i usually go to a toyota dealership to buy my parts- does anyone have an idea around what age to change the belt- some say that it doesn't really matter- only milage but in reason- i have 65k in 7 years i hear that some let it go till 11 years or so- i have no idea

 

No coupon but Rice Toyota in Greensboro NC charges $319 for timing belt only.

 

Phil ...

No one knows when the belt would break/stretch/skip. Lexus has a 90K miles based on "0" failure rate and age (you have to ask your dealership). Exceeding the suggested number, would be taking a risk. If the engine could tolerate broken timing belt, then the most risk you would take would be breakdown at a bad time but no damage to the engine. This is not the case in RX.

Salim

 

Thats right,your talking major $$$ if you run it until it breaks.(interference engine)

 

Hmm - I actually talked to the guys at a local independent shop specializing in Toyota & Lexus (www.toyotechs.com), and I was told that an RX engine would not be damaged by a torn timing belt so it's safe to drive it till it breaks.

Salim, can you comment?

On another note, I was quoted $875 for timing belt + tensioners + water pump + cam seals + crank seal + drive belt, which I think is not that bad. My estimate would be that it's about $220-$250 in parts the rest being labor.

 

There has been bit of misinformation floating around. My understanding based on tracking interfering/non-interfering_engine is that RX engine IS interfering. I think this has been discussed in the past and previous discussion has the link to correction of the citation.


Salim

 

It's interference.

 

definetly interference..I had mine done at toyota timing belt and water pump for $500 even...

 

I've stopped by at Hennessy Lexus of Gwinnett during lunch and had a chat with their techs. After 15 min of checking with someone else they told me that RX300's 1MZFE engine is non-interfering.

Where is the truth!?!? ))

 

Sounds like after 15 min. they made a guess,so you could be on your way.

 

Possible, however in their best interest would be guess the other way and scare me into doing the timing belt right away, wouldn't it?

What is your information on 1MZ-FE being interfering based on?

The other thread that Salim referred to I guess is this:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...lt+interfering

where even Lexmex had an opinion that was an opposite from the one he expressed today. I did not (could not) find anything where it would quote any halfway reliable source that would make them change their opinions.

 

Honestly,I`m going by the research my peers on here are finding.I have also heard that a more performance engine will be an interference engine.(true or not,I don`t know) hey if it`s non-interference,i`ll run the damn thing till it breaks.

 

The problem is that vvt-i engines are interference, which the RX300 has.

 

Thats right,I remember coming across that information somewhere.I still may go over 100,000.

 

Got mine (185k miles) replaced today at a local toyota stealer for about 360 plus tax. The reason I call these guys stealer is becoz they failed my NY state inspection for the fronts rotors and pads and wanted 430 to replace them.