How much longer can I go without replacing my timing belt?

It should of been done at 90k all so change the water pump and the hoses as well the belts.

That's unlike a regular belt that shows wear. It will break with no warning and when it does your engine will stop within 1 second. Possibly with a valve embedded in the cylinder .... that's the definition of "Boat Anchor"

Yesterday we test drove at a dealer a 2005 Highlander with about 125,000 miles, the dealer just replaced the timing belt. Extensive CarFax maintenance report, one owner.. I will of course have the car checked by a mechanic. I am trying to forecast cost of ownership of this car over the next 5 years, driving about 7,000 miles a year primarily local. Need advice whether these Highlander models with so many miles are values, (price is ballpark $10K). I don't want the larger models post-2008, and we also drove a used Venza ($ 20K) and a used RAV4 V6 (21K) last week.

I have about 200,000 miles on my 05 highlander. Only had to replace the alternator

Is it 4 cylinder engine or a 6? The 2005 4 cyl Highlander has a timing chain, not a timing belt. Timing chains are rated for much longer life than the belt, which is on the 6 cyl engines. 4's are rare. You probably have a 6, but you know which you have. Check http://www.toyotaarlington.com/blog/2015/12/30/does-my- toyota-have-a-timing-belt-or-a-timing-chain/

Just to be safe I like to change mine at every oil change. I drive mostly highway and use fully synthetic Royal Purple engine oil with a K&N filter so I only change my oil about every 5,000 miles.

Yaris_10885 above must be referring to a serpentine/fan belt....not a timing belt!

I had my timing belt replaced on my 2007 Highlander when it had 94,000 miles. The replacement timing belt just broke yesterday at 154,000 miles so it obviously did not make it another 90,000 on this second timing belt. I wonder if it common for the timing belt to break sooner with older cars?

Please consider that an engine with 150k probably has more internal friction than a new engine .. so the belt works harder. .. Just my thoughts but to me it makes sense

140k and will be my first timing belt replacement for 2002 Highlander.

you're at least 40,000 mi on borrowed time

Manual on V6 calls for timing belt to be replaced at 90K. I did mine at 100K along with water pump (which is a bear to get to). Subsequent timing belt changes should occur every 100K thereafter, because of age and possible degradation of the Kevlar belt. Realistically, anybody who brags they've only changed oil or alternator on a vehicle with 200K miles is lucky and not wise.

Getting mine done at 135k. While at it I am getting the water pump taken care of it too. Why pay the same labor for both the belt and pump as they are around the same location and will cost me the same labor if I had to replace the pump separately.

205,000 miles on a 2003 V6. The timing belt has never been replaced.

is it necessary to replace pulleys and tensioner when the timing belt and water pump are replaced. Some mechanics say yes and other say no, confused.

Do the tensioner and the idler wheels! If they fail the whole thing fails!

The mechanic said he could check them when he replaces the timing belt and tell if they need to be replaced or not and if they look fine he say they will not need to be done at this timing belt change. 100,000 miles 2006 Toyota Highlander 6 cylinder gas

Saving a couple of dollars on an idler wheel is going to seem really stupid if your $5,000 engine fails!

Should the camshaft seals be replaced when changing timing belt or just checked, some say to replace some say no. Still trying to come up with money for waterpump/timing belt lit but in the Aisin kit I think the seals are included

The Toyota dealership says my water pump and timing belt on a 2008 Toyota Hylander Hybrid with 75,000 miles need to both be replaced. I am seeking another opinion from another shop. There is nothing leaking on the floor of my garage. What do you think?

I have a 4 cylinder 2007 highlander with a timing chain, i know stronger than the belts, but wondering if anyone knew recommended mileage for change out is?

@Lorna2017. 2008 has a chain, not a belt. chains last much longer than belts, around 200k miles

I replaced the timing belt and water pump on my '06 Highlander Hybrid at 96,000 because the water pump was leaking. Timing belt and water pump should always be replaced due to the significant labor cost of tearing down the front end of the engine to replace each separately. Replace the tensioner and idler wheels as well for the same reason and they don't increase the cost that much. With all these components done, you don't have to worry too much about a breakdown. It's funny, recommended Toyota maintenance says "inspect" timing belt every 15,000 miles beginning at 60,000. How do you "inspect" the belt when it is enclosed? So they just assume it needs changing every 75,000 miles. Not a bad idea but it could last longer.

