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Timing belt?

Tiny
CHRISTA DICKSON
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 LEXUS GS 300
  • 250,000 MILES
It literally is stuck so far down in there I can not see it anymore at all. I'm trying to figure out how to remove the lower bottom half of the timing belt cover to get access to it or is there any chance that it feel completely to the bottom and wont mess anything up. I'm sorry but I have never done a timing belt and honestly not completely positive what's all down there. Right now i'm stuck in a friend's parking lot in a really bad part of town and its already dark out. I can't even see it any more, can I go or do I need to pull off more to be sure to completely remove all of it? I'm ready to go but can not afford to do any damage to my only vehicle. Please let me know what needs to be done so I can get it done and go home. Thanks.

PS. To give you a better idea it's down in where my finger is pointing on the picture but again I can't see it in there.
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Monday, May 11th, 2020 AT 8:21 PM

29 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,133 POSTS
Okay, we need to get you out of there but it isn't a 2 minute job to remove the timing belt cover. Do you have a magnet or anything that can reach down in there and hopefully grab it?

If you look at the attached picture, I circled the bottom cover. But to remove it, you have to remove several other components.

Let me know what I can do to help.

Joe
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Monday, May 11th, 2020 AT 8:43 PM
Tiny
CHRISTA DICKSON
  • MEMBER
  • 138 POSTS
Thanks for your reply. It was a small 16 to 22 gauge butt connector if that makes any difference whatsoever. There's some weird guy lingering around my car right now so I'm sitting in with the doors locked. I wont hesitate to beat him with my tools if I have to, lol. But id prefer to go ahead and leave i'm not far from home. Do you think it would be okay to try to make it home? Or is it likely to do major damage if I do? I just don't know how serious its is like I said I can see it down there at all anymore and I have spent the last hour at least trying to. Is it possible it fell to bottom or is it a location where it wont mess anything up? If you say it's too risky I will trust it and try to find a ride home for the night and I will come back tomorrow I guess, but if its okay I would like to try to head home in it. How likely is it to do major damage?
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Monday, May 11th, 2020 AT 9:20 PM
Tiny
CHRISTA DICKSON
  • MEMBER
  • 138 POSTS
Okay, never mind it has already managed to put a few nicks in the timing belt so i'm not driving it. I have a friend on way. Next random question I have some flex seal adhesive if I put it over the nicks and let it dry over night would that help reinforce the strength or not a good idea?
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Monday, May 11th, 2020 AT 10:10 PM
Tiny
CHRISTA DICKSON
  • MEMBER
  • 138 POSTS
Also, if I could please get directions on the easiest way to get that cover off so I can make sure I got the right tools and I'm going to get that done tomorrow. Thanks
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Tuesday, May 12th, 2020 AT 1:51 AM
Tiny
CHRISTA DICKSON
  • MEMBER
  • 138 POSTS
Do I need to mark anything or any certain tools I will need to tale with me? If I could get step by step directions I would be really appreciate it so that I know i'm doing it correctly.
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Tuesday, May 12th, 2020 AT 9:34 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,833 POSTS
Hello,

Here is the timing belt and timing cover instructions in the diagrams below. Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Tuesday, May 12th, 2020 AT 12:13 PM
Tiny
CHRISTA DICKSON
  • MEMBER
  • 138 POSTS
Is there any easier was to just remove the #3 timing belt cover without having to all the steps above? Or no?
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Tuesday, May 12th, 2020 AT 4:29 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,133 POSTS
To remove the bottom timing cover, you need to remove the crankshaft pulley. There really isn't an easier way. Maybe if you remove the retaining bolts you can open it enough to access, but that is going to be tough.

Now, how badly was the timing belt damaged? You don't want it to break. If this is a 1998, it has an inline 6 cylinder engine and it is an interference engine. If the belt was to break, it will likely cause internal engine damage. And no to the flex seal. It won't help the belt.

Let me know.

