Number18

i know the importance of changing water pumt and timing belt. How important is it to take it down to Lexus dealer to do it? It's costly but i was told that timing belt should be done correctly otherwise it can have problem later on!?!?

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

This is the one thing was absolutely determined to go to the dealership for. Now others may say its uneccesary, but there were no good indy places around me, still not sure if there are. That being said, i called around a few pretty popular places in my area, and most were the same if not more expensive then the dealer. Now that i know many more people and places in the automotive field and have made a few connections, there is still only one other place then the dealer i would bring it to get done where i would save money.

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

A local shop will not use Lexus parts, unless you instruct them to. So keep that in mind when comparing prices. The job itself is not extremely difficult to perform, so if it's an experienced mechanic, he/she should have no difficulty performing the task.

Also, there are additional parts that may need to be replaced with the belt/pump. It all depends on the age and mileage of the vehicle.

For my timing belt replacement, I bought accessory belts, timing cover gaskets, a timing belt, a water pump, an idler pulley, a tensioner pulley, a hydraulic tensioner, two camshaft seals, and the oil pump seal. My car is at around 184k right now and it's 14 years old.

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

just buy the parts yourself! I've gotten timing belt kits from www.rockauto.com, they were OE parts too [Aisin, Mitsuboshi]

KS13

Had mine done at 78K from the dealer.

PFB

If you can afford the difference in price, than its well worth to do it at the Dealer. If for example he finds that another part needs to be replaced, chances are that he will have it in stock, while your Independent may have to order it. You also get a free courtesy car, and the chances of something going wrong at the dealer are usually much less. Also very often the Dealer would have a special on Timing Belt Service, (Parts and Labor), so you could end up paying the same price, that you would be paying at an Independent

But than again, only if you can afford the price difference, whatever that may be.

Coulter

I don't think it's worth paying the extra for a dealership, timing belts on these cars aren't rocket science, they're done all the time.

A quality independent shop can easily handle it and it will probably be half the price. Independent shops don't automatically use crappy parts, they also have an incentive to use quality parts. Ask the shop what they use, it will likely be some combination of Aisin or Gates.

If a timing belt job is incorrectly done, it's going to be immediately obvious.

jbl-1985

Take mine to a Toyota dealership all the time. Dealership quality at a lot less than a Lexus dealership.

Bankos66

If you know a good mechanic it will be a hell of a lot cheaper

mitmaks

Best advice so far

Number18

That is an option i haven't thought about!

Thank you all! I took it to Lexus dealer this time, since we found out that the belt hasn't been changed for a while. As someone mentioned, i didn't want any trouble if a local shop do a crappy job on this.

jbl-1985

Some folks advocate going to a good mechanic. Not everyone knows a good mechanic, so that's easier said than done. For me, the Toyota dealership is the best option. I do all of the routine stuff myself anyway, so I am saving $ there all the same. Everyone is different.