1ST GEN 254,000 miles NO TIMING BELT CHANGE!

Hello folks, I have a very puzzling question and was hoping someone could help me with here. I have recently purchased an 01 Tacoma Prerunner from a friend and it has 254,000 miles. When I asked him when he did his timing belt change(s). He said "Timing belt...what's that?". Needless to say I became a little concerned...when we opened it up it was white with age and use and looked like it should have broke a long time ago(haven't started it since - parts are on the way for a change out) Here's my questions:

How did it last that long(I've never heard of a TB lasting anywhere close to that long? And

2nd should I worry about any other parts connected to this issue due to severe neglect?

Should you have additional questions, I do know quite a bit about this truck and also the original owner is a close friend, I can ask him about it(I'm only the 2nd owner). Thanks for your time and thoughts. Mike M.

 

v6 = timing belt = ~90k change intervals

4cyl = timing chain = lifetime, no replacement.

That said, there are several people who've easily gone that long on a timing belt. I've seen several guys who have Tacos as "farm trucks", so they basically just run it til it stops, then fix it.

The "nice" thing is that they are non-interference motors, so if you blow a belt, you don't grenade your motor. Just replace the belt and you're good to go another 200k, lol...

EDIT:
When I did my belt at around 120k, it definitely had wear on it. the outer rubber was cracked, but it still had life left in it. Still good to change, though...

 

My Timing Belt is about 225,000 Original as far as I can tell

I should think of doing it soon

 

sheeeitt!

 

No shit: I once bought a BRAND-NEW Subaru Outback (1987 I think), and drove it off the lot with 67 miles on the odometer, and the timing belt broke!! And THAT was in interference engine......Not a pretty sound, especially when I'm on the side of the road with my new car cranking-cranking-cranking it!!!

 

I bought my '00 with 191k miles on it and it still had the original timing belt in it. Funny thing is, the previous owner, who was the original owner, had the same response when I asked him if he had ever changed it. Actually, he tried to say it was a chain and not a belt. He actually said "The v6's had the belt." This truck has a v6. The guy didn't even know what was under the hood! Good thing it came with a pile of service records.

That being said, the original belt with 191k on it looked so good, I doubt it was actually the original belt. Had to compare it closely with the new belt to see the difference.

I also bought a '03 Ford Focus (I know, I know....) that had about 115k on it with the original belt and that one looked like it was literally hanging on by a thread. And those are supposed to be changed every 120k. Scary stuff.

 

I changed my original timing belt at 206,000 and it looked great! The water pump was gone though. The good thing about the 3.4 is that it’s a no interference engine so if the belt breaks you don’t have a castrophic failure like happened with my dads old 22r.

 

This is what mine looked like when I changed it at 180,xxx miles.

 

Your neighbor is correct. I have changed two on first gen 2.7Ls (149,000 & 176,000) and the tensioners were both very near the end of their stroke to maintain the tightness of the chain. They do begin to get noisy though, so if you are paying attention, they give you some warning. My current 2.7L has 154,000 and it is original, but very quiet. I plan to pull the motor for other reasons this coming Fall and will replace it then.

 

Jeez thats terrible.

Here is mine after 112k, replaced last weekend. Strings just beginning to show through. Belts fail unexpectedly... Best to replace them at the recommended interval.

 

I have almost 175k on the original as far as I know. I pulled back the cover once and it looked pretty decent still, yeah yeah just change it anyway I know

 

Do it, It's a day job and the peace of mind is everything.

 

Idk why but I've never done a timing belt before and it's kinda intimidating to me. Even though everybody on here says it's straight forward

 

It's intimidating only until you start pulling it apart. If you really don't feel up to the task and are in socal i'll do it for you for $500 + parts

 

I've got buddies that can/would help I just don't wanna ask lol

 

Have fun being stuck on the side of the road

 

Haha I know that day is coming, I'll do it in the next few months I'm sure

 

Have 2 3.4 4runners both on original timing belt - one is at 270k, and the other 160k. Should change them both (along with the other belts), but have other repairs to pay for before I can get to them haha.

Previously had a 3.4 95 taco that had 180-190k on its original belt, but was wrecked . Will say though before the accident the alternator belt broke off when I drove through some water that built up on the edge of the road. Just heard a swish, then a pop, and there it went with the battery light coming on. Imagine all the other belts in there were about to go to.

 

I've heard of some guys going 300K plus without changing. I would say it it kind of depends on the climate the truck lives in.

When I hit 150K or so I started bought the timing belt & water pump, time went by fast I guess, that was like 4-5 yrs ago! I just did mine a couple of weeks ago. Also changed tensioner & bearings, both radiator hoses, & thermostat.

Here's mine with 214K on it. I wasn't worried. Didn't look like is was going to break soon, teeth still looked good, no fraying watsoever. Water pump had no signs of leaking either. Tensioner bearing & idler bearings still felt smooth with no play, tensioner had no signs of leaking. Thermostat still looked new & was working fine.

 

Hm, you know what that's a very good point on climate. It may also be a factor if the truck is left outside in the sun all the time with no shade. Heat would more quickly dry rot away more things.

Thinking back to my past vehicles and how where they were kept it seems to correlate with overall condition along with their belts (mileage/age also considering of course).