I HAVE 2000 (ES300), 73000 MILES. IF MY CAR RUNS NICE AND SMOOTH, SHOULD I REPLACE THE TIMING BELT AS SUGGESTED AT 60000 MILES BY LEXUS DEALER MAINTNANCE BOOK?

 

Welcome to CL!

For your ES @ 73K miles, you don't need to change your timing belt until 90K. This is mentioned in the owner's manual supplement book.

 

Don't go by the dealer's maintenance manual. The owner's manual shows 90K, not 60K.

 

Yeah, wait until 90k-100k. The best will last past that point, but its a good idea to replace it then.

 

Make sure you call around. My Es is getting done next week and I called 3 Lexus stealerships! The price for a timing belt varried by almost $200. Mine is getting done for $399.95 and if I need a waterpump (which they said most times no) it is an extra $200. One Lexus dealer wanted $850 for T-belt and waterpump!!!!!!!

 

doesnt make any sense to not change the water pump, idlers, cam and crank seals at the same time... if the water pump begins to leak later on, it will ruin the belt, and you'll be paying it all over again.

 

I agree but when I talked to all 3 dealerships they stated they rarely see these water pumps go before 140 to 150K miles. They both (2 out of 3) said you can change it but I would wait till the next timing belt change. But it is up to you.

The crank & cam seal are always changed with the TB as they all noted. They also said why chnage the Tensioner and pulleys? If you do not have a problem, leave it alone. I also asked about the therostate and they stated if you are not having a heating issue, I would wait.

 

I can understand that reasoning on an ES, especially at those relatively reasonable prices. On the V8's, there is so much stuff to remove for a TB change that you may as well change the water pump as well while everything is apart.

 

I think I am going to add the water pump since the next timing belt will be done at about 180K miles. I do not think a water pump will last that long. So I think I will add it now.

 

Water pump on Toyota tend to last a lifetime. So there's no need to change water pump at 90,000 miles. Maybe at 180,000.

My GM car's water pump just failed at 130,000 miles according to my nephew in NY. If the GM PoS's water pump can last that long, I bet Toyota's can do much better.

 

I agree, they are very good but I never have had a water pump last that long. I am going to ask if I do not do the water pump, what is the price down the road to do it.

 

FYI,

My 98 ES300 has the original water pump at 171,000 miles.
I may have the dealer change the water pump when I take it in to change the timing belt this time.

 

Cool. Glad to see that some last that long.

 

what will happen if the water pump dies while driving it? ruined engine?

have any of you guys replaced the timing belt and/or water pump yourselves? is it difficult to do? I have yet to go consult my haynes manual.

 

Almost as much as to do the Timing belt, because they have to tear down the front parts of the engine, remove the timing belt and then some more parts to get to the water pump. That's why most of the dealership recommend the water pump when they do timing belt.

The water pump and tensioner recommendation by the dealership is for your advantage, not them. It's a lot easier to just slap the new timing belt in and move on to the next job. The water pump job is one of those " Pay me now or pay me later". Most tech don't like to do it because they have to drain the coolant, replace the water pump, refill the coolant, and run the engine to get all the air pocket out of the system. A lot more works involve.

For example, if you do the timing belt at 100K the labor to do the timing belt is 5.0 hrs and they recommend the water pump for additional of 1.0 hr + parts for the water pump. You can say yes or no. Let's say you say " No ". Another 30k miles later your water pump started to leak ( 130K) and now they will have to charge you another 6 hrs to replace the water pump.

This is pretty much " personal's preference" kind of topic. Some may say drives it until it break and some says do it all. Just my .02 cents.