Toyota ‘L’ Series Diesel Timing Belt and Waterpump Replacement
Today we are looking at what is involved in replacing the Timing Belt and/or Waterpump on the trusty old L series Toyota Diesel engines. Before we start I want to stress that although this information is supplied in good faith and is a step by step breakdown of me actually doing the job on a customers vehicle, we are dealing with valve, injector pump and piston timing here and if you are in any doubt that you may not have the skills and/or tools to complete the job then please leave it to a qualified mechanic.
That being said, it is not a particularly difficult job to do but I urge you to read and understand all instructions in the article before starting to avoid any potential dramas. Part Two – Reassembly, can be found HERE.
The job doesn’t require too many ’specialized’ tools, but here is a run down of the tools I’ve needed so far -
The usual assortment of spanners and a good socket set (namely 10, 12, 14 and 19mm) Assortment of flat blade screwdrivers Small lever bar 1/2 inch drive breaker bar and 19mm socket Set of pliers or multi-grips Suitable container for catching coolant Universal Gear puller (not ‘claw’ type) A White Marker Pen (or liquid paper) and small mirror is handy for confirming timing marks. Degreaser, rags, etc.The vehicle we are using for this article is a 2000 Hilux 4×4 fitted with a 5L (3 litre) diesel engine that came to us with a leaking waterpump. Without even pressure testing the cooling system it is usually obvious when one of these waterpumps calls it a day. After removing the bash plate (if fitted) the leak will usually become evident fairly quickly in the centre of the car towards the front of the engine.
