Timing belt went

HI Guys,

New to this site and can't wait to read on all these forums.

I am hoping you guys can give me some advice on my issue. Today the timing belt went out on my 01 Tacoma, v6 3.4. My concern is there a possibility of any internal damage? Valves etc.... I don't think it was driven very far after it happened, my wife was driving.

I took it to a mechanic and he is going to replace the whole timeing belt, plus I guess the pulley, sinced it melted to a ball. He is also going to replace the water pump since it does have 120k on it, and its already there. He is charging 850 for everything. Does that seem steep?

Let me know what you guys think, I know theres experts on here.

Thanks

 

The 3.4 is not an interference engine, so there should be no serious damage.

If the belt actually went, it could not have been driven at all. The engine will dead stop.

While in there replace the two idler pulleys and possibly the tensioner too. Won't add too much to the parts cost.

Welcome to TW!

 

^^^^^x2!!! and welcome to tw!

 

Yea since I believe the tensioner MELTED, he is having to order a new kit which might include the idlers. I think it is the tensioner, it had bearing and was plastic and was at the top in the middle, i think the belt went underneath it. The belt itself didn't snap.

 

Top middle isn't the tensioner, it's an idler pulley.

See picture: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1994...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Tensioner in this pic is lower left one.

 

Good to know... Toyota is a whole new world for me. Even though this went out, I blame it on myself for not getting it changed earlier. I STILL LOVE MY TACOMA!!!

 

we all do my friend. just a lil tlc, and she'll be back to new!!! just a heads up....may as well change all the belts when you change the timing belt, and do the water pump and seals while you are at it. that way...less chance of having to go back in if something were to start leaking.

 

From what I read it's not uncommon for those belts to go 120K with no issue at all. Toyota says to replace it at 60K or 5 years, but other sites I go to say 90K or 6 years.

It's also said the biggest cause of idlers and belts going out is coolant leaks that are hidden behind the timing belt cover. Guess that stuff is caustic to rubber and plastic. Hopefully whomever does yours will know to get it super clean under that cover and be really careful with the water pump gasket(s).

 

It dumped alot of coolant, and the water pump isn't bad actually(still changing it thought) so that might have been what finally caused it,and then the coolant melted the tensioner. THAT makes alot of sense. Of course the coolant could have been just overflow.

 

What gets me is if coolant eats plastic and rubber, why doesn't it eat the radiator hoses?

I'm thinking it washes the grease out of the bearings in the idlers, makes them seize up.

 

Maybe, wish I took a picture of it. Its just a little ball of plastic with bearings melted in the plastic.

 

Just an update on this....We had to rent a car because my wife needs AC. She drives home last night and of course, she hits a tire, it bounces up and leaves a HUGE dent in this POS Chevy HHR. NOW I am stuck fixing my truck, AND fixing that damn hood. Luckily my uncle is a painter at a paint and body shop and the new aftermarket hood is on the way.