Help re RX300 timing belt

[James Morse]

2002 Lexus RX300. 265,000 miles. V6 VVTi.

The top pully for the timing belt was squeaking so I assume its bearing is shot. Also timing belt looks original. So, obviously, replace timing belt and that pulley.

Question is, how does the top pully get replaced? Do you have to pull it somehow or is it part of another assembly? Hired wrench said get timing belt "and components" wtf. I asked him again and he says "the belt pulleys and basically anything involved with the timing belt" that doesn't help me much.

Probably replacing water pump too because of the miles even though it's not leaking, seems wise (?). Maybe the -lower- timing belt pully is part of water pump? Do I need something else for the top pulley (squeaking one)? In short if I'm doing timing belt and water pump, what else do I need to put timing belt and "and components" up to snuff?

She does pretty frequent 1000 mile round trips so it has to be as reliable as I can make it.

 

[CrabGuy]

3.3L V6?

 

[James Morse]

Um, engine cover says "V6 3000 Four Cam 24" and the VVTi already mentioned.
Spec in owner manual says 2995cc so I'd say it's not 3.3L it's 3.0L (2.995L)
Thanks.

 

[fastpakr]

A timing belt kit will generally include the belt plus its pulleys. Then you get to decide what else you want to add into the plan, e.g. water pump, etc. Anything that is either obviously ready for maintenance and easily accessible while you're there.

2002 LEXUS RX300 3.0L V6 Timing Belt, Water Pump & Component Kit | Shop Now at RockAuto

Engine Parts and More for Your 2002 LEXUS RX300 at Reliably Low Prices. Fast Online Catalog. DIY-Easy. Your Choice of Quality. Full Manufacturer Warranty.

www.rockauto.com

As linked above, you can also buy kits that include the pump in the mix.

 

[CrabGuy]

Replacement is identical from 2002-2011. I looked up the videos and decided to have a good Yota mechanic friend do the work on my 07. I hope you have a lift because it's hard to do the job from just the top. Look for kits with water pump, pulleys, tensioner and try and buy all parts made in Japan. Don't be surprised to find cam seals with a slight leak if it's that high mileage. To be honest I usually would try and tackle something like that but it requires a few tools I don't have or want to buy plus it's a lot of work and frustration that I would rather pay a specialist to do. Good luck

 

[Curious Hound]

Hired wrench said get timing belt "and components" wtf. I asked him again and he says "the belt pulleys and basically anything involved with the timing belt" that doesn't help me much.

Yes. It does. You want a kit like this. Once you actually start shopping, you see what parts and kits are available. Then it makes sense. For common jobs like this, the manufacturers sell kits with all the most commonly used parts for that job.

 

[James Morse]

OK thanks that is WAY cheaper than local I mean a LOT. I was in big rush so looking local, but she says her next trip is 2 weeks away, that gives me option go Rockauto, I've had good luck with them.
Are you saying I need to replace cam seals if they are leaking, or if it's a small leak just leave it and it's ok? My guess is replacing them is hard to do.

No lift here, but hired wrench can jack it up/jackstands that should work I'd think.

I'll alert him he might need special tools, in case he doesn't already know. Do you know what those would be? Some you can borrow or rent from local Advance, etc.

I also am doing upper passenger side motor mount, tune up (injectors, plugs, wires, intake gaskets, valve cover gaskets), oil pan gasket, and rear calipers. RA should have all that.

THANK YOU!!

 

[fastpakr]

DIY: 1MZFE ES300/RX300 Timing Belt - ClubLexus - Lexus Forum Discussion

ES - 1st to 4th Gen (1990-2006) - DIY: 1MZFE ES300/RX300 Timing Belt - Aside from one youtube video, I've never seen a good guide on how to replace the 1MZFE V6 timing belt. I just came across this website, so I thought I'd share it with everyone on here. The important thing is that it has...

www.clublexus.com

There's a good bit of info there.

You'll need a way to hold the camshaft while you deal with bolts.

