I called my lexus dealer today and a 2004 ls 430 is a non interference engine and will just coast to a stop. I bet the SC is the same engine?

 

YES it is.

 

I'm pretty sure that is incorrect. The 4.3 V8 in the LS, SC and GS are interference engines, so big $$$$ if the belt were to break. All V8's with VVT-i are interference. It is confusing, as the orginal 4.0 V8 in the old LS400 was non-interference. That changed when the variable valve timing was introduced.

I would change it at 90k for peace of mind.

 

Ok, so now we have two saying it is an interference engine and two saying it is not..... Can anyone chime in here and break the tie? Someone has got to know for sure.

 

I will place my bet with Bergstrom Lexus in Appleton WI. If anyone else gets a different answer from a dealer let me know I put on 30 k a year, have 76 k on it already and plan on waiting till 110 or so. The dealer knew exactly what i meant when I said interference

 

According to Gates.com, all 430 are interference engine.

http://www.gates.com/part_locator/in...cation_id=3598

 

So, if you delay changing the timing belt and....

1. It is a non-interference engine: You get to DELAY but not avoid the cost of a timing belt by about a year or two. You save (assuming a generous interest rate of 10% X $1400 installed. So you save $140 by taking the risk.

2. It is an interference engine and you have the timing belt break. You get to pay for a major engine rebuild and that probably costs a "little bit" more than $1400

I don't think it is a risk/return proposition that makes a lot of sense for delaying the replacement. I intentionally had mine done a little EARLY. I've had a timing belt break in a mustang. It was NOT an interference engine and yes it merely stopped. However, the time and aggravation of getting towed and the danger of being stuck on the road encouraged me to avoid it ever happening again. Hence, I had my SC430's timing belt swapped out preemptively.

 

Looks like interference according to this....

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...ion-notes.html

 

Thank You Talwang!!!! Interference it is! As far as changing the belt, I would follow Lexus schedule and change it at 90K. Having one break is not a good thing!

 

I would assume like anything from the Lexus dealership, we'd get screwed over with the pricing. Anyone ever get it done at a Toyota dealership instead? What was the price there vs at Lexus?

 

I believe the cost at Lexus averages around $1400.00 and Toyota does it for around $800.00. I'm sure this may vary at different dealers but this is what I have heard... This would be the timing belt, tensioner, waterpump and labor.

 

Toyota of Kirkland just quoted me $950 plus tax for belt, tensioner pully and waterpump. Lexus of bellevue was $1,500. I can wash my own car for $650