Expensive

[shatto]

Mantainence costs on Toyota vehicles are supposed to be low, because nothing goes wrong or breaks. Right?

I planned and calculated, plotted and studied before I bought 'Clyde the Ride' and got a very good deal, so I thought I was "in like Flint."

Oops. Seems that, every ninety thousand miles there is a mandatory mantainence, and it is costly. One Large. One C-Note, a grand, one thousand bucks. Hurts even us rich guys. All to replace the timing belt. The parts are half the cost.

I won't do it myself because I lack a crankshaft pulley-puller, torque wrench, motivation and inclination and because the time it would take me is what it would cost a professional to do the job correctly. And I don't give a warranty.

Last vehicle I buy that uses timing belts.

[theholycow]

Why do any vehicles use timing belts? What is the advantage of a timing belt over a timing chain, besides (I assume) initial cost?

[bowtieguy]

Originally Posted by theholycow

Why do any vehicles use timing belts? What is the advantage of a timing belt over a timing chain, besides (I assume) initial cost?

i've often wondered this as well. the only reason(that's not reasonABLE imo) that i can think of, is the noise issue. a timing belt driven motor is said to run quieter.

[spotaneagle]

hehehehe

[GasSavers_BEEF]

my cavalier has a timing chain and I don't think it is that loud. I have heard that it makes quite a racket right before it snaps (other cavalier owners) which I would think would be an advantage. 195k and still the original chain.

[GasSavers_Erik]

I think it is probably cheaper for manufacturers to use a timing belt- timing belt covers are plastic (cheap to make and fit doesn't have to be perfect), while a timing chain requires a metal (tin or cast) cover that must fit well enough to keep the engine oil from leaking out.

Also timing belts give the dealer a way to make more $ for routine service.

And they ensure that they can sell more cars -who knows haw many old cars we'd still have on the road if ppl would stop neglecting their timing belts til they break and wreck the valves (on interference engines)

[R.I.D.E.]

Check to see if it is an interference engine (most Toyotas are not) and drive it until the belt breaks if it won't wreck the engine.

Get a decent aftermarket shop to replace the belt, and while you are in there replace the crank and cam seals as well as the tensioner.

regards
Gary

[GasSavers_Pete]

Originally Posted by theholycow

Why do any vehicles use timing belts? What is the advantage of a timing belt over a timing chain, besides (I assume) initial cost?

Design details make a difference but as a general rule;

Belts:
No lubrication needed
Quieter
Self dampening so no weird harmonic resonances
Lighter than chains - usually.

BUT:
Need more space (wider)
Don't take temp extremes well
Need a cleaner environment
Still need tensioner
Can take a "set" if held in one position for a long time.

Cheers , Pete.

[GasSavers_Pete]

Originally Posted by shatto

so I thought I was "in like Flint."

I thought the expression was "In like Flynn"...named after Errol Flynn who "never let a chance go by" as the old saying runs.

Pete.

[bobc455]

Just about every engine nowadays is an interference engine AFAIK.

Besides being quieter, timing belts help the knock sensor to be more sensitive (don't get me going on that one again).

In the old days, Buick used to use nylon-covered timing gears. However the nylon would eventually fall apart, causing all kinds of fun (such as plugging up the oil pickup and skipping a tooth, ask me how I know). Replacement units are steel.

-BC