Ls400 cambelt change at last. MOT and service

[Malc]

The time had arrived,            at 205k miles and 11 years to the day almost since the last Lexus change at 104500 in May 2007

I have had this car since June 2011 and 123k miles and as you may remember I decided to just follow the USA recommendation of 100k miles and 10 years ( ok I'm a year late ! )

My indy used Blueprint supplied  cambelt,  pulleys and waterpump, together with  serpentine belt too .....  none of this had been changed during my time of 7 years and 83k miles

Result, all old belts quite intact with minimal apparent wear and only just starting to show a slight wear level at the cambelt join seam. No evident cracks at all in the belt and no leaks from the waterpump. The pulleys were however worn and one more so than the other..........  but all functioning ok

Also it seems the old timing belt had been one tooth out in its installation, within a tolerance of perhaps two..............  he advised me that the ECU had clearly adjusted the engine running to cope with the " one tooth out "  fact. ................. The car ran very well in all the time I have had it, very quick and powerful but suffering from the Mk3 syndrome of sometimes just cutting out when hot after a long run .

BUT NOW with the new cambelt set with zero tooth tolerance, well, blimey, the acceleration is amazingly different. I thought my old car was  " quick "  but now it's feeling just supercharged. Like a new car tbh. .....  and at this time, on the hour long run back from my mechanic, there was zero indication of the age-old cutting out that we all Mk3 owners tend to live in anticipation with.

It was  a full 8 hour job however and I had expected that so no surprises there .................  many years ago on my Mk1 I had the cambelt changed and that too was an 8 hour job.

it just takes a long diligent time to do.

 

There was also a full annual service and MOT. ................ with one Advisory to replace the other side of the rear UCA for next year.

Replacing the wiper rubbers ( from Lexus / Toyota but they last 3 years and 30/40 k miles in my experience )              oil and oil filter change and air filter too............... sorting out one flat tyre slow puncture                  and after 5 years and 62k miles another weld on the ever so slightly blowing exhaust ( same place I think ).

The plugs won't need changing till 120k miles or so. ( or 160k miles if they are 100k mile plugs, I'm not sure )

Plenty of tread on all tyres at least to see me through till the winter.

All in all 10 hours labour ...  a brilliant result 

I'm HAPPY

Malc

 

[Cotswold Pete]

Interesting comment on the Mk3 cutout problem going now timing is aligned correctly.

My old garage said pulleys did not need replacing at last cambelt change on my Mk4, which was over 50K ago, and at last MOT they said it was about time to think about a new belt, but it looks pretty fine to me, but not so sure I'll risk 100K life.

Still as you said great result and sounds like you have a car running as smooth as a baby's bottom.  Excellent.

[Newbie1]

Isn't it pleasing when you get your car back from a mechanic and really feel the difference? That's a great run you've had out of the car and here's to many more happy miles.

[royoftherovers]

4 hours ago, Malc said:

The time had arrived,            at 205k miles and 11 years to the day almost since the last Lexus change at 104500 in May 2007

I have had this car since June 2011 and 123k miles and as you may remember I decided to just follow the USA recommendation of 100k miles and 10 years ( ok I'm a year late ! )

My indy used Blueprint supplied  cambelt,  pulleys and waterpump, together with  serpentine belt too .....  none of this had been changed during my time of 7 years and 83k miles

Result, all old belts quite intact with minimal apparent wear and only just starting to show a slight wear level at the cambelt join seam. No evident cracks at all in the belt and no leaks from the waterpump. The pulleys were however worn and one more so than the other..........  but all functioning ok

Also it seems the old timing belt had been one tooth out in its installation, within a tolerance of perhaps two..............  he advised me that the ECU had clearly adjusted the engine running to cope with the " one tooth out "  fact. ................. The car ran very well in all the time I have had it, very quick and powerful but suffering from the Mk3 syndrome of sometimes just cutting out when hot after a long run .

BUT NOW with the new cambelt set with zero tooth tolerance, well, blimey, the acceleration is amazingly different. I thought my old car was  " quick "  but now it's feeling just supercharged. Like a new car tbh. .....  and at this time, on the hour long run back from my mechanic, there was zero indication of the age-old cutting out that we all Mk3 owners tend to live in anticipation with.

