I bought a 1998 LS400 a few months ago with almost 150k Miles on it. The car is cosmetically like new and it runs just as well. I was told the belt was changed previously by the place that sold me the car but there are no markings or anything that would indicate it has been done.


I have to give the dealer the $final 1500.00 I owe them buts its my only leverage. Does anyone have a car with the original timing belt and high miles.


The car runs great and no strange noises under the hood. Should I demande proof or ask the dealership to do the timing belt free of charge or ask them to take it back. I just cant be stranded plus they tome me it was safe no issies but to me at almost 150k its a ticking timebomb?


Here is the vin JT8BH28FXW0135242 can anyone tell me if it has been done by that?


Car looks great but ...





Thank you

 

Def verify that it has been done. What dealer are you purchasing the car from? If lexus, then they should have a record. Join this site and you can run the vin# yourself to look at it's service history at the Lexus dealership.

https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lex...submitLogin.do

 

have them provide proof or give in writing that they verify the service was done at xx miles.

but you would have had to have them do that when you bought the car.

 

Your in a good place. Ask them to do what PureDrifter says, if they won't then tell them that they have 3 choices.
1 You get to keep the $1500 to pay to have the timing belt done.
2 They do the timing belt and get the money.
3 They refund all the purchase cost back to you and get the car back.
It would be a shame to let them have it back as it looks real good. So maybe you don't want to do option 3.

By the way I've seen 98's around $4000 or so, how much did you pay? If its pretty high then they owe the T belt if its only got 20K miles to go.
You don't want a problem with it on that engine.

 

If the belt was changed at around 90,000, it's almost due for another change. I googled the vin and found this: dated Jan, 9, 2014.

1998 Lexus LS400 4-Door 4.0L - V8 - 126,329 mainly highway miles (miles may increase by up to 50-75 as it is test driven). Automatic. Very well taken care of and in very nice condition. All extras work, sun roof. 22gallon gas tank, non smoking. Has manuals and extra Lexus brand first aid kit etc. Michelin tires. 6disc cd changer with sterio and cassette. No wrecks. Two Keys. Has been kept serviced and just had a oil change. Has had the 100000 miles tune up so you save 1800 there. Replaced rack & pinion 10/18/2013, replaced power steering pump 5/11/2013, replaced water pump and timing belt at 90,000 mile service, Dec 2011.Leather interier with wood trim through out. It also has a brand new battery bought through AAA. It comes with a 3 year free replacement and this carries over to the new owner. If you do not have AAA you can still get the replacement by paying a $45.00 serivce fee but if you have it, its free. Leather seats have no splits but show normal wear. Cosmetically on the back bumper you can see a hole where we backed into a pole and it made a almost perfect little hole approx 1" across. Otherwise it has normal wear and tare. Back seat has a pull down middle console. The only reason this car is being sold is we bought a new one. I have tried to list everything I can think of. I have MANY more pictures if you'd care to see them, message me and I'll email them to you.

http://usedcarsfsbo.com/asp/Item.asp...y=1%2F9%2F2014

 

If they'll let you, it's only 4 10mm head bolts to remove to get the drivers side timing belt cover that goes over the spark plugs too. With that off you could visually inspect the outside of the timing belt. If you had a little more access, you could remove the engine under cover and turn the engine over by hand until you get to see some markings show up under the drivers side timing belt cover. You may be able to tell something by the markings. If the belt is original there won't be any markings, they'll all be worn off.

Another thing you can do with the under cover removed is look at the timing belt hydraulic tensioner. It sits outside of the timing belt covers in the open. It's just to the passenger side of the crankshaft pulley. If it looks newer or cleaner than it's surroundings the belt was probably replaced.

It's going to be hard to tell withing being given some access to remove a couple things.

 

Friend you are asking us what we would do.... and it is NOT our decision,, YOU need to make what ever decision you need to so you can have peace about it..... dont talk to us, talk to them and then do whatever will make you happy... it looks like it is a good one to us but if it scares you GO FIND out the answers... good luck..

 

Since you own the car, do the things I said. I hadn't read everything you wrote and thought you were just looking at it. At least pull the undercover and look at the timing belt tensioner.

 

You probably know that the '95 and later LSs have an interference engine. Consequently, if the TB fails (or is failed by a seized water pump, tensioner, etc) the engine will be scrap.

 

If you did not purchase that LS from a Toyota or Lexus dealership I would have the TB and Waterpump replaced.Why?...my first LS, a 98, I replaced the TB&WP at 132,000 miles and the old belt and pump looked like new. My 2002 LS430 I replaced the TB&WP at 160,000 miles and the parts also looked new. I bought a 99 LS after I totaled the 98 model I mentioned above. The dealership I bought it from replaced the TB&WP just before I bought it at 69,000 miles. They even gave me the old parts to prove it. The problems was they used a Gates TB&WP kit instead of the Aisin and the water pump started leaking early and I had to replace it all anyway. Chances are this dealer did the same thing. You would actually have been better off if they left the original belt and pump alone if they didn't use Aisin parts is all i'm saying.

 

I've got to say, this looks pretty convincing to me. If everything else about this description matches the car, I'd feel pretty safe assuming it was done at 90k. It just sounds right.
So you'll be due for another at 180k, or 2018 if you go by the 7-years as well. I know the dealer is in business to rip you off, but the guy who sold it on that website is probably not.

 

I bought a 97 with 147k miles with original water pump and started having little problems at 152k like engine code p0340 a camshaft code, but after i pulled it out and tested it was fine. The mechanic who replaced my pump and belt said the tensioner loosened and the belt slipped a tooth. Think mechanic didn't like me telling him to not diagnose just fix it and $500 labor and $200 for Aisian TB kit, car growls nice especially after last 2 mufflers removed. So yea...keep the car at 150k it's got another 150k before a quality of life conversation needs to happen. Hope that helps