waterdog3

This is a third car mainly for the kids to get to and from school and work. The car has 195,000 miles on it but runs well. Tranny fluid was changed at 60,000 but not since. Should I change it? Or leave it. It also leaks some oil. Not sure from where but it doesn't look like the valve covers. TB never been changed so I may do that, and I'm sure the motor mounts and tranny mounts are bad. Prior owner never did anything but change oil.

Just want to say Great Forum here! And the LS for that many miles and age is still a very impressive car. I find myself wanting to drive that and let the kids take my car!

SpencerT

IF THE TIMING BELT HAS 195000 MILES DO NOT DRIVE THAT CAR.
Are you positive it hasnt been changed?
That is double the longest miles before a change anyone on this forum will recommend.
that belt should have broken and destroyed your engine many 10s of thousands of miles ago.

As far as the trans fluid, change it but do not flush the system.
A flush will destroy your transmission.
do this: http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/trans...anschange.html
then drain and fill the fluid in the pan every 500 miles untill the fluid coming out is as red as it goes in.
Only use toyota type 4 atf, it is 100% the only fluid you can use.

waterdog3

I hear you on the timing belt. I spoke to a mechanic about it and his response was that for what I paid for the car it wasn't worth it. He said it's unlikely to break. Yes, I'm rolling the dice! Yes, I'm sure it's never been changed.

I just had the TB and water pump done on my 4Runner at 95,000 miles for about $800. I'm betting the belt still looked like new. I've talked to some people that say at 90,000 miles the belts are barely worn.

My original intent was only to keep the car for a year until both kids are out of school, but like the car enough that I may make it a project and keep it. So that said, I may go ahead and change it out. I'm just not excited about spending another $800 for a TB change.

SpencerT

I am very doubtful that a timing belt with 195k is "unlikely to break" but I could be wrong.

If you are positive it has 195k on it, get it changed. No maybes.
Im sure everyone here will back me up on this.

And 800 for a tb and water pump is actually a great price on this car.

waterdog3

Yep, pretty much same as my 4Runner. Found specialty Lexus/Toyota shop to due my 4Runner. He said same price to do the Lexus. Dealer wanted $1,275 to do the same stuff.

I'm positive on the miles and I looked up the service history and I can't see where it has ever been done. The prior owner owned the car for 7 years. Nothing but oil changes. I changed the air filter last night and I'm guessing that was 7 years old. I have a new cabin air filter on the way. I can't wait to see what that looks like.

SpencerT

Ohh ok I was thinking of a totally different car when you said 4runner and said it would cost the same as the lexus. It probably should cost the same.

But I think you deffinatly should give your kids the 4runner and keep the lexus for yourself.
If you dont mind, how much did you pay and do you have a picture?

waterdog3

I don't know about giving the kids the 4Runner. They have a hard enough time keeping the sedans (the LS is not first car I've bought for them) off the 4 wheeling trails. I'm hoping they learned a lesson not having a car to drive the last few months. This is the second and the last.

I paid $1,800 for the LS. The pic makes it look better than it does in person. It has a few dents, and the clear coat and paint have lost the battle to the FL sun. Interior is in ok shape. It needs some maintenance items attended to that I will get to. I may even fix the dents and paint it. Everything works except the trunk release. Have to use the key.

This car is better at this age and mileage than a 2 or 3 year old GM car with 50,000 miles! I will never own anything but toyotas again. We now have 3.

billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

Hi SpencerT, I dont remember anyone having a broken timing belt on this forum, except the 94 I bought with one.. at 235k, the PO hit passing gear and boom... I put one on and drove it for a year.
what is amazing is the water pump lasting that long.... just a little info as I pass..

SpencerT

Really? Everything I remember reading said to regularly check for wear on the tb after 65k because it will do major damage if it breaks. If I recall 94s were different though. Something about interference and non interference engines. I dont remember though.

bauceLS400

iTrader: (2)

Congrats man, looks like you got a awesome deal.

SpencerT

I was going to same the same thing.
Regardless of the tb or any posted issues you got that car for a steal

RxG300

Im so jealous! I spent $1400 on my 94 and it has 226k miles. Your kids are lucky lol.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

if the tb on an '89-94 breaks, you need a tow and some tools to fix your muckup.

if the tb on a '95-97 or '98-00 breaks, you need a tow and a new motor.

OP-what makes you think the tb has lasted 195k? I highly doubt it since if the tb itself lasts that long, i very much doubt the idlers and water pump will. (in fact that's the main type of stories i hear of LS TB failures, seized pulleys shredding belts.) just because there's no TB change sticker doesnt mean it wasnt done.

waterdog3

The owner I bought it from said he never did the TB. I used another site to pull the history of the car. The water pump and some pulleys were replaced by the first owner under warranty. I don't remember why. Te first owner took care of the car. The second owner, not so much. I am going to look for a sticker on the engine today. I doubt I'll find one. I think I will have the belt changed soon.
Thanks everyone! Great forum!