monrovea

I have a 2002 UL 430 with 67,000 miles, which I think is the best car ever built, at the least the best I have ever owned. I do not want to take a chance on the age factor with the timing belt. I probably already have, being close to 10 years old. My local Toyota Dealer will change the belt, replace the water pump, serpentine belt, thermostate and gasket, and inspect the Idler Pulley and Tensioner, for $850.00 plus tax. Do you all think this is a fair price. Just asking.
Thanks

64impalaSS

Not a bad idea since it is 10 years old. I think that is a good price coming from a dealership. I got all that done and the idler pulley and tensioner done for $900 from my local mechanic. The kit he ordered came with the pully and tensioner so he went ahead and threw it on for me. He worked at Toyota for 10 years prior to opening is his own shop last year. The Lexus dealer wanted $1800 not including the pulley.

smokincigs

Ive done the timing belt replacement on a few cars and I would change out the idler and tensioner. Buy the OEM parts kit off of ebay and find a good independent toyota mechanic. My 2001 LS430 timing belt with OEM parts and labor was 450.00. No matter what anyone tells you it is NOT a $1000.00 service.

lex2001

That is a fair price. If you can do it yourself you can save $500. While they are in there you should have them replace the tensioner and idler pulley.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

+1 on doing the idler pulleys.

jimbosr1

i had the timing belt replaced in my 86 mr2 with 69k miles on her and the belt looked like new.i didnt change the water pump either.i will not change the water pump in the ls when i change the belt.,when the last time you heard of a water pump going out on one of these cars?

caddyowner

I've read elsewhere that running a new timing belt will change the forces on the old water pump and can make it start leaking and/or fail. Maybe that's fools logic to get you to buy a water pump, maybe not.

jimbosr1

caddyowner,i have the same water pump in the mr2,25years old and have not had issue with it,second timing belt.i think its the (i would change it while its apart)attitude.pay me now.i will have just the timming belt changed when it comes due.

tcr101

iTrader: (2)

Just a heads up, i have ~207K miles on mine, I had them do the waterpump and belts @ 120K. From what I remember, they still looked good and probably could have waited til about 150K to have them done. I am waiting til i hit around 220-230K before i have this service done again. (Will most likely order the parts from Sewell)

vollandt

The parts on the ls are so robust I'd just do the belt if anything. If If I were **** enough to change the idler pulleys though I would also change the water pump as its at least as likely to fail.

curiousB

I did my TB last summer and parts alone cost me $530 or so. All parts were OEM but next time I'll probably be willing to use non OEM of good quality (http://www.store.partsdinosaur.com/page255.html). Its several hours of work to do so anything close to $1,000 parts and labor is a bargain.

I think not doing the new idler bearings and water pump is foolish economy. These are wear items and not huge cost in the grand scheme of things. In my case the weep hole of the WP showed signs of early seal leakage (dried caked up coolant) so it had to be replaced. The water pump is simple thanks to great gasket design. Just be sure you buy new O-Rings below as they don't come with the WP kit.


Here are the parts I used:

9091602586 Serpentine Belt $35.89
1354050030 Belt Tensioner 38.82
135030F010 TB Idler Pulley Left 61.43
135050F010 TB Idler Pulley Right 61.19
1356809070 Timing Belt 37.60
161005927583 Water Pump 98.72
9091603100 Thermostat 13.27
1634650010 Thermostat Gasket 3.00
9676135035 O-Ring 7.97*
9676124019 O-Ring 7.40*
00272-SLLC2 Toyota Coolant 3 gallons 75.36*
82194 Permatex FIPG RTV 6.49#

Taxes Shipping and Handling 80.06

Total Parts and Supplies $527.20

monrovea

So....I went ahead and did it. Timing belt, water pump, thermostat, gasket, anti-freeeze, and serpentine belt. Came in at $832.00 including tax. Got the 10 percent "Mature Toyota" discount. Not wanting to start a controversy...but the service manager told me the Idler, and Tensioner were tested and in excellent condition and no need to replace. This was also noted (same wording) on the invoice. I had them save me the parts and guess what...the timing belt and water pump looked brand new, as many have said would be the case. Better safe than sorry, I guess.

64impalaSS

Trust me, you don't want to be on the other side of the coin where you waited and the timing belt broke as you where doing 60mph down the highway. Your repair bill would be much much higher. Better to have a good piece of mind when driving such a nice car.

V8_Fan

When I did the t-belt on my LX (basically the same engine as the LS, but only larger and parts cost more), I replaced both pulleys and tensioner (as well as water pump, o-rings, serp belt, radiator hoses, coolant, etc.). The parts on discount from Toyota ran around $500, labor from Lexus was about 6 hrs (lexus labor was $100/hr, Toyota labor was $150/hr, so Toyota isn't always the cheapest; check beforehand).

monrovea

Humm......NEVER in my experience has Lexus been cheaper than Toyota.