Newly purchased 04 es330 questions
08-19-20, 11:35 AM
#16
Driver School Candidate
I own same year 2004 lexus es330 with 190k miles.
Hey guys,
First time Lexus owner with some questions:
I recently purchased an 04 ES330 with 38,000 miles on it. Outside has some dings but still in great shape. The interior is in immaculate shape, the owner had two floormats over the original so the floors are unbelievably clean and everything else is too. I mean I checked the car before purchasing it pretty thoroughly but when I got home and parked it and then did a more thorough inspection I was surprised when I saw how clean the car was. The peel off plastic on the Lexus door trims on the bottom are still on after 16 years. The original owner didn’t even peal them off. Can you believe that?!
Anyway I am very happy with the car so far it’s only been two days but I’m already in love.
Welp... My question is should I replace the timing belt and water pump even though it’s only has 38,000 original miles.
The reason I am asking is because I paid quite a bit of money in my opinion for this car at around $8000 so this has taken me back a bit and I don’t know if I should spend another couple of hundred dollars even though of course that is essential maintenance. I am asking only because it has such low mileage and it was driven very carefully by the first owner.
Should I do it now or do you guys think I should be good for a month or two until I get my finances in order.
What do you guys think any input would be much appreciated.
Also is there any other recommendations on the maintenance on what else I should do.
And lastly do you guys think I over paid for the car?
Thanks a lot looking forward to hearing back!
First time Lexus owner with some questions:
I recently purchased an 04 ES330 with 38,000 miles on it. Outside has some dings but still in great shape. The interior is in immaculate shape, the owner had two floormats over the original so the floors are unbelievably clean and everything else is too. I mean I checked the car before purchasing it pretty thoroughly but when I got home and parked it and then did a more thorough inspection I was surprised when I saw how clean the car was. The peel off plastic on the Lexus door trims on the bottom are still on after 16 years. The original owner didn’t even peal them off. Can you believe that?!
Anyway I am very happy with the car so far it’s only been two days but I’m already in love.
Welp... My question is should I replace the timing belt and water pump even though it’s only has 38,000 original miles.
The reason I am asking is because I paid quite a bit of money in my opinion for this car at around $8000 so this has taken me back a bit and I don’t know if I should spend another couple of hundred dollars even though of course that is essential maintenance. I am asking only because it has such low mileage and it was driven very carefully by the first owner.
Should I do it now or do you guys think I should be good for a month or two until I get my finances in order.
What do you guys think any input would be much appreciated.
Also is there any other recommendations on the maintenance on what else I should do.
And lastly do you guys think I over paid for the car?
Thanks a lot looking forward to hearing back!
08-19-20, 12:12 PM
#17
I think es330’s are the best built Lexus next to ls430’s. They’re just a lot more under the radar since nobody really fixes them up or drops them. I need to get around showing mine off on here. Serious audio upgrades, clear bra on the entire front end, new headlight retrofit, LED’s in the interior.....
Here’s what I’ve done under the hood to my 06 if you want to get an idea of what you should do. Keep in mind I did most of the stuff as preventative maintenance. I plan on keeping this car until it’s done with so just went crazy on making sure it ran perfect. I’m at around 165k miles and still on the original timing belt and water pump. I asked my mechanic about it and he said he didn’t change his Toyota vans until 200k lol. With that being said, I still want to do mine later this year or early next year just to be on the safe side.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...o-my-list.html
Here’s what I’ve done under the hood to my 06 if you want to get an idea of what you should do. Keep in mind I did most of the stuff as preventative maintenance. I plan on keeping this car until it’s done with so just went crazy on making sure it ran perfect. I’m at around 165k miles and still on the original timing belt and water pump. I asked my mechanic about it and he said he didn’t change his Toyota vans until 200k lol. With that being said, I still want to do mine later this year or early next year just to be on the safe side.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...o-my-list.html
08-20-20, 01:26 PM
#18
Pole Position
I lost the timing in my SUV because Acura of Portland changed the belt and pump, but re-used the same tensioner - identical Aisin unit as in these ES. It failed in 2014 on a 1998my vehicle at 156,000. I discovered this when I re-did the belt myself and noted the date stamp in the casting of the tensioner, early 98 prior to the truck's assembly (rebranded Isuzu Trooper, not an actual Acura thankfully - very high quality vehicle). This is an example of why I don't let other people work on my vehicles.
08-20-20, 07:14 PM
#19
Oro, do you know the part number for my tensioner? So the tensioner, timing belt, water pump...I need to look at the stickied thread to see what else I should do while I’m changing out those things.
08-20-20, 08:33 PM
#20
Pole Position
I don't know the p/n, but if you go to RockAuto for your vehicle, they will have all the parts.
The only thing that really "combines" with the t-belt job is refreshing some coolant, because the WP is opening the system. It might be marginally easier to do a PS pump rebuild if you feel the need, as you are there and it might be easier with the crank pulley out of the way, but that's about it as far as I can think. I didn't have to rebuild the PS pump until about 240k IIRC, so it may not be a priority item.
The only thing that really "combines" with the t-belt job is refreshing some coolant, because the WP is opening the system. It might be marginally easier to do a PS pump rebuild if you feel the need, as you are there and it might be easier with the crank pulley out of the way, but that's about it as far as I can think. I didn't have to rebuild the PS pump until about 240k IIRC, so it may not be a priority item.
08-25-20, 02:27 PM
#21
Hi, did you need to get any other type of bracket to hold the new non CD Changer storage box in? Or did everything already on your car after you removed the CD changer was the mounting place for the new storage box?
08-25-20, 03:11 PM
#22
Driver School Candidate
Nothing new was needed. You'll need to remove the bracket that was the CD Changer was sitting on. After that everything should line up and bolt right in.
08-28-20, 10:01 AM
#23
. I'm getting ready to swap them out in my existing console after I remove the CD changer. I did notice that my old console had 4-small Phillips head screws holding it in and the new console storage box has two pretty good sized holes holding it in. I do not have any screws for that. Mine did not come with them. I called a local Lexus parts and he said that the normal storage box should have two bolts Lexus part 90153-50010 which they do not have them in stock. Does anyone know what the bolt dimensions for the console in the back rear? Thanks again.
08-28-20, 10:22 AM
#24
Driver School Candidate
Hi, I need to bother you one more time. I found a whole black 2006 ES330 console at the salvage yard and just finished cleaning the storage box out and removing it from the console. It now looks exactly like yours that you bought on eBay . I'm getting ready to swap them out in my existing console after I remove the CD changer. I did notice that my old console had 4-small Phillips head screws holding it in and the new console storage box has two pretty good sized holes holding it in. I do not have any screws for that. Mine did not come with them. I called a local Lexus parts and he said that the normal storage box should have two bolts Lexus part 90153-50010 which they do not have them in stock. Does anyone know what the bolt dimensions for the console in the back rear? Thanks again.
. I'm getting ready to swap them out in my existing console after I remove the CD changer. I did notice that my old console had 4-small Phillips head screws holding it in and the new console storage box has two pretty good sized holes holding it in. I do not have any screws for that. Mine did not come with them. I called a local Lexus parts and he said that the normal storage box should have two bolts Lexus part 90153-50010 which they do not have them in stock. Does anyone know what the bolt dimensions for the console in the back rear? Thanks again.
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