Hey people, I've got a '98 GS400 with just under 50k miles, obviously it doesn't have enough miles to need a new timing belt but at the same time it is 10 years old. Opinions please, should I change the belt just cuz it's 10 years old? Thanks.

 

yes change it because it's 10 years old. Time does damage to rubber. Ever seen a tire that's been sitting for years? The rubber cracks and loses it's elasticity over time.

Besides, lexus recommends the belt be changed at 90k or 6/7 years, whichever comes first.

 

Sorry to thread jack. I have a 2000 GS300 with 43K. The previous owner told me it has a chain instead of belt. So what is it? And do I need a change also?

 

It's a belt, not a chain.

 

thanks... guess I better get it changed. And what else at the same time? Water pump? tensioner?... etc

 

just to be on the safe side i usually do the water pump, timing belt, main crank seal, cam seal, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER PULLEY. not the tensioner itself. the pulley. it has a bearing in it that usually goes bad after a while. the pulley is still usable but it will make noise. when you take a new one and an old one you can tell a difference in how long it spins and now quite it is. last thing you want is for that pulley to seize up. then your motor is fcuked.

so the breakdown for most timing belt jobs:

timing belt
water pump
thermostat(optional depending on mileage on car)
timing belt pulley
crank main seal
cam seals

 

i opened up my timing belt cover and see no wear on the belt itself. it's in perfect condition. do i still have to change it?

 

where is this belt?
how and any way you can post the location for me lease?

 

Less than 50,000 miles on a 98? Sounds kind of fishy to me. Where'd you buy the car? Ebay?

 

If the condition matches the mileage I wouldn't question it so much. Although, with low mileage cars, you might also want to proactively change the tires too, if they are aged.

My 98 only has 60k miles, so I'm not a big driver.

Remember these used to be luxury cars (when new). In my case, the person who owned it was an executive (and also personal friend) that was out on business often, so the car did not get used. I took over when the 3yr lease was up. For the next 7years, I guess I didn't go to many places .

However, if you just got the car, the situation I described might be a less likely scenario, as most jet-set people who are light on their cars, would've sold at 3 years at the lease expiration. If they've held on to the 10yr birthday, why not just keep it forever.

 

I just sold my '98 GS400 and it only had 66k miles... 20k of which I put on in the last year and a half.

A co-worker of mine has a 2002 GS with 2,994 miles.... yes, that's TWO thousand nine hundred ninty four!

 

Lol, oh man I thought this thread had died only to see it revived by a comedian. The man of E knows full well where I got my car, in fact he was lusting after it even as I was buying it! Good one E, now if I can just get a proper parts list my day will be complete.

 

usually under normal driving circumstances - in a perfect world -you would only need to change the pump and or cam seals at 120k miles- but you need to figure that if you have the whole thing apart and have access to them - you might as well as do those anyways- theoretically in time for the second belt replacement- the tensioner pulley can be an issue - but it adds expense when it may work just fine- it is all a gamble- i know some people that have had their timing belts for 14 years with low miles- in my own case i have a belt with 65k and only 7 years- i really hate to take things apart when they work well which is why this whole preventive maintenance thing is rought especially major maintenance - i don't even know if i should change it or not?

 

so whats the difference if i get the tensioner itself rather then the pulley. i didnt know they sell it seperate. i know they sell it seperate to the belt tensioners for the serpentine.