Considering buying a 2000 4Runner V-6 with 134k. The current owner bought it at 95k and has no idea if the timing belt has ever been changed. Toyota calls for it to be changed at 90K, so it is either 44k past due or it has roughly 46k left before needing to be changed.

What do the garage mechanics think? Is it possible that the original survived this long, or is it pretty much guaranteed that it was replaced at least once?

9/16/2008 1:57:28 PM

could go either way... i've seen several timing belts make it well over 150k

would err on the safe side and replace it

9/16/2008 2:08:02 PM

better be safe than sorry. Go ahead and replace it.

9/16/2008 2:27:28 PM

^ you don't want your valves to hit your pistons

9/16/2008 2:30:49 PM

Its definitely possible the belt can last that long. I bought my car at 135k and when I took the car to have the timing belt done at 160k (80k interval) the mechanic told me it was the original? (damn first owner).

But better safe than sorry if you have an interference engine!

9/16/2008 3:15:42 PM

Quote :

"But better safe than sorry if you have an interference engine!"

im getting ready to get mine done soon

damn that 60k interval

9/16/2008 3:36:29 PM

Timing chain ftw.

9/16/2008 3:53:49 PM

^tell that to ScHpEnXeL, lol. His snapped the other week

9/16/2008 4:14:10 PM

oh shit. I replaced the chain and sprocket when I had the engine rebuilt, so I should be good... I've only heard that happen on high torque cars... I sorry ScHpEnXeL.


[Edited on September 16, 2008 at 4:21 PM. Reason : .]

9/16/2008 4:20:43 PM

^^yup.. broke timing chain. it was because the tensioner came apart, went between the sprocket on the cam and the chain..stretched the chain until it broke--not just a random chain failure or anything

lol..


[Edited on September 16, 2008 at 4:27 PM. Reason : asdf]

9/16/2008 4:26:59 PM

Quote :

"better be safe than sorry. Go ahead and replace it."

Probably not interested in buying the truck if it needs to be done unless the owner wants to knock off the cost. It's probably $600+ with a new water pump.

9/16/2008 4:46:08 PM

^^ oh yeah, the tensioner... I forgot about that.

9/16/2008 4:57:06 PM

^Small world man..thats my 4Runner your talking about. I replied to your email.

9/16/2008 5:02:05 PM

Can you tell if the belt has been changed just by looking at it? Can you even see it without taking things apart?

9/16/2008 5:05:21 PM

^^ Small world indeed. I just read your old posts about the starter going out and the brake problems you had when you first picked it up.

9/16/2008 5:16:41 PM

^^I'm pretty sure all you can really go by is the visble condition of the belt and the tightness compared to the position of the tensioner.

9/16/2008 5:28:31 PM

well you can kinda tell the condition by looking at the belt.. i mean, if it has threads hanging of of it, then yeah its bad. if the writing is dull and worn, then it could be older.

who knows really. but thats just somethings to go by.

9/16/2008 6:58:56 PM

just change the thing

9/16/2008 7:31:04 PM

Quote :

"What do the garage mechanics think?"

change it.

9/16/2008 7:33:25 PM

Quote :

"The current owner bought it at 95k and has no idea if the timing belt has ever been changed. Toyota calls for it to be changed at 90K, so it is either 44k past due or it has roughly 46k left before needing to be changed. "

i'll bet money it hasn't been changed.

if the recommended interval is 90k, and this guy bought it at 95k, the previous owner would've probably told him about the recent expensive maintainace performed. it's possible that the car was up for sale at 95k in the first place because someone was thinking about selling it anyway, and dodging a timing belt job was as good of a time as any.

the owner would probably remember having it done if it had been done since 95k when he/she bought it. add the cost of a timing belt/water pump job into the cost of the truck.

9/16/2008 7:41:17 PM

yea, the car is a ticking time bomb. If you buy it, change it asap.

9/16/2008 7:55:37 PM

Quote :

"change it. "

9/16/2008 9:52:01 PM

don't 4runners have timing chains?

9/16/2008 11:17:00 PM

From what I could tell the 4 cylinder engines have a chain. The V-6 (in this model at least) is definitely a belt.

I like the 4 cylinder Toyotas, but I tow 4,000 pounds fairly often and it would definitely struggle with it.

[Edited on September 17, 2008 at 12:21 AM. Reason : l]

9/17/2008 12:16:13 AM

yah, i got a 22re in mine

sux when the chain breaks

9/17/2008 12:46:48 AM

I'm a 4Runner owner now.

Any suggestions on places to take it for the timing belt and water pump? I called around and it looks like the Mission Valley 66 that 69 recommended in a bunch of threads will probably get the business unless someone has a better recommendation.

9/21/2008 5:41:08 PM

http://www.killercustoms.net

9/21/2008 8:05:18 PM

^^how much did the quote to do it?

9/21/2008 8:13:13 PM

Water pump, timing belt, drive belts, coolant for $600-$650. Maybe a little more depending on how the cam seals, tensioners, pulleys, etc. looked.

Most shops were in the $700-$800 range.

^^ I recognize that green mustang with the roll bar from TWW. Who is that?

[Edited on September 21, 2008 at 8:34 PM. Reason : l]

9/21/2008 8:31:50 PM

SpeedFreak

9/21/2008 8:39:50 PM