what year did rx 350 switch to timing chains

Timing belts and timing chains perform the same function in the engine of your vehicle. They linked the crankshaft and the camshaft to ensure that they move in perfectly synchronous time. As the crankshaft spins and allows the pistons to rise and fall in the cylinders, the crankshaft moves at the same time thanks to your timing belt or chain which allows the valves to open up and shut. In an interference engine, if the timing belts were to interruption, then the pistons would crash into the valves in the cylinders and could potentially cause serious damage to your engine.

Machine Repairs Are EXPENSIVE

If y'all drive a Lexus, chances are it is using a timing chain rather than a timing chugalug. Many older models of Lexus vehicles used timing belts just that was typically pre-2005 or 2006. Since that time well-nigh every vehicle that Lexus makes has been outfitted with a timing chain rather than a timing belt. Depending on the model it may be a slightly afterwards yr when the switch was made but for the most part you can expect that whatsoever modern Lexus is currently using a timing chain.

The Difference Betwixt a Timing Chain or a Timing Belt

As nosotros said, timing chains and timing belts do the same job in your engine. The main divergence is durability and materials. The timing chain is very much like a bicycle concatenation. It's fabricated of metal, it's sturdy, and information technology's very thick. A timing belt looks like whatever condom belts that you might find under the hood of your machine such as a serpentine belt. It has teeth on the within that grip the gears on the stop of the crankshaft and the camshaft then that information technology can stay in place as they rotate. Although it is frequently called a rubber belt, they are typically made from a blended material and volition include metal or fifty-fifty nylon threads to assistance strengthen the overall structure.

As durable as timing belts are, they are obviously non as strong as a timing chain. Timing belts have a tendency to stretch out over fourth dimension, and they may wear down or break off too which can cause them to fail. For that reason, timing belts require some routine maintenance to make sure that they are even so in good working order. On an older Lexus you'll definitely need to be doing this if the timing chugalug is in place because, afterwards this many years, it'south very likely to start wearing down. A good rule of thumb is to give a timing belt and inspection every thirty,000 miles or and then, just they tend to be requiring replacement between lx,000 miles and 100,000 miles.

Timing bondage used to be par for the course and vehicles back in the day but savage out of favour in the belatedly 70s and through the 80s because of toll-cutting measures. Timing chains are made of metallic and are technically meant to terminal the life of your vehicle. There's no scheduled maintenance for a timing chain but that doesn't hateful they tin can't fail as well. Mechanical failures, accidents, and other bug can issue in the timing chain failing eventually. At that place's no way to plan for that though, but information technology never hurts to give a timing chain a visual inspection every once in a while, as well.

Does A Lexus Timing Chain Ever Need to Be Replaced?

This is a catchy question to answer because it's one of those yep and no thanks. As we said, a timing chain is meant to last the life of your engine only what exactly does that mean? The life of your engine on paper is not necessarily the life of the engine inside your actual machine. What that means is that a timing chain is designed to terminal for 200,000 to 250,000 miles or so without whatsoever problems. But it's possible that it could fail at that point.  That means that aye, the timing chain could fail on you lot at some betoken even though yous're withal driving your Lexus and information technology'southward an otherwise good status.

The problem with timing chain failures is that they usually don't accept nearly every bit many signs and symptoms as a timing belt does when it fails. As we said, a chugalug can stretch out and lose teeth, just it is less likely to run into things similar that and a timing chain. The concatenation can become as well stressed over time and not fitting snugly, just otherwise it usually gives very few visual signs before information technology breaks entirely. If you've been driving with the timing chain for over 200,000 miles, it couldn't hurt to have a mechanic give it a wait just in case they could run into anything wrong with it.

What Does it Cost to Replace a Lexus Timing Belt?

If you have an older model Lexus that notwithstanding uses a timing belt the cost of getting it replaced is going to be anywhere between $600 and almost $ane,000 . Timing belt repairs are not cheap on any vehicle yet, then this is not likewise far exterior of the normal range that you lot might expect to pay for a timing chugalug repair . The high cease of the calibration is definitely more than you might pay for a Toyota Camry timing belt replacement on an older model, but part of the cost of having a Lexus is knowing that you're going to be paying actress for routine maintenance and repairs as well.

In terms of timing bondage, that could end up costing quite a chip more than especially if you need the timing tensioners replaced. These repairs could cost anywhere from $1,500 to as much as $2,500 and potentially fifty-fifty more.

Unfortunately, your Lexus only can't run without a timing chain or a timing belt and so if yous become to the point where you need these repairs done, they absolutely have to be done. If your timing belt or timing chain begins to fail then ends upward breaking on you lot the damage that information technology tin crusade to your engine volition be farthermost. You could suffer catastrophic engine failure, especially if y'all have a timing chain because that causes even more impairment.

