Timing Belt & Tensioner Service

The 1FZ-FE is an interference engine, meaning if the timing belt snaps, the pistons hit the valves and the engine is toast. Toyota recommends replacement every 90,000 miles. With no records of when it was last done, I wasn’t going to gamble.

What I Replaced

• Timing belt — New OEM-spec belt
• Hydraulic tensioner — These can leak over time and lose pressure, causing belt slack
• Idler pulleys — Both idlers replaced with new bearings
• Water pump — Done at the same time since it’s behind the timing cover anyway

This is one of those jobs where you do it right once and don’t think about it for another 90,000 miles.