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Opinions on service and timing belt/water pump at 80k if already done at 35k
Hi folks, so my 04 with 80k had regular service at a Lexus dealership for the first 60k miles. It was literally driven by a little old lady and she had hit 35k miles at 9 years of ownership, when the timing belt/water pump was changed.
So now, I'm at the 9 year mark AFTER that first service in 2013.
I'm wondering whether I need to do it again? Should I just wait for 90k and do it with spark plugs?
Also, other big ticket maintenance items? Sounds like transmission drain/fill x3, and brake fluid flush? Differential fluid?
Well, if you want to follow the maintenance schedule, the belt is due for replacement at 9 years, regardless of mileage. If I were you, I would do it, and replace the idlers, water pump and tensioner, the full kit, and of course with new coolant. I would do the spark plugs while you are at it too now. Definitely the brake flush (should be done every 2 or 3 years) and a 3X drain and fill of transmission fluid. Now, you are all good to go for many many miles and many more years not having to worry about these issues.
Now, there will be those that are less risk averse and will say the belt is good for 150,000 miles or many more years. That may be true. It also might not. I would not want to chance it with an '04 with only 80K miles. That car deserves maintenance on the schedule in my book, end of story.
Clean your MAF sensor, clean the smog filter (in front of radiator), and check the condition of the vacuum lines. Original vac lines in my '05 are looking great, in my garage kept west coast car. But on others they start to crack and get brittle and lead to idle, fuel economy, and other issues,
Well, if you want to follow the maintenance schedule, the belt is due for replacement at 9 years, regardless of mileage. If I were you, I would do it, and replace the idlers, water pump and tensioner, the full kit, and of course with new coolant. I would do the spark plugs while you are at it too now. Definitely the brake flush (should be done every 2 or 3 years) and a 3X drain and fill of transmission fluid. Now, you are all good to go for many many miles and many more years not having to worry about these issues.
Now, there will be those that are less risk averse and will say the belt is good for 150,000 miles or many more years. That may be true. It also might not. I would not want to chance it with an '04 with only 80K miles. That car deserves maintenance on the schedule in my book, end of story.
Clean your MAF sensor, clean the smog filter (in front of radiator), and check the condition of the vacuum lines. Original vac lines in my '05 are looking great, in my garage kept west coast car. But on others they start to crack and get brittle and lead to idle, fuel economy, and other issues,
Thanks, you're right, then I wouldn't have to worry about all of this for a long time. Yeah the car is in excellent shape, I just crawled under it today to check suspension and nothing budges - upper and lower control arms, tie rods, etc. Looks garage kept, bought it from the Bay Area. I've put 10,000 miles on it this past year, (bought it at 69k, now 79k), so I feel like perhaps it could go another year and then I would just get the service done at 90k miles even.
I need to look up all the other things you mentioned and see which one of these things are DIY and which have to be done in a shop. I don't think I'd do the transmission drain/fill or brake flush myself.
The other things I mentioned are pretty easy, MAF sensor is right next to the air intake box, use CRC MAF cleaner and get the wire way inside the device, allow to dry, reinstall. The smog filter is piece of cake take housing apart, wash filter with water, dry, reinstall, There are many tips on the drain/fill procedure, see the extensive thread on the topic. Use ramps. The main things are 1) do it at ambient temperature, same temperature as the new ATF going back in, and 2) be sure to remove the fill bolt (a bit of a bugger to get to) BEFORE you loosen the drain bolt and drain the fluid. 25 mm fill bolt if I remember right. I used a 6 point angled wrench. Measure exactly what you remove, replace the same amount using a hand pump setup. I did it with no problems. Saved a few bucks and learned more about the car in the process. I took the car to an indy for the brake fluid change because I did not have the right tools, cost was well worth the piece of mind. not much IIRC.
Cool, I went and looked up MAF/throttle body cleaning as well as the smog sensor, luckily there are tutorials with pictures right on these forums. I might try the drain/flush after looking it up more thoroughly.
So reading a little more, it seems like I should be good on the timing belt and water pump for now. I think I'm go to at least wait until 90k.
Here's what the local Lexus shop is charging for the work. I looked up all the prices and can get all the parts much cheaper, labor seems a bit high but I know the guy knows exactly what he's doing.
The other thing he told me was that although he understands people hesitancy regarding transmission flushes, the way he does it is 'passive'/non-pressurized with the car's pump doing the work. Wants to charge ~480 for a full 16 qt flush. I think I might do the drain/fills myself.
Also thinking about shopping around for brake fluid flush, and rear differential.
With 80k I would not be afraid to do the full fluid exchange on the transmission. But I would have a lexus dealer do it. I had mine done at 80k and again at 160k. I think it was around $300.
With 80k I would not be afraid to do the full fluid exchange on the transmission. But I would have a lexus dealer do it. I had mine done at 80k and again at 160k. I think it was around $300.
Yeah it seems like 80k is kind of the border between flush vs drain/fill.
No local Lexus dealers, and although this mechanic is expensive, I trust him as far as doing things properly goes. He is well-versed in LS430s. But he also wants $484 to do the full fluid exchange. Closest Lexus dealer (1.5 hours away) asking for $420 for 4x drain/fill.
The service manager said they tend to shy away from doing full exchanges after 100k If the fluid wasn't changed before then. I guess when they say "lifetime" fluid, they mean 100k.
Fluid change can be done without even jacking the car up......just reach under the front and open the the drain. Get a fill funnel and swap out the coolant 3-4 times
02-11-22, 11:11 AM
Opinions on service and timing belt/water pump at 80k if already done at 35k
