LS430 timing belt replacement; Easier than you think

Smoother · November 28, 2017

Hi, I'm new here, and as such I am restricted to posting in new members only. So if a moderator would like to place it appropriately, that would be cool.

I recently decided to tackle my timing belt. at 185,000mi (1st. one was around 90,000) it was time. I know there's a lot of leeway regarding miles, but age, usage, and environmental conditions can age rubber products differently, so I didn't want to push it, or i'd be pushing it, literally.

I'm no mechanic. But I have a few tools, and I regularly study at the university of YouTube.

Basically it was quite easy (and bear in mind, when I first watched others do it on YouTube, I said "no way am I up to that ". Well it turns out I was. You may be too.

Here's the stuff that caused me trouble, that isn't mentioned by others:

1. Try and do it all on the same day, which means, have ALL your new parts there already. That way it will be fresh in your mind. Don't let a few days elapse between disassembly and assembly, like I did.

2.MAKE METICULOUS NOTES ABOUT WHICH BOLTS/STUDS GO WHERE AND WHAT THEY DO.

3. Take lots of pictures, and make sure they are clear detailed pictures.

4. Work with a lot of light, its quite dingy down there in a november garage.

5. Dress warmly (if appropriate) cold will make you take shortcuts.

6. Take your time when warming the car up, as well as checking for leaks and funny sounds, you need to make sure the water system is completely full. Just filling it up isn't enough. I can't explain what happened to mine, but I think I had air around the water pump, so it couldn't pump. So make sure your radiator is getting hot. Make sure the top hose it very hot and the bottom hose is cooler. If the fans come on and the air they move is cold, you have air in the system, and air in the radiator, even if you did just fill it to the top. Take your time and confirm the system is circulating hot water.

Let me 'splain. Item 2 above. For example, the first thing to go back on is the new water pump. It's got a lot of bolt holes in it, but when I picked up the old pump for reference, it only had 2 bolts in it. Huh??!! how did that happen? Looked all around for the missing bolts but none could be found. Through a painful process of trial and error, and putting the tensioner system on then having to take it off again(complete with re setting the tensioner unit), I finally figured out what was going wrong. As you are pulling the various bits off in sequence, you don't notice that a particular bolt you remove, is holding on more than one device. Example, if I remember right, there's a small black plastic cover that comes of very early in the process. At least one of these bolts also fastens the water pump; the last thing you take off. That explains one vacant hole on the water pump, because the bolt was in the plastic shield. There were several other "dual purpose" bolts like this.

Seriously that was the hardest part.

Other notable events:

Bumping the 22mm harmonic balancer bolt? prop up the cheater bar, YouTube style, and bump the starter. Easy Peasy.

Lining up the cams and belt, a little fiddly but very doable, check your work 6 times especially the little mark on the cam shaft pulley, its visible from underneath. Try and get the Mitsuboshi (sic) or other belt with timing marks printed right on the belt. Makes life so much easier. (curiously the old belt had these marks, but the dealer mechanic who changed it, didn't use them ) Yes, they were the right marks, I checked. And yes, just like everyone else, the old belt looked pristine (but it makes no sense to put it back in, does it)

Retightening the 22mm crank bolt took some thinking (no impact gun and no assistance) I took the old serpentine belt and locked it around the harmonic balancer by pinching it against itself. Then i took the loose end and wrapped it around the power steering pulley anti clockwise. then I put a cheater bar through the loop and wedged the end in a strong place above the alternator. With my left hand I held tension against the other end of the cheater bar, and cranked as hard as I could on the crank bolt with a long 1/2" torque wrench. Did i reach the specified torque? hard to say, cos my torque wrench doesn't quite go that high, but I was close, as I was passed the "click click", AND I used some thread lock.

