Toyota Tundra Timing Belt

[Woodchuck]

Toyota uses a screen and is very rarely changed.

[Bean Counter]

Yep  Didn't want to pay for a new one, just to clean the old one. The fluid looked pink enough but had a tinge of dirt in it. I didn't want them pumping whatever was at the bottom of the pan throughout the rest but it seems to be running fine since. I'll drop the pan myself in another 30,000 and clean it.

Does anybody know if the '03 uses super long life coolant (like the 100,000 mile stuff) or just "long life" coolant?

[jackelope]

Toyota recommends against doing transmission flushes period. I was a Toyota service advisor for a month or 2 a couple years ago and this was part of our training...no flushes.

Specified Coolant  "TOYOTA Long Life Coolant" or equivalent Ethylene-glycol Based Antifreeze/Coolant 

[FC]

Didn't mean to generalize, sorry to you mechanics out there. 

The tats, smokes, and coarse language didn't exactly project the choir-boy image to me 

That's because they're not choir boys.
 

LMAO! Should I get a halo for my next tattoo?

[Bean Counter]

Toyota recommends against doing transmission flushes period. I was a Toyota service advisor for a month or 2 a couple years ago and this was part of our training...no flushes.

Specified Coolant  "TOYOTA Long Life Coolant" or equivalent Ethylene-glycol Based Antifreeze/Coolant 

Yet, they offer the flush service 

[jackelope]

The dealer, per the manufacturer, shouldn't be flushing anything. If they are they are doing it for the money. Chryser took the same stance recently as well regarding the flush machines.

[Bean Counter]

The dealer, per the manufacturer, shouldn't be flushing anything. If they are they are doing it for the money. Chryser took the same stance recently as well regarding the flush machines.

sounds about right.

Though us common folk often don't know when they're trying to just sell us stuff, or have stuff break down to sell us even more expensive stuff (ie, a new transmission). I'm guessing the recommendation against it has to do with either damaging the torque converter or pumping any settled sediments/crap into the rest of the transmission.

[Bean Counter]

Hi guys 

 

So 9 months later and that timing belt still hasn't gone. After calling Toyota USA and them being very coy and only saying "Well we can't really guarantee the engine wont be damaged if the timing belt breaks.." makes me think that it may classify as an interference engine, but that most of their experience says that this is not the case.

Regardless, I will be making a multi-state hunting trip this fall and I don't like the idea of being stranded in the middle of nowhere even if it doesn't damage the engine should the belt go T/U.

So here's my (I hope) last question on the topic: Can I pull off the cover and look at the belt to determine whether it should be changed or not? Ie, splitting, cracks, etc? Or is that not a reliable indicator? Can an ostensibly healthy looking belt fail from the inside out?

Couldn't ever get an answer as to when (if ever) the belt was changed. 

[jackelope]

So 9 months later and that timing belt still hasn't gone. After calling Toyota USA and them being very coy and only saying "Well we can't really guarantee the engine wont be damaged if the timing belt breaks.." makes me think that it may classify as an interference engine, but that most of their experience says that this is not the case.

I posted in Reply #3 that it's an interference motor.

Labor time to pull the timing cover and replace it is 3.1 hours so it's a fairly major project to pull the cover.

[Bean Counter]

Yep, and I did re-read before resurrecting a dead thread.  Recall also that I called two separate Toyota cervix departments and spoke with two advisors who told me that they've had Tundra's come in with broken timing belts and no damage to the engine 

Question is really whether I can determine if the belt is in good shape by looking at the outside or not. However, if its going to cost as much money just to check as it would to replace, I suppose its just a no brainer to replace.

Thanks Jack.

[jackelope]

Yep...I guess the only thing I can say to add to this is that just because it's an interference motor does not automatically mean the pistons are going to smack valves when the belt breaks.
We do a few PT Cruisers with broken timing belts that are interference motors and I've never had one smack together for example.
Maybe if the engine is running at lower RPM when the belt breaks then the odds of bad chit happening would be reduced? That could be a pipe dream too.

[Buckmark]

The reason for the service advisors being as you put it "coy" is yes even if it is an interference engine, there are rare cases (ie: idling in your driveway when it fails) that the belt can break and not cause any valve damage, so if they say yes 100% your gonna be repairing the heads and you find no damage then you will be bad mouthing them, if they say it's ok run it till it fails no worries and you end up with a 2500 head repair bill your gonna be bad mouthing them...I have seen over 1000+ vehicles with broken or failed timing belts or related components (water pumps, tensioners etc) and some that are interference that did not bend valves, idling in the driveway and the customer nor i cranked then engine after it died. Now cruising down the freeway at 60+ your gonna smack some valves, if you have 200+k miles and dont know if the belt has ever been done your on borrowed time, not if it will break, but when...

[Bean Counter]

Yeah... I pretty much budgeted for a good cushion when I bought the truck to begin with. Looks like its time to stop being a vajayjay and get 'er done. Still, no regrets picking up a 2003 Toyota Tundra with 4 wheel drive and a v8 motor for $6,000. 

Looks like the upgrade to my riflescope will have to wait 

So now, back to Stealership vs. Indie shop 

[xxlx7]

Ok, so I am a Toyota Service Advisor at the local Toyota Dealership. Yes, it is an interferance motor. Yes, the timing belt does need to be replaced every 90k. Timing belts replacement only is $472.95 plus tax. There is no reason to replace tensioners/pullies if they are not bad. Waterpump, thats up to you, lots of miles, and probibally seeping some, but it will save you $ if you do it when you do the timing belt. As far as young and tattoo'd techs, I have three techs under 25 and I would rather take any vehicle to them then my "seasoned" mechanics. All of them have gone through more schooling and earned their place the hard way. And I have lots of tattoos and I will tell you now, I am very professional and respected. If you want, I can pull the national service history for your vehicle and tell you all the servicing that has been done at any Toyota shop. My dealership # is 360-766-5824 direct to me.

Kyle

[jackelope]

My dentist has tattoo's.
 

True story.