The majority of timing belt problems are brought on by failing to replace the belt when it should be every 60,000 to 100,000 miles as part of routine maintenance.
The engine will run badly and the check engine light will probably come on if the timing belt is beginning to fail. The engine will immediately stall if the belt snaps, and internal engine damage may result.
In This Article...
When should a Lexus RX350’s timing belt be replaced?
Every 60,000100,000 miles, several manufacturers advise replacing the timing belt as part of routine maintenance.
How much does a Lexus timing belt replacement cost?
Belts don’t cost a much by themselves. Since many pieces must be removed in order to reach the belt, labor is where the true expense lies. Your best chance is to shop about and compare prices, but be prepared to pay anything between $409 and $919. (including parts and labor).
Should timing chains be replaced?
When should a timing chain be changed? Unless there is a specific issue, the timing chain typically needs to be replaced between 80,000 and 120,000 miles. In automobiles with higher mileage, chain problems are frequent.
What are the warning signals of a failing timing belt?
Your timing belt may be significantly damaged if you hear a ticking sound emanating from the engine of your car. Your car’s timing belt is connected to the crankshaft and camshaft of the engine through a number of pulleys. The connecting rods of the engine, which are connected to the pistons inside the combustion chamber, provide power. The rocker arm assembly and cylinder head valves are controlled by the camshaft, which delivers gasoline to the combustion chamber. The exhaust manifold is the next point of exit for the released gases. Your car’s timing belt may start to twitch inside the engine when it begins to wear out. This can potentially be a symptom of low oil pressure.
Am I able to replace the timing belt myself?
It does need some engine knowledge to replace a timing belt and water pump, so if you don’t have much expertise working under the hood, we advise leaving it to the experts. However, if you prefer making your own repairs and restorations, you can do it yourself and avoid paying hefty repair expenses in the process.
Starting with the tools you’ll need, we’ll walk you through the replacement of a timing belt and water pump step by step.
What You’ll Need to Replace the Water Pump and Timing Belt
- jar or bucket (for collecting coolant)
- Tip-Ex, white chalk, and white paint (for marking the cogs for simpler reassembly)
- bags made of plastic and a permanent marker (for labelling nuts, bolts and parts you remove from the engine)
- new antifreeze/coolant
- Set of Allen keys
- a fresh timing belt
- leather gloves
- tools for driving screws, such as Philips and slot drive
- Wrench socket set
- a fresh water pump
Step 1: Preparation
Get your car and work area ready first. Depending on your degree of experience, changing a timing belt and water pump can take anywhere from one to three hours, so make sure you have the time and space necessary. Before you begin, carry out the following:
- Since coolant will spill out when you remove the water pump, place a bucket underneath it. To find the pump, see your car’s manual.
- Before starting, make sure the engine is entirely cool.
- To stop the engine from spinning while you’re removing the timing belt, put the engine in drive and use the handbrake.
- Prepare all of your tools, and have bags and a pen on available to name and store the engine parts you remove.
- To reach the undercarriage beneath the engine, jack up the front of the automobile.
Step 2: Removing the Belts
You must first remove the fan belt and power steering belt because they are located next to the cover that protects the timing belt and water pump. To remove the belts, take the following actions:
- Crankshaft pulley: Loosen. To access the engine and remove the bolt, you’ll need a long wrench arm.
- To access the timing case and crankshaft pulley, do the same with the power steering belt by moving it aside.
- The fasteners holding the alternator in place should be loosened. The fan belt can then be removed by lightly tapping it.
What happens if a car’s timing is off?
Timing errors might harm the engine of your BMW. There are “interference engines, like those in BMWs, and timing errors can have very negative effects. The intervals between the timing of the two occupying that area, known as the engine timing, are less than one second because the engine pistons and valves fill the same space in the engine cylinder but with different timing.
Therefore, if that portion of the engine timing is incorrect, the two can collide, which, if you’re lucky, would require rebuilding the engine. In the alternative situation, replacing the engine would be the more expensive outcome. Your automobile will either operate poorly or not at all if the engine timing of the cam is wrong. Because it has four cycles, if the ignition timing is the issue, it may not be as obvious:
- This reduces the fuel mixture.
- The exhaust is released when the exhaust valve opens.
- The piston descends as a result of the spark plug and fuel mixture igniting.
- Air is drawn in by the intake valve while fuel is injected.