Joe
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Tuesday, May 12th, 2020 AT 9:10 PM
Tiny
CHRISTA DICKSON
  • MEMBER
  • 138 POSTS
I tried blowing it out with compressed air and seen something come out so I assumed I had gotten it. I got out to the car and started it, I had not put the car in gear yet. I was just sitting idling (not accelerating or moving). Or I heard the belt pop. I'm freaking right now I attached a picture of what happen. Since I was not moving at all is there any chance I can get away with replacing it? Or is the engine ruined? I really hope it not but please let me know what you think. I really hope it pray its salvageable if I put in the work to fix it because i'm broke and cannot afford another vehicle.
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Wednesday, May 13th, 2020 AT 7:21 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,133 POSTS
Hi,

That was my biggest concern. Here is what we need to do. Since you were at an idle, hopefully nothing was damaged; however, I can't be certain. We have two choices. One is to replace the belt, make sure it is properly timed, and pray for the best. If it doesn't start, then we will have to further diagnose.

The second choice, and I don't recommend this one, is to take the cylinder head off and see if any contact was made between the pistons and valves.

__________________________________

Let me know which way you want to go and we'll proceed.

Joe
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Wednesday, May 13th, 2020 AT 8:34 PM
Tiny
CHRISTA DICKSON
  • MEMBER
  • 138 POSTS
We are going with option #1 replacing the belt. I'm about to go get one from AutoZone. I'm going to take this opportunity to go ahead and replace the cam crank seals since there is a oil leak. I have been trying to figure out where it's coming from and I will already have it torn down. Ant tips or us there anything I need to do separately or differently from the above directions because it did break? I'm currently draining coolant and waiting on my ride to run me to AutoZone to get the belt and seals.
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Thursday, May 14th, 2020 AT 5:38 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,133 POSTS
Hi,

Ken provided all the directions above. Listen, don't put a lot of money into this until we can confirm there is no engine damage.

Please let me know if you have trouble or have questions.

Joe
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Thursday, May 14th, 2020 AT 7:42 PM
Tiny
BRIANMCKEE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I don't know what to think of this. He is a certified Nissan/Infinity mechanic but says he has done plenty of Lexus timing belts. He says the timing is off now when they try to start it. He says all of his mechanics have looked at it. What could be wrong? What does "as long as it has been timed when dismantled" mean?

Thx
Brian
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Friday, May 15th, 2020 AT 11:45 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
Hi there, you must set the engine up on TDC No 1 when removing the timing belt, this way all reference marks are aligned and it is easy to fit the new belt and ensure that the valve timing is correct, some people remove the belt first and then try to set the vale timing, this is how you get into strife, this is an interference type engine, that is if the valve timing is set incorrectly the pistons will strike the valves with serious damage resulting, you cant turn the crank or cam with the belt off, as damage will be done as well, that is why it is important to ensure the timing is set correct when the belt is removed so there is no major adjustments when the new belt is installed.

Mark

mark (mhpautos)
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Friday, May 15th, 2020 AT 11:45 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BRIANMCKEE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thanks for the reply Mark. They have the whole engine apart now. All I could see left was the bottom half of the engine block. No pistons, etc. I think they must have damaged the engine like what would have happened if the timing belt broke while running. He claims they are going to rebuild it good as new. He has ordered more parts. What do I need to ask him? Should he have replaced the valves? Pistons? Is it possible to repair the damage that was probably done?

Thx,
Brian
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Friday, May 15th, 2020 AT 11:45 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
HI there, Did you authorize this work before they ripped the motor apart? If not they had no right to do this without your OK, I feel that they may have got the timing wrong and did some damage, anyway at worst they only bend valves and the bottom end is normally ok, I hope that you are not paying for there mistake.
Mark (mhpautos)
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Friday, May 15th, 2020 AT 11:45 AM (Merged)
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
  • MEMBER
  • 4,542 POSTS
  • 1998 LEXUS GS 300
  • 156,000 MILES
Replaced timing belt, cam and crank seals. After work was done car would not stay running and im getting a PO1300 code. Car ran fine before work.
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Friday, May 15th, 2020 AT 11:45 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BRIANMCKEE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
No, I'm not paying for the extra parts and labor. I'm just worried that it won't run like before. What a disaster $#@%#!
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Friday, May 15th, 2020 AT 11:46 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RANDICO
  • MECHANIC
  • 174 POSTS
P01300 is ignition control for Lexus, this can be from wiring, or ignition module, doesnt hurt to recheck the timing mark.
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Friday, May 15th, 2020 AT 11:46 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
Ok, thats good to know, put this mess on the back burner and have a great Xmas and new year, keep me informed on the progress,

Cheers Mark in a very hot Australia.
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Friday, May 15th, 2020 AT 11:46 AM (Merged)

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