How's this timing belt look?

[STL4R]

Just bought a 2000 SR5 V6 last week. No history and no sticker on the timing cover. 163k, but the belt looks pretty good still to me. The ribs look good, no fray, etc. Only a little slick looking on the backside with tiny hairline cracks. I can't post a pic, because my Photobucket upload is not working right now.

What say ye? Replace? I think it was done at one time, but who knows when.

Thanks!

 

[tylerbaird]

I don't understand why this thread is titled "How's this timing belt look?" when there isn't a picture to look at. I would replace it if it hasn't been done, along with the water pump.

 

[TheDurk]

I would say ANY cracking is a sign it has had a hard life and is overdue. I did my original belt at 120k and it was pristine. Except for the missing alignment marks, it looked new. The back was smooth--no fraying, no cracks at all. And 120k is 33% over spec. 163k would make me nervous. That's almost double.

If the WP is original, the clock is ticking. More TB failures are due not to the belt itself, but rather to coolant leaks onto the belt or seizures of the WP or other rotating pieces driven by the belt.

 

[LDForget]

If you dont know at that milage, just change it. Your gonna need to fabricate or buy the special tool for the hydraulic automatic tensioner.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

If you dont know at that milage, just change it. Your gonna need to fabricate or buy the special tool for the hydraulic automatic tensioner.

Lee, was that you that fabled up that tool for Fightman's TB job? Pretty ingenious.

 

[Brian32]

how long would a water pump and timing belt on a 02 take to replace so i know when i take it up to a mechanic?????

 

[LDForget]

Lee, was that you that fabled up that tool for Fightman's TB job? Pretty ingenious.

the first day i was over at his place i came up with the concept, but we had ran out of time. I wasnt able to get over to his place the following day so his neighbour made one up. It apparently worked the first time, but something was forgotten (i dont remember what?) and we had to take the belt back off. When trying to put it back on the second time the tool broke. I ended up remaking the tool, and thats the one that pictures were taken of. That job would have been easy as pie if it wernt for needing to fab up that tool. haha. It ended up being 2 halfs of 2" (i think) exhaust tubing, a couple nuts, and some threaded rod.

 

[LDForget]

how long would a water pump and timing belt on a 02 take to replace so i know when i take it up to a mechanic?????

Make sure the mechanic knows that he needs the special tool, otherwise hes gonna quote you one price, and charge you another because he spent 2 hours fighting with it then spend another hour fabbing up the tool to do it. I think if i were to do it again i could do it in under 2 hours, but he is likely going to charge you a full day (8 hours). Ill check what shopkey calls for.


::EDIT::

Apparently shopkey calls for 3.2 hours.