19 YO Timing belt change?
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Driver School Candidate
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From: Texas
19 YO Timing belt change?
Hello,
I recently purchased a 2001 Lexus430 with 55k miles. Should I change the timing belt because of the years or wait until 90k? I will only be driving this car 1-2x a week for the next couple of years.
I recently purchased a 2001 Lexus430 with 55k miles. Should I change the timing belt because of the years or wait until 90k? I will only be driving this car 1-2x a week for the next couple of years.
Last edited by RA40; Dec 8, 2019 at 05:13 PM. Reason: descriptive title
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From: Florida
If you can wrench it yourself....
I own a 2001 LS430. It is my fourth 430. I put a lot of miles on this one fairly quickly. At 180,000 miles I replaced the timing belt. Because of the high mileage, it wouldn't be worth much in a sale, so I kept driving it. I tried not to spend anymore than I had to because I assumed it would be DOA at any time. When I bought tires, I typically didn't get the best quality, again, because I figured it was on its last legs. Suffice to say, I have continued to buy new tires. It didn't drive like it was on its last legs, so I kept jamming on the miles. When I got to 300,000, I skipped the timing belt because of the miles and because I knew the last one had gone for 180,000 with no problem. Now the damn car is at 393,000 miles. I haven't even been changing the oil at regular intervals. I can't kill this car! Besides, at this point, I was on a mission to get to 400,000 miles. Unfortunately, when doing a recent brake job, my mechanic noticed that the the left rear portion of the unibody frame was badly rusted and about to fail. He told me the car was toast, but another mechanic said that portion of the rear frame was replaceable for about $1700. LIke the fool I guess I am, I decided to have it fixed, if for no other reason than to say I got it to 400,000 miles. Now my dilemma is the timing belt replacement, which is 213,000 miles from its last change. Got to think about this. Maybe I am just lucky or maybe the likelihood of timing belt failure, is, in fact, way overblown. On the other hand, I would hate to have spent the $1700 and then have it snap on me next week. Think I'll write a letter to Lexus complaining about why they can't make a car that can go 400,000 miles. Just kidding. If I get to 400,000, I will have no choice but to shoot for 500k. These are the finest of cars ... the finest, even if you abuse them.
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From: Pa
I am waiting til 150 on mine to think about it or until the water pump starts leaking. My mechanic said it should be done. He also changes oil for customers every 3 months, even if the car has only been driven 1000 miles, because, as he says, it is time to be done, When I heard that, I ignored his advice to change my timing belt. The main reasons I am waiting is because of the horror stories I have read when the job is botched in addition to the arm and a leg wanted to do the job in my area. So, will leave well enough alone for now. However, I never drive the car very hard, rarely going above 2000 rpm unless rolling at 100 per on the freeway and never in a hurry to get up to that speed. If I drove it hard or could find someone close by who was like ClubLexus member peacebay, an ace wrench who can do the job in very few hours and who will do the job for fellow members for $500 parts and labor, probably would just get it done. When I got the car I worried about the timing belt until reading several posts like the one below ...
If you can wrench it yourself....
and: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...mile-05-a.html
If you can wrench it yourself....
and: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...mile-05-a.html
pay me a little now.....or a LOT later
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Lead Lap
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I was going to chime in.....saying most likely the belt will look new.....but you just can't tell anyone not to change their timing belt when it's old or has miles. I know personally of an owner with over 200,000 miles on the original belt and he is not planning on changing it! He says he won't invest any money in the car, and will keep driving it until it dies. Go figure!
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Driver School Candidate
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From: Texas
Bocatrip thank you for chiming in! So is it your opinion that I should or should not change the timing belt. Asking because you gave the example of someone driving 200k miles on original belt but it also sounded like you did not think that was a good idea. Very interested in your thoughts!
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Joined: May 2010
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From: DFW,TX
You should be ok with leaving the original belt. I changed the belt on my old Toyota at 13 years and 130K miles and the belt looked like new. I plan to pull one of the upper timing covers and inspect the belt on my 04 with 90K to inspect the belt. I may not change it for another year or two if it looks good. Maybe you can have a mechanically inclined friend or yourself do the same and determine if you need to replace the original belt.
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Driver School Candidate
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From: Texas
Thank you for your response pmesfun! Uhhmmm I know very little to nothing about cars so I probably won’t rush to get it done but will eventually do it to
protect my investment!
protect my investment!
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From: VA
If you're planning on keeping the car for a long time, you
are going to need to do it eventually.
As such, it makes sense to do it now - that way you know the belt will be fine for the time you own it, and with the mileage on your car I'm sure you paid a decent amount for it that you would not want to see written off.
If you're planning on keeping the car for a shorter time, maybe a year or two, then you could roll the dice, but otherwise it makes no sense to postpone an overdue maintenance event that you are going to have to do in the future regardless.
are going to need to do it eventually.
As such, it makes sense to do it now - that way you know the belt will be fine for the time you own it, and with the mileage on your car I'm sure you paid a decent amount for it that you would not want to see written off.
If you're planning on keeping the car for a shorter time, maybe a year or two, then you could roll the dice, but otherwise it makes no sense to postpone an overdue maintenance event that you are going to have to do in the future regardless.