Toyota Land Cruiser: 1HZ timing belt, tensioner and water pump replacement overdue (interference: yes)
1HZ timing belt, tensioner and water pump replacement overdue (interference: yes) is a common engine fault on the Toyota Land Cruiser on the 1990–2007 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $600 to $1,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 42 documented faults on the Toyota Land Cruiser.
- Vehicle
- Toyota Land Cruiser
- Engine
- 1HZ
- Years
- 1990–2007
- Fuel
- diesel
- System
- Engine
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
The 4.2 litre 1HZ diesel drives its single camshaft with a rubber timing belt; the crank and injection pump run through gears in the front case, but there is no timing chain. Toyota's interval is 100,000 km, and Land Cruiser mechanics warn that a snapped or wrongly fitted 1HZ belt lets the valves hit the pistons and ruins the engine, so treat it as an interference engine. The kit normally includes the tensioner, cam, crank and pump seals, and most owners fit a water pump in the same job.
What you would notice
- No record of a belt change in the last 100,000 km or 5 to 6 years
- Oil weeping from the front of the engine behind the timing cover (cam or crank seal)
- Squeal or ticking from the front of the engine at idle
How to check it
Where to look. Front of the engine behind the timing belt cover
Ask for invoices showing the timing belt kit with date and odometer reading; many owners also write the date on the timing cover or stick a label on the radiator support, so look with a phone torch.
Look under the front of the engine for oil drips from the cam or crank seals, which contaminate the belt.
Listen at idle for squealing or ticking from the timing cover.
If a workshop inspection is possible: remove the top timing cover to inspect the belt for cracks, glazing and oil contamination and check the tensioner.
What it costs to put right
$600 to $1,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “When was the timing belt last replaced, and at what odometer reading?”
- “Do you have the invoice or a sticker showing the belt change?”
- “Were the tensioner and water pump replaced at the same time?”
Now check the Toyota Land Cruiser you are actually looking at
Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.
Where this comes from
- Wikipedia: Toyota HZ engine (1HZ uses a timing belt to drive the camshaft)
- australiancar.reviews: Toyota 1HZ engine (SOHC driven by timing belt; 80 Series 1990-98)
- ExplorOz forum: Timing belt 1HZ motor (valves contact pistons if the belt fails)
- HD Automotive: timing belt kit inc water pump 1HZ 1HDT for HZJ80
- Bunnings/Basco timing belt kit for Landcruiser HZJ70R HZJ75R HZJ80R 1HZ
Toyota Land Cruiser buyer questions
Is 1hz timing belt, tensioner and water pump replacement overdue (interference: yes) serious on a Toyota Land Cruiser?
We rate it critical and common on the Toyota Land Cruiser. The 4.2 litre 1HZ diesel drives its single camshaft with a rubber timing belt; the crank and injection pump run through gears in the front case, but there is no timing chain. Toyota's interval is 100,000 km, and Land Cruiser mechanics warn that a snapped or wrongly fitted 1HZ belt lets the valves hit the pistons and ruins the engine, so treat it as an interference engine. The kit normally includes the tensioner, cam, crank and pump seals, and most owners fit a water pump in the same job.
How much does it cost to fix on a Toyota Land Cruiser?
$600 to $1,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.
Which Toyota Land Cruiser years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 1990–2007 Toyota Land Cruiser. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.
How do I check for it before I buy?
Ask for invoices showing the timing belt kit with date and odometer reading; many owners also write the date on the timing cover or stick a label on the radiator support, so look with a phone torch. Look under the front of the engine for oil drips from the cam or crank seals, which contaminate the belt. Listen at idle for squealing or ticking from the timing cover. If a workshop inspection is possible: remove the top timing cover to inspect the belt for cracks, glazing and oil contamination and check the tensioner. Look here: Front of the engine behind the timing belt cover