I have an 2008 highlander hybrid with the 3.3 motor. I have owned it since it had 50 k miles it now has 225,000 miles. I have never replaced the timing belt. I would not suggest that but I am testing it at this point. I have not done anything to the engine of this car no plugs wires sensors nothing but oil changes and a k&n air filter. Have replaced tires and breaks several times and both rear wheel bearings after 200,000 they were making noise. That is all it has ever needed This is one of the best cars I have ever owned

Yes, great car but replace timing belt now. I also have a 2008 HH. Repair costs after belt breakage very high.

I just had water pump and v-ribbed belt replaced for 2008 Highlander. I was told this model year does not have a timing belt but is made of metal part instead. I was told not to replace it because it should last a very very long time. I would go to a Toyota dealership to find out what type of you have according to year of your car. I have 120,000 miles on the car. The cost to do the work with a 10% discount was $837. The work was done at a Toyota dealership in VA.

I have a 01 highlander 3.0 with 190000 and its ready for a new belt. I have to mention my 05 sienna i bought new with 3.3 v6 still going with 381000 on original belt, thinking of changing it for sentimental reasons, i would hate to see it break after such increadible service to my family. Its our spare now but hoping to get a half a million out of it.

That's alot of miles guru. You got lucky there. I changed my original around 180k. The problem is it can break anytime, you would be stuck on road, and have an engine that is destroyed if the valves hit the pistons. I would advise to replace everything that comes in the Aisin timing belt kit along with thermostat and the o ring, both cam seals, crank seal, both accessory belts if never replaced, pcv valve, spark plugs, coils, both vc gaskets. and for the love of god flush all fluids if never done. You dont have to do all that at once as if your not doing it yourself the cost will be in the thousands. But just to keep in mind if you would like to go half a million or more.

The Toyota engineers who designed the engine recommend replacing the timing belt every 90k miles. You might get 200k before it breaks. Problem is, there's no way to inspect the belt to see if it needs to be replaced. If it breaks, it breaks without warning, and it almost always causes catastrophic damage to the engine. So, why take the risk. Just change it when they recommend, otherwise, you're taking a gamble and you're on borrowed time.

Depends on whether it's an interference engine or not. If it's non-interference, just tow the car, replace the belt, and carry on.

Have a 2006 V6 Highlander, bought it with 120K on it. Now has 300K on it, still going strong. I owned the vehicle for over 8 years now. Will be changing the belts soon.

Amazing how people ignore a vehicles most significant maintenence procedures and still expect the car to run tomorrow. Geeez! As a retired US autoworker I'll just say car makers recommend 100k mile timing belt changes because studies show "on average" a belt reaches the end of its life span by then. True' many belts have lasted much longer but the fact remains many belts simply have not. Most importantly many but not all engines are "Interference" design. So if your engine is an Interference design and your timing belt breaks it destroys the engine instantly costing you thousands of dollars. Now depending on the year & which engine your Highlander has, it could have a timing chain or a timing belt so owners should understand what they own before its too late. Belts should in fact be changed near 100k and chains fail anytime after 150k. Timing chain makers actually state less fwiw. One can just ignore a chain/belt on any "non- interferance" engine because non-interferance engines aren't damaged if a chain or belt breaks. You just pay a tow bill & replace it after they break. But again' make very sure you know what you have before ignoring it. In the long run timing chains cost owners significantly more to replace than a belt setup will due to the cost of buying gears too and yes you always replace chains & gears together as they're designed as a set. Personally after seeing & reading about so many china aftermarket pumps & belts failing within just 30k miles I strongly suggest buying Aisin brand timing kits whenever ones available. Aisin is the maker of the OEM Toyota kits btw. Several Gates pumps/tensioners I installed have failed way early. Their belts are top notch I just no longer trust their timing belt kits over cheap grade hard parts they supply. Fwiw- For those who believe they changed their timing belt in 15 minutes you only changed your serpentine belt for the power steering/altenator etc.. Hint: You cannot see your timing belt/chain as its rather hidden internally. Never gamble on a timing belt my friends because a very high number of belts never make it past 100k. People mention their old belt still appears new a lot. Understand its stretched out of spec not long after 100k miles so the length of new vs old belts differs. One cannot see this happening unless an engine is running but chances are your old belt is about to fall off its pulleys because its so stretched. Once the hyd tensioner that keeps a belt tight reaches its limit & your RPM raises/lowers, your stretched belt slips off and your engine is trash! This is how most belts fail, trust me its stretched out not torn or worn out! Btw- Change that hyd tensioner Every Time too!! Ive seen several seized at 100k, mainly vehicles from high salt areas but I saw enough to change them out each time not every other time. Saving $50 is not worth losing an engine over. Sorry long, hope it helps? Peace