My truck is in the shop currently for a tune up the mechanic asked me if I knew the history of maintenance of this vehicle ,it is used with 100,000 mls. 97 4runner limited 4wd..He wanted to know if I wanted to change the timing belt...when looking at various sites I see different terms being used timing belts,chains what is the schedule for both..which is the one to be done at 60,000 and any way to tell if the chain was replaced ???....while he has that puppy apart any other suggestions of stuff to check or change
also is that a steel backed timing chain that I should get would NAPA have that?

thanks

 

You have a belt, which is good.
The timing belt in the Toyota engines is "non interference" which means if it breaks, your engine shuts down and won't run.

The 20R, and 22R, and 22RE engines use a timing chain.
If they break, more than likely they take the top half of the engine with it.
Not good.

While he is replacing the belt, get the water pump done to.
There is something else in there too I think, but I can't remember.

I do beleive it is suppose to be changed at 60K intervals. Also I would use the Toyota parts one.
Also be a good time to pick up a set of Toyota plug wires, and change them and the plugs.

 

Thanks for clearing that up for me...I just called my mechanic about this...His explanation now makes sense to me..
He will be replacing the timing belt(behind the plastic cover upfront) and replacing any seals there as well as the waterpump..it sounds like a bigger job then just replacing some belt...I also mentioned the oxygen sensor and he will be replacing the plugs and wires

I thought the timing belt was the one belt cluster you can see up front(those are accessory belts)..

I just bought this truck and the engine light came up the day after..not to mention it hesitated some then wanted to stall,my mechanic hooked it up to the computer which indicated a misfire in cylender 1....hope this tune up fixes this

thanks!!

 

Don't you think a chain is less likely to break than a belt? What do the new models have? I know you listed 22R, 22RE, etc. I just don't know what the heck that means.

 

The 4 bangers have the timing chain.
Not sure on the 2.7 though that is in the 3rd gen 4Runners and Tacomas.

All V6s including the 3.0 and 3.4 use a timing belt.
They can not be interchanged for a different type.

The 20R, 22R and the 22RE engines I refered to are the 4 bangers that came in the pre '95 trucks & Runners.

RE is fule injected, and R is carbed.

 

The newer 2.7 liter 4 cyl motors have a timing chain according to Steve Schaefer who owns one.

 

That was one of the reasons I got the 2.7.
butnut