When I flocked up and had to remove the new tensioner pulley, I had to remove the harmonic balancer AGAIN, having just almost popped a blood vessel tightening it. I used the serpentine belt again. This time I wrapped it around the A/C pulley and found a different place to anchor the cheater bar, and another vein to almost pop.. Why not just bump it again? I didn't want my timing marks to move, as I'd lose site of them; and when the tensioner came off I was in danger of the belt jumping a tooth ( it likes doing that when there's no tension on it, ask me how I know) To sub for the tensioner while I was discovering ALL the bolts for the waterpump, I used zip ties to cinch the belt up against both cam pulleys. This took all the slack out of the belt so I was ok on the cam pulley, but I did triple check ALL marks when it was all back together, AGAIN!.

So if you think you're up to doing your belt, let me tell you, its a lot easier than you think (I've never done a timing belt before on anything)

Total cost £227 (water pump, timing belt, idler pulley, tensioner pulley, tensioner, thermostat, serpentine belt, AND radiator) Good to go to at least 280,000mi)

Oh, and for £28 more, I added a trans cooler in front of the condenser. Whose idea was it to cool the tranny with hot water from the engine? The perfect time to do the rad and the cooler.

The-Acre · November 28, 2017

Well you've been a busy boy, and my lunch has got cold reading your epistle! Well done for taking the plunge, it may encourage others to do the same. And welcome to the LOC!

Smoother · November 28, 2017

4 hours ago, The-Acre said:

Well you've been a busy boy, and my lunch has got cold reading your epistle! Well done for taking the plunge, it may encourage others to do the same. And welcome to the LOC!

Sorry about your lunch. I did go on a bit.

Secret Green Sauce · September 2

Hi all,

My LS430 has just crossed the 120k miles mark, and as it's also approaching 20 year birthday (next year), so I thought that I'd tackle the timing belt change at the same time as its annual service.

I appreciated finding this post as it is one that took an approach to replace the parts exhaustively (water pump, timing belt, idler pulley, tensioner pulley, tensioner, thermostat, serpentine belt, AND radiator). This approach aligns with what I've watched on the car care nut's youtube channel - who seems to be a trusted voice on Lexus maintenance. I figure, do it properly, and the car is set up for another 60k miles or 10 years.

I'm not able to do the job myself, but wanted to ask, where could one source all the parts?

I'm going to get a quote from Lexus, but am likely to try to go down the independent garage route if I can get a competitive quote from one. Although there don't seem to be many Lexus specialists in London from what I can find on Google. Any recommendations here, would also be appreciated. I'm SE11 based myself, but happy to travel a bit for this to get to a trusted/experienced mechanic.

Many thanks

Malc1 · September 2

My experience over decades with my Ls400s using competent non-Lexus au fait Indy mechanics …… who I’ve learnt to trust with servicing etc on my cars …… they can often do the job fine 🤞

If the radiator hasn’t been changed yet then every 100k miles is good to do so

Cambelt etc also every 100k miles is good too 👍

Has any of this ever been done ?
Malc

steve2006 · September 2

Regarding the parts this kit is very good on price and OEM quality

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aisin-TKT-021-Engine-Timing-Water/dp/B008EEYWKI/ref=asc_df_B008EEYWKI/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697233799567&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2211583315227901321&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9194682&hvtargid=pla-435682999408&mcid=764638e5e56a3dbcba95c9f939520b9b&th=1&gad_source=1

Secret Green Sauce · September 2

I appreciate the quick replies.

Malc, yes the timing belt was done before, at around 60k I believe, so this would be it's third belt since new. For the 430, I've read that every 60k or 10 years is a good cycle for regular timing belt replacements. Although I know this differs to the original manual (100k) and opinions vary.

I don't know if all the idlers/pulleys/etc were replaced previously. I don't think it's the 'norm' to replace the full list in my previous post, so I suspect not.

It has it's original radiator, so I'm keen to change that.

Thanks Steve for the amazon link - looks like a great option. Do Aisin do rads as well?

If anyone has any recommendations on London mechanics that would be appreciated.

Thanks again

Malc1 · September 2

Take care changing the radiator ……. I think I’ve been reading here there’s maybe 3 options and only one of them is good for your specific car

Steve2006 here will have better specific advice I’m thinking 🤔

Good luck

Malc

ambermarine · September 3

When mine was done a couple of years a go I sourced my parts in the middle east they came in genuine Lexus parts at half the price of Lexus UK and that was with the shipping and taxes. there are several sites based in the UAE just google that area .

