Willauflex

My 2001 LS430 with 115K has leak in radiator. The serpentine belt appears cracked and independent is suggesting that radiator, 2 hoses and serpentine belt be replaced for $950. Should I also consider replacing original timing belt and original water pump at this time or wait until 125K?

e60bmw

iTrader: (1)

I would have the whole timing belt kit done. I have a 02 at 98k miles and I just had it done all last week. The whole thing would probably cost around that, I have the timing belt kit with water pump serpentine belt, and a bunch of other stuff done (idler pulley etc), it ran me about $1200. Toyota had quoted me around 1k for the service, of course they may find other stuff outside the kit that needs replacement that could increase that. The shop I took it too charged me about $100 for the coolant and flush, which is overpriced but they had to do it during the job of course. You can probably get it done cheaper, although if you have to replace the whole radiator I'm not sure what those run. There was some debate about timing belts in the thread this week, some claim they are engineered for longer than the recommended 90k, but I rather be safe than sorry, if it goes, how much will it cost, $4/5k+? It was always in the back of my mind about the belt owning the car, so I'm glad its done now. They also mentioned that while a timing belt is considered a 90k service, its typical after maybe 7 years, my car is 15 years old, so possibly the age and elements its been stored in can effect it. If you just do a few things you could have the water pump give out and its going to be alot of labor to get that, so it will probably be cheaper to have it all done.

I had a water pump go out on me on another car on the way home from a trip, it wasn't fun and it definitely wasn't cheap to fix.

rkw77080

Lexus recommends replacing the timing belt at 90K miles (144,840 km) or 72 months (6 years).

Johnhav430

I would approach it this way....timing belt job with tensioner and idlers is $1800 at Lexus, about $900 at an indie, sometimes only $750. This job includes removing the radiator and serpentine.

Get this job done for $900, at this price make sure it includes the tensioner and idlers.

Now, provide the indie with the two hoses and radiator and belt, they should be installed with no extra charge...

lower

http://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/gat...ower+hose,2057
upper

http://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/gat...pper+hose,2058
radiator
http://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/den...,radiator,2172

belt
http://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/ban...2240,belt,8900

BradTank

I'd get everything done at the same time including the timing belt/water pump. But make sure it hasn't already been done.

I'd also shop around, the price that independent is giving you for just the radiator, hoses and serpentine belt may even be more than what a Lexus dealer charges.

bradland

125K seems like an odd time to be doing a TB and WP. If it was done around 90K there's no cause for concern unless somehow 90K happens to be 6 or 7 years ago.

Either way your independent mechanic is expensive. Radiator, hoses, and a belt is an easy job and not expensive either. I'd like to think you could have it done for half his quote. That said I wouldn't even bother asking him for a TB quote. Shop around and know the price of parts before committing.

If you do end up going all the way I would also consider replacing the serpentine tensioner as well. The TB tensioner should be a mandatory part of the TB job. I'm referring to the serpentine (accessory) tensioner, It is a wear item and has to be removed when doing a TB job so you might as well....

Willauflex

Thanks for the replies on radiator, pump & belts. Planning to have those done together. Best to use Lexus parts or not?

BRAKES TOO!! LS430 2001 also needs brakes, for which indie quotes $1300, with Lexus parts including new $100 wear sensors and flush, and dealer quoted $1500 including flush. From Treads seems there is a preference for using Lexus rotors. Indie cited warping problems with other brands as well. Any thoughts here? Thank you.

Johnhav430

I generally want OE/genuine parts where they make sense (I requested the selling dealer who was not Lexus to do the front brakes with Lexus OE as part of the sale), but imho they are not necessary on the belt, and hoses. Bando is probably OEM. Gates is more than good enough. My indie said we can use OE anytime you want, if you want to pay the extra, we find they're generally not needed on many jobs. On coolant? Yes, they used genuine Toyota. On the tranny fluid? Yes, Toyota WS.

Honestly, I think your indie is overcharging, probably you should find a different one or just go to the dealership--the wear sensors are overpriced, aftermarket will more than do....

I don't understand it, I was charged $59 at a Lexus dealer for the brake flush. Over the phone I think they told me $109. Maybe they used a turkey baster that day from the dollar store, and didn't do it properly, I dunno.

here's the math on a wear sensor
aftermarket around $10 or less

http://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/ray...r+sensor,10283

OE

list $80.02 47770-50050

Make sure that whoever does it, does not throw away the shims if they are there, or does install new shims 04945-50060 if they are missing. They list for $72, and a dealer is probably including them in the price...

edit: I learned all this from the selling dealer telling me so and returning all the old parts....add caliper bolts (list for $7.50 ea. and 4 per axle) to the brake job as well, as that is the proper way to do it...the dealer is going to encompass all these parts in their price, which is why it seems really high...if you can get a 20% off coupon from the dealer it would be nice to have them do the brakes as it will be all OE parts, in which case really the sensors remain the only way overpriced items, the OE rotors are nice, will never rust...

bradland

Brake wear sensors only need to be replaced when the pads wear so far as to hit the sensor. It's basically a wire that maintains an electrical current. When the wire is complete the current flows. When the pads wear down and subsequently destroy the wire, and the flow of electricity, the signal is sent to the dash and the sensor must be replaced. If the pads have not worn down to that point your old wear sensors are fine.

toddmorr

even if the sensor wire has been worn away you don't *have* to replace it, just tape it and the dash signal goes away.
Only catch is you have to inspect the brakes wear yourself every so often but honestly how big a deal is that

Johnhav430

I have this dilemma with the BMW, but the OEM is like $12, and the genuine is like $28. Still, you find guys on the forum reusing (but they tend to disintegrate even if not worn, when they are pulled from the old pad, so this usually won't work), or, they tie it off and short out because they don't care about a warning coming on the dash when the sensor breaks (two-stage yellow and red)--all to save $12 lol

I really have to say and concur that $80 list on the Lexus is one of the most outrageous prices on a genuine part I've ever seen. I have a Raybestos waiting for when I diy the rear--I have not to date DIY'd the LS430, as the rears were new when I bought the car, and the dealer redid the fronts...

Willauflex

Back to Overheating Scenario:
The independent diagnosed bad radiator as cause to overheating and quoted $950 on serpentine belt and new radiator. The independent charged $120 for diagnosis, when I picked car up and did not have work done there. The overheating problem had occurred one day after I had oil changed by the independent, so I wanted a second opinion. I took car to dealer for evaluation and they said only the thermostat was sticking. Engine was still in good shape. Having thermostat and coolant replaced and will have other work shortly. Any suggestions?

Johnhav430

Ideally the coolant would be Toyota red which is long life and used through 2003....but some with 04+ still like the red coolant over the pink which is called super long life II (I was surprised to find a Toyota tech stating he used red in his 2006 LS430)....green is always the safe bet, but I'd prefer the Toyota stuff, and of course never use orange (Dexcool).....

edit p.s. the thermostat can easily be done with the timing belt, but in your case it really needs to be done now, unless you want to just get the timing belt done now, because I'm not sure if you have to pay for coolant again or if they would save/reuse....

rkw77080

The OEM thermostat costs about $20, gasket $4, Long-life coolant $30. Here's the procedure to replace the thermostat.