I have an '02 LS430 with only 60,000 miles. The Lexus maintenance schedule calls for the timing belt to be changed every 90,000 miles or 6 years. It is now 8 years old with the original belt. Is the timing belt change critical with time or am I good to go another 2-3 years?

 

I would have it inspected, and if it looks okay- keep going until 100k or at least until it starts to look somewhat stressed even if it's before 100k. No need to spend the money now IMHO. With you being in SC, im sure the belt has not been through a lot of tought weather cycles as well.

 

I would say have you been consistently using the car in the 8 years, or did it sit for months on end at times? Everything stays in top running condition with use, so if you've used it running here and there and it hasn't sat, then I would say you can go another 2 years.

If you want to be "safe" then do like Lust4Lexus suggested and have it looked at by a trusty mechanic. Don't go to Lexus, they won't even look and say you'll need to have it replaced.

 

My dealer recommends 105K for the Toyota/Lexus V8's and 75K for the V6's here in AZ (heat is the killer of rubber). That said, I had my '01 honda prelude t-belt and water pump replaced in Aug '08 based on age (7 yrs or 90K mi recommended by honda). At that time, it had 36K mi on it, was driven maybe 2x/week and garaged the rest of the time. Anyways, I had the dealer save the parts. Timing belt looked brand new, water pump too (bearings still tight & smooth, no hint of play). I traded in a '00 honda CRV w/ 54K mi on it when I bought my LS. Lexus dealer had the entire car checked out (original t-belt). Honda dealer said it was in unbelievable condition, so the lexus salesman bought it!

 

I had local Toyota dealer do my timing belt,water pump,sepertine belt,clean throttle body,injectors and an oil change @ 84k miles



cost: $901

lexus dealer wanted $1625+


love my toyota dealer



~Carmine


ps.
while I was at the lexus dealer for my last warranty repair last week (exp 3/20/2010 or 100,000)

I requested some prices for work.


this is the email I got back

Here is the estimate you've requested.

90.000 mile service $770.00
Trans Flush $130.00
Spark Plugs $319.95
P/S flush $139.88
Brake flush $129.00
Coolant flush $149.95


We've also ordered your front door speakers they are covered. Your driver's door
glass isn't covered and would cost $819.95+tax to replace.


the driver door issue is the seperation in the center bottom

 

The problem w/ inspecting the t-belt is you have to pull the radiator and all the other stuff out to access the timing cover. After doing all that work (and that is the bulk of the cost...labor), you may as well change it. It's not like replacing the t-belt on a Toyota turbo diesel where you can just open the cover and look inside.

 

QUESTION !! My car is a jersey car and it had to be garaged because it just looks new.......well atleast when I got it which was 6 months ago. I got it with 15K so it means that the guy didnt drive much at all. Now that its 5 years old, does it mean that the belt is not in good shape because it wasnt really used much untill 6 months ago??? And it will probably take me around 4 years to get the car to 100k. Does the age of the belt really matter?

 

What year is your car? 2004 or 2005 from your statement that it's 5 years old now. 15K in that time is very low usage, but five years should be fine and if you start to use it more frequently, 4 more years should be fine. Unless that car was sitting the past four years, I would not worry about dry rot or anything.

But in general, yes if a car is just sitting around doing nothing, then rust, dust, dry rot, all settle into different parts and then affect the overall effectiveness of parts.

 

Sounds like good advice so far. One thing I can offer in terms of determining time interval for replacement is to also look for clues based on the general condition of visible hoses and belts. IN other words if the engine bay components look dirty, cracked, oxidized, weathered than its likely the hidden rubber items are in similar but not necessarily exact shape. I got lucky and bought an 06 LS with low miles (20K) that had been exceptionally well taken car of. The engine bay looks brand new inside. And it is not the fake shiny clean of a quicky engine detail job, instead it is the shiny clean new look of a pampered garage queen. I will almost certainly not come close to 90K in next 7 years.

My car is an 06 so I will likely change timing belt when the car is 8-9 years old (car is 4 years old now until the 2011 models come out when it will be 5) . But until then I will be closely monitoring overall condition of the engine bay.

 

I never knew that! Oh boy- If this is true, your right- might as well change it.