Toyota Sequoia 2UZ-FE Timing Belt Replacement DIY Guide

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The 2UZ-FE Engine is shared among many Toyota vehicles so the resources below will be the same for all models with this engine.

Why I wrote this guide: Having all of the right materials is key to working efficiently on this project. This project will take a lot of time and there will be many parts disassembled. Successful completion will require a flawless organizational system. Plenty of space inside and outside of the car is recommended to maintain organization.

Time:
About 14 to 16 hours if it’s your first time. (8 hours possible for experienced timing belt work.)
You don’t want to rush this because it’s an interference engine. Improper installation of the timing belt will permanently damage your engine.

Sequoia timing belt tools and supplies list
Drive belt kit — TKT-021 AISIN
Antifreeze (Orange) Hybrid OAT — 3 Gallons
Form In Place Gasket maker
Transmission fluid (to restore whatever amount drips out when you remove the radiator)
Zip ties / clamps (to keep the oil and trans fluid hoses closed once the radiator is out of the way)
Harmonic balancer puller – AUTOZONE – https://www.autozone.com/loan-a-tools/loaner-harmonic-balancer-installer/oemtools-harmonic-balancer-puller/555524_0_0
Catch pan(s) (for antifreeze). 2 recommended because there will be a lot of anti-freeze drainage.
Torque wrench (see Torque Specs Below)
Pliers
Screwdrivers
Impact wrench and sockets — 10mm — 22mm (strongly recommended)
Socket Wrench Kit (10mm – 19mm)
(Important: 22mm impact socket must not be a deep socket)

Organizing items: (optional but strongly recommended)
Sharpee
Zip loc bags – sandwich size is ideal
Oil pen
Magnetic bar and/or dish
Cardboard boxes (varying sizes 8 recommended).
Camera

Self-care:
Safety Goggles (you will use impact wrench a lot)
Gloves
Water bottles + Gatorade
Handkerchief

Optional parts used in the project:
Gates Accessory Belt Tensioner: part # 38278
Gates Accessory Belt Idler Pulley: part # 36026
Dayco upper radiator hose: #56469SJ​
(optional ) Dayco lower radiator hose: #16342MK​
Toyota oil cooler hose: #15777​-50060
Toyota oil cooler by-pass hose upper: #16281​-0F010
Toyota oil cooler by-pass hose lower: #16282​-0F010

Torque specs: (CREDIT: G DUPLER YOUTUBE)
34.5 Nm on the timing idler and bearing pulleys
18 Nm on the studs and 21 Nm on the bolts for the water pump
245 Nm or 181 ftlbs on the crank pulley bolt
16 Nm on the small bolts and 32 Nm on the large for the fan pulley bracket
16 Nm on the accessory belt tensioner
39 Nm on the accessory idler pulley
30 Nm on the fan clutch pulley bracket to the fan assembly

DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS
Youtube instructions
A1AUTO VIDEO P1 | P2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TZTn1Arjho
G DUPLER VIDEO. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9nyGH_mKGA

Suggested corrections and clarifications for the “Certified Quality Engineer Handbook – 4th Edition”

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While studying for the CQE certification exam, I found some errors and clarifications worth noting.  I hope that you find the following notes to be helpful in smoothing out your quest for CQE certification.  

Please feel free to comment in this blog post below if you have anything else to add. Thank you!

Corrections:

page 397 – ex.### “Shift” not “Machine”  

page 403 – fitted regression 


page 456 – 
the Process Performance Indicies Pp and Ppk are not defined (ran out of space??), Anyway, here are the formulas: 
Pp = (USL – LSL) / 6s
    WHERE s = sample standard deviation 
Ppk =  min [(USL – s) / 3s     ,     ( s –  LSL ) / 3s  ]

page 518 – Risk Priority Number (RPN) 

Minor Error: Formula 7.2 for the RPN formula represents the “Detection” variable with a “P”.  Correction: Instead it should be a “D” for Detection.  
Explicitly,   RPN = Severity * Occurrence * Detection
Source: https://www.fmea-fmeca.com/fmea-rpn.html   

Clarifications:

page 430 – formula 6.151 calculate np(bar) 
When combined with formula 5.150, another way to think/calculate np(bar) is: sum(Xi) / m.   where sum(Xi) is the sum of all nonconforming items Xi, and m are the number of subgroups.  

page 494 – Definition of “Risk Oversight”
“Risk Oversight” was never defined in these pages and is used commonly in this Section of the Chapter.   According to ICGN, “Risk oversight is defined as the board’s supervision of the risk management framework and risk management process.”  The book references the “Risk Attitude” which is the qualitative driver that guides the Risk Management decisions – and is sometimes called “Riskiness”.   Riskiness is based on the sum of the expected benefits and perceived risks.  

page 454 Process capability ratios vs Capability ratios   
“process capability ratio” – ideally greater than1 – see Table 6.49 for Cp
“capability ratio” – ideally less than 1 – is the inverse of the Cp. 



