marathiboy

Thanks Dean, I guess I need to get this fixed right away. Might as well replace pcv and egr along with it. I am also wondering why stick is not showing lower oil level? Is there anything else wrong, besides valve cover? Thanks again M

Hello, Car is 2002 es300, 1ith 130k miles. lately I am smelling some burnt oil, especially after going 20+ miles and stopping the car. Oil level itself is fine. The stick level is within the range even after 3800 miles. (I do change oil and filter every 5k or less). Otherwise car runs great! Look at the head it looks like some oil leak at valve cover (pictures attached), but then why oil level is still good? Do i need to fix this right away or it can wait a bit? I asked local shop and they are asking $300, is that reasonable for valve cover work? Thanks in advance. -M

I have 2002 es300, with 130k, and 9 year old optima battery. Car us running fine, starts at almost first start even in below 32 f weather. Due to battery age just wanted to check and local shop and they tested under 2000 rpm and told me alternator is bad replace asap. So I tested again with my cheapo meter Engine off battery 11.85v Engine turned on it dips to 9.9v but comes right back to 13.8v and stays there. Climate is set to auto, there is dash cam, but no other load like radio etc What voltages I should be seeing? Is alternator really going bad? Appreciate response. M

Makes sense but unfortunately my old one is bit ripped..I guess I still need to reuse it. Thanks

2002 es300, I need to replace top engine mount 12363-20120, but I can't find part number for the spacer/washer that goes on side of it. Please see the picture. Thanks in advance Mboy

Thanks for reply, I did take look at the bottom..not sure where is heat shield..:-( does 2002 es300 has one? however I did see that couple of bolts missing..or looked that way. are there supposed to be bolts?? Pictures attached Appreciate your help Mboy

Hello, My 2002 es300, 121k miles, vehicle is running smooth no noticeable vibrations, no oil leaks or consumption. transmission fluid is also at level. lately when i go over potholes i hear some metallic sound intermittently. At higher speed i don't hear it. I can't figure out where the noise is coming from - front, back bottom etc. So far this is what I tested: nothing lose in the trunk, swaybar links has no play, no leaks from struts. I do notice some play at the upper engine mount (12363-20120), and do see that rubber spacer around it is wearing out. i also noticed that if brake and put car in drive engine moves a bit. Is that normal? Is mount is bad? shouldn't I get vibration at steering wheel? How to know its engine mount and not transmission mount or am i missing something? is it fairly easy to replace engine mount? Thanks -marathiboy 20220802_182255.mp4 VID-20220801-WA0000.mp4

Thanks Gene, This really helps! M

My 2002 es300 with 108k miles is shuddering when warm and at idle. When the engine is cold, i don't notice it only when it is warm at signal I get vibrations. don't see any other issues, it runs smooth accelerates nicely. I am suspecting throttle body. Never done this so to clean it, do I have to remove air filter box? or can I just open clamps and pull ducts? Any other word of advice? Thanks M

Greetings, My car is showing CEL, with code P0128. Couple weeks back It had CEL for a day and before I could see the code, my starter went out. I towed to shop they fixed the starter, and CEL went away. After few days CEL came back with code P0128 I searched the forum and all I can see is thermostat and coolant sensor related issue. However car is not exhibiting any of the mentioned symptoms. Not over heating (i think), not loosing coolant (at least in reservoir), temperature gauge slowly (within 3/4 miles) moves to and stays at middle. Heater is working fine, AC works great. In general car is running as it was and great for 105k miles. Fuel mileage is about the same 20 to 21 mix driving. Currently I reseted the CEL, but should I keep driving and see if it comes again? or stop using and try to replace coolant or thermostat or coolant sensor ( or all)??? Appreciated your help! Sha

Hello, My 2002 ES300, 97.5k miles is giving CEL. I went to local store and retrieved codes C0205 C1223 C1241 P0440 Can 'C' code produce CEL, or is it just P0440. I read somewhere that 'C' codes are from past battery removal etc. Which I changed last year. So not sure which codes I should be looking at. Is P0440 related to gas cap only? I have original gas cap, Is there a way to clean it properly, or Should I just get new gas cap and hopefully it will go away in few days? Also, i noticed past few months that my climate control 'auto' setting is acting weird. The Heat and CA both are working fine, but Auto set to 72 keeps car cold whne outside is below 72 (or even 30/40), on the other hand, when outside is warm, 70, Auto set to even 78/80 keeps car extremely cold, as if it was set to 60 :-( I have other toyota vehicle, and I can see vast difference in inside temperature. Is this some servo problem? Where to look? Thanks and appreciate your response. S

