Prado TD - when should cam belt be changed?

Gday Tiger

Most belts should be done at 100,000 Km’s or every 5to10 years depending on manufacturer, Does the service book mention this belt at all.

I presume that you have not owned this car since new.

If that is correct then you may find the belt has been changed early.

If you have owned it since new, then there is also something wrong with the warning system. This will need to be checked.

If the belt had been changed before then, your indicator should have been reset. Toyota used to supply with its belts, a sticked to put in the service book, so that you could work out the life to go, before replacement is due.

If you cannot establish the time when the belt was last changed, it would be folly not to do so now. A cambelt failure is a disaster, let alone if you away from home.

Can result in bent valves, holed pistons etc, not the sort of failure you need.

I would if in doubt reolace it NOW.

Regards

Col Tigwell

Similar with my 99 TD Jack - no mention of the need in the list service schedules for every 10k BUT it is referred to in general text on servicing. Says do it at 200k, or 120k IF the car does a lot of short cold trips OR has worked in lots of dusty conditions. 150k max sounds the go to me. Bit of a gamble - it won't be cheap, but the engine damage on belt failure would cause heart palpitations here !

Hi David

Timing belt changes for the 1KZte are 150000. I will probably not wait that long with mine which is currently at 123000 but never the less it is 150k with this engine.

Regards

Mark

G'day Tiger

I just looked up my warranty & service handbook & on page 34 it states that the timing belt should be changed every 150,000 km.
I have a 2001 3.0Ltr TD GXL Prado.

Safe travells

Jim-Bob.

Tiger,

As already stated 150K.
Fit genuine belt as you can get them for about $40. Just ask for the Trade Price

David

Further to the responses I suggest that you consider carrying out the cam belt (timing belt) change at 120,000 km (which is just about due anyway)

I also own a 2001 GXL Prado TD (from new) and I intend to change my cam belt at 120,000 km. (It has 95,000 km on the clock at present)

The reason being is that the Toyota Dealer only carries out major services every 40,000 km (regardless what in the service book says!). There is likely to be a good reason for this, so at 120,000 km when a major service is due the radiator coolant should be changed anyway, this would be a good opportunity to change the belt then.

The service book does suggest the belt be changed at 150,000km.

You'll need to re-position a screw on the back of the dash to de-activate the timing belt warning light which should come on at 150,000km.

Hope this helps you a little further

Tezzae

Hi David,
If Toyota recommend 150,000 why change it earlier. Just changed the belt on my 3lt Hilux at 145,000 (the light came on at 142,000). The belt that came off looked new, no sign of wear. The same can be said for the tensioner pully and idler pulley which I changed. The water pump (which I also changed) looked brand new, bright shiny alloy no sign of corrosion or bearing wear. I have been using Toyota red coolant.
Scooby

Hi David,
Your 1KZ motor is a different design to mine (5L) and I think easier to change the belt (I could be wrong here) I buy my parts at good prices from David at the 4WD shop on Gt Eastern Hwy.
He sells genuine and non genuine parts. I know he is north, compare prices you may find its worth the drive.
My mechanic did the job and I had the waterpump, tensioner pulley, idler pulley and front crankshaft seal changed while the front cover was off. I reset the timing light which involved removing part of the dash, removing the instrument cluster and moving a small screw on the back of the instruments from one hole to another. A bit fiddly trying to release the speedo cable but otherwise straight forward.
Scooby