2000 Avalon Timing Belt - Miles or Years?
Asked by EileenMS55 Feb 19, 2014 at 07:52 PM about the 2000 Toyota Avalon XL
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
My 2000 Avalon has only 44,000 original miles. The schedule says to change the timing belt at 90,000 mi. My mechanic is saying 90,000 miles or 8 years. Since it's 14 years old should I replace the timing belt at only 44,000 miles?
3 Answers
your mechanic is correct- the belt can get cracks in it over time from getting old (think of an old rubber hose) and if that belt fails, the fix is typically very expensive (bent valves, etc.). Would you rather spend a little now or a lot later?
The 2000 Avalon 3 Liter v-6 engine has a free spinning engine. If the belt break, no damage done. The belt can go well past 90,000 miles as the 2004 Avalon that I used to own has lasted. If the car is mostly a city car, then maybe 90,000 miles is time to buy a timing belt kit..If it's a highway car, the belt could last much much longer. The timing belt replacement kit with tensioner and water pump is inexpensive. A good shade tree mechanic can do it in about an hour, not counting going to the parts store.
This is only anecdotal of course but enough anecdotal examples eventually make a statistic. I inherited a 2002 Avalon with 31,000 miles in 2018. Neither the timing belt or drive belt were ever replaced. Toyota recommends 90,000 miles or six years for the timing belt and no recommended interval for the drive belt. Aafter 17 years both belts were still functioning.