Steps to migrate your website to a new web hosting service (all on your own)

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For the past several years, I have over paid for basic web hosting at $7.95 per month. Just recently I switched to Hostgator under similar subscription services for the rate of only $3.00 per month! Wow! Although Hostgator offers free webhost transferring services, you will need to provide passwords to your cPanel, email, and database in order to make the transfer possible. That seems fine because HostGator is a reputable company, but I would prefer to keep all of my passwords to myself. Furthermore, since it has been a while since I last worked on my website, I wanted a bit of a refresher.  

While there are many guides on how to migrate your website out there, I found that most of them fall short in covering all of the needed steps to completely migrate web hosts. Fortunately, I documented the steps that I took and documented them here so that future-me or you can benefit from a smoother web host migration!

Bear in mind that you may have other features or services that you need to set up during your migration process.  Before taking the steps above, check if you have the additional services to migrate.  For example: SSL certificates, security services, SEO/analytics, backup wizards, and more? 

Here are the steps I took to backup my simple WordPress site: 

1. Activate the new web host

It’s a good idea to make sure that the package you are purchasing supports the same technology. For example, check that their servers offer the same version of PHP that your site requires.

2. Backup the current web site

There are various ways to do this, but this is how I did it. 

  1. Log into cPanel for my old site.  Just log into the web host account and look for the cPanel link.
  2. Go to ‘File manager’. Zip and download all files (especially important is the “public_html” folder. which contains all of my web’s public content.).   
  3. Back at the cPanel main menu, go to your ‘mySQL Databases’.  Export your entire SQL database. Also, double-check your SQL database username and password, and write it down. 
  4. Check your webmail. If possible, back up emails and download them. 

3. Import files to the new web host server

This is the reverse of Step 2: 

  1. Log into cPanel for the new web host.  
  2. Go to ‘File manager’, upload the zipped files and extract all files.  Replace anything with similar file names. 
  3. Go to “mySQL Databases’, and Import the SQL database file.  Set the same username and password used from the old web site. 
  4. Set up an email account, ideally using the same username and passwords so that any linked webmail services you use can continue to forward or retrieve emails without interruption. 
  5. Get the new web host’s domain name server address (there are 2). 

4. Domain nameserver change

This step will point all web traffic from your old web host to your new web host service site.  The change is not immediate, but the domain service will offer an estimate on when the swap will take place. 

  1. Log into to the domain service account. 
  2. Update the domain name server addresses to the new web host’s name server addresses.

5. (optional) Update PHP version on WordPress

If the web host is using a newer version of PHP, you’ll need to log into WordPress and update the PHP version.  

Vitamin D in COVID19 Times

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HOW: spend time outside or take Vit-D supplements orally. Daily maintenance of vitamin d is recommended in order to have the optimal protective/preventative effects.

There is mounting clinical evidence showing that Vitamin D prevents the cytokine storm and much of what we already know about this vitamin’s role in our immune system today doesn’t surprise experts.

This video is a great summary of how Vitamin D prevents cytokine storms which is known to be caused by COVID19: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd_oGkGJr04

Reference:
Covid-19: Emerging Evidence Suggests Role for Vitamin D in Coronavirus Severity
https://www.physiciansweekly.com/covid-19-emerging-evidence-suggests-role-for-vitamin-d-in-coronavirus-severity/

Is a “Cytokine Storm” Relevant to COVID-19?
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2767939#:~:text=A%20critical%20evaluation%20of%20the,chemokines%2C%20and%20several%20other%20mediators.

NIH Study: “Vit D has been widely implicated in enhancing the immune response and suppressing the cytokine storm. It’s deficiency has been linked to increased susceptibility to viral infections”. Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7266578/
How: spend 20 minutes under sunlight each day, or take vitamin D orally. Specifically, it is important to consistently regulate your vitamin D levels (sunlight daily

The First SAR All-Hands Exercise of 2018

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The first all hands training exercise of 2018 was hosted at Vulcan Mountain Trails and some private roads in Julian, CA. The exercise started at 0700 and thanks to the Vulcan Mountain Winery, the many participating SAR members had sufficient parking.

Each of us had to be self-sufficient. That means to pack our own meals for the day, carry enough water for the day, chair, layered clothing in addition to all of our SAR instruments. I should kindly mention that donuts and coffee were generously provided to team members, and that was the only exception to the self-sufficiency rule of the day. Thanks to whomever supplied that!

After parking, I boarded one of the 4x4s of the motorized team which transported all non-motorized team members to the Command Post (CP). There, I set my personal belongings down, submitted my completed T-card to the check-in table, and let my unit leader know that I am present. I stood near my comm unit team members beside the door of the MC5 truck (but out of the way). There is a good turn out of pre-academy Citizen Volunteers like myself for this mission. As we observed the SAR set up process and helped to move things forward at every opportunity, there was much time in between to socialize.

