jtown83

Hi Everyone!!!
I have a 2002 Ls430 with 47k miles. The car is mint. I'm a little concerned of the timing belt being it's 14 years old. i'm 99% sure the previous owner did not perform this service. Is there an easy way to view the timing belt to assess wear? Thanks

e60bmw

iTrader: (1)

Man, thats some awesome milage for a 02!!! I'm at 93k myself, I need to have it done. You may be able to look on the my lexus site and put in the vin number to see if there was service done at the dealer. I'd probably doubt they had it done though due to the milage.

mrboca

When I bought my 02 LS430, it had just above 100K miles. I checked the Lexus owners site, the first owner had been advised by the Lexus dealer to do the timing belt replacement but he declined (probably due to high price). It does not mean however he had not gotten it replaced by some other service shop. I was not sure so I had the timing belt, pulleys, tensioner, water pump replaced by my mechanic at 110K miles. The belt looked new. Around $200 for the Aisin kit and $250 for the labor.

Stereorob

even though its got low miles on it, it is guaranteed to fail due to age. not immediately but sometime in the near future. you have VVT-I so you don't want that to happen..

AandSC

Nice find with the low miles car!


I replaced the timing belt and associated parts on my 2000 LS400 at 16 years and 45,000 miles. It was peace of mind over worrying about the belt breaking. You could probably go a couple more years but I would recommend replacing. You'll be good for 90-100K miles and won't have to worry.

zapola6

It is a nice find with those miles..... My 2001 is at 217,000 and adding 100 per day

I'm just guessing, with those miles the drive belts are still original, AC, Power steering belt, Alt... ect.

If the drive belts are original: I would be a betting man that the timing belt is also still original.... If they (drive belts) have been changed, still thinking that the timing belt was not done with those miles.... Especially if it was driven by a little ol lady from Pasadena on Sundays going to church..... 47,000 miles over 13 years / 3,600 a year....

If you are mechanically inclined, take a few bolts out of a timing belt cover and see if the belt might be after market. If it has a Lexus belt, still not telling you anything unless you can verify when it was done.... An aftermarket belt will be the only way you will know that it's been changed if you can't verify. When I did my second timing belt at 188K, it looked new....

This is going to be one of those things, if it's not on the Lexus Owner web site that it's been changed or you can't verify through previous owner... You may have to bite the bullet for the peace of mind. As Sterorob said.... A timing belt breaking in an interference engine is not a good thing.....

Emc209i

No. Timing belts do not wear like tires, a belt with 100k miles on it may look almost new.

When dealing with rubber, service life runs hand in hand with deterioration. Although the belt has not been in service for the recommended interval, it has been sitting on the pulleys, rotting, for fourteen years. Replace the belt, no ifs or buts.

The pulley's however, which are sealed bearing's, should be fine. Slap a new belt on and replace both the pulleys and the belt at 137,000 miles.

semar

Timing belt and related accessories changed for 250? For that price I almost drive to Florida to get it done

mrboca

he is a good friend of mine. I have helped him in the past. Never been to a Lexus dealer for repairs or parts.

jtown83

Thanks! I don't think they had it done either. I'm gearing towards just paying for piece of mind. I just put a new serpentine belt on. Another reason to believe it's probably original timing belt. The owner actually only put 10-15k miles in 10 years! the son put the extra mileage in 2.

jtown83

Thank you everyone who replied to this thread! I appreciate it!

XJSFan

Timing belts can last a long time but replacing the coolant is very important...

lextout

IMO 99% of these belts can go beyond 200k miles, these timing belts are highly engineered and the material is like mixed metal and rubber, its the water pump that fails before the timing belt, and if the water pump goes then so does the timing belt.