So I have had a 01 GS 430 for several years now, bought it at 180k and am at 200k now. It has had some lingering issues that I have needed to do like both knock sensors, the valve cover gaskets, and power steering pump but have put off because it is my only form of transportation. I don't want to have to try and rush through everything over a single weekend or have some part/connector break be without a car while I wait for the replacement

However, a family member is letting me borrow their car so I can get the car back into shape. Since I can have the car immobile for a time, my goal is to preventatively take care of everything I would possibly need to keep the car running well for the foreseeable future and hopefully avoid any big maintenance. Especially since I will already have the intake manifold off for the knock sensors. I wanted to get some input from the pro's though on if I am missing anything or any other important info. And also serve as a resource for anyone working on their 3UZ-FE down the line.

I am pretty much wanting to take care of everything I can, short of taking off the cylinder head, that would be old and liable to fail after 25 years. Here is my list so far, a few of them I am a little unsure of if I do need to do them:

Intake Area ≈$350+

• Upper and lower manifold gaskets $60
• Throttle body gasket $15
  • Clean throttle body
• Knock sensors (MUST be OEM) $190
  • Knock sensor wiring harness (sounds like these tend to break)
• Fuel injector O-rings $30?
• VSV $20
• Misc Coolant
  • Bypass O-Rings (toyota) $10
  • Bypass Gaskets $10
  • Bypass Hose $10
  • Heater Hose?

Valve Covers ≈$90

• Valve cover gasket $50
  • Spark plug tube seals
  • Valve cover bolt grommets
• Half-moon inserts: new Toyota FPIG $15
• PCV Valve, grommet, and hose $25
• VVT Solenoid O-ring (Toyota) $5

Front End ≈$450

• Timing Belt Kit (Aisin) $180
  • Belt
  • Tensioner
  • Pulleys
  • Water pump + gasket
• Camshaft seals $20
• Crankshaft front seal (Timken) $20
• Timing cover gasket
• Serpentine Belt, tensioner, and pulley (Gates) $120

Power Steering (Sunsong) ≈$150+

• PS Pump Seal Kit $15
• High Pressure Hose $100
• Return Hose?? (I cannot seem to find this one)
• Reservoir Hose $20
• In-line filter? $20

Misc ≈$120

• Transmission Filter? $20
• Motor Mounts? $100

Anything I am missing here? Anything that I do NOT need to do? Does a specific brand matter for any of these in particular?
For Gaskets I was going to go with Mahle/Clevite > Beck/Arnley > Victor Reinz or Elring > Fel-Pro

I do have the FSM as well so I should have all of the correct torque specs.

 

Obviously you need to replace anything that is giving you problems.

Then, if you don't know the service history of the car, you could replace everything that needs replacing on a schedule according to the FSM.

After that, it's just replacing perfectly good parts because you want to, only you can decide if you want to do that.

Personally I'd inspect everything and only replace something if it's worn out.

Also I'd recommend going with OEM Lexus/Toyota as much as possible. Would suck big time if you replace something that was working perfectly fine with the original OEM part and then introduce problems with worse aftermarket parts.

 

Starter motor (Denso)

 

Replace the VSV and vaccuum lines under the intake manifold while you have it off. There's also a bypass pipe behind it that will leak at some point and is easier to change with the IM out of the way.

I'd stick with OEM for all of the gaskets and seals.

Also plan on replacing the electrical connectors (videos on youtube on how to replin them) and vacuum lines.

Check out my build thread if you want. I'm doing a lot of the same.

 

That’s what these cars need, and they can run for a long time if u get all done. I would suggest you take this one bite at a time, start with the valve cover gaskets, and spark plugs. Then pull the power steering pump and alternator. U can replace the AC compressor at this time if yours having any issues. While those are off it’s pretty easy to pull the timing covers and timing belt then water pump, do the front main seal on the oil pump. Then put it back together and once that’s finished then you can pull the intake and replace the knock sensors and rebuild the starter. It’s likely the wiring harness is getting brittle, so try not break any plugs, if u can avoid unplugging something, then don’t. Any plugs that get broken need to be replaced, just find the part number on em and.then u can pull the wire terminals out of the broken plug and put th in the new and u won’t have to worry about electrical problems in the future.
I would suggest you research each job before doing it, so u can make sure to get all the parts youll need,
Overall they aren’t difficult to work on, if u have any questions, u should find the answers here on YouTube