I took my wife’s 117,000 mile ‘02 LS430 to a Toyota dealer for its first timing belt and water pump replacement yesterday. It was running fine and not leaking any water. This car is her baby and we just want it to have the best, which includes Toyota/Lexus parts. Our small--town local garages are less than confidence-inspiring, so we chose to drive 50 miles to a dealer. I should have known what to expect out of a dealer, as they naturally want to replace all tensioners for the timing belt as well as for the serpentine belt. The serpentine belt tensioner had to be ordered, so it’s there overnight. This entire operation is costing $1,900 with tax and everything else they can stick us for. I’m actually more concerned about the job being done right than with the cost. We are in our 70s and this car will pretty much stay with us to the end. I want it perfect and roadworthy. This is an immaculate car that has never asked for anything other than tires, brake pads, and battery. My big question is: are these tensioners really in need of replacement? I realize the labor is pretty much the same whether I replace them or not. When I pick the car up tomorrow, it had better be as quiet and smooth-running as it was when I took it in. I plan to run it pretty hard before I leave town with it. Is there anything in particular that I should look or listen for?

 

In my opinion it is crazy to replace the timing belt without replacing the tensioners. They are stout for sure — mine looked new after my replacement at 85k miles. But while you’re in there, do them!

I also did my serpentine belt pulleys when I did my timing belt, but I’m extremely **** about that stuff. Definitely wasn’t necessary at that mileage, and its an easy enough job that you can wait until later if you wanted to.

As for anything to listen for after the job — eh, not really. If the timing belt was installed incorrectly immediate engine damage would be the result after the first startup. If it runs and drives, should be good.

 

It's VERY hard to understand a $1900 bill for the described service. That sounds like a Lexus dealer price.

My local Toyota store normally charges $899 for a TB, WP, and serpentine belt change. They ran a Black Friday special last Thanksgiving and did mine for $699. I specifically instructed them to change the tensioners and idler if needed and they did not do so, perhaps because the car had less than 65,000 miles. I do agree with Peacebay though and really should have insisted.

This is a bread and butter job for them, so don't be worried about it being done right.

 

I am sure it varies by region, but $1,900 is more than Lexus would charge where I am at. They wanted $1,600, but would not include the tensioner etc. as this was a 90k service.

IMHO and I feel strongly about it, a Japanese specialist not only charges around $750-$900, but does a way better job than a dealer. Why? Their reputation is everything. To a dealership, it's not much, it's all about providing a RX350 loaner and churn and burn.

I told the tech at the indie in July haven't seen you since the timing belt job. But I looked the car over when I got it back and it was almost as if I could find no evidence of any work being done. To which he replied, "busted!" But then he said seriously that's how they want it, because they take pride in their work. And yes they did the work as I was handed back all the old parts in a box from Worldpac that had mine and the shop's name on it.

I do agree with the LS430 just replace all parts while in there, no need to save $40 because it's a 90k v. 180k service. I will admit when I did my wife's water pump over Labor Day I did not replace the tensioner, but I did replace the serpentine even though only 1 yr. old. But her's is external meaning this tensioner is for the serpentine, she has chains. I dunno about anyone else here but lately amazon seems to be crushing the other place I used to order online from. My theory is they are moving in for the kill now.

The latest I saw is where someone will reimburse the sales tax on electronics! They are not breaking the law--they will collect and remit the tax, but credit you for the amount. Good marketing.

 

Their price for timing belt, serpentine belt, and coolant change was $827. Lexus dealer 30 more miles up the road wanted over $1100. We left the car and left town when they called with the tensioner news. I was sort of caught off guard and might have told them to reuse the tensioners had I been there. The cost mushroomed with the extra parts charges. They assured me that they have done lots of these, so I’m waiting to hear from them. Apparently the part they ordered hasn’t arrived yet.
It’s a ton of money for a ‘routine’ repair, but I want this car to last us another 10 years. It stays in the garage 90% of the time.
Wife uses it to do all of her running around in. We occasionally take it on a 50 or so mile round trip to neighboring towns, etc.

 

I would also say it is a good idea to replace the tensioners while you're in there. sorry you're getting gang raped on the price, but that's what happens at a dealer .

 

Well, I picked the car up, smooth, quiet, runs the same as before, no leaks, everything in its place. At least we have peace of mind. Much of the cost had to be in those big cast aluminum brackets.It seems they could have replaced the tensioners without having to sell me the entire brackets. Anyway, it’s done. I told them I’d be back in 2029.
They loaned me a 2019 RAV4 XLE AWD that felt like a POS compared to the LS. It was noisy, slow, and I hated the radar cruise control, crappy ergonomics, poor seats, etc.,ugly too!
Hard to believe it’s the biggest selling non-truck in the country. Lots of new car buyers today don’t have a clue.
Wife often gets compliments on her Lexus. We love it like a family member.
In all fairness to the dealer, most of the stuff they replaced was 17 years old.

 

Nice, good feeling to know something is done and out of the way. You will be back in 2029 and we're gonna be slapping historical plates on our cars then (actually maybe 2031)!! My son will be 3 yrs. away from graduating HS, and I already know the LS trunk is more than big enough for my walker! lol

I wonder if sometimes people don't know what "smooth" is so it's ok? Most of the loaners and rentals today are in fact 4 cyl. Even with turbos, they're not smooth. I was behind a brand new Mercedes SUV last week so I looked it up. 350 is a 4 banger, 450 is an inline 6, and it was a 350. Why won't people pony up for smooth, which an inline 6 is? Smooth, that the LS certainly is. NA 312 lbs. ft. smooth.

 

Ask for the parts that were replaced and look at them. When a dealership replaces parts it will have the used parts from a car. (please let us know how your timing belt looked) Have fun driving and don't worry about your 0-60 in 6.2 seconds starts with your new parts.

 

hehe officially, wasn't it 5.9 sec? Why that is significant? A 1995-1998 BMW M3, which was a substantial car in its time, did 0-60 in 5.9. Today there are much faster, but honestly? To say your car does 0-60 in 5.9 in 2019? Is like saying I bench press 225 lbs. free weights. No matter what, respectable.

 

yes it is needed. having held/spun many a tensioner/idler new and used even with only 70,000 they are night and day different. water pump...up to you but I'd replace it each time, cam/crank seals...same. NEVER re-use the tensioner either. Make sure all your fluids are new...ALL of them.

how parts look means nothing, I've seen snapped belts that looked brand new and I've seen belts that lasted 215k and looked like ***. there's a reason parts are replaced based on two most important factors, age and mileage...appearance is meaningless. for fluids it's a LITTLE different...but still best to go off mileage or age. just because something hasn't hit the mile marker doesn't mean it's good, age will make parts wear out too

 

How about the hose clamps, any need to replace? I think I would but I've always used the worm gear type on my other cars. After doing them on my wife's I would have rather replaced. But they ain't cheap either.