Found this interresting videos from a guy (Peter Anderson) fixing with his Starlets. Interesting stuff if you like cars. Peter speaks good about Toyota and how ingeniously they did these cars. He thinks they are very easy to work on.
BUT if you are looking for timing belt instructions I've made a newer better post. Check it out here.
Power Steering and Timing belt change
Cleaning chairs, removing the fabric.
Restoring an other Toyota Starlet Ep91 with a donor.
Another link showing timing belt change on the 4e series.
http://mearcatmini.blogspot.se/2010/07/4e-timing-belt-change.html
Easy way to remove a stubborn crankshaft pulley bolt
"Note that the pulley has four holes. Two of the holes are threaded and the other two holes are not. I had to rotate the crank shaft (via the pulley bolt) to gain access to the threaded holes in order to use the club."
Source: http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/103-3rd-4th-generation-1992-1996-1997-2001/264425-diy-gen3-timing-belt-waterpump-oil-seal-change-part-1-a.html
George from Greece here,
ReplyDeleteI just changed my timing belt yesterday. (Well not me, the mechanic)
The part was 64 euros, and the mechanic charged 50 euros (also changed filters, oil, sparkplugs and checked everything)
Next step is to change the seats. Im going to look for whole seats since mine are destroyed, and also the seatbelt clip and plastics are really worn. Replacing the whole seat is probably the best way to do it.
Hi George!
ReplyDeleteGlad you still got the Starlet! :)
The price range for a belt here in Sweden ranges from about 350-2000 SEK, that’s about 38 – 215 euro for the timing belt.
I asked a Toyota dealer here in town and they said the original belt cost 215 euro and work is over 320 euros. Total price in SEK over 5000 kr (about 536 euros if I’m counting correct). That’s pretty expensive I think. I don’t know if that includes changing tensioner and so, but anyway, I’m considering doing it myself. The belt has never been changed on my car, but I have inspected it when I bought the car and looked fine then. I will inspect it again and see if it’s time.
The only problem I see is getting the big bolt loose, the one holding what I think is called “pulley”. And of course aligning it correct, but I think how to do that.
Chairs: Yes, I would agree, probably the easiest thing to do, changing the whole seat.
Near where I live there are a car scrap yard where you disassemble different parts out of a car, that’s great because then the price will be significantly lower than if somebody else has had to put hours disassembling it. Perhaps you can find such a car scrap yard where you live.
The official Toyota dealership asks for insane prices here too. Noone goes there outside of warranty. Especially in older models with popular engines the prices of the dealership are like 1000% of what you can get on other mechanics.
ReplyDeleteMy kit also had the other two parts, tensioner and pulley. It was of the SKF-Gates brand, both the guy who sold it and the mechanic said they were the industry standard, and like the clutch kits, they are exactly the same with the Toyota parts, just with other branding. They both also told me that although Toyota says that change intervals are 90000kms/6 years (I can confirm, I have the 4E-FE service manual), never let them get past 5 years because they snap without warning. They dont wear out like they do on other cars. And I do lots of city and aggressive driving, so I suppose I was on high risk.
We have such a scrap yard, and I got some plastics before. It had an almost new red Starlet, but it was two door, so the seats wouldnt fit :(
Aha, I was actually checking Gates out. I think I will choose that one too. SKF usually is good stuff. It’s a Swedish brand if you didn’t know. Abbreviation for: Svenska KullagerFabriken, which means, translated into english “Swedish ball-bearing plant”.
ReplyDeleteIt’s probably wise to change it. :-) Some people claims it’s a non interference engine (forums), but they don’t seam to able to guarantee that, usually just about 99% sure. And I guess that if going on a high rev and the belt break it will put the engine in “kaputt” mode. But anyway, who wants to be break down when out driving, not me. Better be safe than sorry.
Okey, so a 2 door Starlet has other bolts pattern fastening for their chairs than a 4 door. I would have guess they were the same, even though other functionality on the chairs (thinking of pulling it back and forth and so on).
Thanks for your input George.
So you have found the original Toyota Starlet Service Manual?? Great find in that case! I don’t have that, I only have the Haynes Corolla E11 Service Manual, and it does cover the 4E-FE engine since Corolla was sold with that engine also.
The Haynes manual says the same as you about the interval for timing belt:
“Although the normal interval for timing belt renewal is 100 000 km, it is strongly recommended that the interval is reduced to 90 000 km, especially on vehicles which are subjected to intensive use, ie, mainly short journeys or a lot of stop-start driving. The actual belt renewal interval is therefore very much up to the individual owner, but bear in mind that severe engine damage will result if the belt breaks.”
I havent found the Starlet manual, just the same Corolla E11 you have. But indeed the engine is completely identical, and the manual covers pretty much everything you need to know.
ReplyDeleteI do have a Toyota Microcat program for shops that supposedly covers every model including the Starlet, in every possible detail and part, but havent looked into it yet because it only works on a proper Vmware enviroment. I will do soon though, might be a very valuable resource!
Interesting blog all information are very important for me about the Timing Belt Replacement and i really need it thank you.
ReplyDeleteTiming Belt Replacement
Thanks! Glad you appreciate it! :)
ReplyDeleteI've made a 2 part video series about channing the timing belt. Check it out here:
Change timing belt on Toyota Starlet
They offer timing belt replacement service in Romford RM2 5TD for all vehicles using genuine or high quality parts at highly competitive prices.
ReplyDelete