160k Common Part Failure?

2011 Toyota Tacoma v6 4.0 4WD
166,000 Miles
Runs great

(Main question in bold below)

My daughters got a 2011 Toyota Tacoma with 166k. Unfortunately she bought it from a dealership a couple years ago and still owes a good amount of money on it.

A week or so ago it started making noise like a bearing was starting to fail on one of the pulleys. It has since stopped but obviously it will start making noise again soon. I didn't have time to pinpoint what pulley it was before it stopped...

She just had a baby a couple of weeks ago (im a grandpa!) and is moving from Florida to Michigan next month and will be driving the truck. Approximately 1,500 miles. I just bought her a premium AAA roadside assistance policy just in case.

***
Since one of the bearings is starting to go bad and I'm not sure which one it was, I'm contemplating on just replacing everything including the alternator, water pump, power steering pump, belt tensioner and all 3 idler pulleys. I figured since the truck has 166k all those things are bound to start failing sooner than later, and I won't be near her to replace them for her.

But at the same time I would hate to replace one of those OEM parts with a cheaper one and have the new one fail prematurely!

Unfortunately I don't have the money to replace everything with OEM parts. So I was wondering if anyone can confirm which of those parts are known to last well past 166k / or which ones normally fail around this many miles and I should definitely replace? Also any other parts that are bound to fail sooner than later that I haven't mentioned.

I would rather replace what needs to be replaced with good OEM parts!

Thanks

 

My 2007 is just over 250,000 miles. I had the alternator replaced at about 170,000 when it died. The serpentine belt needs to be replaced every 100,000 miles. I still have all of the other original parts.

Some things, particularly electrical parts are hard to predict. Lots of people still have the factory alternator well past 200,000. Same with water pumps. Mine is still going at 250,000, but sometimes they die earlier. I'm thinking you may have a water pump going bad rather than a pulley.

 

Most vehicles end of life wear component is 10/100.

only things I haven’t done on my belt drive system that I will probably do is alternator, belt again (cold start squeak), and compressor. Related to that, radiator and condenser maybe couple other things.

not into the whole “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” stranded on top of a mountain game.

 

Pop the belt off and try to spin the tensioner and idler pulleys. It'll likely be one of those. At 160K, I'd just have all of them replaced. They should not spin freely when released for more then a very short time, if they do, it means the grease inside the bearing is gone and failure is coming.

 

That is a bit excessive.

Change the serp. belt and the idler/tensioner pulleys. I would recommend OEM if you plan on keeping it, the aftermarket stuff uses some bottom of the barrel bearings.

Changing everything else is premature and expensive and there's a good chance that things will make it another 100K miles.

 

There is also a bearing in the tensionser pulley that can wear out. However, last time I checked, the few pulleys available on the market use made-in-China components. To install a quality bearing you’ll need to replace just the bearing in the oem pulley. Check out my thread for more info - https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...arings-in-the-idler-tensioner-pulleys.480961/

As to other components to replace. I agree to replace the alternator, belt, and the other idler pulleys. I would add to replace the hoses, thermostat and radiator cap. Buy Aisin whenever you can, they are partly owned by Toyota and make oem parts for Toyota/Lexus vehicles. The water pump, I am inclined to say to leave it alone, unless the bearing within is the cause of the bearing failure. Historically, V6 Tacoma water pumps do not have a high failure rate. I replaced mine, along with the radiator, at 200K, as preventive maintenance. The water pump bearing did have some play, but very little, and did not make any noises.

 

Wow thanks everyone for all the replies so quickly!

So it seems that the consensus is to definitely replace the serpentine belt, thermostat and cooling hoses.

Wouldn't be a bad idea to replace the bearings inside the belt tensioner and the 3 idler pulleys with high quality bearings. If the bearings are replaceable without destroying them. I will check out the link @Chuy posted.

Otherwise leave everything else alone but while the serpentine belt is off see if I can pinpoint what bearing was making noise recently.

