Timing Belt Question
 

Can anybody tell me FOR SURE how often Lexus recommends changing the timing belt on the es??? I have an MR2 and I know its every 60k, so I assumed it was the same for all toyota/lexus cars, however someone told me it was every 100k for the ES.. anybody shed some light on this for me, as Im trying to avoid getting a car that needs the belt changed right away.

Thanks

For my '92 the owners manual says every 90,000 miles. But it won't break at 90,001 miles.

I bought my car used with 192,000 miles on it. The timing belt was last changed at 86,000 miles. I did not get it changed until my car had 212,000 miles on it. So the car's second timing belt went 126,000 miles without breaking.

If you want to you can just keep driving it until the belt breaks. All that will happen is you'll be inconvenienced that day and have to have the car towed to the shop. The enging will not be damaged except for needing a new timing belt.

Dealer changed mine as a part of the 60K service, but I believe Larry is right, the correct interval is 90K.

02 ES manual calls for 90K replacement.

Do a search on this subject. There have been several threads recently pertaining to your exact question.

sj

You sould really do it every 60k.

umm....why?

I did it at 60K. If it breaks, you're screwed.

If it breaks, you just get your car towed to the dealer and and have the belt replaced.

The ES does not have an interefence-type engine, meaning that if the timing belt breaks, the pistons will not crash into the valves and cause all kinds of havoc. In the ES, the engine will simply not function, no damage will be done.

I did mine at 130k miles, though I took a chance.

i think that there are other benefits to getting your timing belt changed. the car should run smoother with a new/tight belt as opposed to one with missing teeth, and that is worn-out, loose. i did mine at about 100k. The theory was that if i kept the car to 100k, i'll probably keep it for much longer so might as well get it done.

Yea, but do you really want to bother with going through that? i changed mine at 60k and 120k, and i'll change it again at 180k. I also change the oil every 3k instead of the 5k that the owners manual claims. I guess i'm a little more anal about maintenance than others...

DevilDog:

How much do you guys usually charge to change the timing belt on a 93 GS and how long would it take? I was thinking about doing that and in NYC (Brooklyn & Manhattan) dealers sometimes quote ridiculous prices. I just want to know what to expect.

Thanks,


Ed

probably about 1k with waterpump idlers and crank seal

I agree, its always better to change sooner. Mine was changed at 60K, and will be changed again at 120K. I was just making the point to the previous poster that you won't be in a whole lot of troube if the belt breaks on you.

yeah....im more of a do it when the manual says to do it sort of guy.....i mean, have you guys ever heard of a timing belt breaking before the suggested 90k miles change?