I've got a 2001 LS430 that is about to turn over to 100k miles and I still haven't gotten the 90k mile service because of the price. How crucial is replacing the water pump and timing belt?

 

I also have a 2001 LS 430. The 90k service is not a water pump/timing belt, it's a 60K service. A 90K service is a tranny service and it's not that expensive. A 90k service is about $400, a 60k service is $1800. You should get a service history for your car - it's free and you'll know if a 60k service was done and how your car was serviced.

 

A friend of mine has 01 LS 430 with 350 000 miles on it thats being driven day in day out and he did his water pump/timing belt around 150 000 miles. I have 04 LS with 120 000 miles on the clock and starting to hear whistling noise from under the hood. 60K or 90K service is more of a recommeded thing. You can do timing belt/pump much later if money is an issue.

 

I wouldn't push it past the 90K recommended interval. It IS 90K, not 60K on my 03. Does anyone know if our engines are 'interference' engines? Whether the valves can make contact with the pistons if the timing belt fails?

 

Yes, the 430s are interference engines. And the timing belt change requirement is 90k for all years. Exceeding that mileage without changing the belt is nothing but a gamble. You will probably be okay, but maybe not. 30k, 60k are more indepth services, like tranny flush, but 90k is the biggie.

 

Yes, your engine will be torn up if the timing belt breaks!

 

have heard about the timing belt issue for many times. When should I replace the belt? 60K? 90K? If the belt breaks, it's going to be costly...

I don't hear many people saying the timing belt broke (maybe most people replace the belt at recommended interval). I owned 3 Toyota and timing belt is not scheduled for replacement until 90K or 100K. If Korean cars can last 100k before the 1st tune up, I don't really see the reason why we need to do timing belt @ 60K for Lexus/Toyota.

I know many feel like "better safe than sorry" but that's what the car dealer, service department want you to think. Dealers rely on loyal customers to come back for services. Those coffee, donut at the waiting room is not free. Somehow they have to pay for it, I guess most of the money is from our pockets.

I am willing to gambling and hold on to the $1800 and wait. Just like buying externed warranty. We got it for the last 2 toyota and never needed it. I guess Lexus should be better.

Again, should listen to other folks, check the service record and see what has been done on your car. good luck

 

Change the belt at 100K, and water pump can wait until it breaks. Changing the pump at the same time as belt is old school thought of that since you're removing the wheels that hold the belt and you're in there already, might as well replace the pump which will not last much longer. Nowadays, especially Toyota, I would think their pumps run up to excess fo 200K, so changing at 90K or 100K is overkill.

Do the belts at 100K for sure, and pump can wait. My water pump on '95 Civic didn't go until 215K and I changed the timing belt religiously every 60K.

 

My problem with the 90k servicing is the overall cost even if postponed for a few thousand miles. Lexus service at the dealer is quite expensive; both parts and labor. As the cars get older and depreciate, paying more than 10% of the current automobile replacement price for any routine servicing is a bit much especially when all of the previous servicing has been done there.

 

i just hit 90k also with my 01. i did my trans and coolant at 75k but i guess the imma do it again when i do my timing belt. its about a 3-5 hr job depending on how familar you are. im going to do both timing/water pump since im going to be in there. i started to notice my cam seals are starting to seep. anyone had that problem. ive heard people go to 115k no problem but like he said its a gamble.

 

Again, the "since I'm already in there" might as well replace it. I don't know how much the Lexus water pump, but an aftermarket is probably in the $150-200 range, so Lexus probably $400. That's a big chunk of cash to replace on somthing that's really only gone maybe half it's life if you replace at $100K. I would definitely change at 200K if it's still good, but not at 100K.

Some things we just need to get out of our routine because "it's the way it's always done" and think more cost savings (during these tough economical times), ecology (are old pumps recycled?), and just not being wasteful.

This is extreme, but I look at changing the water pump with belt as "hey, I'm changing the tire, might was well change the rims too since they're old also. I'm changing the spark plugs, might as well change the injectors since they've got 100K on them as well."

 

The water pump from Lexus is around $150. The timing belt is around $55.

I'd replace both at 100k. I'm too lazy to do the same amount of work again on the chance it'll die to save $150. My time is more valuable than that.

And if you don't work on the car yourself, it's going to cost a bit more than time.. I'd guess at Lexus' labor rates you are taking a $500-$700 gamble that the pump will last until the next timing belt change. It's unlikely to die at 100k, but I've seen plenty go in the 150-170 range, which would be before the next timing belt change. I guess doing the second timing belt early makes more financial sense since the part is cheaper (assuming tensioners aren't suggested also, I've seen too many engines go from bad tensioners not to replace them anymore, granted all were built engines, not stock lexus engines).

Either way, I'll personally do both at the same time just out of being too lazy to deal with it again before 100k has passed.

 

another suggestion:
try craigslist to locate a Toyota/lexus tech who do service on the weekend.

I know a friend he does that for honda. He works as a honda dealship so he help friends on weekend. No mark up on parts, mainly labor. I seems someone listed as who will do Lexus timing belt for $400 (part and labor).

Just an idea

 

I have a 2003 LS430 with 87k miles and I just had the timing belt, water pump, thermostat, spark plugs, idler pulley and Tensioner pully replaced.
I brought it to a Toyota dealer and negotiated a labor price of $547.
I brought the Lexus parts to the Toyota dealer.
You can find the discounted required parts online. I took that printout to the local Lexus dealer and had them match the price. Parts were about $300.

 

I had a 1997 Acura 3.5 RL I bought at 120,000 and because there was so little info on the car I didn't change the TB and Water Pump until 170,000. But it was all good. I sold the car with 260,000 and everything was kewl.

I bought a 2001 430 and I could not tell if the second owner did the major service at 60 or 90. So I did it at 97K when I bought it. Everything is fine,

My point is that the high end Japanese cars are well built but there is no need to push the envelope if you do not have to. Just do the service when suggested and life will be good,