As for getting a competent mechanic that can be a bit tricky.

Secret Green Sauce · September 5

Thanks Malc.

Phil, interesting suggestion, I haven't come across UAE parts sites before. I'll give it a Google, but any specific sites you can recommend would be helpful.

Other than services and consumables, this'll be the first mechanical job done since I've owned the car. Fingers crossed it goes well!

Malc1 · September 5

Amayama. Rockauto. LexusPartsDirect ……. I’ve only used Amayama ……. very successfully …… there’s possibly others

The radiator could be the most challenging to make sure you get the correct option 🤔

good luck

Malc

ambermarine · September 6

22 hours ago, Secret Green Sauce said:

Thanks Malc.

Phil, interesting suggestion, I haven't come across UAE parts sites before. I'll give it a Google, but any specific sites you can recommend would be helpful.

Other than services and consumables, this'll be the first mechanical job done since I've owned the car. Fingers crossed it goes well!

Well Frazer it looks like Lexus have stamped down on my supplier ,I bought the whole timing belt + tensioner and waterpump replacement from them 4 years ago at a total cost of £175 including shipping Burj Auto DWC -LLC in Dubai they still supply Toyota parts but the Lexus name as been removed from the manfacturers list if you put in a lexus part number it will state it is out of stock in their parts reference box.

They were too good to be true I suppose thinking about it I should have bought a boat load off spares at the time but again we think conservativly when we have to buy something not speculatevly.

Lexus_2023 · September 8

@Secret Green Sauce I’m in the process of replacing my car’s timing belt, drive belt, and other components. I’ve been sourcing parts from various websites and importing items from Japan and the UAE. I hope to post a detailed update soon!

MLW · September 8

What does a belt, pulley, water pump etc etc cost at a Lexus dealership?

Malc1 · September 8

Michael hi …… you say, your profile says, you have a 2018 Ls430 ? Bit odd maybe

Malc

MLW · September 24

Sorry it is a 2002. What does a belt etc etc cost at Lexus?

John N · September 27

By mistake I did the same job on my first LS430 a few years ago.

Working on the drive at home, it took me 2 days to reach the point where the old timing belt and water pump were off the car, and I could start putting things back together. I even used the same technique to remove the 22mm crank bolt. It then took another day and a half to put everything back together.

The mistake I made was that when I found the front of the engine covered in water, I assumed it was the water pump that was leaking and needed replacing. So I had decided to replace the timing belt at the same time as the pump. But after I restarted the car the front of the engine was still covered in water!

The water leak had been from the top of the radiator, but I hadn't seen it because it was under the air intake!

Moral of the story: Don't jump to a diagnosis!

MLW · October 10

To repeat......

What does a belt, pulley, water pump etc etc cost at a Lexus dealership?

No body seems to know. Do prices vary?

Malc1 · October 10

7 minutes ago, MLW said:

To repeat......

What does a belt, pulley, water pump etc etc cost at a Lexus dealership?

No body seems to know. Do prices vary?

Why don’t you simply ask your local Lexus Main Dealer …….. they will be able to give you their up-to-date pricing

Members here would only have their own historic costs paid !

Malc

Secret Green Sauce · October 14

@MLW and for others in case of interest. This is the detailed quote I recently received from Lexus Croydon for the work. Still waiting on prices for the water pump and idler pulley no1, but it gives a good indication how much it costs to do a thorough job.

	incl VAT
120k mile interim service	348.00
cambelt	86.68
cam belt tensioner	131.32
cam belt idler no1	142.10
cam belt idler no2	143.80
fan belt tensioner	138.42
idler pulley	441.82
idler pulley no 1
idler pulley no 2	126.67
water pump
coolant 6 litres	90.72
radiator B	563.30
serpintine belt	77.74
thermostat	61.70
gasket	8.15

4 wheel alignment	186


Total parts	2,546

labour	1264.8

All in	£3,811

@Lexus_2023 How's your post coming along, I'd be keen to try to source some of these parts cheaper elsewhere if possible. Thanks

ColinBarber · October 14

Water pumps are around £240 from a dealer (£216 from Lexuspartsdirect)

Razor61 · October 14

1 hour ago, Secret Green Sauce said:

Still waiting on prices for the water pump and idler pulley no1

I'm pretty sure fan/aux belt 'idler pulley no1' comes with the aux/fan belt tensioner as one assembly.

