I've got 90K miles on a 92 ES 300 and I have not yet had the timing belt changed. If timing belt goes while driving, am I facing significantly increased problems as opposed to getting it completed now? I'm really trying to drive it for about another year, which is about 10K miles for me then sell. Thanks for any advice.

 

billorr, excellent question. Reason is, when some timing belts break, all that happens is that the car stops running (non-interference engine). Tow jog, new belt. But some motors (those made by Honda almost always, for instance) are "interference" engines. If the timing belt breaks, metal parts begin to smash into other metal parts with disastrous results. Tow job, new MOTOR. I THINK that the Lexus V6 is a non-interference motor but won't swear to it. Plenty of engine gurus will respond (hopefully) soon enough, but it's definitely a question that you need the answer to. Unless you've got lots of money.

 

It's the non-intereference type.
You should be able to go another 10K no problem, but inspect it for wear to be on the safe side.
I have friends with many more miles on the original timing belt.

 

Don't take the chance, change the belt. It's cheap insurance and while they are there replace the water pump too. The car will run better (from experience) and you wont have to worry about it. This maintenance will enhance the value when you sell it.

 

to change or not change= your choice.
i just got my timing belt changed 3 weeks ago on my 95 ES300 just shy of 90,000miles on it. i intend on keeping it for several more years so i decided to have it done. i don't know what you are going to do after driving it for a year but if you can sell it before it breaks, good. but if your timing belt breaks before your year is up, then it's more hassle for you. hard to sell the car and it'll be some money to fix. if you really don't want to fix your timing belt and you're only going to drive it for a year, why not sell now?? i know some people that go up to 120k+miles before changing the timing belt, so.......

 

There are over 100,000 posts on this web page, and there is not one post from someone whose timing belt has broken from wear (one guy's water pump froze, which broke his belt, but that does not count).

That tells you all you need to know.

 

very good point, but also, the members of this club are people that take care of their cars, one way or another, so we are not just the "general driving public" and tend to fix a lot of things before they break.