3.4 Timing belt "inspection" 182K - no service records

This 2001 3.4 looks very well cared for. As near a "creampuff" as I have ever experienced. Im sure there are some that would say "replace it so you know" but if i get about deep enough to remove the top timing belt cover, and manually rotate the engine so I can inspect the condition of the belt, would i likely be able to accurately asses its condition or age, roughly? At 182K its likely on only its second TB by now, but aside from any obvious cracks, how can I now.
This video on the replacement is amazing and very helpful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHC46ypHxWc

 

A visual with it still on the truck may not reveal wear. When we did @turbodb last month, the belt look good, It wasn't until it was removed that a closer inspection showed the beginning of fraying and deformation of the ribs on the underneath side of the belt.

Another factor to consider is the waterpump. Generally it is what needs replacement first.

 

age more so than mileage, I don't trust rubber over 10 yrs. old. Would you drive on tires that old? Even if never mounted?

 

Sure, it will give you a *better* idea of its condition, but not a complete picture. If it's cracked/worn on the inside of the belt, that's pretty much impossible to see.

The thing about the timing belts is that the 3.4L engines are non interference engines, so if it fails yo may get stranded somewhere temporarily, but it's not like your motor going to grenade like the 4cyls with a timing chain...

At ~190k it *should* be on its second belt. Only real way to know if it's been replaced is if you find that it's not an OEM brand belt (Aisin maybe?), then you'll know it's been replaced at least once...

I would just go ahead and change it, though. Like has been said, I'd be concerned about the water pump, too...

The parts aren't all that expensive. I think I paid $260 for everything, belts (timing and accessory), tensioners, water pump, new seals, etc... It took a good weekend to do it myself. Could probably do it in a day, now... I think I was quoted $900 for a shop to do it.

 

That is a great video. I wrote up and photographed the process here: Changing the Timing Belt, Water Pump, and More. That link has a link in it to all the parts.

And, an easily printable step-by-step instruction list I created is here: https://adventuretaco.com/step-by-s...r-3-4l-v6-5vzfe-also-4runner-tundra-and-t100/

I'm with Mike on this stuff - even though everything I took out looked great, and likely would have lasted many tens of thousands more miles, the whole reason you replace all that stuff is preventative maintenance - so you don't get stuck somewhere or have a part go out that leads to more expensive fixes.

 

Wisdom #thankyousirs

 

Just change it. It's not that big of a job.

I just got a 03 with only 63k miles. Looked at the maintenance schedule and it said 90k miles or 6 years for the belt. I've had bad luck with timing belts so I replaced it, since it should have been replaced twice just on age. When removed it looked perfectly good, but in the trash it went.