If the spark doesn’t come at the right moment, the engine may lose power and stop operating, and the automobile would idle poorly or choppy.
Q: What does a bad timing belt sound like?
When a timing belt starts to wear out, it makes a ticking noise in front of your car. When trying to start the engine, the belt will make a whining sound if it eventually fails. A whining sound indicates low engine compression.
Q: How do I know when my timing needs replacement?
A few indications or signals will let you know when it’s time to change your timing belt. Therefore, you should check and replace your timing belt as soon as you observe these symptoms.
- The recommended replacement date has passed for you. You must replace the belt if the manufacturer’s suggested replacement date has passed.
- The timing belt itself is deteriorated. The ideal time to replace your timing belt is when you become aware of its wear.
- engine has a misfire. Keep in mind that numerous factors can lead to your engine misfiring.
- The car won’t crank over. Your engine won’t start if your timing belt breaks. Be aware that a number of factors can prevent your engine from starting.
- Your car is in front of a ticking noise. You might hear ticking sounds as your timing belt begins to fail.
Can a timing chain be tightened?
You must modify the eccentrics to tension the chain as the cross over chains stretch.
In 2004, we converted from internal expanding eccentrics to set screw-type eccentrics. Below are detailed instructions for the set screw type.
In order to remove the eccentric, use a 4mm hex key wrench. The right side of the eccentric has an access hole. As you back out the bolt, you’ll feel it go loose. After a few rotations, it’ll feel tight again. Keep spinning until the eccentric can be spun. To tighten or loosen the timing chain, rotate the eccentric. The timing chain needs to be both loose and tight enough to prevent binding and slipping off.
Without exerting any force, the chain should move roughly half in the front and 1/4 in the back.
Once you believe the chain is properly adjusted, tighten the eccentric and turn the cranks to check for any tight spots.
Visit your local bike store at this time to watch them perform it if you’re unsure.
Be careful not to snag your fingers in the space between the chain and chainring. You risk losing a finger to it.
Set screws in the bottom bracket shell should be loosened. There are two of these, and one complete round ought to be sufficient.
The eccentric should be turned so that the spindle is above the centerline of the bottom bracket shell. (See below drawing) This is crucial because if the bearings are directly above the set screws, they could get damaged.
The eccentric can be turned using either a pin spanner wrench or a 36mm headset wrench.
Snug up the set screws (do not tighten yet) when you believe the eccentric is set, then turn the cranks to check for any tight spots. If required, revise. set screw to 60 to 70 in-lbs of torque (7 to 8 nm)
How much does it typically cost to replace a timing chain?
Being proactive is a good thing because an engine that has a broken timing chain could suffer significant damage.
Timing chain replacement might cost between $600 and $800 to do it yourself or $1,600 to $1,800 to have a technician do it. Due to how difficult it is to replace this element, the price is exorbitant.
The parts for a DIY timing chain replacement will run you about $650. But this is a job that’s best left to mechanics with a lot of experience.
Fortunately, timing chains are built to endure the lifespan of the vehicle, unlike rubber timing belts, thus it is rare that you will need to have it changed. Watch out for these signs if you think your timing chain may be broken:
- While idling, the engine shakes or vibrates
- The check engine light is on.
- Starting the car is challenging.
- Noisy timing chain
- Engine has poor performance or is misfiring
Bring your car to a repair as soon as you can if any of these symptoms persist. Quickly addressing the problem will stop further harm to your car.
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How long does a timing chain replacement take?
The crankshaft and camshafts in your engine are connected by a timing chain. During the combustion process inside the cylinders, camshafts accurately open and close the intake and exhaust valves. A qualified mechanic should need between 5 and 8 hours to replace the timing chain and all related gear.
A timing belt’s lifespan is 200 000 miles.
That concludes our examination of the timing belt’s nature, operation, and significance. Can a timing belt travel more than 200 000 miles? Not at all. And to be honest, unless you have a junker that you don’t mind giving up, you really shouldn’t try this out in person. Expect severe engine damage if you continue to drive your automobile with a timing belt that is worn out, installed incorrectly, or otherwise flawed.
The cost of replacing your timing belt is by no means a cheap one. You’ll have to pay several hundred dollars, or in some cases nearly or more than a thousand. But this is little compared to the $2,000, $3,000, or even higher needed to rebuild a broken timing belt-related engine that has failed. Who would have thought that this tiny piece of rubber could fail and give you such heartache?