Timing Belt / Time or Mileage?
#16
I posted that my timing belt broke, but others questioned it. In any event to repeat, timing belt was replaced by Lexus dealer at 88k per work order. At 168k car died. Towed to Lexus dealer. Told me timing belt broke but surprisingly did not cause other damage. Due to huge price quote had it towed to an independent mechanic who also confirmed a broken timing belt and after he replaced it he left the broken timing belt on the passenger seat. There was no other damage or problems with the vehicle. That's my story and I'm sticking w/ it.
Here is what I posted:
"TB breaking at 80K? That is as rare as it gets. I wonder if there isn't more to the story? You will probably never know why this belt failed prematurely. I am guessing it had nothing to do with the belt assuming it was a factory belt."
PS. You never told us what the "engine failure" was that led to the dealer replacing the TB at 88K under extended warranty.
Last edited by artbuc; 06-21-11 at 03:52 AM.
#17
Advanced
Thread Starter
I'll tell you all of one experience, not at a Lexus dealership but at a GM dealership. I used to own a Saturn and I never trusted them after they told me that I needed a new power steering pump due to a leak. They put a new pump in and afterwards, the leak was still present, and upon further investigation, I found that it was leaking from the reservior where the supply hose was connected. I really came down hard on them for replacing the entire pump to the point where they refunded all of the funds paid to replace it. I firmly beleive that they do stuff like this and hope no one calls them on it. If they don't they make more money on unecessary repairs.
An honest mistake on their part? Don't think so - in fact, I trust NO car repair facility except for the Toyota dealership I take my vehicles to - my neighbor is the head mechanic and I am blessed to have this arrangement. Other things happened at that GM dealership where I know something was suspect but won't go into them.
Bottom line for me: Unless you can hover over the repair being done and verify with your own eyes that the repair was actually done, I don't care what the RO says, it's just paper.
An honest mistake on their part? Don't think so - in fact, I trust NO car repair facility except for the Toyota dealership I take my vehicles to - my neighbor is the head mechanic and I am blessed to have this arrangement. Other things happened at that GM dealership where I know something was suspect but won't go into them.
Bottom line for me: Unless you can hover over the repair being done and verify with your own eyes that the repair was actually done, I don't care what the RO says, it's just paper.
#18
Answering the question raised
I currently use an independent mechanic for my other car, an Infiniti. He's a master Nissan mechanic and my favorite part about using him is he lets me in his garage and I can watch everything he does. It's a lot better than a service adviser claiming what the mechanic had done. So who knows if I really got a new timing belt at 88k. I also now use an independent mechanic for some things for my RX 300 but he won't let me in the garage due to insurance restrictions.
#20
Advanced
Thread Starter
Otherwise, all it means is you have almost 10k on your new belt...
#21
Answering this post, my engine failed at 88k - the work order said "premature wearing of rod" - got a new engine under the certified used extended warranty and that work order at 88k claimed a new timing belt was also installed. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. At 168k driving down the road, heard a noise and the vehicle completely stalled out. That was when the dealer and independent mechanic both advised a broken timing belt with no other damage.
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I got my engine (i guess major part) replaced as part of the oil sludge warranty from Lexus at 65K.
When i was at 100K and was thinking about the 90K mile service, i went through the old documents from the dealer for the 65K repair and it said timing belt as well as all the spark plugs were changed. But i doubted the dealer records and called the Lexus customer service line to make sure that indeed the TB and spark plugs were changed and they also looked at the records and verified that.
But again since these records were from the dealer it is quite possible that dealer never changed it and charged Lexus corporate for it.
Just putting this information in case the dealer just pocketed the extra money when doing the warranty work on Stemmer's car!!!
Anyways i am not planning to replace TB ever and keeping my fingers crossed on that
#22
Instructor
Is the lexus rx 300 high risk of getting oil sludge more than any other car?
I am worried now because I have changed from synthetic to Castrol Gtx 5w/30 conventional
I am worried now because I have changed from synthetic to Castrol Gtx 5w/30 conventional
#23
#24
I have been using Castrol GTX motor oil and am not the least bit worried about sludge. I change the oil every 3-4,000 miles.
From what I've read over the years on this forum, sludge is only a problem when oil changes have been neglected or lower quality oil (e.g., cheapo oil-change places) have been used. It costs me over $20 for GTX oil and a Toyota/Lexus oil filter with crushable washer. You can't expect to get quality materials at a $17 or $20 oil change special.
From what I've read over the years on this forum, sludge is only a problem when oil changes have been neglected or lower quality oil (e.g., cheapo oil-change places) have been used. It costs me over $20 for GTX oil and a Toyota/Lexus oil filter with crushable washer. You can't expect to get quality materials at a $17 or $20 oil change special.
#26
Lexus Test Driver
It is more prone to sludge than other cars, but you won't have any issue if your oci is about 4,500 miles or less. Castrol GTX is a stellar oil in the conventional world, it should withstand sludge well, if you want another tough oil get pyb (yellow bottle). It's great stuff, for a cheap price.
#28
Lexus Champion
I have been using Castrol GTX motor oil and am not the least bit worried about sludge. I change the oil every 3-4,000 miles.
From what I've read over the years on this forum, sludge is only a problem when oil changes have been neglected or lower quality oil (e.g., cheapo oil-change places) have been used. It costs me over $20 for GTX oil and a Toyota/Lexus oil filter with crushable washer. You can't expect to get quality materials at a $17 or $20 oil change special.
From what I've read over the years on this forum, sludge is only a problem when oil changes have been neglected or lower quality oil (e.g., cheapo oil-change places) have been used. It costs me over $20 for GTX oil and a Toyota/Lexus oil filter with crushable washer. You can't expect to get quality materials at a $17 or $20 oil change special.