Would you drive a 100 series across the country...

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N

NC-Grayson

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with an unknown timing belt history? As the title states, I'm wondering if that's a horrible idea. I'm considering a cross country 100 series purchase, here are some details.

MINT 1998 LX, 1 owner, been in the southwest it's entire life. no rust, it's immaculate. Just over 101,000 original miles. Better than aveage service records on My Lexus website.

BUT, the Timing belt history is unknown. There's no sticker. I paid a 3rd party mechanic to give the truck a once over, he said he'd buy it if I didn't....but he couldn't confirm with 100% accuracy that the t-belt has been changed ever.

I guess I've somehow made myself paranoid at how FEW miles it has.

Would you worry about an 1800 mile journey back home across the country? Or would you just get the TB changed as soon as I bought it before the journey? Let's assume i've been searching for a while and i've found my "unicorn".

Thanks for the input. I realize this is my first post.....hopefully I'll be able to contribute more substance in the future!
 
I would. My bud is s master tech for Toyota and he says they most commonly replace t-belts around 120k.
 
I would. I drove mine to Florida from Texas and then back home the same day a couple of weeks after I bought it. I had some idea of it's condition but there's now way to know 100%. A week after that I drove to Maine for two weeks, again, from Texas. That was in July last year. Then I drove to Mesa Verde, Ouray, and back home in October. Then Death Valley in January.

When I got it home (after I bought it) the first thing that I did was take fluid samples as I was draining and replaced the oil in the engine, front and rear diff, and transfer case. Of course I also changed the oil filter for the engine. The samples gave me a baseline. Next oil change I sampled and the results were great. I used Blackstone Labs. There may be others
 
For what it's worth, I bought mine at 160k and the owner didn't change the t-belt until 160k. He had it done two weeks before I bought it.
 
Yeah, I wouldn't worry about it. It'll be fine. I bought my 2000 a year and a half ago and it had 113,000 miles on it with no replacement timing belt. Drove it from Seattle down to Eugene that year. Then this year up to BC and back. I will change it this winter...just haven't had the time.
 
Man...you guys have cojones.

I bought mine two weeks ago with 186k. Timing belt service at 90k. I'm freaking out about the engine blowing on me.

I do plan on doing it in a few weeks but really worried something will happen as this my DD.

Thoughts?
 
I have 172k on mine. Timing belt was done at 90k. I just made a 1200 mile round trip to Big Bend. I'm not worried about the timing belt going anytime soon. I'll probably do the water pump, timing belt, etc around 200k. The LC was built right...
 
I was in the same situation.... I changed it at 120K for peace of mind because I go in the bush a bit and travel up and down the coast camping... I would not worry about a 1200mi trip, but I would change it at the next available opportunity with water pump unless you can find a record or service sticker to prove otherwise. Once it is done, you will likely never have to do it again...
 
I did it a couple months ago. 224k on the clock. 1800 mile vegas to wisconsin. Not one worry.
 
I don’t get it! If you are worried, why don’t you just change it?
If you don’t, you will spoil your trip by sitting tense and worried.
The car will probably do fine, but you will have a miserable trip ;-)
 
I would drive it. It's usually other components that chew up the timing belt, not the belt itself. If you are really worried, take an extra day or two and have the work done somewhere along the way.
 
bucfl said:
Man...you guys have cojones.

I bought mine two weeks ago with 186k. Timing belt service at 90k. I'm freaking out about the engine blowing on me.

I do plan on doing it in a few weeks but really worried something will happen as this my DD.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Thoughts? You're unjustifiably uptight...
 
The belts are recommended to be changed at 90k, and a lot of ass-covering goes into the 90k interval. Chances are VERY HIGH that a 100k belt will just show some discoloration. Drive it. If you are that freaked out, then change the thing.
 
It's not the timing belt that goes at 90k... it's the water pump. Most 100s' water pumps are leaking before 100k. But, the leakage isn't visible - apparently, it forms a big pink ball of sludge.
 
Personally, I wouldn't hesitate at all driving it the 1800 miles. I would imagine the odds of failure at 101K would be pretty slim, especially since you had a mechanic look it over. I bought my 99 with 155K last fall and drove it 800 miles to get it home. Still had the original belt & water pump. I just preferred dealing with the local shop instead of someone that far away.
 
Man I wouldn't even think twice... I pulled a known 172k original belt and it looked fine... I know "THEY" say 90k but there is a HUGE fudge factor in there... as a rule an automatic equipped truck is much easier on the belt than a manual trans...
the FEW i've ever heard of breaking were around the 150k mark...
I would buy it drive it and NOT sweat it...
 
I would be pretty confident in you being ok for the drive. Do it. I think the reward outweighs the risk.
 
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