At 0830 we all gathered around the Incident Commander and Unit Leaders for the first mission debrief. Although this was only a training exercise it was carried out as if it were a live mission. The differences between the live missions and the training exercise, was the following:
1. we were allowed to take photos with our personal cameras, because during live missions all photos and photo-taking instruments (including smart phones) had to be forfeited as evidence.
2. everyone was more relaxed about our humor because during live missions we did not want to present anything other than a focused and professional attitude in case the subject’s loved ones (and the press) were observing us at work.

During this debriefing we learned the following facts that may be applicable across all other missions:
1. Mountain lions are less of an issue at Vulcan Mountain, but be aware of your surroundings anyway.
2. Be aware that ticks are an issue and gaiters are highly recommended.
3. Layered clothing is recommended for all day events.

The other take-aways that I learned during this mission:
1. The equipment check-out form is a crucial document to maintain because the Radio and GPS devices which are handed out are expensive to replace. Should the responsibility of maintaining this document be handed to another SAR member, it should be clearly communicated. I misunderstood a team member when they advised me to hand off team members to her after equipment check-out to only perform the task of equipment handout and let her document the handoff. By the time we found out about the miscommunication, we already had 2 radios checked out without names on the checkout form. Thankfully, all equipment was returned to the comm unit at the end of the day.
2. Personally, I was over-confident about my ability to bear the cool temperatures throughout the day so I only had 3 layers on and left the gloves behind at home. This was a mistake.

Overall, this training exercise was a great experience, and it was fun getting to know my team members better.

Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsm8V4zdL

Getting Started with Dizi (a resource guide)

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tuned in D key

Background:
I recently purchased a bamboo flute in order to learn an instrument. I’ve always enjoyed the varied melodies of Classical Chinese instruments like the dizi, erhu, and pipa. A quick Wikipedia search about dizi flutes shows that its origins trace back to my cultural roots of the ChaoZhounese people of China!

Getting started:
1. Selecting my first dizi: price, tonal key, and store.
I chose the D key because it was recommended by many online flutists for starting on the dizi.
Continue reading →

My Creative Writing – When a Road Passes Through a Forest

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“When a Road passes through a forest does it make a sound?”

Seems a lifetime ago this riddle passed my mind while riding through the Old Julian Forest on the Suzuki SV650s.
Only recently did the solution come to me.

The sportbike is unlike any other type of motorcycle.
The art of extracting the maximum performance has little margin for error from both man and machine;
because Death awaits just grams and milliseconds away from excellence.
Fear of Death has been the ally that sharpened my senses,
but a moderation of that fear has protected me from it’s betrayal.

The connection starts with the controls.
I hold the handlebars as one must hold a lover’s heart.
Too firmly, and I will not feel the machine speak the road;
too carelessly, and the machine will not know my intention.
This high fidelity connection is key to precision;
and precision is Life.

Ignition

Twin cylinders beat in a neutral harmony
His heart beats also in a neutral harmony
He pulls in the clutch, and plucks the gear.
The chain gently twitches forward, and eagerly awaits
As his right hand twists the throttle, the machine growls into motion.
Thus, begins the battle between the forces of Life and Death.

The forest is a silent chalice for the road which sways and twists through it’s gentle valleys and hills.
It is in these curves, where Life is most precise, and Death’s claws are most cruel.
It is in the magical moment, when both man and machine lean into the curve their fates intertwine.

As they approach the curve, He plucks the gear down
The machine roars in defiance,
Again, another gear is plucked down,
The machine roars with greater rage, which echoes throughout the forest
Although fear thrashes at his heart,
still his hand holds steadily as before,
reading the Road beneath them while simultaneously orchestrating the lean into the corner.

His leg opens to the inside of the turn – ready to glide it’s knee over the Road.
His other leg holds firmly onto the machine, anchoring his torso as he lowers his center of gravity
In this very moment, his ears are closest to the machine’s twin cylinders
Crisp cold forest air gently breathed in by the machine’s airbox, creating a soft humming
The machine’s valves softly tick in precise harmony, mixing the air with mists of thunder.
The machine precisely delivers the power invested in his right hand to the Road beneath them with furious grace.

These two Hearts – one soul dance to the melody of a nameless Road

When a Road passes through a forest does it make a sound?
Does this road live in your heart? 

An Illustrated Guide to export Garmin Connect’s Training Calendar to Google Calendar

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For those who use Google Calendar as a personal time management tool, you’ll be glad to know that you can export your Garmin Connect training calendar!  Here’s how it is done:

  1. Login to Garmin Connect  (https://connect.garmin.com/).
  2. Select a Training Plan: step1a
  3. Schedule the training schedule in order to add it to your Dashboard: step 1a

    4. Continue reading →

San Diego’s Most Important Tweeters!

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If you own a mobile phone and know how to access the internets, subscribing to Twitter is hardly something to scoff about.  Twitter is a practical communication tool that combines the best of the web with your cell phone without the need for a mobile data contract.   Whether you have a data plan or not, you are sure to benefit greatly from free service if you “follow” the right “tweeters.”

Tweeters here are chosen for their quality and usefulness of their tweets.  No fluff here! You can subscribe to my local-news twitter list, or simply read more about why you should follow: Continue reading →