John N · October 14

I've just changed my radiator again after the one I bought 5 years ago started to leak. It had cost me £100 off eBay.

This time I priced a radiator from my Lexus dealer at £650 inc. VAT. (Don't forget to add VAT to the dealer prices.) So it was back to eBay and the price was still £100 inc, VAT after 5 years.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152429318586 ( If you look at the picture of the radiator on eBay, the top right hand corner has a small connecting pipe that goes to the reservoir bottle. Check you buy a radiator with this connection. All LS430s sold in the UK need this connection.)

Other things like coolant look expensive at £90 for 6 liters - when 4 liters of concentrated coolant from COSTCO costs just over £10 and will make 12 liters when diluted. (The car needs 10L)

I would not buy any idler pulleys without checking the existing ones first, if they turn smoothly and silently leave them alone. Belt tensioners are something else I would not replace. ( I bought a serpintine belt tensioner 10 years ago, and over 100K miles later it is still in its' box! )

5 years ago I bought a genuine new timing belt and pump and got a local Lexus dealers' service department to fit them for £650.

Malc1 · October 14

45 minutes ago, John N said:

I've just changed my radiator again after the one I bought 5 years ago started to leak. It had cost me £100 off eBay.

This time I priced a radiator from my Lexus dealer at £650 inc. VAT. (Don't forget to add VAT to the dealer prices.) So it was back to eBay and the price was still £100 inc, VAT after 5 years.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152429318586 ( If you look at the picture of the radiator on eBay, the top right hand corner has a small connecting pipe that goes to the reservoir bottle. Check you buy a radiator with this connection. All LS430s sold in the UK need this connection.)

Other things like coolant look expensive at £90 for 6 liters - when 4 liters of concentrated coolant from COSTCO costs just over £10 and will make 12 liters when diluted. (The car needs 10L)

I would not buy any idler pulleys without checking the existing ones first, if they turn smoothly and silently leave them alone. Belt tensioners are something else I would not replace. ( I bought a serpintine belt tensioner 10 years ago, and over 100K miles later it is still in its' box! )

5 years ago I bought a genuine new timing belt and pump and got a local Lexus dealers' service department to fit them for £650.

Those costings sound rather more “ normal “ thankfully 😅

Malc

Lexus_2023 · October 15

On 10/14/2024 at 11:15 AM, Secret Green Sauce said:

@MLW and for others in case of interest. This is the detailed quote I recently received from Lexus Croydon for the work. Still waiting on prices for the water pump and idler pulley no1, but it gives a good indication how much it costs to do a thorough job.

incl VAT

120k mile interim service 348.00

cambelt 86.68

cam belt tensioner 131.32

cam belt idler no1 142.10

cam belt idler no2 143.80

fan belt tensioner 138.42

idler pulley 441.82

idler pulley no 1

idler pulley no 2 126.67

water pump

coolant 6 litres 90.72

radiator B 563.30

serpintine belt 77.74

thermostat 61.70

gasket 8.15

4 wheel alignment 186

Total parts 2,546

labour 1264.8

All in £3,811

@Lexus_2023 How's your post coming along, I'd be keen to try to source some of these parts cheaper elsewhere if possible. Thanks

@Secret Green Sauce Sorry for the delay. All my items have arrived except for two(Please refer to my other posts), and so far I've spent £900, with an expectation that it may go up by another £100. I purchased everything from three different retailers, and I have yet to book the garage for the labour, which should cost around £600. I’m not in a hurry, so I’m taking my time with everything.