Replacing timing belt/water pump

I'm gonna be replacing the timing belt on my 2001 Double Cab and, just outta curiosity, my understanding is that the belt/pump should be replaced at 60,000 miles, or 100,000 miles, depending on who you talk to. My curiosity is this....has anyone out there actually had a timing belt snap, break, or otherwise fail while driving? My Taco has 284,000 miles on it and, to my knowledge, has never had the belt changed. I'm paranoid that if I don't change it soon, my luck will run out and my engine will implode.....thanks

 

Not the belt itself per say, but the water pump failed (locked up) on me driving. Which also locked up the belt at the same time. It's a non interference setup so no worries about your motor going to shit. Only issue That might be of concern is the heat, which the water pump if it fails, will hike your temps up super fast before you even realize it. And that is more likely to happen than a belt failing. But if the belt does fail, you'll most likely just come to a slow sputtering stop. The belt will just shred if it gets caught in anything. Doubtful it would lock up the crank.

 

I think it's supposed to be replaced every 90k.

 

Yep. Every 90k.

 

If your belt breaks, your engine will not implode or explode. It will simply quit running and leave you stranded.

Unlike some engines, the 3.4L is a non-interference engine which means that when the timing belt breaks and stops turning the camshafts that move the intake and exhaust valves, the pistons will not come up and strike them.

Even so, you still need to treat this as normal, regular maintenance. It is usually the water pump that fails before the timing belt. I doubt very much that your water pump has 284,000 miles on it.

You don't indicate this in your truck info, you do have the v6, right?

As other have indicated, Toyota recommends a 90K interval for the timing belt and the water pump for the 3.4L.

 

Change it man....just change it