who has changed the timing belt instead of taking it to a mechanic? i know that i can get the job done but just need to know if there are any special tools..like for the tensioner pulley. can anyone help me out? i'm also looking for some directions which are not a necessity but would help. i will probably end up changing the water pump as well. thanks for any help you can give me.

 

i haven't done it myself but if you've done the timing belt on another car, it's not too difficult IMO.
I think there is a diagram somewhere in the engine of the belt.....the order is: crankshaft, water pump, camshaft (left), Idler (#2), Camshaft (right), Idler (#1).
For the camshaft pulley you might need a different wrench. I've never gone down there i don't know.
cylinder1 is TopDeadCenter on 1mzfe.

 

Here are instructions for the timing belt replacement.

 

cool...that's exactly what i have been looking for. thanks...does anyone know about any tools i need to order to do this? do i probably need to buy a new tensioner pulley?

 

Toyota indicates those SST (Specific Shop Tool?) part numbers from that link, but you can probably figure out which one is needed. You may not necessarily need a new tensioner pulley, as long as you don't damage it while servicing it. I believe it even tells you how to clean it too. It seems like the hardest part is taking the crankshaft off.

 

couple more questions.....does anyone have the part numbers for these parts so i can get them from toyota? should i also replace the cam seals and crank seal?...not sure how difficult this would be. and in the directions it says to remove the camshaft timing pulleys...why do you have to remove the pulleys to change the timing belt? i thought that after taking off the idler and tensioner the belt would come off...ah crap...i'm close to thinking i might not be up for this job....

 

I don't think you need to take the camshaft pulleys off unless the teeth are damaged. The instructions just indicate how to take them off since they're in the same area under the timing belt cover. I wouldn't take them off, but just make sure the timing marks are pointed up, indicating TDC, as well as other timing marks.

 

Do these engine have the valve inteference design? If they do, you need to turn the engine over several times by hand to insure that the valves are not hitting the pistons before you attempt to start it.

 

AFAIK, all of the 1MZ-FE WITHOUT VVTi engines are non-inteference types, whereas ones with them, as well as the new 3.3L are interference types.