Cam Belt Done

BarneyTT · November 19, 2015

I had my GS in Lexus Bristol last week for a cam belt change and a general check over, this is the first time it's been into them since buying it, as always with a new (old) car I was slightly nervous as to what they might find. Pleased to report it's got a clean bill of health and I can rest easy knowing that and it now has a new cam belt. The belt change cost me £295 which for a main dealer, I thought was very good indeed.

As always, fantastic service from Lexus Bristol.

My next planned job is to get the wheels refurbished and change the tyres.

messi · November 19, 2015

What year is your gs300?

Bluesman · November 19, 2015

How long did it take? Mike.

BarneyTT · November 19, 2015

What year is your gs300

It's a 2006 GS430

How long did it take? Mike.

Not the easiest of jobs from what they said, including the check over I was there about four hours.

51st8 · August 3, 2016

Hi,

Was it including tensioners? What about water pump?

I have recently purchase 2006 GS430 and unfortunately at 97000 miles previous owne wasnt bother to exchange cam belt.

Kind Regards

Chris

BarneyTT · August 4, 2016

Chris: Tensioners and water pump checked but not required, so no, just the cambelt change.

I could have gone down the route of changing them both at the time but have a good, trust-worthy relationship with Lexus Bristol and decided to trust their advice.

I had the cambelt changed as soon as I bought the car and mine was on 69k (10 years like yours) so at 97k I would definitely get it done.

51st8 · August 4, 2016

BarneyTT

Thank you for your reply. Last service was done at 97k but unfortunately last owner didnt exchange cam belt. Currently my car has 108k. I live in London and I got quote from Lexus Woodford:

-£360 for Cam Belt Including tensioners

-£290 for labourer.

I just bought it recently as my GS300 55reg was vandalised and uneconomical to repair. Got money back from insurer in 3 working days since they have made decision.

Shame as this was well looked GS!

I started to look for GS430 as apparantly engines are very good. The only concerne is if I should change Cambelt along with tensioners, waterpump and maybe radiator, as to prevent any isssues with leaks to gearbox?

If I would look to change all those components than it wouldnt be at Lexus. Purchase original parts with Lexus and installation by trusted mechanic.

Would you recommend to exhange radiator as well?

Kind Regards

Chris

BarneyTT · August 5, 2016

Chris: Is that £360 + £290, if it is that seems very expensive?

I guess it depends on how concerned you are as it's a big expense to go down the route of new water pump, radiator etc. even if you do get an independent mechanic to fit the parts, especially if the car is running without issues.

Personally I would get Lexus to do the cam belt/tensioners (providing it's £360 all in) and ask them to check, the best they can, everything your concerned about.

It's a difficult choice, I have chosen to trust Lexus Bristol in their judgement, but as I've said, I do have a good relationship with them, if you have not used Woodford before I could understand you may be a bit uncertain.

51st8 · August 5, 2016

Barney,

£360 parts (cam belt and tensioners) + £290 laboure. Thats a lot of money and doesnt include water pump.

Lexus Woodford are not good I assume. My judgment is base on the experience of my firend which drives 2012 450h. I dont remember what was the issue from the top of my head but Lexus Woodford wanted to strip engine to look for the problem which would cost approx. £4000! The same mechanic checked and fixed including part £350.

I might ring Lexus Bristol and ask for a quote though but still I am more towards trusted mechanic which will check all vehicle. That will be sometimes next week I suppose as I am still on my holiday.

Thank you again Barney.

BarneyTT · August 5, 2016

Chris: I don't how much the tensioners or their fitting are but that seems far too expensive to me, it would be worth calling Lexus Bristol to see what they would charge as a comparison if nothing else.

Reading the posts on here, customer service seems to vary wildly between Lexus dealerships, it might be worth doing a search for Woodford on the forum if you haven't used them before, just to get a better picture and understanding of them before deciding.

If you have a trusted mechanic there is no reason why he can't do the work for you if you supply the parts, and he can check the car over at the same time.

Out of interest, does your car have a service history?

I wish you all the best and will be interested to hear how you get on.

51st8 · August 5, 2016

Barney,

Thank you.

