Timing Belt on 2003 4runner V-8?

[msanta]

Do I have a timing belt that needs to be replaced at 60k on my V8 03 runner?

 

[spyne]

I was under the impression that it did. However, after looking through both the owners manaual and the scheduled maintenance booklet I got from the dealer, there's no mention of a timing chain/belt replacement interval.

 

[peter78]

The V8 has a timing belt and it should be replaced every 90,000 miles. Also the engine is a "interference" engine, which means if your belt breaks your valves can get be bent by the pistons, not a good thing. (See link, the link aslo has another link to replacement guide which showns when you should replace the timing belt. The V6 won't be in the guide since it has a timing chain.)


http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=981&location_id=524

 

[iFORCE]

The 4Runner Utilizes a "timing chain" which does not need to be replaced under the maintenance schedule. A "timing belt" however, does.

 

[bulldog-yota]

V8 has a belt that requires replacement evry 90k miles. Not sure on V6.

 

[tkr128]

On Toyota's maintenance book, it says to replace the timing belt every 90,000 miles. If you look carefully, it says it applies to 4Runners with the 2UZ-FE engine, which is the V8. So if you have the V8, you have a timing belt. The V6 uses a timing chain.

 

[peter78]

On Toyota's maintenance book, it says to replace the timing belt every 90,000 miles. If you look carefully, it says it applies to 4Runners with the 2UZ-FE engine, which is the V8. So if you have the V8, you have a timing belt. The V6 uses a timing chain.

tkr128 is correct.

V8 timing belt and it is a INTERFERENCE engine, meaning if you go past 90,000 miles and it breaks your are looking at the cost of buying a re-built engine.

V6 4.0 has a timing chain.

The reason I mentioned interference engine is that I have a few friends with a Honda interference engine and have had to replace the engines, usually after they went over 100,000 miles without replacing the timing belt. I consider it a achilles heel in Hondas. It is not a super terrible thing as long as you know your engines weakness.

 

[Jim_Chow]

Hmm. Wonder why toyota went w/ a chain in the new V6? Maybe they're admitting that the chain is superior to the belt? The 3.0 liter toyota (hino) turbo diesels used in overseas 4Runners/hilux pickups use t-belts.

 

[peter78]

Hmm. Wonder why toyota went w/ a chain in the new V6? Maybe they're admitting that the chain is superior to the belt? The 3.0 liter toyota (hino) turbo diesels used in overseas 4Runners/hilux pickups use t-belts.

I test drove a new 4cyl Accord and the first thing the salesman told me is the new engine now has a timing chain which of course much better. :rolleye2:

 

[MicaBlue03]

Chain or belt on 2005 V8s?

I believe I recall Toyota saying that they used a chain on the V6s (which have variable valve timing) for increased timing accuracy or some phrase such as that.

With the switch to variable valve timing on the V8s in the 2005 model year, have they changed to a timing chain?

 

[bulldog-yota]

Re: Chain or belt on 2005 V8s?

I believe I recall Toyota saying that they used a chain on the V6s (which have variable valve timing) for increased timing accuracy or some phrase such as that.

With the switch to variable valve timing on the V8s in the 2005 model year, have they changed to a timing chain?

I think that is just spin, when manufacturers started to use belts instead of chains they made exactly that claim. It makes valve timing more accurate, quiter, etc, etc.

Now more and more of them are going back to chains, for simple maintenance issues The biggest advantage with chains in my experience on various engines has been that it normally give you warning before it pops, belts just fail on you with no warning. You obviously have to listen for it, but you can hear when a timing chain is not happy.

I wish the V8 used chain(s) instead of a belt. Now it will cost a pretty penny at 90k miles to change. I looked at my motor the othe day, when trying to figure out what my PS is doing. It looks like a major effort to replace the timing belt.

 

[greasefingers]

Looks to me like the timing belts and the freckin starter motor will be full weekend projects. I just hope you get there before me so that I can learn from you

 

[Hitman]

V8 timing belt and it is a INTERFERENCE engine, meaning if you go past 90,000 miles and it breaks your are looking at the cost of buying a re-built engine.

If your timing belt breaks, you will not need a new or rebuilt engine. Typically, the only thing that happens is that the pistons make contact with the delicate valves, which results in bent valves in the cylinder head.

It's not cheap to fix, but usually the head needs to be rebuilt or replaced. The engine itself should be fine, however.

I've worked on a few "interference" heads with broken timing belts in the past.... the most recent being a Nissan Maxima. Total cost for repair was about $1600

 

[Hitman]

Re: Re: Chain or belt on 2005 V8s?

I think that is just spin, when manufacturers started to use belts instead of chains they made exactly that claim. It makes valve timing more accurate, quiter, etc, etc.

Now more and more of them are going back to chains, for simple maintenance issues The biggest advantage with chains in my experience on various engines has been that it normally give you warning before it pops, belts just fail on you with no warning. You obviously have to listen for it, but you can hear when a timing chain is not happy.

I wish the V8 used chain(s) instead of a belt. Now it will cost a pretty penny at 90k miles to change. I looked at my motor the othe day, when trying to figure out what my PS is doing. It looks like a major effort to replace the timing belt.

