Hi, bought my 2001 RX300 back in Nov 2015 with 220k miles on it all good so far. It is used daily for short trips to school, store, etc.

But I cannot tell when the timing belt was replaced. Checked the CarFax but all jobs show as routine, no specifics. Can a nearby Lexus dealer tell me more info on the jobs done to the RX based on the VIN#? Do they have a more detailed carfax?

Anyways, somewhere I read that I can peak the belt by loosing the top screw on the cover and pry open to see the condition. Including photos, it shows no fraying but no brand or anything written over it. I cranked it to see if the belt moves to an area it shows the brand printed, etc but no luck. So no 100% sure if the belt is still good enough. I also notice that the belt is kind of shiny or polished, haven't seen a new one so I can't tell.

Not related - While working to open the cover a cable/hose clip fell, can't tell where from, photo included to see if you can tell where this goes. :-)

Appreciate your help/comments.

Jorge

 

Register and enter your vin in drivers.lexus.com all reported work a dealer has done should be recorded there. You can record manually non dealer maintenance there moving forward.

Hopefully something there will give you some insight.

 

Thanks, went there and registered the VIN but only shows history up to 2004.

Thanks

 

The shine shows it's been in there as while, but how long of a while?? There's no way to tell how many miles are on that belt unfortunately. Play it safe and have it done (Or DIY to save some money).

Not many options here, unless you can contact the previous owner and ask them what they know.

 

This is good advice.
While getting the timing belt done, its also often good practice to change the waterpump as well and replace the front camshafts seals and front crankshaft seals if any signs of oil weeping.

 

As you get to second timing belt change, I would seriously advice you change water-pump, both rollers and the tensioner along with oil seals [two cam and 1 main]. On the first go round, you may like to take the risk and skip on seals, water pump and tensioner. ... This advice is only for RX first gen.

The better test for the timing belt is to see the rounding off of the leading edge of the teeth ... the pictures only show the smooth side which rolls on the rollers and water pump.

Salim

 

Do not play games with the timing belt. For 220K it is strongly advisable to change the whole set, as other said. Timing belt, water pump, rollers, etc.


As a friend of mine said-playing stupid games, winning stupid prizes

 

In my experience, it is common practice to put a label on top of the timing belt cover listing the mileage at which the belt was last replaced. This is true whether the work is done at the dealer or an indy mechanic. I don't see any label on the top of your cover so that is at least evidence that the belt has not been replaced. +1 on the advice to replace the water pump, tensioner, seals, etc... while doing the timing belt. Very small incremental cost while you're in there. You can buy a kit that has all the OEM parts for this job on Amazon at a very good price.

 

OP response should be interesting... Hope he finds an answer