Hello, I have 02 with 80k miles. I get about 19-20 in city and up to 22-23 in mixed. I get as high as 32 on hwy. So within city I get about 310 miles on a full tank (15.5 to 16 gallons) I think, to me the biggest culprit are (in order) tire pressure air filter maf So my question is, what tire pressure we should keep in 02? I know Lexus wants 29, but if I keep 32, I get better mileage :-),any issues with that? S

Hello, My Driver Front strut was replaced about 14 months back from pohanka lexus dealership. However, when I bounce on that driver front hood, I get a squeaky noise. I am not getting that noise from any other side. It is definitely not thumping noise that you get when struts are bad. Is that normal? Ride seems to be normal.. Thanks S

Thanks, Well, I got wheel bearing replaced by local goodyear. I can see that there is NO play on the wheel. However, I am noticing different problems. Whenever I tap brakes lightly (very light), I hear some clicking noise. If I press brakes little harder there is no noise..not sure what is that :-( I also noticed that same strut, if I press hard makes clicking noise. All other struts don't make noise. Bounce feel the same. Also on right turn, (especially on exit/entrance ramp) I can hear some clicking noise :-( Any idea where that noise is coming from? Thanks S

Hello, Did you figure out whats wrong? I am also having the same issue after replacing wheel bearing so just curious. Thanks S

Thanks Lenore I guess 300 is reasonable then, I will get it done. Do you or anyone knows any good mechanic near pohanks Lexus - Chantilly, VA area? Thanks again S

Hello, I have 78k miles on 02 es 300 VA State inspection failed due to play in the front driver wheel. My question, is what makes wheel bearing go bad? Just 2 months back I had alignment done and everything was fine. One guy told me he can tighten it. goodyear told me it needs to be replaced as it is one unit, no adjustment. Not sure who is right.. Also are there any other symptoms? I don't get any noise (low or high speed or on turns). Is that typical? or there is something else wrong? I also heard that there is inner and outer bearing, is that true on 02 es 300? Dealer wants 550 to replace wheel bearing but local shops (good year) wants 350, is that reasonable? Thanks and appreciate your help. S

Hello, Past 10 days I am hearing rattleing noise from driver front under the hood. So I took it local goodyear. He is telling me, it is struts mount and I also have bearing issue on driver front wheel (he showed me that there is play when you shake the wheel). I was also told that with the bad bearings, it will not pass state inspection, due next month. I don't rememebr hitting any curb or anything like that recently..although there are many many pot holes on the road lately... Total costs inluding alignment is going to be 950. Quetion is: Why do the mount and bearing go bad? Is the cost reasonable? Does lexus warranty covers any of this? (yes my vehicle still under lexus warranty - one month left) Thanks Shailesh

Steve, I guess American Auto Tech is no longer in business..:-( do you recommned any other mechanic in this (chantilly, VA) area? Shailesh

Thanks Lenore That is what I was looking for!

Hello, I can change oil/filter, atf..is it worth undertaking front (or rear) brake job? what special tools are needed? Does anyone has pictures of how to? Thanks sl

Hello, Is tranmission fluid flush must for this? Owner manual doesn't say that, but all the posts I saw talks about it..so just confused. Also local deal is asking for $450 (goodyear is asking actually lot more..570) so is it worth going to the dealer? s

Hello, When I start the car I get some noise as if belt is bit loose. When I start driving the noise goes away. I took it to the dealer for inspection. He told me that my drive belt is dry and that is making the noise. Is this something I can du? lube or tighten etc or need to be replaced? Is drive belt same as timing belt? Delarer quote me $185, is that normal? Is it safe to drive this for car for few days? Thanks Shailesh

Where did you get your belt replaced? A dealer just quoted me 185? is that about right?

Thanks for quick reply. I live in northern VA, close Dulles airport - Chnatilly. Very close to pohanks lexus dealer. Do you recommend any shop in this area? I just don't want to get themn warped again soon :-( Thanks again. Shailesh