Cam Belt Symptoms ....

[MrADeveci]

Just curious ............. though my car only has 43K miles on it ..... I'm wondering, what symptons the car gives is any, when the cam belt goes ?

I know that they "suggest" a cambelt change @ 100,000 miles, but has anyone ever heard of a cam belt to go on a Lexus 200/300 before this time period ?

What are the symptoms if the belt "did" snap ? would the car continue driving .... and therefore causing all the pistons to bend ? or would it just shut down ?

............. anyone knows !

[6Speed]

If the cam belt snapps your engine will stop. At the least you will end up with bent valves. I had the belt snap on my Calibra Turbo and got away with changing just the valves. Obviously at higher RPM the damage gets worse. Most of the time it will end it in you needing a new engine.

All in all very costly. My advice get it checked sometimes belts can go for no reason. Its cheaper to get it looked at now. Also many dealers will not cover cam belts under warranty.

[Lex-aholic]

I've been told that although they say it needs changing at 100,000 it also needs changing every 6 years (it depends which comes first)...

...and you're right, the engine will continue to run which will knacker your pistons - and probably the entire engine.

I honestly don't know of any symptons to look out for as I'm not really mechanically minded. Maybe somebody else could fill you in with this part. You might notice some kinda slipping or something - just a guestimate.

[6Speed]

Usually noisy tensioner. A rattle from the cam cover.

[Sipey]

I changed mine at about 98k mate and it was fecked. It was slipping forward as the tensioner was knackered so it was rubbing on the inside of the cam cover. The belt was about 60% worn the chap who changed it stated I was very luck that it hadn't snapped.

Funny thing was though that both Lexus Brackell and Reading had the car in for services and not picked up on it. There were no undue noises so my mechanic and I were both very suprised when we saw the state of the belt.

[MrADeveci]

I've been told that although they say it needs changing at 100,000 it also needs changing every 6 years (it depends which comes first)...

Is that written down anywhere ?

[Lex-aholic]

I've been told that although they say it needs changing at 100,000 it also needs changing every 6 years (it depends which comes first)...

Is that written down anywhere ?

←

That was on the computer at Nationwide Autocentre when I got my car MOT'd about a month ago - they printed it off. It's an AA approved garage chain so I presume they're correct.

[Dave-Ellen]

I've been told that although they say it needs changing at 100,000 it also needs changing every 6 years (it depends which comes first)...

Is that written down anywhere ?

←

it is for the is200 not sure about the 300.

reckon on changing @ 60k whatever lexus say.

[Rob]

a symptom - the engine stops or the cars wont turn over - japanese cars( at least the ones i have had) are normally non interference heads so there will prob be no damage.

for the service schedule i was going to say RTFM but if u read the manual its in there :P

[lexus_IS_200]

got my 50k service coming up will get mine looked at then

[lex2005]

Mines a 1999 V plate with only 47k mileage, when do you think i shoud get the belt changed or checked?

[lexus_IS_200]

Mines a 1999 V plate with only 47k mileage, when do you think i shoud get the belt changed or checked?

←

Maybe at ur 50k service

[star a]

is200 IS an interference engine, so don't chance it, let me know if you want me to check other models for interference or not. When a cam belt snaps, it is almost always caused by a worn tensioner wearing the belt, so it's best to get the tensioner sorted at the same time.

[bondms]

is200 IS an interference engine, so don't chance it, let me know if you want me to check other models for interference or not.

Where did you find this out? I spent ages trying to find a definitive answer but couldn't.

[Mr Morse]

Toyota parts generally don't tend to fail before their specified replacement interval.

My wife's Starlet had it's first cambelt change @ 65K, which was 5K late and the second cambelt change @ 117K, 3K early.

Unless you hammer the car constantly I would say that changing the cambelt at 80-90K is more than sufficient.

[lex2005]

Ok how much is the kit from lexus?? Can chris get the stuff??

Also what is a resonable amount of mileage to get it changed?? 70k??

Mines a 1999 v plate but only 47k so i was wondering when it should be changed. It only driven on weekend so very low mileage.

[bjmacca]

Ok how much is the kit from lexus?? Can chris get the stuff??

Also what is a resonable amount of mileage to get it changed?? 70k??

Mines a 1999 v plate but only 47k so i was wondering when it should be changed. It only driven on weekend so very low mileage.

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at 6 years old i would change the cam belt irrespectivle of mileage

[star a]

is200 IS an interference engine, so don't chance it, let me know if you want me to check other models for interference or not.

Where did you find this out? I spent ages trying to find a definitive answer but couldn't.

←

autodata, it list almost all cars and models.

other interference lexus models are, is300, gs300, ls400,

no data for ls430, gs430 or rx300

[bondms]

is200 IS an interference engine, so don't chance it, let me know if you want me to check other models for interference or not.

Where did you find this out? I spent ages trying to find a definitive answer but couldn't.

←

autodata, it list almost all cars and models.

other interference lexus models are, is300, gs300, ls400,

no data for ls430, gs430 or rx300

←

Cheers, I'll take a look.

[ColinBarber]

is200 IS an interference engine, so don't chance it, let me know if you want me to check other models for interference or not.

Where did you find this out? I spent ages trying to find a definitive answer but couldn't.

←

autodata, it list almost all cars and models.

other interference lexus models are, is300, gs300, ls400,

no data for ls430, gs430 or rx300

←

That data is complete rubbish then. The IS300, GS300 and LS400 are non-interference.

[johnboy]

is200 IS an interference engine, so don't chance it, let me know if you want me to check other models for interference or not.

Where did you find this out? I spent ages trying to find a definitive answer but couldn't.

←

autodata, it list almost all cars and models.

other interference lexus models are, is300, gs300, ls400,

no data for ls430, gs430 or rx300

←

That data is complete rubbish then. The IS300, GS300 and LS400 are non-interference.

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you beat me to it colin, i was going to say the same

ive never known a cambelt snap on a toyota/lexus and worked in dealerships for 6 years

[lex2005]

how much are the kit??? Chris.s can you get them??

[star a]

is200 IS an interference engine, so don't chance it, let me know if you want me to check other models for interference or not.

Where did you find this out? I spent ages trying to find a definitive answer but couldn't.

←

autodata, it list almost all cars and models.

other interference lexus models are, is300, gs300, ls400,

no data for ls430, gs430 or rx300

←

That data is complete rubbish then. The IS300, GS300 and LS400 are non-interference.

←

well excuse me for looking :tsktsk:

[star a]

is200 IS an interference engine, so don't chance it, let me know if you want me to check other models for interference or not.

Where did you find this out? I spent ages trying to find a definitive answer but couldn't.

←

autodata, it list almost all cars and models.

other interference lexus models are, is300, gs300, ls400,

no data for ls430, gs430 or rx300

←

That data is complete rubbish then. The IS300, GS300 and LS400 are non-interference.

←

well excuse me for looking :tsktsk:,

you'd better inform these guys http://www.autodata-cd.com/

using YOUR data, can you confirm 98> gs300 is non interference?