Which timing belt kit do I want?

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WallyWest

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From what I've read the Aisin kit is OEM stuff and the best option. So I'm looking at these two.

http://www.amazon.com/Aisin-TKT-007...sbs_263_7?ie=UTF8&refRID=0G4XW1JGC87FVNYC3PSC

http://www.amazon.com/Aisin-TKT-025...2342201&sr=8-5&keywords=aisin+timing+belt+kit

They both claim to fit a 2002 4runner, which is what I have, but the water pumps are different. Mine is a sport edition, auto transmission, if that matters.

One has a bypass tube and the other doesn't. So how do I know which one I need? Can't see the water pump without pulling a bunch of stuff off the front of the engine, and I'd rather not have to do that until I have the parts on hand. One of the pictures I found in a guide shows a new pump with the tube, but the two different part numbers make me wonder if some 4runners use the one without the tube.

It says it's a tube for an oil cooler? Is that something I can easily check for under the hood?

An added wrinkle, maybe, is that I have two radiators up front. I thought the infamous pink milkshake issue was because the 3rd gens had a single radiator that had lines for engine coolant and transmission fluid running through it? But I have two, and the smaller one up front sure looks like it belongs there. The lines running to it don't look newer than any other, so it appears to be original. I just thought if you wanted to avoid any risk of pink milkshake you had to install an aftermarket tranny cooler because Toyota didn't do that.
 
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WallyWest said:
From what I've read the Aisin kit is OEM stuff and the best option. So I'm looking at these two.

http://www.amazon.com/Aisin-TKT-007...sbs_263_7?ie=UTF8&refRID=0G4XW1JGC87FVNYC3PSC

http://www.amazon.com/Aisin-TKT-025...2342201&sr=8-5&keywords=aisin+timing+belt+kit

They both claim to fit a 2002 4runner, which is what I have, but the water pumps are different. Mine is a sport edition, auto transmission, if that matters.

One has a bypass tube and the other doesn't. So how do I know which one I need? Can't see the water pump without pulling a bunch of stuff off the front of the engine, and I'd rather not have to do that until I have the parts on hand. One of the pictures I found in a guide shows a new pump with the tube, but the two different part numbers make me wonder if some 4runners use the one without the tube.

It says it's a tube for an oil cooler? Is that something I can easily check for under the hood?

An added wrinkle, maybe, is that I have two radiators up front. I thought the infamous pink milkshake issue was because the 3rd gens had a single radiator that had lines for engine coolant and transmission fluid running through it? But I have two, and the smaller one up front sure looks like it belongs there. The lines running to it don't look newer than any other, so it appears to be original. I just thought if you wanted to avoid any risk of pink milkshake you had to install an aftermarket tranny cooler because Toyota didn't do that.
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If installed, the oil cooler is located on the left side of the engine a little back of the oil filter. It's visible if you look at that area from under the vehicle or by removing the rear splash curtain in the inner fender well. Also, the coolant hose to the oil cooler is visible where it connects to the water pump. It's located just outboard of the timing belt cover next to the alternator. As far as having two radiators, could the front one be the air conditioning condensor?
 
This is pics (and comments) from my 96's build thread, to give you an idea of what you're looking for...comments you can ignore if you want

The beer inspiring hoses to the oil cooler are here. I can't even get a pic of them. This was the best angle for me to get at them, and I tried everywhich way 'cept standing on my head. Of course they wouldn't just pop off, but I was able to get a utility knife in there and make some slices that facilitated things. I should have written 'below the exhaust manifold' rather than under. If your arms are skinny and long enough and you don't mind working somewhat blindly they can be done. The 1" body lift sure didn't hurt. I chose not to remove the tire because ape-arms, but it could help to do so. These two hoses came from Toyota.


And then there's this guy. It's the other end of the rearward-most oil cooler hose. The clamp is in that dark spot in the circle. Luckily the dipstick tube has a bracket you unbolt (yellow arrow) and then it pops right out. Pay attention to how it's routed, though there's really only one way that bugger is going to fit. Unbolting the wire bracket (just to your left of the red circle) could also give you a tiny bit more room. I didn't.
 
ray122 said:
Your "second radiator" is the a/c condenser. No offense but if you cant tell the difference then i dont recommend changing your own timing belt and water pump.
Click to expand...


Having done mine myself, I would tend to agree. You don't have to be technician-level, but you need to know your way around under the hood to confidently and competently complete the job.


