2007 Toyota FJ cruiser, 71,000 miles, automatic transmission, 15yr old vehicle, California based, original owner! This is a fun-time vehicle not a daily driver (local and highway mix). Nothing ever goes wrong with this thing. I have the fluids changed regularly, one set of new tires (old ones started to crack), new battery every 6 or 7yrs, etc.
Question: Last time at the dealer (getting diff and brake and other fluids changed) I asked them to replace the original 15-year old factory serpentine belt while they were at it. They said "if it's not cracked and not making noise then don't bother". Is that true??? I use this vehicle to drive in the middle of the night in the dead of winter by myself over a mountain pass to get to Tahoe, not a place where I'd want to break down with a belt problem. Maybe I should buy a new (Gates or Continental) belt and keep it in the back as a hedge?
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think that your initial request to have the dealership replace a 15-year-old serpentine belt was spot on. Obviously you were concerned enough to ask them to change it.
Their response IMHO was foolhardy. You as the vehicle owner need to maintain your FJ Cruiser properly. Me thinks it better to replace it now during the middle of the day, in the beauty of Autumn and in the convenience of your driveway (or by a competent mechanic) than to wait for it to possibly fail as you stated, "in the middle of the night in the dead of winter by myself over a mountain pass to get to Tahoe, not a place where I'd want to break down with a belt problem." Then you won't need to worry about it and enjoy the peace of mind that the new belt provides. I too suspect that once the old belt is replaced, you will be able to see cracks on the underside that are not visible while it is on the car.
Maybe I should buy a new (Gates or Continental) belt and keep it in the back as a hedge?
sounds like a plan