It was  a full 8 hour job however and I had expected that so no surprises there .................  many years ago on my Mk1 I had the cambelt changed and that too was an 8 hour job.

it just takes a long diligent time to do.

 

There was also a full annual service and MOT. ................ with one Advisory to replace the other side of the rear UCA for next year.

Replacing the wiper rubbers ( from Lexus / Toyota but they last 3 years and 30/40 k miles in my experience )              oil and oil filter change and air filter too............... sorting out one flat tyre slow puncture                  and after 5 years and 62k miles another weld on the ever so slightly blowing exhaust ( same place I think ).

The plugs won't need changing till 120k miles or so. ( or 160k miles if they are 100k mile plugs, I'm not sure )

Plenty of tread on all tyres at least to see me through till the winter.

All in all 10 hours labour ...  a brilliant result 

I'm HAPPY

Malc

 

Now, those sound like wise words from an owner who invests wisely in maintaining an asset which to him is priceless.Happy motoring Malc.

[Malc]

thank you for your comments guys ............  sadly I was a little premature with the " cutting out " syndrome, it's just done it today  

but hey, I'm used to it and can cope ........ at least another 10 years and 100k miles methinks    and the same indy mechanic I hope

and I wasn't dreaming about the supercharged effect .............  it's just zipped me down the motorway like a big Merc AMG on full belt, but at tiny comparable cost !

ps  total bill for absolutely everything was just only @ £850 ...............  and I still use Wilko oil 10/40 semi synthetic  

overall the cheapest motoring cost of any big luxury car by far........ now into maybe 17 years of owning and running a Ls400........... and 10.5 years continuous service with my mechanic

Malc

[39buss]

Talking to the service manager at Lexus Newcastle 3 or 4 years ago, he said its not surprising the belts last as long and don't look distressed, tired or worn with the excellence of engineering and super smooth engine. He's got a point there.

[Cotswold Pete]

16 hours ago, 39buss said:

Talking to the service manager at Lexus Newcastle 3 or 4 years ago, he said its not surprising the belts last as long and don't look distressed, tired or worn with the excellence of engineering and super smooth engine. He's got a point there.

The LS has a supremely balanced engine, so makes sense it would put less strain on the belt.

In reference to the ECU problem, it would be worht getting the ECU looked at, as my experience with previous Mk3 was it just got worse and worse to the point where the cut-out was becoming darned dangerous, and more or less every trip was becoming stressful.

If the capacitors are leaking then they will slowly create more damage on the ECU board if not careful.

[DaKa]

Thanks for putting the cost involved here Malcolm.

Did you provide the parts to your mechanic?

I've been quoted £375 (labour only) to change the belt/pump on my LS430 at a non main dealer but Lexus specialist in Rayleigh, Essex. Your mechanic guy seems good and perhaps the forum will allow you to provide his details? 

There are some kits that include the belt-tensioner and bearings together with the belt and pump that are tempting me but I'm always worried about OEM specification as it's down to me if I buy the wrong parts. Anyone bought a kit from eBay that can provide link?

It is a job I've tackled before myself (on my oldSC430), but getting a little too old and achy now and <£400 seems a bargain.

[Malc]

ok guys,, the cost included absolutely everything including the coolant replacement too.

He provided everything apart from the wiper rubbers coz I will use genuine ( cost  £26.50 )  Lexus/Toyota which historically have lasted me 3 yrs/40k miles but they look the same as his normal rubbers at a tiny price by comparison........... and his are normal and def don't last that long.

as an aside, I had to buy from Honda too the driver's side wiper blade for the Legend as his stock went to max length of the pax side on the Legend.

Also the oil I bought from Wilko. I have this hang-up that some major oil conglomerate makes their oil and it's ok. It is ........  as that's all I've used at every service on each car I've owned for at least 10 years and the engines always perform admirably. ( He thinks I'm a bit dopey about that too  )

So, £850 ( incl the wiper rubbers and the oil ) and incl. some 10 hours of his labour at his discounted to me rate of £xx an hour.

No VAT as he is below the threshold.

And I trust him with absolutely everything to do with cars and money.

He is based nr. Manston Airport ( as was ) in Kent and if you wanted me to pass on your number to him I will happily do so. He told me off last time i gave out his number on here, a few years ago now .............  he is extremely busy and juggles his time to fit me in.

