cpurser

Looking at buying an '05 with 63k miles. I had Lexus send me the service history, and the TB hasn't been changed. I did a forum search... sounds like it needs to be changed even though it's <90k miles. Is that the consensus?

Maybe this is a bargaining item with the dealer.

Thanks,
Chad

bloomwcjkl

TB, waterpump, tensioner, idler (there is a kit) should be done based on the age of the vehicle (or miles). If you use the Aisin kit, this is somewhere north of $1,000 depending on your location and who you have do it.

The dealer should know that it needs to be done. You can use it as a bargaining item if there aren't buyers lined up to buy without it being done.

At the age/mileage, it probably isn't critical, but it is nice to have done. I bought my 01 with 129k and researched the history. TB had not been done by the original owner. I did the kit and the TB was in rough shape. No fun to put $1,000+ in, but I am very glad I did it. The car is even smoother than it was before and should be good for another chunk of miles.

Romanova

My 06 purchased at 78k had not had it done. I had it done immediately (dealer wouldn't budge on it) and found the belt to be in fine shape, plenty of life left. The piece of mind though, is worth having it done.

cpurser

Thanks for the quick responses. I've sent the history to the dealer and asked for the service to be done. We'll see what happens!

tallcaguy

Local dealer sent you the history? Mine (in Sacramento) would not and they'd done all the work on the car from day one. Something about owner confidentiality. They did know me because they'd worked on my previous LS.

cpurser

I called the dealer the car was originally bought from (and serviced), and she pulled the history. She even emailed it to me.

COOLIS

You can access all the service records for any Lexus yourself if you create a Lexus Owners Profile (owners.lexus.com) and have the VIN#. I use this feature anytime I'm looking at buying a used Lexus.

As mentioned, the timing belt replacement is based off 90K or age. I have heard anywhere from 7-10 years regarding age. It's actually very, very rare for a timing belt to break, but is a nightmare if it does break.

My mom went 15 years and 120K miles before she replaced the timing belt on her 92 SC400. My dad on the other hand had a 94 Lexus LS400 back in the day and his replacement timing belt broke a year or so after replacement. Luckily the older Lexus engines were non-interference, so the damage wasn't catastrophic. On the newer engines, it's usually catastrophic it breaks.

XJSFan

I recently had the timing belt service done on my 2006 GS 430 at 36K miles... Main concern with me was to just get it over with and to have all new anti-freeze(coolant). My 2006 LS 430 was done at 82K miles and the belt looked in fine condition but you never know when those can go.. Get it done by the dealer before you leave the dealership. Good luck.

Johnhav430

I hate to be so old fashioned, but I generally do not trust dealers. Same thing when I was looking at a 2005 LS430, right away, dealer emailed me the internal work order for reconditioning the car. I looked at it and said how come right side front strut and rear shock replaced, oh, great, 4 brand new Dunlop SP5000's. I got to see the car in person, and no, there are 4 new knock-off tires, and the right side had been hit and repaired (black paint on rear right rim and overspray everywhere). Also, vehicle would not start, that was a nice one.

If an indie charges $850 for a timing belt/water pump with idlers and pulleys, I'd just plan on it. I know they will belly ache, but take $850 off the price of the car. Actually, take another $800 for the driver door lock actuator which is sure to break if never replaced yet. Or, you do it at the dealer and show me the used parts (this is troublesome because a tech could just take it from another car being done), so I'd just rather have money off and go the indie route....

cpurser

I agreed to $550 labor + parts, and they took $200 off the price of the car. Better than nothing, I guess!

Thanks for all the inputs.

Johnhav430

just curious what you mean....what is $550....

In other words asking price $10,000. I would say look I want to get the timing belt done at my indie, so now I'm offering you $9,150 for the car. And btw the door lock actuator, take another $800 off the $9,150. I totally get that they would balk, but there is simply no way to trust the dealer because the used car sale is their bread and butter, they don't want to give up any margin here like they would on a new car....I wouldn't be so cynical except I shopped 2 used LS430's at Lexus dealers and found the same, immediate pdf file emailed of an internal work order for the cars. I now reflect back and realize this is a sales tactic....because it was IMMEDIATE. I did not ask for that....

p.s. in my case they took $1000 off the asking price and after 1 day, called back to say yes we will do the timing belt here at our dealer (but I cannot trust them to do so/fudge factor, not to mention indie will do a better job)

edit: another thought, being that we're talking about authorized Lexus dealerships selling used but non CPO Lexus'. either the car needs a timing belt, or it does not. So let's say they're willing to do it for me since I asked. The next buyer does not ask, so they don't do it. Is this integrity? Because the car needs it.

cpurser

The seller is actually a Honda dealership. They are charging me $550 labor plus the cost of the parts. I've requested to see the work order and to receive the old parts.

Johnhav430

gotcha, I guess if it were me I would rather have a Toyota specialist do it, the going rate is $750-$900 from the forum, so if they take it off the price, you are free to go and get it done yourself. I dont' think the $550 is fair, I don't know what the logic is--it's $550 plus more, that's full retail. I would say, though, being a Honda dealer, when you get the old parts back it should be on the up and up since they don't just happen to have a 3UZ-FE water pump and components laying around the way a Lexus dealer might...I'd do one better but maybe I'm insane, in the middle of the job I'd say take me back and let me see the car on the lift. BMW is ok with that, because they were proud of the new shop, but I get that most dealers would say insurance....where I bought my car also was not Lexus, it was GMC, and they were ok with going into the shop with them...

e60bmw

iTrader: (1)

I just had mine done recently, I have 98k and a 02. I was told by the shop that it doesn't just go by the year, its generally 6-8 years after the car is made, timing belts probably aren't made to last 15 years even if its under 90k. Some have said its fine to go past and its not needed. I wanted the peace of mind, so I had it done, it ran me about $1200. Probably a little bit expensive but I won't have to deal with it again. I'd say you got a good price for $500 for labor and parts. It was a OEM kit.

Johnhav430

Maybe I misread, the post said $550 plus the cost of parts. My question is where does the number even come from, what's the out the door price. To each his own because obviously the person opening up the checkbook's opinion, is the only one that matters. I just think that car dealers are a little sneaky the way they present numbers, that's all. That's why they avoid discounts or "included" or "out the door," these terms are not in their favor. Saying it's this plus an unknown, that's for the house...my .02.

edit Just thought of an example, muffler shops say lifetime this and that. You know, the burger king guy touching everything and it turns to gold commercial, but he leaves the retriever alone. But it doesn't include labor, which is overstated. So a lifetime strut is basically costing the same under the warranty, as paying straight up without a lifetime warranty, whether you get 2, 3, 4, etc. It is designed such that there never is a break-even.