Hello YotaTech,

The bearing inside the cooling fan bracket mount in my '89 3VZE bit the dust today (quite literally) and while I'm looking at the timing belt, I'm wondering if it should be replaced as well. I had the water pump done around 20k miles ago (so it's good) but the belt wasn't replaced then. I took some pics.. the inner edge looks not so much frayed as just gone. Was hoping someone could chime in and demand that I replace the belt or if nothing else post pics of what a frayed/beat timing belt on the 3VZE looks like. Thanks in advance!

Passenger cam pulley


Detail


The V6 in its natural habitat! Shhhh don't want to set off the cooling system

 

Thats really bad, replace with water pump, replace the pulleys if they need it too.

 

uh, yeah. i would replace that belt ASAP.

 

I'm curious why the inside edge is wearing the way it is.

 

A timing belt will run you $15-$37, so that (I think) answers the question of whether you should replace it. You don't even need to look at it.

But like the others, I'd worry about that edge wear. The smooth side of the belt doesn't touch anything rough -- you need to track that down. Could something have fallen into the lower timing cover so that the belt is scraping it down by the crank?

 

Well he did say something about a bearing failure. Wouldn't that do it? Is the bearing he replaced part of the timing belt? I mean you already have the motor ripped this far apart. Might as well change it. Even if it didn't show wear and tear.

 

I'll check that out tomorrow. I vacuumed up a bunch of debris and even found a couple loose ball bearings so there probably is more within the lower timing belt cover. Will post the result. It's a weird wear pattern and I was wondering if others wore like this or what - guess the answer awaits below... hrm

Thanks for the help and timely responses n whatnot

 

That missing bolt didn't fall down into the timing cover, did it?

I agree with the OP that you probably do not need to change the water pump again.

Good luck with that crank bolt!

 

And while you're in there, you could also replace your thermostat since its right out in the open when you pull it apart.

 

SO there were a few bearings from the fan bracket mount that had fallen into the lower timing belt cover and they are what caused the belt to wear. The force of the belt spinning had actually pressed them into the plastic! So the new belt is going on tomorrow. The t-stat is new. Thanks guys

 

Yeah that's bad, here's what it's supposed to look like....




I think it had another mile or two at least left on it.

 

That is what mine looked like when I pulled it last week. Needless to say I'm really glad I got to it in time.

 

IMHO if you have the front of the motor exposed I would replace crank and cam seals also the water pump and thermostat,
as you don't want to go back in there because the water pump failed at another 20-30,000 miles.
Check tensioner and idler bearings for wear.
I also replaced crank bolt on mine and torqued properly.
You want to do it all at once if possible. Good luck with repair.