1998 ls400 - cambelt change

The-Acre · January 12, 2017

58 minutes ago, ambermarine said:

Simon

I agree with your remarks on the do-able maintenance I have carried out all the upkeep of my Mark 4 including brakes (new pads) apart from oiling and changing fluids there are no difficult upkeep tasks.

I refer to the service schedule for the tasks and if the mileage is low some of them never occur.

I also used the same methodology for 16 years on my Mark1 .

I did all the work on my MK2, and as you say, all very do-able. I think some people get the idea that a main dealer will plug your car into a very high tec computer which will be way beyond the scope and understanding of most, for that reason servicing can be a scary DIY proposition. Of course that isn't the case, a reasonable knowledge is all you need, and of course the aforementioned service schedule. If I had the space I would still do my own servicing/maintenance, especially as I enjoy it!

However, since I stopped doing my own I can report that all of my knuckles have remained well attached to my fingers!!

cornershop · February 1, 2017

So i dropped off the car at Lexus Edgware this morning, got a call at 3pm to advise of some advisories and an issue.

Advisories:

"wiper blades non-genuine and ineffective" - correct, but good enough for now

air con service - "based on service records, aircon needs a re-gas and pollen filter needs changing " - how about actually testing the temperature and inspecting the pollen filter (changed last week, and aircon serviced in July)

"Aux belt needs changing - 150 GBP to you sir " - erm ... what?! Surely this is parts only if all the other gubbins have been removed for the cambelt job? Is there a tensioner/pulley for the aux belt too?

Issue:

"engine undertray cannot be removed due to rusty fasteners - needs to be removed for access to cambelt / water pump job as well as oil change - 200 GBP to replace the fasteners " - erm.... what ?!

I also enquired about a transmission fluid change, they advised its not recommended and is not required ?

ambermarine · February 2, 2017

Shirish

Lexus are doing whats commonly known as covering your *rse with *hithouse paper, The serpentine belt they are referring to as one tensioner but rarely needs replacing it is the main tensioner for the belt and is pulled back so the belt can be removed there are tutorials on several sites on the belt replacement the job takes about twenty minutes ,I have one I purchased in the states two years ago waiting to go on .

They cost OEM about £50 from Lexus,The bolts on the undertray do rust and tend to snap off which entails a drill out of the broken bolts and a re-tap for new ones, thats where the cost is.

Incidently I had my undertray removed last year for suspension work and that as cable ties fastening it now as the guys who did the job had the snapped bolt issue,I am not fussed as the ties do the job and can't be seen

As for the rest, use your own judgement but the thing to remember is ,you are always covered for these anomalies that crop up because they know they will and thats why they warn you.

Malc · February 2, 2017

8 hours ago, cornershop said:

I also enquired about a transmission fluid change, they advised its not recommended and is not required ?

they might at least be correct on this aspect ! There's lots of info on here about gearbox oil changing or not !

Malc

cornershop · February 2, 2017

Thanks chaps - I thought a MD stamp would be a good idea however Whilst i can manage the fixed price costs, its the adhoc costs that will sway me towards a specialist in future, especially at £110/hr + vat

cornershop · February 2, 2017

Car returned, the aux belt was an order item so couldn't be fitted until next week so a £150 smaller bill than anticipated.

They also fitted new number plates FoC, new remote batteries FoC, and 3x metal Lexus Edgware key rings FoC... hot chocolate was pretty good too :)

I will place an order for new wipers and an aux belt from Amayama, together with some ARB bushes front and rear.

Thankfully the whining I was getting from the engine bay has also gone, so together with fresh 5/30 (was previously on 5/40) I can really hear the engine now which is great in my opinion. Will give it a good thrashing later this evening !

It was a 1k bill in the end however they appeared enthusiastic about the car overall, so can't complain too much.

dendonc · February 2, 2017

Are you using 'jemca' in Carlise Rd edgware? I get spares from there on the odd rare occasion

cornershop · February 2, 2017

Nope, I used the Lexus main dealer. I think Jemca are just down the road, and their prices were pretty much identical to the Lexus main dealer

Malc · February 3, 2017

wiper blade rubbers ...........about every three or four years i need a new pair, about 40/50k miles ..... and i replace with Lexus/Toyota blades, last pair were @£22 I think but they sure have longevity.The Mazda blades are " normal " cost about £8/9 and last about a year or so.

