slowtan

My RX is approaching the 90K mark and I was wondering if there are any How-to websites for changing the Timing Belt ..

99 RX300

I normally like to do everything my self but was considering paying for this one ... Toyota sent me an add for $369 Timing belt change .. Not sure what all is included but that is the price for V6..

Stephen

Fern

This is my take on the TB issue,

for an item that has a recommended change interval of 90k miles you might not want to do it yourself as a bad installation could be expensive.

Try contacting a toyota dealership for the pricing as my understanding is they use the same part number and you could save a little on the hourly rate...

Thats what I'm going to do..

I believe it only includes labour and belt cost no water pump (and I believe) it doesn't even include a belt tensioner, although you may want to confirm this.

Cheers,
Fern

Fern

http://autorepair.about.com/cs/doity.../aa051102a.htm

w4rjd

http://www.off-road.com/toyota/tech/v6tbelt/

Check this article

flipside909

1MZ-FE timing belt change =

Lots of time and patience to change it out that's for sure. I prefer to let mechanic do it.

salimshah

If you plan to DIY, ensure you can reach all nuts, bolts and screws. Also make sure you can position your wrist-palm to manipulate tools. Transverse mounted engines do not have enough clearances and at times folks with large hands are unable to work, [I stumbled into this fact when I changed the timing belt on Honda Accord]

Salim

slowtan

So I guess for under $400 w/parts and a free rental car . I should let the Toyota dealership do it huh ???

Stephen

dmc888

I think thats a great deal if its w/ parts.. Considering its a lexus. My Galant is going to cost me 300 with a coupon w/ no free rental. I'm sure that coupon is about half off the regular price.

I'm the same way. I like to do everything myself tune ups,oil changes, brakes, etc. Thats the only thing i'll probably go to the dealer for.

I wonder why toyota sent you an add and not lexus?

slowtan

I only took my vehicle to Toyota. It has never been to Lexus. I had a Solara and also took my vehicle to the same dealership so I a on their list.

The lexus dealer by me wants $49.99 for a reg oil change and $79.99 for synthetic..

The car wash, free coke/coffee and maybe a free rental car if available is not worth going there. I rather do it in my driveway and buy my parts from Toyota ..

Stephen

mhc0725

I haven't changed a timing belt since high school, it's almost 15 years ago, but I can tell you it was a b-tch on a '79 Lincoln and it's probably going to be 10 times that b-tch on the Lexus given that it has about half the working space of that Continental.

If you've got about four hours to spare (I'm assuming you don't have a hydraulic lift in our garage) using a floor jack and numerous back and forth between going under and above to get all the nuts and bolts, then go for it. Otherwise, spend the $500 or so and use the two hours it would take the dealer to do it to go test drive the new Lexus'.

Good luck if you're doing it yourself.

Whitestrok

If your going to do it yourself, let me know and I'll e-mail you the scanned pages from my service manual(01RX300).

slowtan

Thanks for the offer but I have decieded to pay the $$ and have Toyota do it for me.

Stephen

BOWTIE 3

Whitestrok, you seem knowledgeable on the tech side of the RX 300. My wife's 2000 RX 300 has almost 50,000 miles on it and I'm considering removing the spark plugs for examination. [ It scares me to think of leaving them in aluminum heads for 100,000 miles ] Does the intake manifold REALLY have to be removed to get to the plugs in the rear of the engine? I've been a Chevy technician my whole life. Does that qualify me for some level of dexterity for getting to the plugs at the rear of the engine? I can't believe that Toyota would design it so that the intake manifold would have to come off..... but then maybe so. I always thought GM did crap like that!

Whitestrok

Not that knowledgable I just have a Manual. It doesn't say anything about removing the manifold, to replace sparkplugs. Under compresion check it says to remove the top upper cowl. Hope that helps. Somebody else hopefully will speak up.
Check this
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...hreadid=122514

arnoldslex

I am in the same boat. Got 116000 on mine. Manifold off or what? I agree with Bowtie3. This is domestic crap. I guess we have finally "Americanized" their engineers. It sure looks like this is what has to be done. I think you might get a away with taking the throttle body off and then you may have access enough. The coil on plug does not help either.
Of course this is a "LEXUS" forum and it seems as though most people here are not into getting dirty.

By the way you better change you trans fluid every 15000 if you have the early first gen (mine is an 01) or you will be buying a 3500.00 trans install. 15000 miles! That is 1975 dometsic reliability!