Vsc Light & Engine Light Are On 2003 Rx300

[spb]

Hi,

I recently purchased a 2003 rx 300 awd. a few days ago my VSC light & check engine light when on. I first check the gas cap as I heard that could be the problem. But lights are still on. I had it checked by a mechanic and it come up with a code 135. He said it was a bad oxygen sensor, bank 1, sensor 1. They want $203. at autozone for this sensor (bosch). I looked on line and they sell a DENSO one (not a direct fit) for 1/2 the price. Has anyone ever used this brand before? any problems? Has anyone have this problem before. Would this sensor cause both of those lights to go on? Car only has 47,000 miles on it. I also heard this would be covered under emissions warrany but lexus said no. Any help would be appreciated.

[wwest]

Hi,

I recently purchased a 2003 rx 300 awd. a few days ago my VSC light & check engine light when on. I first check the gas cap as I heard that could be the problem. But lights are still on. I had it checked by a mechanic and it come up with a code 135. He said it was a bad oxygen sensor, bank 1, sensor 1. They want $203. at autozone for this sensor (bosch). I looked on line and they sell a DENSO one (not a direct fit) for 1/2 the price. Has anyone ever used this brand before? any problems? Has anyone have this problem before. Would this sensor cause both of those lights to go on? Car only has 47,000 miles on it. I also heard this would be covered under emissions warrany but lexus said no. Any help would be appreciated.

The VSC light comes on with any CEL, factory has never explained why.

[cliffy]

Hi,

I recently purchased a 2003 rx 300 awd. a few days ago my VSC light & check engine light when on. I first check the gas cap as I heard that could be the problem. But lights are still on. I had it checked by a mechanic and it come up with a code 135. He said it was a bad oxygen sensor, bank 1, sensor 1. They want $203. at autozone for this sensor (bosch). I looked on line and they sell a DENSO one (not a direct fit) for 1/2 the price. Has anyone ever used this brand before? any problems? Has anyone have this problem before. Would this sensor cause both of those lights to go on? Car only has 47,000 miles on it. I also heard this would be covered under emissions warrany but lexus said no. Any help would be appreciated.

The VSC light comes on with any CEL, factory has never explained why.

I had a similar problem with my wife's 99rx300 I did a search and found some posts regarding the mass airflow sensor. I cleaned it with some throtle body cleaner it's been fine for a bout a year now. Search posts for mass air flow sensor; they'll have where to locate it and how to clean it. I just sprayed... DO NOT TOUCH the little threads of wire... they're fragile!

[djspawn00]

Hi,

I recently purchased a 2003 rx 300 awd. a few days ago my VSC light & check engine light when on. I first check the gas cap as I heard that could be the problem. But lights are still on. I had it checked by a mechanic and it come up with a code 135. He said it was a bad oxygen sensor, bank 1, sensor 1. They want $203. at autozone for this sensor (bosch). I looked on line and they sell a DENSO one (not a direct fit) for 1/2 the price. Has anyone ever used this brand before? any problems? Has anyone have this problem before. Would this sensor cause both of those lights to go on? Car only has 47,000 miles on it. I also heard this would be covered under emissions warrany but lexus said no. Any help would be appreciated.

I had the same code (p1135) on my 2000 camry and replaced the sensor with the denso A/F ratio sensor purchased from oxygensensors.com, i believe its the OEM manufacturer. Turned out the sensor was DOA, i should've checked it before installing, when i went to toyota to purchase a new sensor they told me it was under warranty... i'm not one to question but they fixed it. I'd stick with an OEM make.

[Naz]

i have a 01 RX and i've seen my check engine light and VSC light come on randomly sometimes. I took to my dealer and they gave me the same error message about the oxygen sensor. But they said that u dont need to replace it, it was just touched when the oil was changed, if you look when u change the oil filer its a tight fit reaching up behind the header and engine block so the mechanic can easily brush up against the oxygen sensor. A few days later both lights went away and didn't come back. I trust my dealer since I work there lol

[Lexusfan77]

Hi,

I actually own a 2001 RX 300 2wd. Today, my check engine light, my VSC light and the traction control light all came on. From what I have read, I thought it was the oxygen sensor however the car is idling rough as well. I recently had the idle control valve replaced so I know that is not the problem. Any clues? the car has 76k miles.

[wwest]

Hi,

I actually own a 2001 RX 300 2wd. Today, my check engine light, my VSC light and the traction control light all came on. From what I have read, I thought it was the oxygen sensor however the car is idling rough as well. I recently had the idle control valve replaced so I know that is not the problem. Any clues? the car has 76k miles.

Actually the new idle control valve is the most likely "suspect".

[JETPILOT]

I too had this happen on my 2001 RX300 when I was very low on fuel. It could be that this is NORMAL! I quote from the RX300 owner's manual (page 38):

If the fuel tank is completely empty, the malfunction indicator

lamp comes on. Fill the fuel tank immediately.

The indicator lamp goes off after driving several times.

Q: Does very low equal "completely empty?"

Q: Why does Lexus consider very low or even empty a "malfuction?"

Q: What exactly is the "malfuction indicator?"

Perhaps somebody from Lexus will enlighten us.......

[mikey00]

The malfunction indicator is your check engine light. This is shown on another page in your manual. When you are empty or just about one of your sensors gets a bad reading and produces the code.

[Solace]

I had the same lights show up VSC, the traction? off, and the service engine. My car's fuel was very low. I filled the car w/gas, fastened the cap really tightly, and had the code reset. I drove it for a few days and the message has not reappeared.

Solace