joined the timing belt club at ~ 87k
#1
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
joined the timing belt club at ~ 87k
Now I'm no expert, but all the old parts looked virtually brand new: timing belt, water pump, tensioner, two idlers, and serpentine belt. As a layman, no signs of wear whatsoever in 11 yrs./87k. Maybe the 90k change is as mythical as unicorns
Last edited by DaveGS4; 02-06-17 at 08:04 AM. Reason: politics OT
#4
The 90k is a conservative recommendation based on LS use anywhere. CA highway miles and weather are pretty easy on a car. When I was looking for an LS, asked one owner if the TB had been replaced. She said she hadn't bothered to do it (car had 125). A buyer came to look at my 01. Told her the TB had been done at 90. She looked surprised. Told me she'd never had the belt done on her 400 (car had 198). Looks like it's possible to go farther but I agree about piece of mind.
Ugly question but what does an interference engine do if the TB breaks? It probably wouldn't be at idle. On the road, broken engine sounds, RPM's suddenly drop, car skids to a stop and it's new engine time?
Ugly question but what does an interference engine do if the TB breaks? It probably wouldn't be at idle. On the road, broken engine sounds, RPM's suddenly drop, car skids to a stop and it's new engine time?
#5
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Yep overall I'm glad it's done, I don't think I need anything more on this car for a while. I was gonna push it to Jan next year, maybe get up to 105k...in reality, does that mean I wasted 18k of wear on the new belt/pump etc., not really....but I likely would be willing to go beyond 87+90=177k, but who knows? At least we're talking like $775 at an indie, not $12k like an Audi S4 (8 cyl.)!! Not the end of the world to spend the money...I think the tech was really good, I talked to him personally, I bet it was a better job than the dealer. Car runs the same, temp the same, I just topped off the coolant a little because I like it full when cold....
p.s. I think if the belt broke the motor would be finished. But I don't think a belt could even break. My guess is the water pump seizes or maybe the belt loses tension, but it wouldn't be the actual belt breaking...I'd like to know for sure if Toyota only does the tensioner and idlers at 180, or every other, I thought I read that, I think that's dumb....and wasn't there even a carfax with no water pump and no new coolant, but timing belt, at Lexus? Also dumb...
p.s. I think if the belt broke the motor would be finished. But I don't think a belt could even break. My guess is the water pump seizes or maybe the belt loses tension, but it wouldn't be the actual belt breaking...I'd like to know for sure if Toyota only does the tensioner and idlers at 180, or every other, I thought I read that, I think that's dumb....and wasn't there even a carfax with no water pump and no new coolant, but timing belt, at Lexus? Also dumb...
#6
Intermediate
iTrader: (3)
My car is in the shop now getting all this stuff done (06 with 83K). However my mechanic is having an issue and telling me both cam sensors are telling him the timing is advanced. At first I was told it was the timing belt itself from the kit I bought from Rockauto. He went and got a Toyota belt and is waiting on a friend (Toyota/Lexus tech to double check the timing).
#7
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
My car is in the shop now getting all this stuff done (06 with 83K). However my mechanic is having an issue and telling me both cam sensors are telling him the timing is advanced. At first I was told it was the timing belt itself from the kit I bought from Rockauto. He went and got a Toyota belt and is waiting on a friend (Toyota/Lexus tech to double check the timing).
He put all the old parts in the box--I let them supply the parts for warranty purposes and it was the Aisin kit. I dunno folks know better than I do, I think it has the Aisin pump, Koyo idlers etc. and Mitsuboshi belt???? I did not see the new parts, but I have the box from which the shop ordered the kit, and it has my name and their shop on the shipping label....
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#8
Intermediate
iTrader: (3)
All the parts listed are the same in the kit I provided. I trust the shop as I have known the guy running the business side for almost 20 years now. He said the car started and ran smooth after the job was done, but got the check engine light. He said is not comfortable giving it back until it is back to 100%. Now it's just a waiting game. I did mention that the cam sensors/wires can be a little problematic with age.
Sounds like you went to a good shop to get the work done. I will keep this post updated when I hear back.
Sounds like you went to a good shop to get the work done. I will keep this post updated when I hear back.
#10
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Edit ps since this job requires removing the serpentine belt, why not replace....although my hoses and thermostat were reused....my feeling is if thermostat were replaced, I would want Oem and hope the temp does not change....
Last edited by Johnhav430; 02-04-17 at 03:11 PM.
#11
Pole Position
You really do not want to find out the hard way, I can assure you that. In all interference engines, when the cam belt lets go, there is a real risk that there will be open valves, and pistons will be charging their way up the cylinders for a meet and greet session. I met a guy with an AE101 BZ Touring Corolla with the Blacktop 4A-GE 20v that had a timing belt let go. The 3 intake valves on Cylinder 2 hit the piston, the 3rd valve (centre valve) had snapped the head off it and was buried in the piston. There was also a deep gouge in the head from the same valve. Very messy situation, especially with a high compression (11.0:1 CR) engine like that
#12
Intermediate
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You really do not want to find out the hard way, I can assure you that. In all interference engines, when the cam belt lets go, there is a real risk that there will be open valves, and pistons will be charging their way up the cylinders for a meet and greet session. I met a guy with an AE101 BZ Touring Corolla with the Blacktop 4A-GE 20v that had a timing belt let go. The 3 intake valves on Cylinder 2 hit the piston, the 3rd valve (centre valve) had snapped the head off it and was buried in the piston. There was also a deep gouge in the head from the same valve. Very messy situation, especially with a high compression (11.0:1 CR) engine like that
At least Toyota does not use electric water pumps with plastic impellers that rot away like BMW does; not yet anyway.
http://www.tomorrowstechnician.com/b...p-replacement/
#13
Now they use chains in most of their engines and people wrongly assume a chain will last the life of the car when that is completely false. The chains wear at the point each link pivots on the pins. This causes the chain to stretch and loosen. It will not last the life of the car unless you junk the car around 100K miles.
if so, you're wrong. Chains last much much longer than belts. The downside is that they tend to be noisier and more costly to manufacture.
#14
Moderator
I'm planning on taking a couple days this spring and tackling my 05's TB because of the age factor, but I'm sure the components will look exactly like John's... I know, I know... peace of mind, right? With 53K on the car, I know the parts don't show much wear, but you just never know when something could fail.
#15
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I'm planning on taking a couple days this spring and tackling my 05's TB because of the age factor, but I'm sure the components will look exactly like John's... I know, I know... peace of mind, right? With 53K on the car, I know the parts don't show much wear, but you just never know when something could fail.
again he said the undercarriage was exceptional, to which I said it was a FLA car 8 yrs....
Edit. I wish I could diy, it would be very satisfying...maybe someday when I have more room and the kid is a teen...Good luck on yours! I think the Aisin kit is very popular (parts are from USA I believe)....
edit 2 on the serpentine, They used a Bando. I notice Oem has two parts, and the Bando lists for $90? I think non Oem Bando is $20. Again one of those weird high prices, like the Oem brake sensor wires....
Last edited by Johnhav430; 02-05-17 at 04:38 AM.