But, that said, my 02 used a pump with the oil cooler bypass, as I assumed all 01+ up did. Never seen an 01 and newer without one, but I haven't seen everything...
 
The timing belt really is not that difficult to change. There are plenty of threads on here that show you exactly how to do it. You take a bolt off, you put that same bolt back on. The only thing that I would say raises the difficulty of this is the time it takes to do and the number of things that need to be removed to get to it.

I talked to my mechanic before doing it. He suggested going to NAPA and getting their kit, which is what I did.
 
ray122 said:
Your "second radiator" is the a/c condenser. No offense but if you cant tell the difference then i dont recommend changing your own timing belt and water pump.
Click to expand...

Yes, I ask stupid questions with the intention of learning things. I suppose if I had given it more than a five second glance and followed the lines I would have figured it out. But I had just spent a few hours laying the ground repairing the wiring to my O2 sensor (no more CEL, yay) so I didn't investigate further.

I've done jobs considerably more complex than a timing belt.

animator said:
But, that said, my 02 used a pump with the oil cooler bypass, as I assumed all 01+ up did. Never seen an 01 and newer without one, but I haven't seen everything...
Click to expand...

I assume that as well, but both kits claim they are for any 3rd gen all the way to '02. My gut feeling is mine has one, but I like to be sure.

Thanks for the pictures habanero, they help a lot. I've got skinny arms thankfully, changed a water pump in my Saturn last year and that freaking thing had about 2mm clearance in any direction. And at least I won't mistake the oil cooler for a tranny cooler now. :laugh:
 
Just an FYI I checked the OEM water pump info and it shows only one WP replacement part # covering the entire 3rd generation span. There is a replaced by # (which I highlighted) but is the same pump. The OEM pump comes with a nice metal gasket embossed with sealant which is 100X better than a paper gasket which you have to apply the sealant to.

PUMP ASSY, ENGINE WATER
Replaced by: 16100-69398-83 16100-69395 1 1995.11-2002.05 5VZFE.. VZN18# $100.31

Also, that kit Hacker show got is really what you need. There's several varieties on Ebay, which are popular (Aircabinman I believe is one seller) The kit has the crank and cam shaft seals, a thermostat, and belts.
 
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Thanks for the info.

I looked at that kit but passed it over for two reasons. One, the Aisin kit comes with an OEM timing belt, the TBK doesn't. And the TBK has the accessory belts as well which I don't need since they were just replaced.

I do like the gasket on the TBK water pump though. I've done the make your own gasket thing a few times and it was fine, but it did make me nervous.

TBK kit does seem more complete, might as well do the seals and stuff while it's apart. I guess if I have spare belts out of the deal that's not a bad thing.
 
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eplanajr said:
That's the same kit i just installed this week. Nice kit.
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Can you confirm that the compression tool is not needed with this kit? I read in the reviews on Amazon that the tensioner is pre-compressed, and pinned in place I suppose, so you don't need that tool.
 
WallyWest said:
Can you confirm that the compression tool is not needed with this kit? I read in the reviews on Amazon that the tensioner is pre-compressed, and pinned in place I suppose, so you don't need that tool.
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It with a new tensioner already pre-compressed. All you do is pull the pin after you install it.
 
WallyWest said:
Thanks for the info.

I looked at that kit but passed it over for two reasons. One, the Aisin kit comes with an OEM timing belt, the TBK doesn't. And the TBK has the accessory belts as well which I don't need since they were just replaced.

I do like the gasket on the TBK water pump though. I've done the make your own gasket thing a few times and it was fine, but it did make me nervous.

TBK kit does seem more complete, might as well do the seals and stuff while it's apart. I guess if I have spare belts out of the deal that's not a bad thing.
Click to expand...

I used this kit.

Toyota 3 4 V6 Aisin TKT 005 Complete 16 Pcs Timing Belt Pump Kit | eBay
 
so...not having done one on a 4runner, (im new to 4runners) but having done them on many other Toyotas, and redoing them due to short life and crappy parts,
same with Volvos BMW and Hondas I have worked on, when it comes to water pumps, timing belts tensioners and seals, I wont do anymore without them being OEM. Does not mean has to be from a dealer, just ....same parts and brand name.
maybe its cause im getting old, I enjoy twisting wrenches, just tired of redoing things I did a year ago
 
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