Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi all, 2 weeks ago I became the proud owner of my 1st 4x4 a 96 nk gls. It has done 200,000k but never off road and looks very well maintained.

I've been glowing every day since but this afternoon 2ook in to our relationship it came to rest 'died'.

I have virtually no mechanical experience myself but perhaps you could advise me anyway. It had the water pump and timing belt replaced 3 months ago by a Toyota specialist in. Today after it came to a sudden stop I looked underneath. The crank shaft pulley bolt is all the way forward and the pulley is all loose (I can freely move and twist the pulley in several directions although the seal seems intact.) I guess the bolt has sheered or with any luck just come loose. Could this have resulted from a bad job by the mechanics who changed the Timing belt 3 months ago, or is it just one of those things? $$ I had no pre warning or sign that there was a problem.
Do you think I'm up for a new Crank? Hope you can give me some hope as I won't know the diagnosis till I hear back from the garage that it was towed to. (coincidentely the same repairer that changed the timing belt that may be responsible for the pulley bolt loosening)

Thanks for any input
Stephen.

Steve

The same happened to me - after a service the mechanic hasn't done up the crank bolt enough and the harmonic balancer has ridden forward and probably chewed off the locating dowel on the cam belt cog (not catastrophic). If you're lucky you'll be able to tighten it up, put the car in 4th gear with the hand brake on and tighten it up (really tight - about 180nm).

If it has died ie will crank over but not start then the cam belt cog has also ridden forward and smashed the crank angle sensor - and you'll be up for a sensor and a new cam cog (it has the sensor plate on the back)

If this has happened then i'd take it back and winge big time as it'll cost heaps $1000.00 maybe

To do it your self is possible if you're confident to do the cam timing - (not a novice job)

All this is assuming that we're talking about a v6 petrol...,

Ado

Hi Ado, Thanks for your response


The Totota garage just called me to say, yes, the crank bolt came loose but the reason was because the timing belt pin had sheered off. you post appears to suggest the order of things are different (assuming we are referring to the same pin). Sorry for my mechanical ignorance.

I;m not sure if they are trying to avoid responsibility. Anyway if they just changed the timing belt 3 months ago whats the likly hood of the timing belt pin sheering now. I wish I had more faith but don't want to get stung.

Hope you can shed some light on the subject. The Toyota dealership said they've found the part ( timing belt pin) for $145 and could go ahead with the job but the labor of course will mount up $$$.