Signs and Symptoms of a Bad Timing Chugalug in my Lexus

When the timing belt fails in your engine that can cause some serious damage over the long-term. Fortunately, at that place are a few signs alee of time to let y'all know that a belt is declining. The way a timing chain fails is different from a timing chugalug, and then nosotros'll address that separately.

Ticking Noise

When the teeth begin to wear downwards or fall off of a timing belt y'all can offset producing an unusual ticking audio as information technology spins between the camshaft and the crankshaft. This is one of the earliest alert signs that in that location'due south a trouble with your timing chugalug and it should stand apart from the normal noises you're used to nether the hood of your car.

Engine Misfires

As nosotros said, the timing belt is responsible for the precision timing of your engine so when it fails that timing is thrown off. If the crankshaft and the camshaft aren't moving in synchronization, then the pistons will be rising or falling when the valves are non necessarily in the right position. The air-fuel mixture will too be injected at the wrong time relative to all this movement, and the ignition will take identify at the wrong time. When the timing is thrown off enough, then the engine only will non fire in 1 or more cylinders at the right time which results in a misfire .

Oil Leaks

If the timing belt encompass on your timing chugalug begins to come loose oil effectually the bolts tin can start leaking out. You may know this oil spots in the driveway under where you lot park your vehicle, but the oil can likewise Leak onto the timing belt itself and cause it to wear out sooner than normal.

Rough Idling

When the timing chugalug has begun to article of clothing down, your engine starts to suffer from some rough idling problems also. This volition manifest every bit some louder than normal noises as well as vibrations when you're merely sitting in your auto with the engine running.

Check Engine Light

Unfortunately, a bank check engine light isn't extremely helpful in diagnosing whatsoever problems you may be having in your vehicle. However, if the check engine light does pop up on your nuance  along with a problem with your timing belt that has manifested every bit any of these other symptoms then it's a good confirmation that you should be getting your timing belt checked out as soon as you can by a licensed mechanic.

If y'all want some further confirmation you can ever pick upward your own OBD2 scanner on a site similar Amazon for just $30 to $forty. When y'all plug in the scanner to your machine information technology tin can help diagnose the check engine lite and let you know if information technology really is a trouble with the timing belt or something else that you demand to take a look at.

 Signs of a Bad Timing Concatenation in My Lexus

Although a timing belt is far more probable to stretch because of how information technology's fabricated, a timing chain tin suffer stretching if information technology'southward non from eating properly. Timing chains require oil for lubrication, and if it isn't getting the right amount of oil or the oil is worn out, the chain can suffer some wear and damage. The rollers and links that keep it moving to grind confronting each other and eventually crusade the metallic to distress. This distress will eventually cause the chain to lose its shape and potentially skid from the gears.

 Metal Shavings

But like the rubber teeth can come off of a timing belt, a timing chain tin grind downward and drop metal shavings into the oil pan. If y'all're finding shavings when you lot exercise a routine oil modify it'due south possible that they're coming from your timing belt.

Noise

Non different the timing belt failure, a timing chain failure can effect in noises equally well. Unlike the ticking sound produced by the belt, if the timing chain is failing in your Lexus it will produce more than of a rattling sound. This will exist especially noticeable when yous're just idling in your vehicle.

 Engine Misfires

Much the same as the misfires that are caused past a timing belt failure, timing chain misfires are a result of the lack of synchronization between your camshaft in your crankshaft. Because the timing chain or the tensioners that proceed information technology lined up are failing, the timing will be thrown off and yous can potentially suffer a misfire

 The Bottom Line

As nosotros've said, nearly modern Lexus models make utilize of a timing chain rather than a timing belt. If y'all take anything complimentary 2005 to 2006 it very likely uses a timing belt but the only style to know for sure without taking a visual inspection is to check out your owner'due south transmission. If you don't have that handy, you can Google the exact model and year of your Lexus to notice out whether or not you have a chain or a chugalug installed.

Fifty-fifty though both the timing belt and a timing concatenation do the same job on your Lexus information technology'south of import to know which one you have. While a timing chain tin last a very long time and doesn't require a lot of maintenance exist on ensuring that yous're keeping your oil levels topped up and clean, the timing belt will need to be maintained and inspected on a fairly regular basis so yous tin can avoid any issues related to it breaking unexpectedly and causing some serious damage under the hood of your vehicle.

Given that a timing chain or a timing belt replaced in your Lexus has a very costly repair job, but the cost of fixing the harm that will be caused if the belt or the chain breaks is much, much college. For that reason, yous want to practice everything y'all can to make sure the timing belt or the timing chain in your Lexus is in proficient working order all the time.

stoutwhadrect.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.cashcarsbuyer.com/does-my-lexus-have-a-timing-belt-or-a-timing-chain/

Share this post