PjLex

HI All,
I am looking into buying a used Lexus Ls. What are some good places to buy a used 98-00 Ls400 or 2001---2002 LS430?
Also, I have questions about the timing belt on the 98 -00 LS400. It is my understanding that if the timing belt breaks during driving the car, It really ****s up your engine. This is true right? Please correct me if I am wrong.
During the course of shopping around for a 98-00 Ls400, I always ask when the last timing belt service has been and for receipts. Have talked to five different people / dealerships and they never have record but they assure me the timing belt has been done recently. Haha, I am afraid i need more proof than that, or I will definitely pay less for the car.
What are some good ways to prove the timing belt was done recently or not? Is a timing belt change normally stated on the carfax?
One last thing, Is there a market place on here for used Lexus LS400?

thanks
Preston J.

dicer

If you have a super nice 90 to 92 PM me.

And yes if the T belt breaks on 1995 and up which includes 98 then yes there is a chance things in the engine can get pretty messed up. If the service was done at the dealer then there will be a record. Most are not done there. And as a note, I priced having a T belt done on a 96 one time the dealer was the lowest and included a loaner car. All the rest of the hole in the wall independents were higher and no loaner. All you can do is keep an eye on craigslist for one.

mattylex77

i have a 99, PM me if you wish.

PjLex

This guy at a dealership was telling me that if the 98 ls400 timing belt broke while driving the car would shut off as a fail safe and the engine would not be harmed at all. Is he correct?

I am in la area. What location is your car for sale?

Daspyda

iTrader: (1)

98 has an interference engine:

But in an interference engine—which are in about 70% of cars on the road—there is no internal clearance between the pistons and the valves. If the timing belt breaks, there’s nothing to keep the valves and pistons moving at the required time intervals. The valves will freely open and close and the pistons will move up and down in the cylinders until they run out of momentum—or until they collide.

When the valves open at the same time the pistons are at the top of the cylinder, your engine can suffer anything from bent valves to a broken piston. Often, the full extent of the damage isn’t even known until your technician disassembles the top part of the engine, removing the valve cover(s) and sometimes the cylinder head.

PjLex

Yup, I kept telling him that if it breaks while driving its gonna **** up you engine. He obviously didn't know what he was talking about. He was a salesman that claimed he used to work at lexus dealerships and knew what he was talking about. Ha ha, just proves you have got to watch out for your self out there.

mattylex77

im in west los angeles coincidentally

mattylex77

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