Avensis Timing Belt/chain

[Dennis S]

Hi, can anyone tell me whether my Avensis 1.8 GS petrol saloon has a timing belt or timing chain ? The engine is a 1762 7A-FE and the year of manufactor is 2000. Thanks.

[Gooli]

It is belt driven.

[Konrad C]

Gooli,

That could not be any more clear. The 7AFE is belt driven.

As an owner of one, it is on it's third belt (changed 3 years ago at 85k miles) even though the period is longer.

I answered a similar query for a vvti owner, who received the wrong answer! I had to jump in to correct.

Dennis, now you know.

[Dennis S]

It is belt driven.

Thanks Gooli, the car is due a service and I wanted them to change the belt but they insist it is a chain so now I can tell them they are wrong. Thanks again, Dennis.

[Dennis S]

Gooli,

That could not be any more clear. The 7AFE is belt driven.

As an owner of one, it is on it's third belt (changed 3 years ago at 85k miles) even though the period is longer.

I answered a similar query for a vvti owner, who received the wrong answer! I had to jump in to correct.

Dennis, now you know.

Yes, thanks 'Konrad C' its great to know the truth, a different garage charged me for changing the belt at 134,000 miles but when my present garage said I didn't need to change it I did wonder if I'd been conned by the other garage but it seems I wasn't which is a relief. My car has now done 206,000 miles so is overdue, better get it done I guess ! Thanks for your reply. Dennis.

[Gooli]

206,000 miles (331500 km)is a very looooooong ride.

The 7A-FE must be bulletproof :)

[Druid Boy]

If the belt is being changed prepare yourself for some extra costs such as water pump, oil pump and belt tensioner etc (whichever components are run from the belt). Its them siezing that snaps the belt. The belts are cheap, the rest can cost a packet - but need done.

[Konrad C]

When I inspected the old belt, it was in mint condition, unlike one I changed from a Cavalier that had a tear/crack - caught that just in time.

The water pump is driven by a seperate belt, unlike the Vauxhall which I had to change at the same time - it was leaking.

Other good points about the 7AFE is that the engine is a non-interference engine - no or less chance of damage if belt breaks, the belt has an easy run which means less stress compared to other cambelt systems - it only has the crank and cam pulleys, plus the tensioner to go around.

Overall I think the 7AFE is a good design.

[headhurts]

It is belt driven.

Thanks Gooli, the car is due a service and I wanted them to change the belt but they insist it is a chain so now I can tell them they are wrong. Thanks again, Dennis.

And find a garage that knows what it is doing, I would be concerned having found out they do not know the difference between the engines.