Required Maintenance ?

[billy1]

i am really tired of everyone stating that it is recommended to change the timing belt of a 1990 ls400 every 90,000 or 100,000 miles...... i own one and it does not say it anywhere. i have the original owners manual and the maintenance manual. it is not in there. based on my driving methods i would fall into maintenance schedule b. it is not even listed on the schedule. where is everyone getting there information..... if is recommended or needed it should be in the book..... not told to you by a dealer.

can anyone show me where in writing it is. use a manual that a normal owner would have.

[noby76]

Hi billy1…tho I don’t own an LS400 100,000 miles tends to be the mileage these timing belts, tensioners and idle pulleys are designed to withstand. Some cars could go further than 100K but will depend on how the car has been treated if driven sensibly, the belts could last slightly longer give or take extra 20k. don’t forget it’s a belt made from strong synthetic fibre which after spinning for thousands of miles and enduring heat under the bonnet become tired and weak. Same applies to drive/serpentine belt and water pump they all need replacing at somepoint and manufatures depending on the engineering of the vehicle state either 60K or 100K to have these parts replaced.

So no!! belts will not last the lifetime of a Toyota built engine as they tend to go on for years. Anything which comes into contact with heat and stress looses its mojo after a while and will need replacement. Same applies to engine oils manufactures say 10,000 or 12 months because they know not everyone covers 10,000 miles during the year but after about 12months an engine oil doing short trips in a car will still loose its strength and start breaking apart. And for timing belts they tend to be designed for either 60K or 100K before they start shredding apart which if not checked and replaced in time will = engine rebuild ££$$.

[steve2006]

Hello and welcome to the LOC.

You appear to be correct there is no recommended intervals for replacement of the timing belt.

My handbook states for the Schedule A every 72 months or 60,000 miles to A = Check and adjust as necessary.

Note 1 states.

"If you operate your vehicle under conditions of extensive idling and/or low speed driving for a long distance such as police,taxi or door to door delivery use"

Schedule B for normal use doesn't even mention the timing belt.

The engine is non interference on yours so if the TB was to break ( or one of the other associated components) it would only be an inconvenience not a wrecked engine.

[ColinBarber]

For vehicles with 9,000 mile service interval it is every 63k miles or 6 years. For the older 6,000 mile service it is every 60k miles or 6 years.

It should be there in the UK service manual, many owners have confirmed this in the past.