i know that these needs to be replace at 90k tune up, but have anyone skip the tune up? and whats the mileage you on right now? how long will the car last if keep driving w/o replacing it? i'm wanting to buy gs400 at 115k, but the waterpump/timing belt have not been replace yet...... although the serpentine belt is new, if that helps...... whats the average cost to replace these at toyota dealership or small pop places. thanks for input. hoping to join the GS family soon. i've owned 92 SC400, 2 IS300, and now wanting to join the GS family

 

it doesn't affect gas mileage, but you're going to need a new engine when either the water pump fails or the timing belt snaps.

 

I would stick to the 90K recomendation. 115K is really pushing it.

The belt is okay to about 150k IMO but, the pulleys there are three if you include the water pump are not good past 100K.

I own a Tundra with the 4.7 and did my timing belt water pump pulley change at 95K. Belt looked good but, the pulleys had play.

I would not go past he 100K mark. If you bust valves your talking lots o money...

About your sepentein belt.. who cares.. if that where to break on your car you could still get home. It does no cooling and ONLY runs your accessories. If you had 30 or 40 miles to get home you could make it. True you will not have PS AC Alternator output or boosted breaks but you COULD get home. Your cooling system wiill still work. So if you where in the ghetto you could get out if that belt broke.

 

Lexus quoted me about $1400 for the 90k service...

 

If you would have paid that, it would have been the equivalent of an armed robbery. Boycott that dealership and never go back; what a bunch of thieves. Not even my single dealership which has a monopoly on Lexus cars (i.e. has us by the *****) charges even close to that.

To the OP, just replace it soon. You're gonna be SOL if that belt or waterpump fails. Then you'll be out of a car for a good while and out of alot more money when it comes to replacing the motor. If that happened, i'd cut my losses and sell it for parts. Then i'd buy a newer model. Just my $0.02.

 

Change it out asap. Buy the parts separately online, and get quotes from different shops, including Toyota. That will save you some $$$ on parts and labor.

Change your balljoints while your at it. If the original owner hasn't changed the waterpump/timing belt, I'm sure he didn't change the balljoints.

As they say, penny wise, pound foolish.

Penny foolish, pound wise, is much much better. lol

 

thanks for the input guys. is there a way i can check if my timing belt/waterpump was replaced? cuz the current owner said he doesnt know if its been replace bc he only had the car for the last couple months and dont know of the history before that. the car so far has 2 owners, i would be the 3rd. 2nd owner had it since beginning of this year, so i'm hoping and thinking that the 1st owner took care of the 90k tune up but how can i make sure that its done. i called all the local lexus dealership but no records shown so i think he might of bought it to an individual shop or toyota shop..... how can i inspect myself to know if its new...... thanks again for the help

 

I am at 116, 246 miles, and I just had my water pump and timing belt changed last week.

 

It's hard to tell on your own if you can't find any records. I changed out my dads timing belt at 100k on his LS400 and it didn't look like it needed to be replaced at all.

 

This weekend I did the timing belt and idler bearing, serpentine belt, changed all fluids. I had sourced a waterpump from a friend, but unfortunately he had the wrong waterpump, not sure what it was for. So as soon as I get the car back I am going to be installing a new water pump, new ball joints and tie rod ends, and replacing the spark plugs. Also gotta replace the rear brake pads.

I can tell you that getting the parts online was the way to go. I ordering the timing belt, idler bearing, spark plugs from Carson Toyota and it was $133, and just got a quote from Sewell Lexus for the water pump, ball joints and tie rod ends for $384. I paid my mechaninc $100 for the first round and will probably give him $200 when he does the ball joints, tie rods and water pump. Best thing is I watched him do the work and now if needed could do myself the next time at home, saving myself even more money.