1998 Camry V6 Timing Belt & Water Pump

According to the Gates Guide (

) your Camry has an interference engine. I would guess that the dealer replaced the timing belt when they replaced the water pump (in my opinion they should have). The Gates guide say that the timing belt should be replaced every 90,000 miles. According to the Toyota maintenance schedule, 90,000 miles is the replacement interval if the car is subjected to "Extensive Idling or Low-Speed Driving for Long Distances." The on-line maintenace schedule does not specify a routine replacement interval, but it also doesn't go past 120,000 miles. If the dealer replaced the timing belt when the water pump was replaced, then you are well within the recommended severe service replacement interval. If they did not replace the belt at that time, you are past the severve service replacement interval. If it was my car, I'd have it replaced as soon as it was convenient. Having the belt fail can be catastrophic.

If it breaks, it is likely there will be engine damage.

Good questions for your dealer. It it was my car, I'd buy the fluids at the Toyota dealer. You might want to look over the information available at

.

If the car is running well, why change brands?

Ed

cut a hole in cover. get a good look at timing belt. my 99 v6 camry has 160 k miles wife's 99 v6 camry had 120 k miles bought both new let the force be with you

That engine should be non-interference. The old Gates catalog had it correct.

You should replace the timing belt at 90K miles if you pay a mechanic to do it. For those who do our own work, 5yr/60K miles is better. By

50-60K miles the idlers start to dry up and the belt may start to stretch and the oil seals and water pump start to seep, not to mention the rear bank valve cover gasket leaks onto the PS pump, making people think the PS pump's gone bad. That's why I say OEM parts for the timing job offer no real advantage except to lighten the wallet.

Yes, do replace the water pump when you have the cover off. Ask for a "package deal" that includes the following items. Should be around $700-800 at the dealer. I prefer Gates belts and hoses, IMO best in class. Do use Toyota coolant with distilled water.

Also time to change plugs, check out the NGK Iridium-IX or Laser Iridium. Good stuff.

I'd replace parts like the following (older prices from

GATES TCK257 timing component kit $89.79 FEL-PRO TCS45890 crank seal $6.27 FEL-PRO TCS45889 cam seal set $8.55 GATES K060410 Alt/AC belt $13.09 GATES K040345 PS belt $8.61 ASCO/AISIN Part # 1610029085 water pump $61.79 (I use Airtex pumps from the local NAPA store) Total ~$188 + shipping

If needed: FEL-PRO VS50471R valve cover set (with spark plug tube seals) $30.79

As far as the ATF and strainer go, I would drop the pan and clean off the black metal sludge on the bottom. Clean and replace the magnets at the correct places without blocking the strainer opening. The strainer catches metal flakes and can't be effectively cleaned with compressed air as some suggest, so replace the strainer and gasket with a Fram ATF kit for about USD$20. Measure the amount of ATF you drain out and refill to the correct level.

Yes, drain and refill the differential as well. That year of Aisin transmission the filler tube should fill both the tranny and differential (at least in the US) with GM Dexron II/III.

Are you saying that the current Gates Guide (see

) is wrong? It indicates that the 1998 Camry V-6 is an interference engine. Ed

I think it is. Because the old catalog says it's non-interference. I think 1MZFE only went interference in the post-2002 generation where it also got VVT. The catalog was from some out sourced company that supplied the data.

The 99 Camry 6 cyl. is_non-interference. Period.

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