Pulley question - Test driving a 99 LS400

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Feb 3, 2020 | 08:49 AM

Boomette

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From: FL

Pulley question - Test driving a 99 LS400

We're checking a 99 LS400 and all seems in good shape, service history is great. Only question is the area by the pulleys is squeaking quite a bit. Any thoughts on this?

Feb 3, 2020 | 08:55 AM

EthanS

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From: Arizona

Old belts, old tensioners, old alternator and power steering pump.
Could also be the clutch fan bracket (the bearing for the radiator fan), mine squeaked a bit before it let go around 165k miles.
When was the timing belt / water pump job last completed? current mileage?

Last edited by EthanS; Feb 4, 2020 at 07:33 AM.

Feb 3, 2020 | 09:09 AM

Boomette

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Timing belt and water pump done 1k miles ago in 2015. Car has 73k miles, old lady owned it for past 16 years. Been in an accident though, carfax says "moderate damage" from a side swipe. Can see the overspray on engine area when they painted it.

Feb 3, 2020 | 09:15 AM

bradland

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From: 565 St Peter NOLA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boomette

We're checking a 99 LS400 and all seems in good shape, service history is great. Only question is the area by the pulleys is squeaking quite a bit. Any thoughts on this?

Based on the long history of the LS400 the highest probability would point to the tensioner pulley.
Luckily it's the easiest to replace-

https://www.amazon.com/NSK-70SPPV0408DDUL-Drive-Idler-Pulley/dp/B075LWJT68/ref=au_as_r?_encoding=UTF8&Make=Lexus%7C75&Model=LS400%7C1003&Year=1999%7C1999&ie=UTF8&n=15684181&s=automotive&vehicleId=1&vehicleType=automotive

It should be easy to negotiate the fix into the purchase but make sure they use a pulley with a quality Japanese bearing like in the above link.

Feb 3, 2020 | 09:18 AM

Boomette

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Is this worth walking away? They are asking $9,500.

I know the maintenance was fairly well documented, so felt comfortable with that. But they didn't provide carfax, I paid for it and this is what I find out. What a head killer....

Feb 3, 2020 | 09:29 AM

bradland

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From: 565 St Peter NOLA

Price is WAY TOO HIGH in any condition.
That's approx. what I paid for my 99 (w/90K miles) back in 2008...

Feb 3, 2020 | 09:30 AM

Boomette

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Ok, we're walking away....thanks for the info guys. The accident seems to have been a bit more substantial than they tried to make it sound and is just not worth this price. It would have been without the accident though!

Feb 3, 2020 | 05:48 PM

timmy0tool

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way too much even if it wasn't damaged but you are looking at the right things and asking the right questions!

Feb 4, 2020 | 08:07 AM

#10

kambam3627

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From: Texas

Glad you walked away..... ridiculously high, I had seen a 99 with 67K in the color purple here in Texas a few weeks back, they were asking 5,900$. 9500 is way to damn much especially for a side swipe.