Question About Cam Belt Replacement

[ADGabe]

Hi Guys,

Can anyone help me with your views and experience on this topic?

My RAV4 is S reg (1999), and has done just over 60,000 miles. Very low mileage.

Took for a full service today and the garage could not find anything which needed attention during the service, but told me that I need to start thinking about a cam belt replacement as it is supposed to be done every 5 years or 60,000 miles.

I will have a rummage through my receipts as I cannot recall whether I have had it done (though I suspect I'd remember it!) or whether it was done by the previous owner.

But what struck me as odd was that when I asked the garage whether they could not tell whether the cam belt actually needed replacing, they said they cannot tell by looking at it. Is that right?

Also, I am a bit worried now as I cannot have it done until early June and am dreading some sort of catastrophic engine failure if I do not get it done immediately.

Your thoughts and experiences on this are much appreciated.

ADGabe

[redlew]

Welcome

If you put cambelt into the search box on the same row as forums above, you will find numerous threads. Basically I think you are on borrowed time.

[Big Kev]

Hello ADG, and welcome to our Maison de Giggles,

They are not fibbing when they say they can't tell if it's perished/withered/ready to snap whilst it's on your car....it would need removing and "reversing back" on itsef to check for cracking, but even at that could go on for a good while yet.

If you can't deffo say that it has been done, it will certainly be somewhat weathered by 12 years of use, so safer to replace....BUT...do you not have a local independent whom you could trust to do it...? After all, you are slightly out of Toyota warranty, non...?

Big Kev

[bothwell_buyer]

Hello ADG, and welcome to our Maison de Giggles,

They are not fibbing when they say they can't tell if it's perished/withered/ready to snap whilst it's on your car....it would need removing and "reversing back" on itsef to check for cracking, but even at that could go on for a good while yet.

If you can't deffo say that it has been done, it will certainly be somewhat weathered by 12 years of use, so safer to replace....BUT...do you not have a local independent whom you could trust to do it...? After all, you are slightly out of Toyota warranty, non...?

Big Kev

One has to respect a man who admits to being somewhat lacking when it comes to reversing anything ( word as above). :lol:

However, best to get the belt changed when you can arrange it as said.

[Big Kev]

Hello ADG, and welcome to our Maison de Giggles,

They are not fibbing when they say they can't tell if it's perished/withered/ready to snap whilst it's on your car....it would need removing and "reversing back" on itsef to check for cracking, but even at that could go on for a good while yet.

If you can't deffo say that it has been done, it will certainly be somewhat weathered by 12 years of use, so safer to replace....BUT...do you not have a local independent whom you could trust to do it...? After all, you are slightly out of Toyota warranty, non...?

Big Kev

One has to respect a man who admits to being somewhat lacking when it comes to reversing anything ( word as above). :lol:

However, best to get the belt changed when you can arrange it as said.

Harsh but fair....

Beep Beep

[ADGabe]

Thanks, guys!

Yeah, I have pretty much resigned to the fact it has to be done, and it will be!

I've looked at the service history and it definitely seems not to have been done. I am at 60.300 miles right now (old but a baby under the bonet ) and the service manual says 63.000 for a change on the belt. I supposed that 5 years or 63.000 leaves me at 63.000, as the car has done so much less than the average mileage.

I did go to an independent garage, and on that note I'd rather not share my thoughts on car dealerships

@ Big Kev - Maison de Giggles, huh?

Thanks again, and for the warm welcome too!

ADG

[redlew]

I think you will find it is the earliest of 5 years or 60k. If you are intending keeping the car, I'd advise you get it done asap rather than the law of sod operating.

[ADGabe]

I think you will find it is the earliest of 5 years or 60k. If you are intending keeping the car, I'd advise you get it done asap rather than the law of sod operating.

Thanks, redlew!

Booking it in for Thursday. I dread getting into the car now! But if it is whichever the earliest I suspect it would have been done by now, as when I bought it it was 7 years old already, and I suspect if it had not been done I would have had to replace the engine by now!!!

But I am not taking any chances. At least I will *know* it has now been done and this car has to last me another 5 years.

ADG