Timing belt inspection

[ScharperEpic]

1999 Toyota Epic 21, 320 hours

I pulled the inspection cover to have a look at the timing belt. Overall it looks good and doesn't feel brittle. There is just this one slightly concerning spot. It looks very "surface" and not the whole way through the belt. I don't have a ton of experience inspecting timing belts though. Would you replace it? I don't know if it was ever done in 2009 at the 10 year mark but even if it was it is almost to the 20 year mark and would need to be replaced in a couple years anyway.

[HCollado]

Hum, those are surface crack. I would start considering replacing it soon. Good eye. I need to do this.

[EpicFOREVER99]

Do you run in saltwater?

[wakejunky]

No matter what the year any epic is or hours on the engine, you are on borrowed time at this point if the belt has never been replaced. Rubber start to deteriorate soon after its manufactured. Most timing belt are 90,000 miles or 10 years. Even if you have an 2002 model, your five years past due. Trust me you do not want to see the alternative to not changing it. 

[Capt Rick]

What is more important is seeing the white deposits on the pulleys. Indicating the water pump is leaking. After it leaks it fails one of the pulleys and cuts the timing belt. Then the piston hits the valves and I sell you a new engine. The issue is to prevent that by changing water pump and since the belt is removed then change that too.

Capt Rick

PS If the engine was ever run in salt water then it is very much needed to change water pump and belt.
PSS on my Lexus, I changed the timing belt at 98,000. It looks good as new but the water pump was leaking.
PSSS Ebay sells a usb camera probe with led scope you can see the water pump.

[ScarabEpic22]

Uh oh, I've neglected this on my 99 E22...maybe I'm swapping the WP and timing belt this year.

[tryme]

I did mine last year on my 99 E21.  belt looked really good but also thought if it let go it would be $$$$.  step by step instructions were spot on here.  my only problem was getting the crank pully off.  had to use an impact wrench and even then took a 5-6 times to get it to break loose.  heating it would help to.  mine finally broke lose when I was giving it my last try.  after that just getting the new belts lined up was the problem.  but the write up on here was great!!

[Rambling Wreck]

I had mine replaced about 2 years ago. I was nervous about it but my local marine mechanic loved the idea of working on the engine so this became the first, and only time so far, that I have had someone else do anything to my Epic 21. I referred him to the instructions on the site, which are great. The only issue he had was the crank pulley. His impact wrench wouldn't do it nor would the more powerful one he borrowed from a friend. Google to the rescue. I found a YouTube video where a guy used a cheater bar that extended the socket wrench to the frame then bumped the starter. Evidently a lot of torque produced! He said it worked like a charm.

The belt was in great shape but, as with others, the mechanic thought the water pump was on borrowed time. I just didn't see it as being the issue he did. I suspect he was trying to make me feel the project was justified! Regardless, I am glad I got it done. Not only did it gnaw at me as being overdue but now the clock has been reset.