Malc

The-Acre · February 3, 2017

On 01/02/2017 at 11:35 PM, cornershop said:

So i dropped off the car at Lexus Edgware this morning, got a call at 3pm to advise of some advisories and an issue.

Advisories:

"wiper blades non-genuine and ineffective" - correct, but good enough for now

air con service - "based on service records, aircon needs a re-gas and pollen filter needs changing " - how about actually testing the temperature and inspecting the pollen filter (changed last week, and aircon serviced in July)

"Aux belt needs changing - 150 GBP to you sir " - erm ... what?! Surely this is parts only if all the other gubbins have been removed for the cambelt job? Is there a tensioner/pulley for the aux belt too?

Issue:

"engine undertray cannot be removed due to rusty fasteners - needs to be removed for access to cambelt / water pump job as well as oil change - 200 GBP to replace the fasteners " - erm.... what ?!

I also enquired about a transmission fluid change, they advised its not recommended and is not required ?

I changed my auxiliary belt a few weeks ago, it must be one of the simplest jobs on these cars, literally takes minutes. I bought a German made Continental belt for about £19.

cornershop · February 3, 2017

1 hour ago, The-Acre said:

I changed my auxiliary belt a few weeks ago, it must be one of the simplest jobs on these cars, literally takes minutes. I bought a German made Continental belt for about £19.

Crazy how they can possibly quote £150 for the job, especially as the part was only £35 +vat

Tinonline · February 3, 2017

Shirash I agree

Looks like minimum of an hour's labour they are quoting, but should be free if part of a cambelt job as it comes off anyway...

What happened to goodwill or a nominal tenner if has to be recorded...?

Takes a pro a few minutes. Takes me ages as the belt is actually a wriggly snake that slides off a pulley just as you get it over the tricky bit...

The-Acre · February 3, 2017

1 hour ago, cornershop said:

Crazy how they can possibly quote £150 for the job, especially as the part was only £35 +vat

Well I agree, it seems far too much. All you need is a socket to release the tension. To be honest, if you remove the black plastic air intake ducting from the top (two screws) I reckon you can change the belt in less than 5 minutes, not even time for your tea to get cold! Just make a sketch of where the old one goes before you take it off. I only changed mine as it was squealing a bit when first started in cold weather.

dendonc · February 3, 2017

Cornershop

Nope, I used the Lexus main dealer. I think Jemca are just down the road, and their prices were pretty much identical to the Lexus main dealer

dendonc

Jemca are a sales & distribution franchise of/for Lexus, the hyde edgware rd, so are toyota up the road at west hendon.

The Hyde showroom is the sales & storage place, though years ago they did do repairs now its just full cars for sale. See the 'courtesy notification email from them' below, for brake hoses last year, all the mechanics at the Carlisle road fitting shop are lexus trained, its probable your 400 was taken there or maybe the toyota workshop for belt change, see receipt below, 'Jemca Lexus':

++++++++++++++

Leo Kester

<XXXXXX@ler.lexus.co.uk>

To: "XXXXXXXX@gmail.com" <XXXXX@gmail.com>

Cc: Sal Khan <salman.khan@ler.lexus.co.uk>

Hi Denis;

Just to inform you that one of the hoses you order has come into stock and the other one is showing allocated to come on the 17/05/2016. We will notify you on the 17^th whether the part come in or not.;

Kind regards Leo
Leo Kester Parts Advisor T 020 8358 2200 \| D 020 8511 1537 Jemca Lexus Edgware Road, The Hyde, Edgware Road, London. NW9 6NW www.jemca.co.uk/lexus

cornershop · February 3, 2017

Sorry, thought you meant these guys

http://jemlexus.co.uk/

Lots of JEM/Jem related businesses on that stretch

dendonc · February 3, 2017

Cornershop

Nope, I used the Lexus main dealer. I think Jemca are just down the road, and their prices were pretty much identical to the Lexus main dealer

dendonc

Jemca are a sales & distribution franchise of Lexus, the hyde edgware rd, so are toyota up the road at west hendon.

