hms09

I just bought a 1998 LS400 with 137K miles. The maintenance records from Lexus stops at 70k and I'm concerned about the timing belt. I don't suppose there is anyway to inspect the belt is there ?

Thanks,
hms09

dicer

If you've done it before its probably a 10 minute job or so. It involves taking off the driverside plastic belt cover. And usually if the belt was done there is a sticker that is stuck on something noting the belt change date and miles.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

Most all dealerships and some (Good) independents will place a timing belt interval sticker somewhere under the hood (some on the air cleaner, some on the timing belt cover, etc...) that state the belt has been changed. Otherwise yes, you'll need to pull a cover off to check, but that is usually not very precise as the belt itself can look near new even near the end of it's service life.

Generally speaking if you can't nail down what exactly has been done, you'll want to act as though it hasn't. The belts on these cars tend to last just fine, it's usually a bearing that goes, be it in an idler or tensioner or waterpump, that seizes and shreds the belt. Hence all the bearings/pulleys and waterpump are recommended to be replaced with the timing belt. Not a bad time to do the front crank-seal as well ( and cam seals on 89-97 models, 98-00 leave them alone unless they leak as cams have to be removed to replace them.).

RA40

iTrader: (6)

+1 on what PD mentions.