General Timing Belt questions on V8

[TeryT]

My 2003 V8 4Runner just turned 89,000 miles, so I'm starting to think of the timing belt replacement. A couple questions:

1. Is there any sort of grace period that Toyota allows for a timing belt replacement, or they firm about 90k? In other words, if the thing had 91,000 on it and the old belt broke, would they disallow a warranty claim (under a Toyota Platinum Warranty)? I've heard people on here talk about changing the belt at 96k, but how much of a risk is that?

2. Is there any reason to not have a cheaper non-dealer do the work? I still have until 100k miles before the extended Toyota warranty is up, and wonder if I should just have it worked on by only the dealer until then.

3. The Toyota dealer said it is not always necessary to replace the water pump with the belt. I had always heard they should both be done together, as it's just good preventive maintenance, since the pump will likely fail before the timing belt is replaced again. Is the dealer just trying to get me back in for an expensive repair "down the road" so to speak?

Thanks!

 

[drmorbius]

My 2003 V8 4Runner just turned 89,000 miles, so I'm starting to think of the timing belt replacement. A couple questions:

1. Is there any sort of grace period that Toyota allows for a timing belt replacement, or they firm about 90k? In other words, if the thing had 91,000 on it and the old belt broke, would they disallow a warranty claim (under a Toyota Platinum Warranty)? I've heard people on here talk about changing the belt at 96k, but how much of a risk is that?

2. Is there any reason to not have a cheaper non-dealer do the work? I still have until 100k miles before the extended Toyota warranty is up, and wonder if I should just have it worked on by only the dealer until then.

3. The Toyota dealer said it is not always necessary to replace the water pump with the belt. I had always heard they should both be done together, as it's just good preventive maintenance, since the pump will likely fail before the timing belt is replaced again. Is the dealer just trying to get me back in for an expensive repair "down the road" so to speak?

Thanks!

I believe the 4.7 V8 is a non interference engine so if you break the belt you will just be stuck wherever you are but no damage will be done to the engine.

 

[TeryT]

I've thought people on here always referred to the 4.7 as an interference type. I did a Google search and came up with both answers! :awais:

According to Gates the 4.7 is an interference engine!

 

[greasefingers]

I had the timing belt, water pump, thermostat, and serpentine belt replaced at the dealer for $ 866 + tax with 99,950 miles on her. And yes the V8 engine is an interference engine. I can not answer the question about the warrantee.

I can not imagine a water pump lasting 180,000 miles, so get it changed along with the belt.

 

[TeryT]

So what is the reason to have a dealer do it, and not a reputable private shop? Any big drawbacks?

 

[greasefingers]

My dealer is very reasonable. When I had Tirerack deliver my tires, they beat out STS & Tirebarn to mount and balance the tires; and I also figure that they do Toyota maintenance better as they have the exact tools to do the job and they do it on a regular basis.

Independent

 

[TeryT]

Well the question has become somewhat academic as the dealer's price is below the private shop's! This is with a coupon the dealer frequently runs. Their base price is $429. Max price, if they have to change all seals, pulleys, water pump (which I will certainly have them do), etc. is $789.

From what I've seen by others posting on here, this seems like a pretty good deal - possibly due to things being cheaper in the Phoenix area?

BTW: They said they do recommend changing the timing belts at 60k even on ones the factory says 90k, due to the excessive heat. I don't buy this at all, as I think Toyota knows what they're doing, and certainly have ample experience in high heat areas of the world!

The dealer previously tried to tell me that heat should be a factor in other routine maintenance areas such as changing oil, more so than Toyota recommends. I called Toyota on it, and they stood by their factory recommendations and contradicted the dealer. While heat certainly breaks things down more out here, I suspect all dealers try to milk this fact a little too much. (In either case, they don't get my money, as I prefer to do routine maint. myself.)

 

[greasefingers]

I believe that the only thing that heat really has an effect on is shorting of the battery life.

I have five years and a couple months on mine and will start looking for battery sales now before winter comes. I will try to fit a size 24 or 27 instead of the smaller and safer fitment of the typical size 35.