Old Toyota Tundra/sequoia, timing belt.

I had a Sequoia that I bought at auction that had 202,000 miles on it. If they change the timing belt and water pump, they usually put a sticker on the timing belt cover. This Sequoia didn't have a sticker. I called Lake Charles Toyota (from the title, previous owner was from there) and gave them the VIN# to see if it had been changed. They had done all of the maintenance on it and had never changed it. I found the previous owners home number and called him to see if he had it done at an independent mechanic. Nope. 202,000 miles on original timing belt and water pump.

I have a 2004 Tundra with 245,000 and driving like brand new. I've put nothing but routine tires, batteries, and fluids to keep it going. I still have the original timing belt and water pump (if it doesn't break leave it alone). The O-T can argue all day about this brand of truck or that brand. But it'll be the Toyota still driving after Nuclear Holocaust.

Had the the belt/pump changed on my '03 Sequoia at 130k (bought it new in '02). The water pump was about to go bad. That would have been the first breakdown.

quote:

---

Inspect the belt for wear man... frayed edges or slack - change it

---

By the time you've pulled the parts to properly inspect the belt you may as well change it out. Along with the idler pulleys, cooling fan hub, cam seals, etc. The belts on these motors won't give you any warning before they fail, the just break. Every 90K and you'll be surprised how much smoother and quiter a new belt makes those engines run.

2006 here...did it at 110k...figured with my luck that was pushing it far enought...

quote:

---

The belts on these motors won't give you any warning before they fail, the just break.

---

I'm not a mechanic, but this goes against everything I've ever seen and makes 0 sense. Most manuals say to inspect for visual signs of wear, replace when needed.

Did my gf's GX 470 at 116k when we bought it. It had actually been done before, but there wasn't a sticker, and I couldn't tell that it had been done from a quick inspection

quote:

---

I'm not a mechanic, but this goes against everything I've ever seen and makes 0 sense. Most manuals say to inspect for visual signs of wear, replace when needed

---

You can't get to the timing belt without taking the entire front of the engine off. Well, I guess you can make it so far as to take the three cover plates off, but you won't be able to see the inside of the belt, and you'll already be 1/2 of the way done the teardown by then. There is no way to properly inspect the belt and tensioner without taking everything completely apart.

I've done a four, and they've all looked good. IMHO, the tensioner would be the problem. Loose tensioner, and you get slack in the belt that causes it to jump and pop. Leaking water pump is also a good opportunity to change it out.

This isn't an external belt like the one you can see. This is internal, and controls the camshafts. By reading reports, they pop without notice when someone gets on the gas, and then lets off of it abruptly. Manufacturers use belts because they are more quiet than chains

I brought my 2005 4.7 Tundra to the dealership at 80k miles and the service writer told me to bring it in at 120k, don't waste my money. Change the water pump out too since you have to remove it to get to the belt.

So glad mine has a timing chain