jj17

I found my '97 SC300 from this site http://www.vehix.com/ Edmunds price guide is very low, lower than the Kelley Blue Book. There are used car for sale search too. http://www.edmunds.com/ I also paid to get Carfax reports, it's very useful. http://www.carfax.com/

It's one year later, have you replaced the timing belt? Did you notice any difference before and after? About the symptoms, here is my experience. The SC300 which I have just bought has 120k miles and it had the original timing belt. Before I had the TB replaced, the engine ran fine except that it often hesitated when I stepped on gas. The automatic transmission gear shift was less than smooth especially when it was downshifting during acceleration. It felt like it did not respond to the initial push, then it would lurch forward like I was hot-rodding. After the TB replacement and a 120k mile

I just had my timing belt replaced by an independent shop. I asked the service advisor about the water pump when he wrote me up. He said they would inspect it and would only recommend replacing it if it looked bad. When I picked up the car thay said the pump was fine and does not need replacement. The advisor said something like the Lexus (Toyota) water pump seldom goes bad at 120k miles.

I am a newbie also. I had the timing belt replaced on my 1997 SC300 just two days ago. I also had the 120k maintenance done at the same time. I can definitely feel the difference after these two big ticket items. The SC300 which I have just bought has 120k miles and it had the original TB and spark plug wires. Before the job, the engine ran fine except that it often hesitated when I stepped on gas. The automatic transmission gear shift was less than smooth especially when it was downshifting during acceleration. It felt like it did not respond to the initial push, then it would lurch forward