The Hyde showroom is the sales & storage place, though years ago they did do repairs now its just full cars for sale. See the receipt below for brake hoses last year, all the mechanics at the Carlisle road fitting shop are lexus trained, its probable your 400 was taken there or maybe the toyota workshop for belt change, see receipt below, 'Jemca Lexus':

++++++++++++++

Leo Kester

<XXXXXX@ler.lexus.co.uk>

To: "XXXXXXXX@gmail.com" <XXXXX@gmail.com>

Cc: Sal Khan <salman.khan@ler.lexus.co.uk>

Hi Denis;

Just to inform you that one of the hoses you order has come into stock and the other one is showing allocated to come on the 17/05/2016. We will notify you on the 17^th whether the part come in or not.;

Kind regards

Leo

Leo Kester
Parts Advisor

T 020 8358 2200 | D 020 8511 1537
Jemca Lexus Edgware Road, The Hyde, Edgware Road, London. NW9 6NW
www.jemca.co.uk/lexus

dendonc · February 3, 2017

Sorry, thought you meant these guys

http://jemlexus.co.uk/

Lots of JEM/Jem related businesses on that stretch

DENDONC

No, I said 'jemca' & their workshop etc are in Carlisle Rd, never heard of any lexus anything in the place you linked, This is the web adress on their receipt paper which I pasted in my other post:

www.jemca.co.uk/lexus

cornershop · February 3, 2017

2 minutes ago, dendonc said:

never herd of any lexus anything in the place you linked

Well, you live and learn

cornershop · February 9, 2017

So having driven it for a few miles, its clear the occasional whining noise has not been solved by the cambelt, tensioner, pulley change.

Should i now focus on the aux belt tensioner? I know the belt itself is cracked.

messi · February 10, 2017

Wow £150 to replace the serpintine belt? I remember when I had an Ls400 and Ls430, I bought the serpintine belts from Euro car parts for £20 and paid my indy garage £10 to fit it on both cars.They were good belts aswell, Continental belts.

steve2006 · February 10, 2017

A new quality serpentine belt is around £20.00, the tensioner and idler pulleys have DIY replaceable bearings costing a couple of pounds each for Japanese ones.

Removing and refitting the belt takes just a few minutes,not sure about all models but mine has the belt routing diagram shown on a sticker attached to the underside front of the bonnet or just google it.

If you are really struggling I would be happy to supply and fit one for £100.00 including new pulley bearings and no VAT :)

cornershop · February 10, 2017

Thanks both - i've already dropped customer services an email to clarify their quote. I'll be following up today with an email to the General manager if i don't get a response (Service manager doesn't list his direct email address)

I should be ok to do the belt myself, however would likely need assistance changing the bearing, so will leave it with a specialist.

dendonc · February 10, 2017

On 1/4/2017 at 4:01 PM, cornershop said:

JEM nearby also use genuine Lexus parts but are only £12 cheaper than Lexus

Do they still stock them, I find real difficulties bordering on impossible to get indi spares 'these days'.

messi · February 10, 2017

On 05/01/2017 at 7:03 PM, cornershop said:

Just signed up for Gold membership! May even driven over to Swindon if the 20% off Parts and Servicing holds true?

You dont need gold membership to get discount at lexus dealers. They will give you 10% anyway, you just have to ask them. Well it works if i ever need anything from Lexus dealers. Another example is Last month i got all service parts from Lexus dealers, 6 litres of oil oil filter, 8 sparkplugs, air and pollen filter all for £92, the oil came free.

cornershop · February 11, 2017

22 hours ago, messi said:

You dont need gold membership to get discount at lexus dealers. They will give you 10% anyway, you just have to ask them. Well it works if i ever need anything from Lexus dealers. Another example is Last month i got all service parts from Lexus dealers, 6 litres of oil oil filter, 8 sparkplugs, air and pollen filter all for £92, the oil came free.

Happy for you, however this forum has already saved me more than the membership fee with the information held in various threads so I've no issue paying.