 

[James Morse]

Vid on RA for the part also under more info. Thanks. I passed on to hired wrench your advice.

 

[rubydist]

I recommend that you buy the kit that includes the hydraulic tensioner like this one:
AISIN TKT024 Instant $10 Off Manufacturer Rebate!

Info
w/ Hydraulic Tensioner

That one is likely the oem part just not labeled with the big "L" on it.

Make sure the cams do not turn when the belt is off, as these Toyota/Lexus engines are interference engines and you don't want to bend valves.

 

[James Morse]

Timing Component Kit and Water Pump - AISIN AIS TKT024 | Buy Online - NAPA Auto Parts (napaonline.com)

This looks like the one. It's almost twice the cost. But if you think it's worth it I'll do it. No sense doing the labor and putting in inferior part.

 

[fastpakr]

Timing Component Kit and Water Pump - AISIN AIS TKT024 | Buy Online - NAPA Auto Parts (napaonline.com)

This looks like the one. It's almost twice the cost. But if you think it's worth it I'll do it. No sense doing the labor and putting in inferior part.

That's the same kit rubydist linked above. It's $170-180 from Rockauto or Amazon rather than $300 at NAPA.

 

[CrabGuy]

Some of the Aisin parts are from Japan and high quality. Many are made in the the US, and lesser quality. FWIW the Aisin water pump in the blue box is the Japanese version; the white box is domestic. This seems to matter to many owners according to several car forums. I'm sure any of the sources would work but I would stay away from companies source from Mexico or China.

 

[James Morse]

Well, I couldn't get RA to bring it up. I don't see it in their list of same stuff and it didn't come up under a part search.
Here's the thing the $170 says "premium quality tensioners" vs specifically hydraulic (which the expensive one is).
So I would suspect the cheaper one is springs. In the XLT I have a spring tensioner and they work, obviously, but I had to replace mine, the tensioner was at a crooked angle relative to the plane the belt is in, that's not right. And it would occasionally squeak. When I took it off, it fell into pieces so it was trash. If you told me "that can't happen with hydraulic tensioner" or "it's less likely to happen" that would make the choice easy.
I don't know how hydraulic tensioner works but if it's oem type I'd want to stick with that.
I guess I would have to go look at it at NAPA and see the color box to know where it was made. Thanks.
I know it's the same they listed that's why I looked for it. The link they put is to a coupon I am showing the actual part available.
Basically I'm saying if rubydist says this is oem and better than that's the one I'm getting.
Just watched vid on doing it, 40 minutes but that's with electric and air wrenches and no issues and etc so probably it's like minimum 2x that in reality. It's a rather horrendous job.
You need several special tools 1) pulley puller 2) big c-clip pliers looking tool, but clamps in the reverse direction of c-clip pliers 3) way to put pulleys/bearings back in, it's really just a bolt and washers.
The kits don't include the alternator belt so I'd think you'd definitely want to replace that by the time the thing is all apart.
Question of which water pump kit is still open I guess - see what rubydist says - I'm not looking to waste money but if it's actually a different (and better) tensioner and is oem then I'm getting that.
What I'm thinking is - just tentative plan - me buy electric socket wrench and small torque wrench (things I'm pretty sure hired wrench doesn't have, I can check). And me keep them after, would be nice to have. And same with the couple special tools, they can't be much.
The whole process on the Lexus and the engine orientation is completely different than Ranger, on mine if you take out rad shroud and for some stuff rad, there is a ton of room in there and changing water pump is child's play compared to the Lexus.

 

[fastpakr]

It's literally the same Aisin TKT024 part at all three sources.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/AISTKT024

Amazon.com

2002 LEXUS RX300 3.0L V6 Timing Belt, Water Pump & Component Kit | Shop Now at RockAuto

Engine Parts and More for Your 2002 LEXUS RX300 at Reliably Low Prices. Fast Online Catalog. DIY-Easy. Your Choice of Quality. Full Manufacturer Warranty.

www.rockauto.com

On the Rockauto listing (filtered by your 2002 RX300), it's near the end of the list.