2001 Rx 300

[c4yourself2]

Hi Everyone,

I am looking at a 2001 RX 300 that is for sale, 107,000 miles. It has had major engine repair, but not sure what happened to the motor. The owner said that the engine stopped and that he heard knocking sound, I looked at the $3,000 repair bill and it looks like they did some work to the heads(machine shop cost part of the total). My question is this, is this a interference motor, in other words if the timing belt is not changed and it breaks, will the pistons and valves hit each other?

The car drives fine and goes up through the gears fine with good power, but the motor is not real quiet, it has some noise on the top end(valve/cam area) while it is idleling. Also the the engine light is on, the car was not repaired at a Toyota/Lexus dealer...... after the repair was made to the motor, the mechanic took the car to the Lexus/Toyota dealer and the light is still on, they (the dealer) could not find the cause for the engine light to come on(so the current owner told me). The engine light does not scare me, I work with a "Electronic Specialist" and he is sure that there must be a code, will this work for a code reader http://www.amazon.com/Equus-3100-Innova-Ca...c/dp/B000EVWDAK ?

Thanks,

Chuck

[BillyShaft]

I have an Equus 3100a. The one you have linked is a 3100c. The 3100a is a little better unit as it has the codes internally and doesn't need the book to help read them.

I bought my 3100a from Wal-Mart for about $89. It is an awesome unit and has been without doubt the best maintenance money I have spent. I bought it for use on my 2003 RX, but it also works great on my Rubicon and F150. I haven't tried it on the RX400h yet, but the connector is the same.

I would recommend the 3100a without hesitation.

[c4yourself2]

I have an Equus 3100a. The one you have linked is a 3100c. The 3100a is a little better unit as it has the codes internally and doesn't need the book to help read them.

I bought my 3100a from Wal-Mart for about $89. It is an awesome unit and has been without doubt the best maintenance money I have spent. I bought it for use on my 2003 RX, but it also works great on my Rubicon and F150. I haven't tried it on the RX400h yet, but the connector is the same.

I would recommend the 3100a without hesitation.

I was not able to find it at walmart.com, but I did find one here http://www.levineautoparts.com/eqobdiicodr...CFQrFGgod508pZg for $89 + $10 shipping. I will check my local walmart later today, I am going to buy this tool even if I don't end up buying this Lexus.

I am a machinist and a auto enthusiast, I race a 1984 Buick Turbo(that I owned since it was new) in the 1/4 mile a few times a yr and I do all my own wrenching (I have a spare motor in my garage now that I am building for a swap once the cold weather let's up) Thanks for the heads up on getting the "a" model instead of the older "c". I found a link to my piston question, http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...l=piston+valves so it appears that this is indeed a interference engine. In that case I would quess that the belt probably broke and there was damage to the pistons and valves... and now I am hearing the end result of fixing the top end of the motor and possibly not doing the job right.

Chuck

[BillyShaft]

Hey Chuck,

I find the Equus 3100 usually near the spark plugs and always on the top tier hang hooks. Got to tip-toe to get at them.

I bought mine because the wife kept getting MILs due to not tightening the gas cap enough. Best money ever spent on maintenance. Plug in, read code, reset MIL, remind wife to fully tighten gas cap, done!

Just a note on the RX: I would probably skip that one. Not so much because of the motor...you are obviously knowledgeable enough to make a determination on that, but the trannies on the RX300 are weak for the weight of the car and there are huge threads and discussions regarding their high failure rate. Take a look in the RX forums and see if that helps you make up your mind on this particular model/year. The common wisdom seems to point to a 2004 or newer for best results.

Good Luck and welcome to the LOC!

[c4yourself2]

Hey Chuck,

I find the Equus 3100 usually near the spark plugs and always on the top tier hang hooks. Got to tip-toe to get at them.

I bought mine because the wife kept getting MILs due to not tightening the gas cap enough. Best money ever spent on maintenance. Plug in, read code, reset MIL, remind wife to fully tighten gas cap, done!

Just a note on the RX: I would probably skip that one. Not so much because of the motor...you are obviously knowledgeable enough to make a determination on that, but the trannies on the RX300 are weak for the weight of the car and there are huge threads and discussions regarding their high failure rate. Take a look in the RX forums and see if that helps you make up your mind on this particular model/year. The common wisdom seems to point to a 2004 or newer for best results.

Good Luck and welcome to the LOC!

Thanks for the heads up on the tranny problems, I just spent a hour reading about the problems, it seems that they are more common on the AWD models. I managed to snag a 3100A diagnostic tool on ebay today for $66 w/shipping included in that price

I was surprised to see a 01 RX 300 on ebay today that is wrecked including tranny damage for more money then the amount of money the current owner wants for this vehicle.... so I'm thinking that I can't really go wrong on this deal. Buy it, change the tranny fluid/filter, clean the pan, new filters, air, fuel. Pull the plugs and spark plug wires check the resistance and the general condition of the wires, replace as neaded.

Chuck

[BillyShaft]

Good deal on the reader Chuck!

Hey, as long as you know what you are getting into, sounds like you have the facts to make a good decision.

Let us know this all works out!

[c4yourself2]

Good deal on the reader Chuck!

Hey, as long as you know what you are getting into, sounds like you have the facts to make a good decision.

Let us know this all works out!

BillyShaft,

I got the two codes today, from the sellers paper work on the $3k repair. 1346 and 1351 it sounds like the timing belt is off one tooth or they took the pulleys off the cams improperly and cracked the guide pin holes in the end of the cams..... This requires more information on the workscope of possible replacing the cams or at the very least check the timing of the cams to the crank..... I guess I just found out why it is still for sale....

Chuck

[c4yourself2]

Good deal on the reader Chuck!

Hey, as long as you know what you are getting into, sounds like you have the facts to make a good decision.

Let us know this all works out!

BillyShaft,

I got the two codes today, from the sellers paper work on the $3k repair. 1346 and 1351 it sounds like the timing belt is off one tooth or they took the pulleys off the cams improperly and cracked the guide pin holes in the end of the cams..... This requires more information on the workscope of possible replacing the cams or at the very least check the timing of the cams to the crank..... I guess I just found out why it is still for sale....

Chuck

I am looking for a "how to replace your timing belt" thread, preferable with a diagram, can anyone help me?

Thanks,

EDIT: I found a nice link for this vehicle, look at the tenth subject down from the top engine mechanical, http://www.box.net/shared/o55c5697lt Then go to page 13 after file downloads and opens for the timing belt section.

Chuck

[lenore]

How to change timing belt:

timing_belt.pdf

[c4yourself2]

How to change timing belt:

This is not the engine that I am looking for, I was looking for the 2001 RX300 3.0L which is in the link that I posted, both articles look to be written by the same company. But thanks for the post anyway!

Edit:

Car was sold to someone else....

Thanks,

Chuck