c4yourself

Hi,

I am a newbie to the world of Lexus cars...
Ok let me get right to the point, I am looking at a 2001 RX 300 107,000 miles on the clock. The current owner has just got it back from his mechanic after the car died on him, a couple of clunking sounds and kaput....
$3,000 later and codes 1346 and 1351 (which I think are cam timing related) that keep the enging light on and he is done with the car. He already bought another new vehicle, and wants this one out of his driveway...
Now I show up and test drive the car, I notice that the valve/cam area is a little bit noisy. At this point I did not know what codes where throwing the engine light on... the car drove nice and has good power. As I looked at the repair bill I see that the heads had to go to the machine shop for some work, the timing belt was replaced, head gaskets, intake gasket etc. I don't know what happened but, my quess is that the timing belt was not serviced and after 107k failed... which made the valves dance with the piston tops...
My question is, what are the chances that this just needs to have the timing belt work redone to drop the two codes? I really like the car but I don't want to take the heads off or nothing major like that...$$$$.
Thanks,

Chuck

molexGS400

P1346
(DI−122)
VVT Sensor/Camshaft position
Sensor Circuit Range/Performance
Problem (Bank 1)
 Mechanical system (Skipping teeth of timing belt, belt
stretched)
ECM
 
P1349
(DI−123)
VVT System Malfunction (Bank
1)
Valve timing
OCV
 VVT controller assembly
ECM
 
P1350
(DI−129)
VVT Sensor/Camshaft position
Sensor Circuit Malfunction (Bank
2)
 Open or short in VVT sensor (Camshaft position sensor)
circuit
 VVT sensor (Camshaft position sensor)
 Camshaft timing gear
ECM
 
P1351
(DI−122)
VVT Sensor/Camshaft position
Sensor Circuit Range/Performance
Problem (Bank 2)
 Same as DTC No. P1346

may just be they did not reinstal the timing belt correctly. i.e. off a tooth.

salimshah

does not speak well of the last mechanic. If an obvious fix was not done, what about the other hard to find things. Too risky for my taste.

Salim

JAB

Obvious the owner's mechanic was not at a Lexus dealer, correct?

thomas1

Could have been a sludge engine, The oil pickup on the engine may still be partially clogged up causing the cams timing to be off. If you consider the car I would have the oil pan dropped and look at the bottom of the engine particularily the oil pickup screen.

blueridge

So am I reading this right? The timing belt DID break at about 106,990 miles?

lexus114

If that is correct,it`s rare.

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

I'd give this one a wide berth! Sounds like the previous owner paid a hack $3000 to repair the car and it's still not fixed.

trhs75

I'd be tempted if the price is REALLY good and you have it checked from stem to stern by a Lexus dealer after you tell them what's gone on. Otherwise, pass!

blueridge

I would still love to know if the timing belt failed at 107 or if it was just replaced out of the fact there were other problems and it was due.

code58

Can't even imagine one of those timing belts breaking at 107k. When I changed my DIL's at 97k it was in absolutely perfect shape, no cracking of any kind and not looking worn at all. I wouldn't have changed it if I had known it looked that good!

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

Well, if you feel this is definitely the car for you, ask the owner to show you the receipts from the "mechanic" outlining what was done for $3000. Failing that, get the mechanics phone number and ask him if the belt was broken.

I'd probably pass on this one though.

c4yourself

Thanks for all the responses, I have seen the repair bill and no it was not done by a Lexus or Toyota dealer. The job was not done correctly, that's a given, or there would be no engine light on. The owner is very friendly, and said that I could call the mechanic. I will do that this week.
Are these motors a interference design, where the pistons and valves contact each other if the belt breaks?
I made the mistake of driving the car (I really like it) a real step up from my current dailey driver..... I don't even want to tell you guys what that is... ok it's a 94 Eagle Vision 3.5L 24V blah blah blah... anyway it's worn out at 139,000.
I have a decent mechanical backround, PA cert journeymen machinst, I have rebuilt a few motors(all American made though) and have a street legal car that I race in a club points series. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubPCNLt7F3A
Chuck

c4yourself

Thanks for the reply's I will talk to the mechanic today and see if he knows anything.

Chuck

Lexmex

Yes, our motor is interference.