to have it done at the Toyota place. My 04 came with two keys and I would like a third key, thanks.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

If the V8 is an inteference engien I'd get it fixed ASAP and don't simply go by the look of it since that can be deceiving.

I had my TB on my 3.4 (non-interference) at 138k and my belt still looked good and the WP was ok too but I figured it was time anyway and now I know I can easily go past another 100k.

 

[VoytekNT]

Just curious as to how much the extra key cost? I notice you have to have it done at the Toyota place. My 04 came with two keys and I would like a third key, thanks.

I paid $120.00, just key, no remote

 

[charlier180]

If the V8 is an inteference engien I'd get it fixed ASAP and don't simply go by the look of it since that can be deceiving.

I agree. The timing belt on an interference engine can look fine.
If one of the pulleys the belt uses siezes up the belt is gonna fail.

FYI, the belt on my VW's interference engine looked GREAT when it was changed this summer.
Unfortunately, the pulley was starting to sieze up which would have ripped the teeth off of the GREAT looking belt faster than one could say "Oh S**T!"