Hi all...
I recently (4 days ago) bought a 1994 4x4 with a 22RE and a 5 speed. It has 85,000 miles on it.
The previous owner saved all the oil change receipts (actually he had it on some service plan with a local Sears Automotive Center--got the oil changed, 4WD components lubed, tires rotated, etc. regularly) and claims to have babied it. It seems to run very well (I took it on a road trip this weekend of 500 miles and it performed flawlessly) and the body is immaculate, so I tend to believe him.
There is, however, some light tapping (sounds like typical valve tapping) coming from somewhere in the engine. Haven't had a chance to pinpoint it yet.
In looking at the Google news archives, it seems this sound is probably either the valves, the fuel injectors, or the possibly the timing chain. It's probably nothing, but it got me thinking about replacing the timing chain.
My previous vehicles all had timing belts which were to be replaced at very distinct intervals, but I can't seem to find any consensus on when to replace the timing chain on the 22RE.
The kit doesn't cost that much, and I don't mind spending a Sunday working on my truck, so I am thinking of just replacing it now to be safe. What do you guys think? Should I replace it? How can I tell if it really needs to be replaced (any way to do it without taking stuff apart and actually looking at it)?
Also, from what I've read, it seems that it is actually the plastic guides that tend to fail and not the chain itself. Are there metal guides that can be used to replace the plastic ones? If so, is it worth using them instead?
Also, anyone know where I can get a shop manual for this truck (the actual Toyota Service Manual--not Haynes or Chilton)?
Any other tips for a new used Toyota owner?
Thanks much.
Stan