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1996 Lexus LS400

Question: Timing belt question

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shelleygiacomini, Danville, KY, December 11, 2009, 10:13

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Looking at buying this car used from original owner - it has 190,000 miles current owner has never replaced timing belt (nor on his previous 3 LExus')..he says it only needs to be replaced if it breaks...and will not damage the engine. The dealer says the oppposite.
Can anyone give me a straight answer?
Thanks, Shelley

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• Answer #1

  matte December 11, 2009, 10:36
  

   Master

  He is absolutely wrong. If a timing belt breaks while driving, there is potential for doing damage to internal components of the engine--the most common is bending a valve. These are things that cost thousands of dollars to fix.

  It's important to do timing belt and water pump work on schedule to avoid big problems down the road. This owner is lucky that Lexuses are often bulletproof, but it might not be a great car to buy. It hasn't been maintained.
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