93 lexus gs300 timing belt question
i just got a 93 gs300 have no records of when the belt was changed so i'm planning on changing it but i was told to only bring it back to lexus to have the belt changed because friends told me of stories about mechanic shops messing up timing belts on lexus my question is are timing belts on the lexus that difficult to change? is it woth spending the extra $$ to take it back to lexus and finally what is a good price to have that done at a shop? this car has 180,00 miles on it and the engine is MINT!!!! THANKS IN ADVANCE It sound like you would like to do some or most of the repairs yourself. Here is a link to A download manual. Copy and past the link. This one should work and you can download it or have it on a CD shipped to you. http://www.servicemanuals.net/service.aspx Here is one on ebay Buy it now $7.98 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Lexus-GS300-Factory-Shop-Service-Repair-Manual-93-97_W0QQitemZ260080964343QQihZ016QQcategoryZ119138QQcmdZViewItem no not going to do it myself i just want to know if there's a big difference between bring it back to the dealer or bringing it to a mechanic shop locally If you are going to have it done by a local repair shop and not the dealer service department. Question the mechanic about doing cars like yours and see if he has the manual. I would think it is straight forward but still even on my own autos I get the repair manual so that I can do the repair myself and not get caught on something out of the norm. Now days it might not be a bad idea to have the repair manual on a CD in the car. So if something should happen out on the road and you have a shop that is not familiar with your car the mechanic can pop the CD in and complete the repair. I would make another copy to keep at home. Nothing really exotic about a Lexus timing belt; any competent shop can handle it, it's a Toyota. I'm really going to reach for a guess on the job, because I have no idea what the book labor is on that. Let's say three hours @ $75-85/hour (may be more or less in your area) plus $50-75for the belt (again guessing) and you'd be looking at roughly $325-350. Also, if that model has a timing belt driven water pump, now's the time to replace it as well. Good tip on the water pump. The thing with an independent shop is it might be cheaper but they might not use Lexus parts. Also Lexus can do it very quick since they do them all the time. If it were me and I had the money I would go Lexus. Or you can look around and find a shop that just works Lexus or Toyota cars. My stepson has a Honda and he found a shop that only does Hondas and uses only Honda parts. (They did a super job). they replaced his timing belt and water pump. you might ask any shop you take it to if they are familiar with doing lexus timing belts if they are not you might want to go to the dealer or check out other shops until you find one who is. with it being a dual overhead cam v6 would guess that it would be a 4-5 hour job and likely cost 400-500 dollars just for doing the belt, add a waterpump if applicable and possibly idler and tensioner pulleys that may be worn out and the price can very well be much higher. I am doing the same thing with my 2000 Hyundai Elantra...i.e. researching places to replace the timing belt. First I asked at the Hyundai dealer, and was given a very high estimate. Then I got a considerably lower estimate from my usual independent garage, who has done good work for me in the past. I then asked him if he would install parts if I got them cheaper online. (These are brand new AC Delco parts with full warranty. Belt, idler pulley, tensioner, and water pump and gasket). He said he would install them, but that he would not warranty them. He told me that the parts I got were considerably cheaper than what he would have put in, but they should be just as good since they are new, name brand ones. Hence, the new estimate was cheaper due to the cost of the parts. Since the car is older and has 89,000 miles on it, I think this is a good deal for me. If it were new or under warranty, I would be willing to spend more. As it is, I'm willing to take my chances on a good, honest mechanic and the parts I will supply. I would mention the online site for the parts, but I think that is against this forum's rules. Good luck! Pecos Have to remember to check the AllData book time when I can get to somewhere they use it. I'm curious and bejay's probably right that my time estimate was probably overly optimistic. alot of shops do not install parts supplied by the customer, as most anyone can go to a parts store and buy a part cheaper than what a shop would charge for it, and cant really blame most shops that do this as its how they make some of there profit. And the ones that do, generally make it a point not to warranty them; makes sense. I agree with you guys...shops can certainly make their money in many ways and I've got no problem with that. I was just giving my opinion on another way to possibly save some money. I am incurring the risk on the repair here, and I know it in advance. Hopefully the new delco parts will be defect-free. As I said, if this were a better car, I would probably let him supply the parts too so I would have his full warranty. As it stands, he will warrant his workmanship and Delco will warranty the parts. I'm willing to risk it in this instance. Pecos Thanks for all the info i have a regular mechanic that i've been using for yrs as a matter of fact he just changed my timing belt on my 92 camry and as always he did a great job i know a lot of people say a lexus is just a toyota but i thought a lexus timing belt might be a little more complex and he lets me buy my own parts and allways gives me a fair price and sometimes when i don't have the $$ upfront lets me pay him later so i guess i'll question him on if he ever done a lexus timing belt (i'm pretty sure he has as his shop is always crowed) and i'll have hime change the water pump as well I could be mistaken, but it's possible that V-6 motor in your Lexus also powers some Toyotas, in the Avalon line for instance. I think the Lexus GS-300 is an in-line 6, 3 liter, 220hp, same engine as Toyota Supra. Have a nice day, geo
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