I'm a happy bunny with my " like new " Lexus  

Malc

[jaffer]

On 03/05/2018 at 11:33 AM, DaKa said:

Thanks for putting the cost involved here Malcolm.

Did you provide the parts to your mechanic?

I've been quoted £375 (labour only) to change the belt/pump on my LS430 at a non main dealer but Lexus specialist in Rayleigh, Essex. Your mechanic guy seems good and perhaps the forum will allow you to provide his details? 

There are some kits that include the belt-tensioner and bearings together with the belt and pump that are tempting me but I'm always worried about OEM specification as it's down to me if I buy the wrong parts. Anyone bought a kit from Ebay that can provide link?

It is a job I've tackled before myself (on my oldSC430), but getting a little too old and achy now and <£400 seems a bargain.

if you are ever up north (stoke on trent) then let me know, I had the following done in Jan 2018 on my LS 430, I spent £311.38 on:

INA timing belt kit

8 bosch spark plugs

oil filter

cabin filter

denso wilper blades (OE)

brembo front pads

brembo rear pads

air filter

2 x 5lires of Shell Helix

All the above were from euro car parts, in Jan my A/C wasnt working due to a leaking condensor so I sourced a used one for £30 and got my mechanic to do the full service with all the above parts, brake pads front and rear, he replaced the condensor, timing belt kit with all pulleys etc and done an mot on it for.......wait for it

 

£180 labour and this included the MOT.

 

I have since done 4k miles in the car and hasnt missed a beat. 

 

So I spent just short of £500 and had a lot more done to the car. Coolant changed to ofcourse as it is with cambelt and waterpump. 

[Malc]

that's amazing, £180 for 10 hours work ..........  and to include the MOT

Hope he showed you the old cambelt etc ?

Did he change the waterpump too ?

Malc

[jaffer]

 

5 minutes ago, Malc said:

that's amazing, £180 for 10 hours work ..........  and to include the MOT

Hope he showed you the old cambelt etc ?

Did he change the waterpump too ?

Malc

yes water pump too and yes the whole job was done in front of me, 

 

he has done about 25 cambelts for me in the past 12 months, i have a car sales business and i stock approx 140 cars at any time so he gets £700 a week from me minimum for mots and other bits and bobs.

 

sounds too good to be true but yes thats what he charged me, knowing its my car and that its being prepped for the grand road trip. 

 

i have a flat rate for any car cambelt kit and pump at £90

 

he didnt do the water pump gasket but that really is a big job on these, I think ill get it done when the car gets to its next belt change.

[Malc]

On 03/05/2018 at 11:33 AM, DaKa said:

Did you provide the parts to your mechanic?

No, not the cambelt or pulleys or waterpump, nor the serpentine belt .....  these all came as Blueprint which he rates above Gates products.

Cambelt and two pulleys was  £134.32 .              the third pulley was Lexus only BUT the existing could be adjusted ok ! and not replaced he tells me

Waterpump was £126.94

Other belt was £36.30

so that's nearly £300 above parts only,  then there's the coolant and oil and oil filter and air filter and wiper rubbers

The plugs were last replaced 45 k miles ago ...............  a long way to go again.

And of course the MOT .......  the total of £850 to include all 10 hrs labour I thought was a good result tbh . 

incl welding that bit of the exhaust he repaired all those years back and dealing with a slow puncture in one tyre too.

Saving a few squid with possible cheaper parts wasn't really on the cards as i do want at least that next 100k miles out of the old lady.

Malc

[cornershop]

I can’t comment on blueprints part quality, but I’m thinking over 100k planned miles, the cost differential between blueprint and genuine Lexus would be negligible?

just my $0.02 (that you didn’t ask for)

[Malc]

Maybe, we didn't investigate that I must admit, he tells me Gates make for Marque brands supplied too and he still rates Blueprint above Gates notwithstanding.

Malc

[jaffer]

2 minutes ago, Malc said:

Maybe, we didn't investigate that I must admit, he tells me Gates make for Marque brands supplied too and he still rates Blueprint above Gates notwithstanding.

Malc

ill second that, being in the trade i go through a lot of parts and my mechanic rates blueprint to be as good as OE 

Just ordered 8x denso iridium spark plugs for £50 + vat from toyota yesterday. they were done in jan but I will be getting them changed again when i get my fuel injectors cleaned out.