BIPPUthis!

Hello everyone! I recently picked up a '98 last month and the car is in awesome shape. Interior mint and runs well. The previous owner garaged kept the car but didn't keep maintenance records. Car has 142K. I asked if the timing belt/waterpump been changed, she can only remember that the TB was changed 8 months ago.

I ended up taking one of the cam cover off (RH) and peeked over to look and the TB looks pretty new and it is no longer the stock Mitsuoboshi belt.

Not sure about the WP...upon inpecting, I found there's coolant leak on the bottom of the LH cam cover (driver side), not a lot but I see drips. I am annoyed if the shop where the previous owner took it to did not replaced the WP...that is just plain laziness as replacing both at the same time is necessary since you already in there.

If the WP is leaking...it usually leaks in the center down to the crank pulley correct? Also, the coolant is the regular green not toyota red, so I'm thinking they changed the WP (hoping)..anyone had an issue coolant leaking on the LH cam cover? Thanks

etex

A leak from the WP could manifest itself in any number of places. Green coolant would indicate to me that work has been done by other than Toyota/Lexus techs without regard to specs for this car. The coolant would be replaced even though only the TB was replaced.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

given the nature of these motors (interference-type) i would probably eat the cost and redo the job just to be safe....

BIPPUthis!

I agree...as I don't trust mechanics that do half jobs. It looks like the mechanic that worked on it just replaced the TB. Another indication that whoever did the service didn't know the correct stuff to use (green coolant). I will redo the whole thing in the near future just to have a peace of mind. I'm very picky when it comes to maintenance.

3UZFTE

Wait... before you just tear back in the job, try pressure testing the system. Make sure that you check the basics, it could be simply coming from somewhere else, but make sure it's not something before you go tearing everything apart blindly.