Timing Belt Warning Light

[sellit99 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sellit99]

Just looking for some advice please. My 2008 diesel has just kicked over 150,000km and the light came on. Trouble is I am 1500km from home. How urgent is it to change the belt? Can I wait until I get back to Sydney?

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

It can wait. Not urgent.

[ratsack Member Find all posts View Profile Close ratsack]

Check the condition of the belt. If it looks fine, I wouldn't stress about it that much. It's more of a PM part then anything. Would probably last 200,000km but then you'd be taking a chance.

[iantz Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close iantz]

Check the condition of the belt. If it looks fine, I wouldn't stress about it that much. It's more of a PM part then anything. Would probably last 200,000km but then you'd be taking a chance.

And how would one do this exactly??? This is a timing belt we're talking about. It is not visible, and if you're going to go to the effort of pulling things apart to check it, then just replace it. Also, do your tensioner and water pump at the same time as a preventative measure.

Regards the light, I drove 15,000km on a timing belt light. No problems at all. Change it when you get back some time.

[Gramps Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Gramps]

My light came on whilst at Apollo Bay on Saturday. Have travelled all the way back to Adelaide and have the car booked in for 2 weeks time. Not cheap but can't see any problems with waiting till you get back.

[ratsack Member Find all posts View Profile Close ratsack]

And how would one do this exactly??? This is a timing belt we're talking about. It is not visible, and if you're going to go to the effort of pulling things apart to check it, then just replace it. Also, do your tensioner and water pump at the same time as a preventative measure.

Regards the light, I drove 15,000km on a timing belt light. No problems at all. Change it when you get back some time.

Isn't the belt at the front of the engine, right in sight? Or am I missing something? Is it a chain that can't be seen? I don't own a diesel so I don't know?

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

On the D4D the timing belt is behind a cover behind the other belts. Only superman can check it without much effort and fancy words. I believe he is busy at the moment so can't help.

PS: good advice about the water pump. Changing one of those is almost as much work as the belt.

[Jester Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jester]

changing the belt is easy takes me about 30 min to change.......just make sure you you don't pull the pin out of the tensioner before you bolt it on :P

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

changing the belt is easy takes me about 30 min to change.......just make sure you you don't pull the pin out of the tensioner before you bolt it on :P

30 minutes? That would be a world record. It would take me that long to assemble the tools.

[sellit99 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sellit99]

Ok thanks guys. Back home now ready to get belt changed. How much should it cost?

[iantz Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close iantz]

Dayco belt + memory cost around $160 from memory, water pump was $150 - $200, and labour was @ 2 hours. You also need new coolant. I reckon 600 - 700 all up.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Ok guys, timing belts can be a real pr!ck. BUT

But on this engine it's about as easy as it gets, so don't be fooled into paying a lot. 30mins is easily do-able, I take longer as I don't rush jobs & take care to check components.

There is no chain.

The light is reset, from the dashboard, you can set it to whatever klms you want, so don't think it pops up when it's worn or cracked.
IMO these belts would last longer, however the interval is 150,000klms.
@ 300k you may as well replace the tensioner as well, the gates tensioner from Repco is an NTN same as genuine only half the price.

Change the waterpump at 300k as well if it made it there.
Not a hard one either. Use genuine $160. I suggest you don't use the back & save all the unnecessary extra work if it doesn't need it.
The rear part is supplied with Toyota & some other suppliers incase it is corroded, but likely is like new if you have you Toyota red cordial in there.

Ian is pretty much on the money (total) with belt, tensioner, coolant, pump.
I do the hose from header tank that goes down to the bottom it runs under the fan shroud.
They are only $20 from Toyo & would be a prick if it let you down out bush.

Just a belt supplied & fitted should only be $200-300. Gates brand for example.


The marks are on the belt, but you have to carefully remove & reset the tensioner, don't stuff it.

D.I.Y note: easy job but if you stuff it up it could cost you thousands.

[Gramps Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Gramps]

Mine goes in this Friday.

$650 for belt, water pump (not back plate) and labour. I wouldn't have minded trying this myself, but if I stuff it in any way it would end up costing me big time.
I'm not taking it back to Toyota for this, so it will be interesting to see if the mechanic knows how to reset the light.

[prado2004 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado2004]

my car is a 2004 also, however has only done 112000kms. Do I wait until 150k or do it earlier as the car is now 10 years old? and should i do water pump and tensioner as well?

[t303 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close t303]

9 years is the calender life of the belt, pump could wait until the second (no disaster if it leaks), but I always change the tensioner because if it lets go you will probably destroy the engine. $90 insurance policy.