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The image below is the extent of the documentation included with the car. Not sure what it says, exactly.
Carfax reports a "corporate owner" from 1998 to late 2025, then it went through a used car dealer.
"LOF" is lube/oil filter, means oil change. On 1/12/24, it looks like maybe the alternator and battery were replaced, might also be saying "good starter". The rest I'm also struggling with.
With that low mileage, and considering it was basically a one-owner, I wouldn't be surprised if that owner probably wasn't even aware it had a timing belt that needed to be serviced.
Last edited by GoldStar; Feb 16, 2026 at 05:31 PM.
"LOF" is lube/oil filter, means oil change. On 1/12/24, it looks like maybe the alternator and battery were replaced, might also be saying "good starter". The rest I'm also struggling with.
With that low mileage, and considering it was basically a one-owner, I wouldn't be surprised if that owner probably wasn't even aware it had a timing belt that needed to be serviced.
Much thanks! I haven't had time to sit down and try to decipher the handwriting.
I wouldn't have even considered replacing the timing belt unless I had seen this. It's going to the top of my priority list. I found some links in an eight-year-old Reddit post that aimed me in the right direction. I have this stuff in my cart. Think that should cover it?
I think I would sort the history as best as you can before buying anything. Pretty sure you can register with the Lexus website and create an account they will give you access to your service history for free, whatever is publicly available that is through service centers. https://support.lexus.com/s/article/...ew-my-ser-8226
I think I would sort the history as best as you can before buying anything. Pretty sure you can register with the Lexus website and create an account they will give you access to your service history for free, whatever is publicly available that is through service centers. https://support.lexus.com/s/article/...ew-my-ser-8226
That's a great resource, thanks. All of the service entries that appear on lexus.com also appear on the CarFax that I requested before the purchase. The Lexus service records end at about 30K miles in 2008, though. After that is just annual registration renewals and bi-annual emissions inspections to the present.
Look over the engine compartment thoroughly for a timing belt replacement sticker. In my LS430 it was on the underside of the hood and I missed it for years.
My '98 LS400 was still on its original timing belt until I replaced it 3 years ago at 146,500 miles. Still had some life in it.
Edit - also look in the maintenance log manual with the owners manual for some potential service history in there.
Look over the engine compartment thoroughly for a timing belt replacement sticker. In my LS430 it was on the underside of the hood and I missed it for years.
My '98 LS400 was still on its original timing belt until I replaced it 3 years ago at 146,500 miles. Still had some life in it.
Edit - also look in the maintenance log manual with the owners manual for some potential service history in there.
Great suggestions, but ended up empty. Other than the hand-written Sharpie maintenance info on the front strut towers, there was no sticker or other info indicating a new timing belt had been installed. Also checked the glove compartment which did have the original booklets in there, but no notes added to them. Bummer.
Well, then in the absence of any evidence it has been changed I think you might assume it has not been changed and order the Aisin Kit from RockAuto. I took that kit to a Toyota dealer in western WA a few years back when I got my '98 and they did the complete service in about 6 hours, about $1100 in Labor plus coolant etc.
Is your car an Oregon car since new? What is the interior color scheme?
I concur. Order placed. I look forward to getting some oil under the fingernails.
The car spent its life in Seattle, just a hop, skip and jump from you, it appears.
It's got the cream leather. My '95 had the cream as well. Honestly, it's not my favorite. I am going to search for a second clean LS400 from which I can swap a black interior (and any other necessary parts) and then sell off the donor.
Very nice car. Just want to say welcome back to the LS 400 group, and thanks for running importarchive.com. I remember using it for the first time back in 2005 when it was toyotareference.com, but I wasn't a user here back then.
glad to see some low mile examples still out there, and on the west coast w/o rust.
i did my timing belt at 130k and it was showing cracks along the teeth but i was confident it would not snap. normally the idler or tensioner pulleys would fail first, seizing up, and taking the belt with it!
all that to say, i'm glad you are doing the timing belt replacement + water pump.
Very nice car. Just want to say welcome back to the LS 400 group, and thanks for running importarchive.com. I remember using it for the first time back in 2005 when it was toyotareference.com, but I wasn't a user here back then.
Thanks for the warm welcome, and for the nod to my project. I'm still adding literature here and there as I can find it. I can't believe the raw numbers at this point. 5799 brochures scanned. 121,284 pages. Crazy.
Originally Posted by timmy0tool
glad to see some low mile examples still out there, and on the west coast w/o rust.
i did my timing belt at 130k and it was showing cracks along the teeth but i was confident it would not snap. normally the idler or tensioner pulleys would fail first, seizing up, and taking the belt with it!
all that to say, i'm glad you are doing the timing belt replacement + water pump.
I really want to keep this car for the rest of my life, so I definitely don't want to experiencing that heartbreaking feeling down the road... loud noise, loss of power, coast to the shoulder, calling a tow truck as traffic speeds by. No thank!
P'Tina Petunia: 1998 LS400
