The dealer posted this description after a 90,000 mile service (at 97,000) and I cant determine what it means....EXACTLY....but it doesnt look good.

description: WATER PUMP ~|~WATER PUMP LEAKING COOLANT UPON INSPECTION ~|~WATER PUMP LEAKING COOLANT ~|~REPLACED WATER PUMP WHILE TIMING BELT OFF CAR

OK, now what I dont understand from this is, did they replace the timing belt, or not. It would seem to be irresponsible not to replace it "while timing belt off" and at 97,000 miles. But it does not specificaly say they did replace it.

Can anyone else read this differently?

 

Look at the belt and see if it is worn and cracked. Look at your receipt and see if they charged you for a belt and water pump. I would be willing to bet they did.

 

This was a service that was done on a car that I am considering buying. The service was done before the current owner got the car so there are no receipts. The car is at 170,000 now and we dont know if the belt is the original or if it was changed at 97,000. I am buying it and plan on having the belt changed before I drive it home unless I can find information that it was changed. I have seen somewhere that there should be a sticker under the hood if it was done by a dealer. Where is this sticker located?

 

Either done or not already done, I would be replacing timing belt, water pump, and hydraulic idler at that mileage second hand.

So basically a non-factor in purchase decision because it should be assumed cost of getting that car

 

I think that the location of the sticker seems to be up to the mechanic. I've seen more than one location. Mine is near the front, but not on the engine itself. I've hear of others who said that it was on the front of their engine.

 

So, its NOT ON THE HOOD, its on the engine? When I heard "under the hood" I assumed it meant on the underside of the hod.....as it said.... Of course the engine is under the hood, but so is the front axle, but why not say, "on the engine"?

 

Here is where my Lexus dealership has been putting the timing belt service stickers on my SC430.




BTW, when getting the water pump and timing belt changed, be explicit about the hydraulic tensioner. It's not automatically part of the process at my local dealership.

 

Thanks, SCone, that narows my search nicely. BTW, you are right. I plan on doing the replacement anyway so I dont know why I am wasting time asking except that if I am in a hurry and the dealer cant make the apointment I will feel better on the 1000 mile trip knowing it WAS done.

 

Regardless the belt has replaced at 97,000 miles or not, the car now is at 170,000 miles, the second TB&WP are due and should be replaced. If you have not bough the car, you can use this as a bargaining chip. TB&WP replacement cost around $1500.

 

jimisbell

If you are seeing the information from the service history then you have the dealership name and the work order number for the job. Call the dealership and ask for service. Explain the deal and provide the VIN and the work order number from the service history and ask them to pull it up and explain what it says. No big deal. When I bought my LS 460L I did the very same thing and called Lexus of Miami and they were nice enough to look up each service that I needed a explanation on.

Dennis

 

X2 !
Replace , regardless.

 

Your initial description of the work leads me to believe the TB was replaced. Too, it wouldn't make sense to remove it and not replace it. That said, I agree with Dennis and his suggestion to check with the dealer who did the work.

 

That's where the Lexus mechanics put the sticker on my LS430 as well (both of them, had it done twice).

Jim, at that mileage you aren't far off from needing the second time done anyway. I'd go ahead and get it don soon but I wouldn't stress over it for the return drive.

 

Thanks, all. I am working out the details of the trip to get the car and am planning on having the dealer replace the belt and water pump and idler before I leave on the return trip (1,000 miles). It might be ok as is, but it is 70K miles into the new belt, if it was replaced, so is almost due for a new one anyway.