Ln106r tensioner bolt sheared timing belt - mechanics error?

[Stash assassin]

Hi all,

Thanks for having me here. Unfortunately just had my motor go on my formerly sweet hilux. I'm devastated as I just spent 3.5k getting it ready for a stint in the NT.

Can anyone help clarify from a mechanic's perspective whether the tensioner bolt on my 93 LN106r Hilux may have been tampered with by the mechanic who replaced the water pump recently...?

My timing belt was replaced 2 years and under 20k kms ago by an old mechanic, I have had no issues.

500kms / one week ago another mechanic repaired the water pump, then afterwards, while I was driving, a bolt came out and sheared the timing belt out 15 notches at 2800 revs and my motor is seized.

I am under the impression that the  (Timing belt tensioner) bolt that came out was not essential to the pump repair, but in the immediate vicinity, and the new (Racq) mechanic who assessed the cause of the failure said 'it would have made his job easier to have taken it out /loosened to do the pump repair'. 

The pump repairer mechanic denies touching the bolt.

Please can you clarify whether I can hold the mechanic to account for the catastrophic damage, and whether he may have loosened the bolt for the repair.

Thank you

[Manxman]

Water pump is not driven by cam belt, it should be removable without disturbing cam belt.    Tensioner has 2 bolts--long one is a pivot, short one is lock bolt, both have to be loosened to adjust cam belt.  If not properly tightened, they will eventually release the tension in the cam belt, which will upset cam timing and prob cause valve damages with the pistons.    Your motor is prob jammed, rather than seized, but its still harsh and expensive.    Very difficult to prove him at fault.  It's an old motor-you will have to prove no metal fatigue etc.    There's myriad legal outs for him to avoid paying out, and I wouldn't want him sorting it.   You're in Qld--you can't be awarded legal costs there.   Might not be worth pursuing him.   This is why I prefer DIY  wherever possible-its my responsibility to get it right, and if I don't-there's no-one else to blame.

[Stash assassin]

Hey thanks for your reply Manxman.

Yeah trying to do the DIY thing for that exact reason.. unfortunately not for this job though 😭

Cheers mate.