Timing belt issue...

[Bighead]

Well, I took my 4Runner to the dealership yesterday to get my water pump and timing belt replaced. Late yesterday afternoon while I was driving the wife's Cruiser down the pass I received a call from the dealership saying a problem came up while the tech was doing a test drive. He said he drove a loop around the area at low speed and said everything felt and sounded fine. On his second pass where he decided to romp on it a bit he heard a bad sound and the engine did not sound right. He drove it back to the dealership, pulled the cover and found that a bolt associated with the timing belt tensioner had snapped and the tensioner itself had come apart. He said he didn't take it off or mess with the bolt while he was doing the install.

My question is this...has anybody heard of this happening before? They said some of the other techs had seen it before but it was rare. To me that sounds like someone covering their ass but I am not sure. They will check the other pulleys to make sure they are okay and if there is any doubt to replace them along with the tensioner.

Any thoughts?

[YotaFun]

That sounds like BS to me.
How many miles on the truck?

Also, iirc, aren't the tensionor suppose to be replaced along with the belt and pump...

Some techs at dealers these days are stupid.

I have heard horror stories of techs forgetting to tighten down the crank pulley and it came off while they were leaving the bay and destroyed the radiator and such...

Just my .02

[Bighead]

87,500 miles on the 2001 4Runner. According to the FSM it's supposed to be inspected and replaced if needed...that's why his comment about not touching it didn't ring true. I am not happy right now.

[MillerPKA]

From what you've told us I'd say they're trying to cover their asses. Is this your first time doing your timing belts...or otherwise fiddling with the tensioner assembly? If so you can check the bolt head and see if there are teeth marks or any such indicators of being messed with, which should be apparent if its never been loosened.

Either way, it's too rare of a coincidence for a problem as significant as this to arise while at a dealership. That's just my opinion though

[DHC6twinotter]

That sounds like BS to me.

Also, iirc, aren't the tensionor suppose to be replaced along with the belt and pump...


That's what I thought too.

It seems like more than just coincidence that an old tensioner would decide to fall appart right after somebody just put a t-belt on it. Doesn't sound right to me. :headscratch:

[20005spd]

that sux, i would be very skeptical. BUT at the same time, i worked at a dealer and i know that shit just flat out fails and its never good timing.

so is your motor junk? these are interference motors IIRC

[CJM]

Fight it, they screwed up period.

[Bighead]

First time on the timing belt. It's a non-interference engine so I am not too concerned that there will be any more damage than the newly trashed timing belt and tensioner. They are checking everything else (idler and crank pulley, ...) and hopefully everything else will be good. They are making good on the additional costs for the repairs.

[YotaFun]

Its good that they are making good on it.

I already plan yo replace the idlers and such when I do my timing belt and water pump.
Its is an aggravation though, and that time that tech doesn't get paid for.
This is why you check everything :D