Ok, I only ask because I've heard different stories and need a definitive answer.

So i got a nasty clank last night, car running just fine, just noisy. Popped the top cam cover off and saw there was little tension on the belt. Its some what tight, but not hard. Seems the tensioner is holding it, just not tight.

Question.

Due to the high compression, we've had the discussions many times that if the belt goes out, valve slap and catastrophic failure to the valve train will happen. Well... A member once posted a video (that I cant find) which showed he had removed the timing belt and went nuts on it and showed there was absolutely no slap. So whats the truth? Does anybody have an absolute definitive answer?

Now the reason for question. I asked a close friend of mine and mechanic of 30+ years if its ok to drive, or should I just say naw and wait till the parts come in. He said, well.. As long as you don't drop RPM's quickly, you should be alright. Basically stating, drive like a grand ma. His thesis? The act of revving high then allowing the RPM's to drop quickly (basically flooring it then letting off) would easily cause the timing belt to jump a tooth and make a mess. Now if I recall correctly, he said the noise is coming from a bad bearing on the tensioner pulley. But I swear I could hear the sound up top. I may have heard him wrong, he has a hard Cambodian accent. But it would make sense since theres still some tension when off which means when running, its just not holding it. Anyways...

So hearing both these stories, what are your opinions? I need this car for work and don't to use the blap blap blap car for a daily


thanks.

 

It would be safe not to drive the car until you get the parts replaces, if the if idler bearing falls apart while running it could cause you T belt to slip causing damage.
I think this is what you are looking for.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...ht=timing+belt
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...ht=timing+belt
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/per...ht=bent+valves

 

Yea, thats what I figured... So how about that ONE member who posted a video of them clearing? Was it a one in a million? I suppose the experience of many outweighs the experience of the few. But now my issues with closure take over. How did that guy clear HIS valves?

 

Do you have a 300 or 400?

The 300 is non interference unless head/block work has been done or the cams have been changed. However I do not recommend driving the car with the tensioner arm broken.

 

Its the 300

 

OK. If everything is stock you should be fine. Now let me caveat that by saying if the bracket gave away at high revs it may be a different story. But for all intense and purposes you should be fine. Get a billet piece from Titan or any company that you trust and also replace the belt. If its been some time since the last belt change do the accompanying seals etc.

 

Whether its a 6 or 8 cyl ,if i hear and abnormal sound from my car engine /timing belt area im not driving until its corrected. Better safe than sorry.

 

Yea I decided to be safe. Not worth it since other than minor leaks, the engine is still mint! I WAS gonna drive it, but again, said naw! I got the whole replacement kit with seals, now just waiting on delivery.

 

VVTI GE is interference.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...ce-engine.html
I would not advise driving like this.
Are you sure it is not the hydraulic tensioner that gave? Doubt Stock GE makes enough power for the pulley to give.

 

Thats really good to know. For years I too have been told I that the 2JZGE VVT-i is NOT an interference motor. I have had first hand experience with a timing belt breaking on a 3UZ-FE. This was long before I was even informed about the topic of valve interference. Long story short, the belt broke, the valves were bent, I had to get the heads rebuilt.

As for the OPs situation, I simply wouldnt drive the vehicle because the timing belt and anything the timing touches are critical pieces to the motor and should be taken seriously.

 

Yes its the hydraulic. I misspoke. However I'm confused by your statement that its IS interference when that link shows the video that I was speaking about clearly showing NO interference

 

Non VVti 2JZ motors are non interference, all VVti 2JZ motors are interference design.

 

Someone else clarified the post of the video. It's for a 1JZ-GTE, not 2JZGE.

Tensioner is easy to replace if you can get under the car. Or take the bottom alternator bolt out and move the alt to the left for clearance. Check timing and best of luck.

 

Yea, it was clarified after you posted the link.. thanks


Car's under the knife now. Thanks for all your responses.

MODS, please close.