Timing belt

[Tom Fearon]

Hi folks, I am just in the process of buying a 2005 RX300 with a 100,000 miles on the clock. It has good service history and otherwise good condition but no mention of a cam belt change. The dealer is independent and says that I should assume that it has not been done and as the price is fair I am ok with that.

   The question is whether it is possible to find out if the change has been done before I spend my hard earned cash on repeating the change.

 

Thanks, Tom

[Herbie]

If it's always been serviced at Lexus there'll be a record of it online through the My Lexus website or app. If not, then I think you'd better err on the side of caution as it's too big a risk to take otherwise.

You should also have the water pump changed at the same time whether it needs it or not. This is because the pump lives in the same area as the belt so to do it at the same time may add about £40 or £50 to the bill. Do it at a different time and you'll be paying about £300 or more for the pump alone, because 90% of the work done to get at the belt will need to be done again to get at the pump.

I think I paid about £460 if I remember correctly and that was for the belt, idler/tensioner, water pump, 10L of Toyota Super Long Life Pink coolant and labour at my local indy guy, so if it happens to be my old one (GY05 HVK) then it's all done for you  

[cruisermark]

Hi Tom

There are 3 lines of enquiry you can adopt:

1) Look around the engine bay for a sticker 

2) Look in the service history book and contact previous garages who have serviced the car and ask them.

3) If possible contact the previous owner and ask them.

I actually bought an LS400 years ago without a cambelt change and was able to verify this info by googling and contacting the owners name.

Failing this factor the cost of a cambelt, Waterpump and tensioner change into your buying price and then get it done at a garage of your choice.

hope this helps

[Tom Fearon]

28 minutes ago, Herbie said:

If it's always been serviced at Lexus there'll be a record of it online through the My Lexus website or app. If not, then I think you'd better err on the side of caution as it's too big a risk to take otherwise.

You should also have the water pump changed at the same time whether it needs it or not. This is because the pump lives in the same area as the belt so to do it at the same time may add about £40 or £50 to the bill. Do it at a different time and you'll be paying about £300 or more for the pump alone, because 90% of the work done to get at the belt will need to be done again to get at the pump.

I think I paid about £460 if I remember correctly and that was for the belt, idler/tensioner, water pump, 10L of Toyota Super Long Life Pink coolant and labour at my local indy guy, so if it happens to be my old one (GY05 HVK) then it's all done for you  

 

26 minutes ago, cruisermark said:

Hi Tom

There are 3 lines of enquiry you can adopt:

1) Look around the engine bay for a sticker 

2) Look in the service history book and contact previous garages who have serviced the car and ask them.

3) If possible contact the previous owner and ask them.

I actually bought an LS400 years ago without a cambelt change and was able to verify this info by googling and contacting the owners name.

Failing this factor the cost of a cambelt, Waterpump and tensioner change into your buying price and then get it done at a garage of your choice.

hope this helps

Thanks, I was thinking along the same lines👍