My GS430 has got full service hostory. Last stamp was 97k but according to Lexus Birmingham CamBelt was not done. I would assume that if the vehicle is close to 100k they are ablige to exchange otherwise no stamp?

I will ask politely Toyota parts depo at Woodford and gentleman will dig out all service history as he did before. I will make a list of parts and see what the prices are like.

I will post results mid of next week.

Kind Regards

Chris

BarneyTT · August 9, 2016

Chris: If your car has a full history it's reasonable to assume it's been looked after.

Regarding the cambelt, I suspect the previous owners didn't have it done as it was within the 100k/10 year period and if he/she was planning on changing the car probably didn't want to spend the money.

Lexus would only advise the previous owner what is required, and it's worth remembering not all dealerships note a cambelt change in the service history, but as you found out, they usually log work carried out onto their system which can be viewed by other dealerships, although strangely, not all.

51st8 · August 9, 2016

Hello Barney,

I am back from my holiday. Came back this morning but could not wait and rushed to Lexus Woodford to speak to gentleman at Toyota who works in parts departamen. He kindly, as he did last time for me, printed out all service history of the vehicle. All is up to date, quiet a lot of items were done (9no A4 pages) and it looks like only Cam belt was not done and cannot see rear diff oil exchange.

I have asked why the cam belt was not done as on 10yrs or 100k miles, and here I would have to quote you, as this was apparently only advices to the owner. And I assume as you have suggested previous owner didn't want to spend such a sum on exchange.

Currently, I am waiting for my mechanic to come back from his holiday to book car in and to proceed with cambelt and water pump along with rear diff oil exchange.

To be honest I am happy with a purchase even more looking at the FSH.

Kind Regards

Chris.

BarneyTT · August 12, 2016

Chris: At least you have a detailed print out from Lexus which gives you a better understanding of the service work carried out.

I kind of guessed that would be the reason the cambelt wasn't changed.

Hopefully, once your mechanic is back, you can get the work carried out and get on enjoying the car.

Glad your pleased with it

51st8 · August 14, 2016

Barney,

The unfortunatately I got some issues since two day. On cold start car shakes like someone would wobble a car gently. I did some reading and some state that it would engine mount. The problem is that when the temperature rises the symptoms disappear. I have cleaned the air flow sensor today. Tomorrow will check if the symptoms are gone.

Looking at the vehicle history looks like spark plugs were changed at 59k. I have ordered new set in case if cleaning sensor would not help.

On on the other hand I have noticed that cooling liquid is always on minimum. Should I top up or just wait and replace it with long life when cambelt is done? How many litres goes to the cooling system?

Thank you.

Chris

BarneyTT · August 21, 2016

Chris: Not sure of quantity in cooling system but you should be able to search the answer for that. Top up with Toyota Long Life to the correct level and keep an eye on it.

I hope you can get to the bottom of the weird shaking symptoms when cold, I would get that looked at when it's being serviced if the air flow meter cleaning has no positive effect, a plug change would be worthwhile regardless.

Keep us posted.

Chris SS · December 19, 2016

Hi BarneyTT.

Apologise for not replying for so long but I was busy at work and problems with login to forum therefore I had to create new account.

To cut the story to minimum, I have asked Lexus Woodford service departament about the cost of exchanging timing belt. After chat with nice lady she came back to me and said that in my GS430 there is no belt! Getting information from parts departament they have said that there is timing belt. What a difference in the information given.

Not to think too long I have visited Toyota part depo and ordered parts using VIN number so there was no mistake.

Originally quoted approx. £716 for:

-timing belt full set including pulleys and new bolt

-water pump

-engine oil plus filter

-coolant extra long life

After quick chat to the young fella he 'marked' me in the system as a 'trade' and price dropped to approx. £636 for all.

From obvious reason all work wasn't done in Lexus. I have used trusted mechanic. Took him most of the day and charge me £250 for labour work.

Full major service plus timing belt in Lexus would cost about £1050. I would love to use Lexus and maintain full service history but having bad experience and lack of knowledge and misleading me as a client I could not risk.

What is only left to be done is exchange of gearbox oil and rear diff oil which I am planing in Jan 2017.

Kind Rebards

Chris