I was at my local dealer for an oil change and I am nearing 90k on my 2003 LS430, the service rep told me the cost would be $1,100 that the water pump should be changed at the same time. Why should I change the water pump if it is still working. I don't have an issue with changing the T-belt but waterpump seems excessive. Has else had this experience.

 

its recomended to do all at the same time... i mean once your in there might as well replace all

please use the search next time this questions have been answered

 

It is because the water pump is relatively inexpensive and it's failure can cause the timing belt to fail and trash your engine. Also, about the same amount of labor time is required to change either the timing belt or the water pump so you might as well replace them both as long as you are in there.

I actually had a water pump seize on my first LS - a 1990 LS400 - at about 75,000 miles. The failed water pump caused the timing belt to either jump a few cogs or break -- I never found out which. All I know is that the engine stopped running immediately and the car rode on a flatbed truck to a repair shop to have a new water pump and timing belt installed. No engine damage was done on my 90 LS since the engine was not an interference engine.

The LS430, however, is an interference engine. If the timing belt jumps or breaks, valves will likely contact pistons causing a very expensive mess.

It is probably rare for a failing water pump to take out a timing belt like what happened on my first LS. The water pumps on the early LS was prone to leaking at a fairly early mileage. Supposedly, the redesigned water pumps on the later LS last much longer -- trying to see how long you can make a water last on LS with an interference engine could be a very expensive bet to make. Usually, a water pump will leak for quite a few miles before it fails. On my 90 LS, I smelled coolant for the first time only about 2 minutes before the water pump seized up completely about five blocks from my house early one morning on my way to work.

I had the timing belt and water pump replaced a second time on my 90 LS at 180,000 miles shortly before I sold it in 2003. I had the timing belt and water pump replaced for the first time at 90,000 miles last year on my current 2000 LS400 which has an interference engine. We also had the timing belt and water pump replaced last year at 90,000 miles on my wife's 98 V6 Camry which does not have an interference engine. Replacing both the water pump and timing belt is a standard operation on cars with timing belts -- not just Lexus cars.

 

hello all,

I tell you and everyone that has an LS ( and no longer paid well ) to bring car to TOYOTA

tayota wants $440 to do a brake job. $515 to do just the timing belt and $600 to add the waterpump and all tensioners and pullies required.

 

I am having the work done but the cost of the work at the dealer was excessive, I found a local independant (using Lexus OEM parts) that will do the full 90k mile preventive maintance for much less than just the t-belt and waterpump at the dealer.

 

good luck with that i have a local mechanic that i trust also

 

I have not brought my Lexus to the shop I go to for my Acura and Honda, but I did bring my friend's Toyota Highlander in and he charge $400 to have both done with Toyota OEM parts. There are good shops out there, just have to find them.

 

I'm with everyone else the water pump is a lot less than a new motor.