Phantom300

Hi everyone,

Story is I just bought a 1999 GS400 over a month ago with 240,000 miles on the odometer. Dealer doesn't know when the timing belt was last replaced.

My question is that is there a way for me to know if my timing belt needs to be replaced

Thanks

BCP43002

If the dealer did not find any record of it by running your vin #, it still could have been replaced. At 240k it should have been replaced 2 times(90k each). You could take off the timing belt cover and take a look at the belt and see if there are any leaks from the seals and look at the tensioner to see if that was replaced. If the prior owner followed the manual, it would have around 60k on it.

raytseng

or u can replace it now, and not worry about things for 90k miles. (if you drive 15k miles a year, that's 6years). Do you see yourself using this car for 6 more years? It will then be about 20years old at that time...

islexusred

my 98 gs400 has 156k on it! it still strong and runs great. my dealer does not have any record for the timing belt replacement. am the 3rd owner! the first owner did the maintenance till 2006 and i guess he sold it and since 06 theres no record for the car being serviced at a lexus dealer till 2010 when i bought it. so what should we do !!!!

Phantom300

I think what I will do is take off the timing belt cover and examine the belt first. I'm only planning on keeping the GS400 for 2-3 years and I will only be putting on 6-7k per year.

How hard will it be to take off the timing belt cover is it that thing that is behind the serpentine belt? Or is it the cover that is right below the engine cover?

Thanks

BCP43002

It is a multi step process. You will have to remove the serpentine belt, drain your radiator,disconnect the water bypass pipes, disconnect the engine wire, camshaft position sensor, a wire grommet from the timing belt cover, remove 4 bolts, another wire clamp for a sensor, a connector holder and then you can remove the cover and gasket. This is for a GS430. Depending upon how much room you have and how handy you are, you may have to take out your radiator.

raytseng

If you only plan to keep it for another 12 to 21k miles, I would just not bother. Chances are high things will be fine, and not worth spending the money for the replacement. But then again it depends how bad this would hurt you if the belt slips and destroys your engine.

raytseng

Same advice as above. You have two end of the day options, replace belt or not. If you are planning to keep the car you are going to need to do this eventually, so might as well do it now if you are uncertain and get use out if the new belt. If you are not planning to keep the car then you have to weigh the odds of a failure against the cost of the replacement, and if you can make it avoiding the replacement

Phantom300

I got a quote from a shop willing to change the timing belt and water pump for $550...decisions decisions.

justablkv8

iTrader: (2)

Yes.

Yes.

And

Yes.

BCP43002

Is that including the price of the parts? I paid over $1,000 to have mine done at an independent shop using Lexus parts.