Yep, I supplied the timing belt kit and tensioner. I got the Aisan TKT-001 per the recommendation of the folks in this thread. The kit didn't come with a tensioner, so I purchased that separately. This one.

You know, you may be onto something. I vaguely remember (as I was in utter shock and disappointment) when the owner called the first time, him saying the driver side cam shaft was "about five notches off". You could very well be right.

On a side note, I wish I had a chance to read this earlier in the day. I stopped by the shop on my way home from work because I needed to get something out of my center console. I got to look at my driver side cam shaft. Luckily, it appears to be okay. Of course, both heads are off-site at a machinist, so I wasn't able to see those. It looks like it'll be the first part of next week before the car is back in my possession. The parts the machinist had to order are taking some extra time. He should hopefully have those parts in by tomorrow afternoon, so maaayyyybe Friday, but I'm not counting on it. At this point, I want them to take all the time they need to get it right.

 

. With BMW there are so many indies, some are more expensive than the dealer. The dealer provides a free loaner, always, even for a 2007 out of warranty and $60 service. The Lexus dealer charged me $59 for a brake flush and $129 for a coolant drain. A muffler shop likely charges more for the flush. Coolant, steep because Toyota sllc2 is $26 for 50/50. Have to admit, I will likely use an indie on the timing belt because I was quoted $775. This shop is 80 miles away and appears to know what they're doing. Would not supply my own parts on this job, so they take full responsibility to include warranty. It's about trust and expertise. Not all indies are bad, but some are. They are running a business and with Toyota, I don't think there is the enthusiast aspect like Euro cars.

​​​​​​​ps dealer has the resources to spread the risk out. And indie really does not....how much you bet a job goes south and they now rip another customer off to make up....

 

I am glad the shop is taking ownership to repair this. Given your supplying the parts, this could very easily have gone the way of "your supplied parts caused this". Boom.

With that said - taking the car and engine out of current shop is almost impossible so am not sure where folks are going with that thought. Just make sure your engine is out back together with new parts and that it runs as well as it did prior.

 

I have to agree here. If the shop didn't get it right the first time, why would you have any confidence in them doing a more extensive procedure as taking the engine apart and replacing valves.? Another reason for some jobs I like to take it to the dealership where I know I will always have recourse if something goes wrong. Good luck and let us know how you make out.

 

I think what I wanted to say is we have to pick and choose the jobs and the shops....I think that letting a foreign expert work on my Maxima, who also works on '12 997 Turbos (always had 1 or 2 in the garage with the motor out), was just a pipe dream on my part that my Maxima was getting top notch attention. The prices were almost like the dealer, although I did get the valve cover gaskets replaced for $460 which was cheap. That kept me coming back and then I noticed parts were list price and overall was almost the same as dealer. I had thought that the LS being a Toyota 3UZ meant that so many people have worked on it, and now I'm greeted by specialists who "don't see too many cars like" mine. We have members here who could do the timing belt/water pump in their sleep, because they have done it before. That doesn't mean an ASE tech who has never done it before and is under the gun to crank out work can do it as well, unfortunately.

I never quite believed in the term "stealership." There are cases where their prices are ok. One time, I called a BMW dealer to ask how much for a battery replacement--they gave me the, "we can't quote that over the phone, we need to see the car." WTF!! Never used that dealer again. So again, it's case by case, and it seems I have to travel 80 miles to an indie who can work on the LS....

 

And for me, here in lies the problem. I have done a few TB services in the past, most notably was a 1994 300zx I had. That was the most difficult belt I've replace. I know I have the technical ability to do it, but if I do make a mistake, then the onus is on me to fix it. So for me, it boils down to either Lexus doing it when the car is ready for a new TB or going to a Toyota dealership.

 

Okay, so I got the LS back last week and the engine runs perfectly fine. I've put 600 miles on it since the service.

HOWEVER, I discovered an exhaust leak the day I got it back. I made sure to let the shop know the next morning. When I'm idling at a red light with the outside air turned on, the cabin starts to reek of pure unfiltered exhaust. It smells like a 1972 Trans Am or something the like. I also hear a faint sputtering when accelerating. Classic exhaust leak sound, only a bit subdued.

Needless to say, it's back at the shop now and they are looking at it today.

 

And I've got it back! It seems one of the bolts on the exhaust manifold wasn't tightened to the right torque specification. The smell and sound are both gone now.

 

Never, ever go back there ... except to serve them with a Summons & Complaint.