One of the main reasons that belts became so widely used is the fact that they are much quieter than chains. Accuracy is not a factor for either belts or chains. Both are very accurate.

Chains are obviously more durable than belts, which is why manufacturers don't typically list a replacement interval for chains.

An experienced mechanic can hear a worn timing belt, believe it or not. I learned that years ago from one of our most experienced techs when I was working at Toyota.

 

[Hitman]

I test drove a new 4cyl Accord and the first thing the salesman told me is the new engine now has a timing chain which of course much better. :rolleye2:

Is the :rolleye2: because he said the 4 cylinder Accord uses a timing chain? Or is it because he said it was better?

I wasn't aware of Honda using a timing chain on their 4 cylinder Accord engine, but I guess it is possible. But I do agree that it is definitely better than using a belt....just a little more noisy though...

 

[peter78]

If your timing belt breaks, you will not need a new or rebuilt engine. Typically, the only thing that happens is that the pistons make contact with the delicate valves, which results in bent valves in the cylinder head.

It's not cheap to fix, but usually the head needs to be rebuilt or replaced. The engine itself should be fine, however.

I've worked on a few "interference" heads with broken timing belts in the past.... the most recent being a Nissan Maxima. Total cost for repair was about $1600

When you look at the cost, the 3 people that I knew opted for a re-built engine. It was a bit more, but the cost of the repair might even go higher. Usually the cost is within a couple hundred dollars. The good news is the 3 cars went another 100,000+ miles.

 

[peter78]

I wasn't aware of Honda using a timing chain on their 4 cylinder Accord engine, but I guess it is possible. But I do agree that it is definitely better than using a belt....just a little more noisy though...

The engine was quite quiet, less noise than my old 92 model. Decent power, 160 HP. The salesman did not know if the engine was a interference or non-interference engine. If fact he didn't know what interference meant.

I am sure the engine with a timing chain makes more noise, but with a new car and probably better insulation, it was sweet.

 

[Kanab]

Solution for timing belt/chain issue. Trade vehicles before they get to 90K miles

 

[MicaBlue03]

Timing belt breakage no drama (and a lesson)

Years ago I experienced two timing belt failures on an interference engine. It was a highly over-square, high RPM Fiat engine. The specified replacement interval was 35,000 miles, but the first breakage (actually stripped teeth, which I think is still the common failure mode) of the stock belt was at 22,000 miles. This was a Fiat, after all!

In both cases, the engine was at idle, and simply died. No noise, no clanking, just 4 bent exhaust valves when we removed the head, and it was hard to even see the scuff on the piston top. No other damage, and I repaired it the first time myself. Fiat mechanics said that the stresses on the belt were usually highest at idle and that's when they typically failed, but if they failed at high speed it could knock out a piston or two.

Now for the lesson: After the first incident I started replacing the belt yearly, and that worked for several years. It was a pain to do (this was a mid-engine car!) but I got relatively good at it. But a few years later, at about 70,000 miles the belt failed again after only 8 months. The culprit was a badly worn crankshaft pulley where the lands (? the opposite of the grooves anyway) had worn to be too narrow and it ate the belt. So the lesson is to check the pulleys along with the belts.

 

[Jim_Chow]

Re: Re: Re: Chain or belt on 2005 V8s?

One of the main reasons that belts became so widely used is the fact that they are much quieter than chains. Accuracy is not a factor for either belts or chains. Both are very accurate.

Chains are obviously more durable than belts, which is why manufacturers don't typically list a replacement interval for chains.

An experienced mechanic can hear a worn timing belt, believe it or not. I learned that years ago from one of our most experienced techs when I was working at Toyota.

The chains will start to clank against the aluminum cover/head upon startup until the oil pressure is sufficient for the tensioner to tighten the chain. From Toyota mechanics I've spoken to, they've said the only cases when they see chains completely fail is when the tensioner fails, usually from being gummed up from infrequent oil changes. On the older 4Runners and mini's, the chain change interval is typically 120-150K mi (most people get rid of their cars by then), but I've spoke to people who have pushed 200-250K mi out of them. That's risky.

One nice thing about chains is they make a lot of noise well before they fail, so it's a pre-warning. One guy could hear the chain clattering, but cheaped-out and drove his pickup for one more month. The chain didn't break, but the slack in the chain caused it to wear through the aluminum head into the coolant lines. $2500 later, he was driving again. So if you hear constant clattering that doesn't stop after startup, it's change the chain ASAP.

The chains on the 1FZ-FE in the LC80 supposed to last 300K mi. BTW, Toyota used to use DOUBLE chains before '83 in their mini-pickups. Those were bullet-proof. Then around '84, they went to single chains and plastic chain guides instead of the rubber/steel ones. Those guides have been known to prematurely break. DOA Racing still sells the steel/rubber guides. I did read about one case where one guy changed the chain himself, but used too much black silicone rtv to seal up the oil pan. Pieces broke off and gummed up the tensioner. In other cases, I've heard of people having broken plastic chain guides at 30K mi. When buying chains, many companies claim to sell OEM chains/tensioners/guides for a lot less than dealers, but who's sure to know the origins of those parts? I ending up buying online from a Toyota dealer in Houston instead. And I changed my chain at 125K mi since I didn't want to be in, say, Death Valley and have the chain start to clatter.