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- Toyota Tacoma How to Replace Timing Belt and Water Pump<br>Step by step intructions for do-it-yourself repairs.
New Timing Belt Water-Pump 5vz-fe 3.4L Write-up for Review
07-14-2018, 07:24 AM
#61
Contributing Member
Well I ended up paying someone. Moment of weakness. He installed my parts. 240,000 miles, he said the water pump was original. Belts had been replaced at around 100,000 and I assumed they did the pump, but according to the mechanic, nope. It was leaking a bit but the belts looked fine. No oil leaks. I said "well it's probably the last timing belt/water pump job this truck will have" and he sort of looked at me, so I said "or not?". He says he's got two other customers with 3.4s who are the original owners and keep up on maintenance, and both are over 400,000 miles. Pretty cool.
Check my signature. I'm trying to get my money's worth by shooting for 500,000 miles...
Andreas
07-16-2018, 08:09 AM
#62
Registered User
Time will tell. I worry more about what else will fall apart along the way...but it’s a Toyota. I’ve put 50k on this since buying it. I’m only just now spending any real money on it with the timing belt/water pump job and right now sitting in Les Schwab getting new tires. It hurts...but it’s worth it.
04-09-2021, 09:16 PM
#66
Registered User
When I replaced the water pump and timing belt on my 1998 Tacoma 3.4L engine I had to remove the AC pump and the bracket that holds it to the block. Then I had to tie the AC pump up high out of the way to gain clearance to one of the tensioner mounting bolts (can't recall which one right now). OTHERWISE IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE TENSIONER ASSEMBLY FROM THIS ENGINE!Other folks have also had this problem. You may want to add this step to your discussion. I cannot speak for anything other than a 1998 3.4L engine.
Detaching and reattaching that bracket took me about 2 hours total and an assortment of wrenches and sockets, and a fresh start the next morning to reattach it to the block.
Detaching and reattaching that bracket took me about 2 hours total and an assortment of wrenches and sockets, and a fresh start the next morning to reattach it to the block.
(l used the old tensioner for the “photo op”)
08-07-2021, 03:11 PM
#67
Registered User
Age a consideration to change timing belt
My tacoma is 19 yrs old (2002) but mileage is low (67500). Is the decision to change the TB/water pump based solely on mileage or is age a consideration?
08-08-2021, 01:48 PM
#68
Registered User
According to the Toyota Parts site I found, they specify every 60,000 miles.
If you check it, and it's at all frayed, damaged, missing ridges on the underside, you can see threads sticking out ANYWHERE, oily, or ANY other kind of damage is found, replace it immediately, regardless of the milage.
From what you gave as far as age and miles, IF I WERE YOU, I would replace the belt and water pump right away. Without delay.
I have a funny feeling the belt may in pretty bad shape by now. I'm not sure if that's an interference engine or not, but if the belt breaks while the engine is running, especially much above idle, it can cause some severe engine damage.
Beware of a damaged belt. If it breaks it can cost you a heck of a lot more than the price of a belt/water pump kit does.
Good luck!
Pat☺
If you check it, and it's at all frayed, damaged, missing ridges on the underside, you can see threads sticking out ANYWHERE, oily, or ANY other kind of damage is found, replace it immediately, regardless of the milage.
From what you gave as far as age and miles, IF I WERE YOU, I would replace the belt and water pump right away. Without delay.
I have a funny feeling the belt may in pretty bad shape by now. I'm not sure if that's an interference engine or not, but if the belt breaks while the engine is running, especially much above idle, it can cause some severe engine damage.
Beware of a damaged belt. If it breaks it can cost you a heck of a lot more than the price of a belt/water pump kit does.
Good luck!
Pat☺
08-08-2021, 02:30 PM
#69
Contributing Member
From a mileage standpoint, you're completely fine. It wouldn't hurt to remove the upper timing belt cover and inspect it for actual cracks, etc.
As a counterpoint to the other (somewhat alarmist) response - the 3.4 5VZFE engine is a non-interference design. Should the belt break, you will not have a destroyed engine.
- I've owned my truck since new. Did the first timing belt job at 171,000 miles - belt (and accessory belts) looked perfectly fine.
- Did the second timing belt job at around 350,000 miles - belt (and accessory belts) looked perfectly fine.
- I'm now at 490,000 miles and look forward to doing the THIRD timing belt job somewhere around 520,000 miles.
Andreas
Last edited by aowRS; 08-08-2021 at 02:32 PM.
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Ivans’s (08-15-2021)
08-09-2021, 01:20 PM
#70
Registered User
Changing timing belt
Thanks for the messages-both are informative. I think I will take a look at the belt and see its condition, if it looks ok, I may wait a while since the engine probably would not self destruct if it failed. I appreciate both responses.
07-02-2022, 12:05 PM
#71
Registered User
Thread Starter
Massive update to the write-up with new tip/tricks, and it now includes replacing the camshaft and crankshaft seals, as well as the tensioner and radiator.
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old87yota (07-07-2022)
07-02-2022, 01:18 PM
#72
Contributing Member
07-03-2022, 06:09 PM
#73
Registered User
Services and ready to go
I looked at the timing belt and there were places where metal showed where rubber was missing. Had it changed out and the water pump showed signs of having a small leak. Also had the thermostat replaced, crankshaft seal, camshaft seals, belts, hoses, flushed old antifreeze and installed new red toyota fluid, rollers and idlers. Should be ready to go (also had fr rotors and pads replaced, rear shoes with oem), new Bilstein 4600 fr/RR, lower Ball Joints, 4 wheel alignment. Changed oil/filter, replaced all fluids in differential, trans, trans case , new per steer fluid and brake /clutch fluid changed with aamsoil products, NOS plugs/wires. Pretty well ready to go. Most all maint items good ( new fuel filter, plugs, wires, tires, clutch, throttle body cleaned). Now its going down to dealership Tuesday as I am selling it. Very clean with 68K miles. Asking a fairly high price. Hope somebody likes it enough to pay it.
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2ToyGuy (07-04-2022)
10-06-2022, 04:38 PM
#74
skjos; thank you, thank you thank you for all the hard and tedious work to make this superb write-up! Did mine a few years ago with this. So satisfying to hit the starter afterwords and half the engine purr...! skjos you are the best! Greetings from Spokane
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2ToyGuy (10-07-2022)
11-05-2022, 07:31 PM
#75
I'm not much of a write-up guy, I'm obviously a fan of video, but the write-up looks to be very well done. I've got a couple videos on this subject. Part 2 came about because we had to go back in to investigate a noise that surfaced. We also included some helpful tips in Part 2, mainly an easier way to get the timing belt on, so it's worth a watch. Happy Wrenching!
Last edited by Timmah; 11-05-2022 at 07:38 PM.
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