Crankshaft bolt torque on 2001 - Dealer vs forum

[Ghostrider]

Just got my 2001 timing belt done at dealer. Had them do a new bolt and had them confirm it was torqued to FSM spec. Got home and looked at order and they typed "torqued to 184". Went back and questioned them and they pulled the specs by my VIN. Their spec says 184 not 217 and they did a little more research and said their factory manuals show 217 starting in 2002. I am a little concerned. The old bolt which I have is the newer type with floating washer so I guess the replacement is also.
Does anyone have a confirmation of when the spec went up since Toyota states 2002 by my VIN.
Second - is it a safe assumption I can crawl under and torque it to 217 if I can find a wrench. ie do I need any special other than a torque wrench. Unfortunatley mine is 150 max so I will have find one to do this

 

[gamefreakgc]

Just got my 2001 timing belt done at dealer. Had them do a new bolt and had them confirm it was torqued to FSM spec. Got home and looked at order and they typed "torqued to 184". Went back and questioned them and they pulled the specs by my VIN. Their spec says 184 not 217 and they did a little more research and said their factory manuals show 217 starting in 2002. I am a little concerned. The old bolt which I have is the newer type with floating washer so I guess the replacement is also.
Does anyone have a confirmation of when the spec went up since Toyota states 2002 by my VIN.
Second - is it a safe assumption I can crawl under and torque it to 217 if I can find a wrench. ie do I need any special other than a torque wrench. Unfortunatley mine is 150 max so I will have find one to do this

You should be fine. Measuring 217 ft. lbs. is very hard to do. You will find it difficult to get it on the crank pulley and laying on your back under your 4Runner, somehow crank a 2' long breaker bar (I don't think you can fit a 3') to 217 ft. lbs. I doubt very many people can. Almost everyone (including shops) use air tools. Just hit that bolt as hard as it can with air and call it good. Some shops will even use lock-tite.

If you are concerned, have the dealer re-torque the bolt. Even 180 ft. lbs. is insanely tight though, that bolt isn't going anywhere if they did it at that torque level.

 

[TheDurk]

The dealer is flat out wrong. My paper '99 FSM says 217 and that is the spec from '99 on. I had little trouble torquing to 217 with my 2x4 holder and my Snap-On 0-250 1/2" torque wrench. Standing on my feet, pull one and push the other (doubles the effective torque.) I'm 67 years old.

They redesigned it for a reason. Those things like to back out and then you will ruin your harmonic damper and worse case, the crank nose. You have the new bolt; you should use the new spec. The downside is just too large. It's happened to too many people on here who had shops who half-assed it.

To do it yourself you need a special holder and you would have to remove some stuff to do it from above. I agree it ain't happening lying on the ground.

Attached is the timing belt section from the 2000 FSM. See page EM-22:

 

[Ghostrider]

Thanks - i was afraid of that. And I know the effects of a wobbling pulley and woodruff key. I have the repair manual also and it says 217. I am going to try and talk with Toyota and see why their tool says 184 by VIN number. Without looking at it - why can't I get a wrench on it and pull. It seems that the crankshaft is not going to turn with engine in park.

 

[Ghostrider]

Grrr,,, Dealer does not accept that the repair manual shows the higher number. Their tool still shows 185 until 2002. Short of going to a different delear (miles away) and paying - does anyone have the official document number form Toyota that references the change?