I really appreciate everyone's input! I'm glad I decided to come here and ask. If anyone else has any other recommendations please add them below.

THANKS A LOT!

@Chuy
@Marshall R
@TacoTuesday1
@fxntime
@lbhsbz

 

I have pondered this same question for years. My brother in-law had a 2012 Taco average mileage that caused major damage. When he punched the accelerator one of the pulleys, the tensioner or both damaged his valves. The repair cost was $1700 about 2 years ago. I was worried this might happen to me so at 160,237 miles everything is OEM and was never replaced. I told my mechanic to replace the tensioner & belt as a precaution. Do you think my mechanic would have suggested replacing all the pulleys while you were there doing the tensioner? I didn't even think about it until later when I spoke to the service rep he stated the original pulleys were fine. I guess this is job security for more work.
Also, my 09 Tacoma has been leaking oil since 105,000 miles in 2017. Now I have 205,000 miles but nothing on the ground. My mechanic said no big deal mostly all V6 tacos leak around the timing chain area. The dealer in 2017 wanted to charge me $2300 to fix the leak I declined.

 

Damaged the valves??

 

Yes, valve damage we use the same mechanic. That's why in an earlier post I was looking for a new mechanic. Your thoughts or am I overreacting?

 

Overreacting. Are you sure it was the accessory belt or a timing belt/tensioner pulley that went tits up on an interference type engine? THAT I can see happening and isn't unusual at all.

 

Yes, he said the tensioner pulley that is why I replaced mine.

 

All I can say is given the choice between a high milage vehicle that has never had a wrench on it... and one with a pile of receipts and every other parts replaced... I'd buy the one that's never been worked on.

 

For the long trip, do and/or move up some routine maintenance such as replace gear oil in diff(s) and transfer case, ATF drain/refill, plugs, etc … maybe replace the battery if older than four years. Clean throttle body, replace PCV valve.

 

Number 1
Do not be a random parts changer!
Number 2
Put your $$$ where it counts. Diagnose or have a pro diag... don't spend a dollor to save a penny... (on random unessasary parts and work)
Number 3
Use o.e.m. parts if possible, Napa, Asian or other known quality parts ESPECIALLY bearings. NEVER eBay chinesium parts!

Noise diag.Tips:
" local parts stores usually will check free for bad alt and batterys
* use a harbor freight stethoscope, garden hose even works. With motor running probe around/listen for noise.
* fan belt off, inspect belt cond. Spin each pulley and water pump - feel for ruffness, loose wobble or tight resistance.
* inspect water pump "weep" hole for wetness or anti freeze stains.

Pre trip work on unknown vehicle:
* tire/alignment shops usually check tires, brakes and front end components for free. Get actual measurements NOT just you need um'.
* pull a spark plug and look for wear (excessive gap/black or blistered). Usually cheap @ dealer
* change engine trans rear end oils (stay faaar away from jiffy lube!
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...after-oil-change.841082/page-11#post-30115641
* wiper blades and washer fluid fill up
* inspect drive shaft for excessive wear
* inspect timing belt condition on 4 cyl.
Note: 4.0 v6 no belt (has chain)

Rinse and repeat

 

Make a Toyota parts acct and buy all your OE parts online. You’ll save money and have the best quality parts for her truck. Orders over $75 ship free. You can install or have your mechanic do it.

 

A serpentine belt issue does not damage valves.

paying for diag 10+yo/166k mi to inspect pulleys that's some chimpanzee shit right there

 

Nothing in the external accessory drive system failing will cause valve damage inside the engine. That "mechanic" was lying.

 

perhaps the vehicle had a timing belt on an interference motor, combined with a cousin's uncle's brother that does not understand things

 

A timing belt is not part of the external accessory drive system. It's internal to the engine. And a serpentine belt is not the same as a timing belt. A serpentine belt - or anything that it drives or runs on - failing will not cause valves to hit the pistons in an interference engine.