98LS

Hi, long time lurker, first time poster.

I recently had my timing belt and water pump changed at the local Toyota dealership yesterday (Saturday). After getting the car back, I noticed that the engine seems to run a little rougher. There is no hesitation when accelerating, but I can feel the engine in the steering wheel and in the gas pedal under normal driving conditions. I never felt the engine before, unless it was under hard acceleration.

Is this normal after doing this maintenance? Does the computer need to take a few days to readjust to a new belt? I just spent $1,000 to have this done, am I being too picky?

trukn1

Doesn't sound right, sounds like the car may still be slightly out of time. Take it back and have them readjust the timing.

98LS

Thanks Trukn1, that sounds like a possibility. I'm planning to give the Toyota dealer a call tomorrow. The car has just over 89,000 miles and I wanted to take care of this before going on vacation at the end of the month.

Fortunately, the Toyota and Lexus dealers are next door to each other. They're also the same franchise, so if the Toyota techs get stumped, they can call the Lexus techs.

sonyman

The car should run perfectly after the timing belt has been changed, if it ran perfectly before-- the timing belt has no effect on performance when changed. The computer may have been reset during the maintenance, but should still run perfectly.

98LS

Sonyman,

Yes, the car was running perfectly. No noise under normal acceleration or when the car is at idle. I took a co-worker out for a spin around the block this morning and he noticed the engine noise, too. He rode in the car prior to the timing belt service.

I'm taking it back to Toyota in the morning and they are going to have a look at it.

98LS

Quick update.

Took the car back to Toyota. They said it was the A/C compressor. I told them that the vibration and noise came when driving without the A/C or the fan running.

To make a long story short, I was told that after putting the car on the lift, the engine worked its way back on the motor mount. Not sure about that one but the car is running normally again.

Bill Dowd

If they said the motor mount worked it self back wouldn't that possible mean that the motor mount could be ripped or bad. Just thought I would ask?????
take a look at the left top motor mount it has known to go bad.

98LS

Thanks Bill. I'll take a look at the left top motor mount. The tech did say that it might be something to be aware of in the future.

If the motor mount or mounts need to be replaced, how expensive is this?

rlx101

pretty expensive.... The engine needs to be lifted in order to get to the mounts...