ckasper

My first post and it's not a pleasant one...

I have a 1999 LS400. I was tooling home from work yesterday when out of nowhere the whole thing just dies on me. Would not restart.

I just got off the phone with my mechanic and he said the VVTi pulley which is one of the items that the timing belt goes around just flat broke off causing the timing belt to fail and presumably bending as least some of the valves in the process. I had the belt replaced about 20,000 miles ago but it looks like I'll end up with a new timing belt again

Anyone else out there ever experience this kind of failure? I did a search and didn't see anything.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

congratulations, you have the first ever (in my experience) reported timing belt issue destroying the heads/valves.

this is why you should have had the cam seals changed out when you did the timing belt, a mech would have spotted the pulley going out.

if you did, damn, that just sucks....

SH212

happend to my friend.. your now in for 3 months of hell

good luck lol

damon

Sorry for your luck.

Is this a situation where he would be better off just buying a used replacement engine? Even if he wants to use his original short block he might come out ahead.

llamaboiz

err looks like your gonna end up with ALOT MORE (= more $$$) than just a new timing belt being replaced

CK6Speed

iTrader: (1)

Sorry to hear about that. You might need about $2K to get this all fixed.

omarg

DUDE! I'm so sorry to hear about that. I hope this doesn't put you off to lexus. this is honestly the first time I've ever heard of a timing failure on a 98+ LS. Sucks that one pully can f up and engine.

Good luck dude.

ckasper

The news just keeps getting worse...

Apparently, some of the valves not only bent but actually broke resulting in them rattling around in the cylinder and destroying the block as well. Anyone got an extra engine laying around for a '99 LS400? Not sure what to do at this point. My guy is looking around for used engines to keep the cost down. Failing that, who knows, I may just have to part it out if the price is too high. Any ideas?

omarg

check car-part.com. you should be able to find a good engine pretty cheap. socal is FULL of ls400s. Good luck! Don't part out your car. its too nice an still worth 9k in good cond.

Hey guys, is it possible to put a 4.3 engine in there? Well I'm sure its possible, just is it plug n play?

dude! i found a gs400 engine (10 more hp) in roseville ca for 1200. only 108k on it. Looks like a deal.

http://car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.c...ey=&userPage=2

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

if ur a bit performance minded you could swap in a 2JZ, the price in the end will be roughly the same since there are ways to work with the mounts. its the extra costs, for stuff like ECU and new bellhousing that will drive it up.

or try to find a motor, prolly will be 2500-4000 for it tho...

jcrome04

VERY sorry to hear of that happening to you also the first I've EVER read or heard about that happening to ANY LS ANYWHERE!

The only place I've looked for motors was jspecauto.com they used to carry LS400 motors but don't anymore. Their 2JZ-GTTE setup WITH Manual transmission, ECU, and wiring harness is $5795.00. Seems a little out of control.

http://jspecauto.com/catalog_product.aspx?prod_id=790

A 430 engine would be badass!!

damon

Where can he find one of those low mileage recovered from Japan motors?

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

first off you guys, a GS motor wont work, iirc the sump is differently positioned.

ckasper

Here's an update,

My mechanic found an engine from a wrecked '99 LS400 with 81K on it. He is going to pull my engine (which has 111K on it) and drop in the other. It's going to be pricey (low to mid $4,000) but it should work out. Guess I'm going to have to keep this for a few more years to amortize the cost!

I'll follow up in a couple of weeks and let you all know how it works out.

steveski

Sorry to hear about that - glad you found an engine though - everybody hears the engine is a 1UZFE so this is more proof to do proper maintenance.