timing belt or chain?
Posted by independent_Chain509@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 17 comments
I recently bought a 2004 Toyota 4runner v8 4.7 sport edition 4wd that has 261k miles on it, a few days later while looking for things that needed to be changed in my car the timing belt came to my attention, first I didn't know if it was a timing belt or a timing chain, after doing some research I found that the 4.7 v8 engine has a timing belt, so I called the ex-owner to ask him when was the last time that he changed it, and here the surprise and the confusion, he said he never changed it he said you don't need to change it, so now either the engine I have is 1 of 1 and this one has a timing chain or the timing belt right now is holding to dear life or it wasn't his car for a long time and he doesn't know what he's talking about ( I bought the car with a really good price and everything on the car is good ), so now I'm confused, what do I have to do? also, he mentioned that he changed the transmission oil once when it had 161k on it, do I have to change it again? if so, when? and the differential oil was never changed btw, do I have to change it? I'm kind of lost.
ps: he doesn't have any paper on when was the last time he changed any of these things.
HtownDddy@reddit
Do 2014 Silverado V6 a have timing chains That need replacement
Max_Downforce@reddit
In case nobody mentioned this, since it uses a timing belt of suspiciously unknown age, stop driving it, until you get it replaced.
Galopigos@reddit
Has a timing belt. Part # 1356809070 Should have been changed at 90K, then 180K
Personally, when I buy a used vehicle I change all fluids and look at anything shown in the service tables unless there is proof that something was changed.
glade_air_freshner@reddit
Even if the belt had been changed at the proper intervals, it's still almost due for another replacement, anyway.
NovelLongjumping3965@reddit
Your manual has a maintenance schedule .. or there are apps that track and remind you. If keeping it for 5 years.....At that mileage the truck I had, got a full service of everything..battery,new ground and starter wire,new starter relay, new thermostat ,oils,new shocks,coolants/ flush the rad.,power steering and brake fluid replacement,parking brake was seized replaced that.....fuel,trans and engine filters, plugs wires/coils, belts,tensioners,timing belt. Threw in bottles of engine and fuel injection cleaner. Also checked brakes,ujoints ,diff wear,steering linkages. That kept it reliable for the time I had it.
justinh2@reddit
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That is how your comment reads.
NovelLongjumping3965@reddit
May be to a gen z..lol
justinh2@reddit
To anybody that appreciates spaces and proper punctuation you mean.
clintj1975@reddit
4.7 powered Tundra owner here.
Timing belt can be knocked out over a couple of days in the driveway. I did my Tundra two years ago. You're going to need either a huge chain wrench or an impact wrench to break loose the crank pulley bolt, but everything else is pretty straightforward with hand tools and good organization of removed parts.
Transmission, I'd do a drain and refill. There may also be required changes of the front diff and transfer case fluids lurking in your future.
Differential depends. Open diff is inspect fluid periodically. Limited slip requires replacement at regular intervals - I wanna say every 60k miles, but check your schedule. There should be a card in the glove box with your manual with the times listed. Get the squeeze bags of fluid if you decide to DIY this, there's not much room above the diff to work with for funnels.
Ask when the starter was last changed, if at all. When it goes it's a massive PITA to do. It's under the intake manifold, like on the Cadillac Northstar engines. It was seriously a bigger hassle than the timing belt. Yours at least probably doesn't have the rear coolant crossover pipe of the later VVT engines which makes it even harder to unbolt. You're right in the middle of the failure window for it. If they ask about the knock sensors, yes you want to install new ones.
Layne-Cobain@reddit
Its not necessarily "holding by a thread" it's RECOMMENDED you replace timing belts usually between 60,000-90,000 at least that was the recommendations on any car I've driven, and most newer cars are coming standard with chains. I've talked to a lot of people who have a timing belt and they've driven it for 240,000+ and never replaced the belt. Your climate can greatly affect this. If you live in an arid climate, the belt is more likely to dryrot. If you don't drive the car a lot, it's likely to break down. But just because your recommendation says one thing doesn't mean it can't break at 99,999 miles as well as it could break at 300,000. Look into if your car has an interference engine too. If it's a non-interference engine you can drive it till the belt snaps inconsequentially. You'll be stranded, but you won't ruin the engine. An interference engine it's gonna cause the pistons to hit the valves potentially at a high RPM and you're looking at rebuilding the engine. I've got relatives that changed them religiously and I've got friends that never changed them at all, bought their car used without it ever being changed, and none of them ever actually snapped a timing belt. I've been in a car that lost a lower ball joint at a high speed, had a car run out of oil or the engine starts major misfiring not wanting to drive and shit but I've never snapped a timing belt or met anyone who has.
imothers@reddit
Have a good look around on the engine and under the hood in general for a sticker that says when the timing belt was done.
clintj1975@reddit
This. Mine has a sticker that says it was changed by "your mom" at 205k miles on the driver's side belt cover. I may have been a beer or two into celebrating the engine being back together and working when I found the sticker in the box.
SkylineFTW97@reddit
The 2UZ-FE, like all Toyota UZ V8s, has a timing belt. If there's no record of its last service, plan on doing so IMMEDIATELY. If that fails, it might take the whole engine down with it.
mrpaul57@reddit
Check and see if there is an inspection cover. If so, take a look at the condition of your belt and go from there.
Cranks_No_Start@reddit
If that’s thing has never been done I wouldn’t drive it as it’s a ticking time bomb.
AdFabulous3959@reddit
The V8 has a timing belt and it should have been changed at 100k. Fluids are called out in the owners manual for intervals but most folks change them every 60 thousand miles despite what the manufacturer says.
You could reset everything by changing out all fluids and the T belt all in one go then you can sleep at night.
jkjeeper06@reddit
You have a timing belt. You should change it immediately. Do the differentials and transmission as well. Those are not challenging to DIY if you are interested. The timing belt is doable if you have skills and tools; If not, just pay someone for that.