Timing belt changing

Joined: 15 Oct 2007 Location: Brisbane, Queensland.

hey guys its time for me to change my timing belt lights come on i was wondering how long it should take a decent mechanic to complete it start to finish i no how much im looking at for the belt just not sure about the time envolved.
btw i have a 2l (2.4L diesel) its in a 1983 lux.

Joined: 29 Jun 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia

I would imagine changing the belt wouldn't be too hard.. it's the whole resetting the timing so that it's perfect that takes the time. You know.. making sure the valve doesn't open on a compression stroke smashing the valve in the cylinder kind of thing.

Joined: 21 May 2004 Location: Brisbane North

BENOLUX wrote:

hey guys its time for me to change my timing belt lights come on i was wondering how long it should take a decent mechanic to complete it start to finish i no how much im looking at for the belt just not sure about the time envolved.
btw i have a 2l (2.4L diesel) its in a 1983 lux.

Labour wise I reckon you'd be looking at around 2 to 2.5hrs if all you want is a timing belt change. Having said that you need to factor in the fact that the radiator and fan have to come out to do the belt so if your coolant is anything but perfect, expect a flush and new coolant (go for gen toyota coolant). Also factor in new drive belt/s by the same criteria as they have to come off too.

However, if you're looking at keep this vehicle for a while and want to do it the right way then while its apart I'd be replacing:

Camshaft Seal and Crankshaft Seal - will contaminate the belt if one of them leaks potentially leading to belt failure and bent valves.

Timing Belt Tensioner - bent valves if it seizes.

Timing Belt Idler - bent valves if it seizes.

Water Pump (unless you know its been done recently)

Also you might like to consider topping up the viscous fan fluid while its out (assuming the 2L runs a viscous hub like the 2L-T/E)and possibly getting the radiator professionally cleaned out if you don't know the history of it. If its an old radiator and you've been anything but completely anal about coolant and flushing it regularly, you will find the rad core will be partially blocked. Well worth doing these things while everything is out/apart, saves you labour/hassles in the future if at best you do a water pump or at worst destroy your motor.

I reckon if you decided to do the lot you'd be looking at around 4 to 4.5hrs. Shop around.

Joined: 29 Jun 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia

If it's so much of a risk running a belt, why did companies move away from chains?

Joined: 15 Oct 2007 Location: Brisbane, Queensland.

thanks guys got quoted today, 400 for the belt to be done including labour worst case which he said 4 hours, the radiator had a new core about 5000 ago and was flushed and the coolant is still like new so i hope they dont go changing that and worst case with 4 hours and a whole belt replacement and new pulleys seals and everything 600. so im pretty happy with that wat you all think

Joined: 07 Jul 2006 Location: Ipswich

craz3d wrote:

If it's so much of a risk running a belt, why did companies move away from chains?

To make more money but now there going back to chains and making money otherways

Joined: 21 May 2004 Location: Brisbane North

BENOLUX wrote:

thanks guys got quoted today, 400 for the belt to be done including labour worst case which he said 4 hours, the radiator had a new core about 5000 ago and was flushed and the coolant is still like new so i hope they dont go changing that and worst case with 4 hours and a whole belt replacement and new pulleys seals and everything 600. so im pretty happy with that wat you all think

Sounds fair, does it include a water pump? Just tell whoever is doing the job to drain the coolant and re-use it if its still new. They will probably charge you for new stuff if you don't ask.

Joined: 15 Oct 2007 Location: Brisbane, Queensland.

ok then thanks mate ill do that. coz yeh i blew the radiator a while back fan got the back of it through a deep water crossing. so the core got overhaul and rebuilt. and the whoel thing got flushed. the coolant looks brand new so ill get them to do that. and idk about the water pump if it is included in the gates kit then yes otherwise no i dont think it includes that ill have to ask and look it up now. He is going to use a gates kit for the pulleys and all the seals, ive heard they are really good kits and i will ask about the water pump. if the pump is rooted i might get him to change it too while it is all apart. thanks for all the help guys. im glad i didnt try this one i dont mind doing things on it but like some ppl have said if i bugger this one up i wont be going nowhere #Rofl

Joined: 21 May 2004 Location: Brisbane North

Yeah the water pump won't be in the kit. Yes the gas kits are pretty good. If you're interested there's a bloke on the surf forum (NiftyNev) who has a pretty well priced timing belt kit using qulity parts. Your mechanic might not like you supplying parts though? Like I said, if you don't know how old the wate pump is I'd be replacing it anyway. Thats just me. Bit of a prick of a job going back in there to do a water pump if it lets go in a few months. You should be able to get one for around the $100 mark. All depends on your wallet though. Good luck.

Edit: gates

Joined: 15 Oct 2007 Location: Brisbane, Queensland.

i might mention it to him and see wat he says about it ill get him to call me when he gets the the pump and see if he can tell me the condition of it and how much it is to replace through him. i no wat you mean by doing something then having it break down the track coz u missed it. thanks heaps for your help Ray. hopefully i wont have to take a loan out to pay for it HAHAHA will let you know how i go