My New Used 1998 Es 300

[Ray-tough]

Hello All....

I recently purchased a 1998 es 300 from and auction in Brooklyn (uugghh). Ok I love lexus and have always love lexus. Well .. every since i bought the car the check engine light came on. so me not knowing much about cars I got a tune up thinking that it will take the check emgine light off but of course it didn't. I took it back to the auction dealer who said he changed the sensors and reported that the sensors will clear themselves. well the snesors go on and off and blink . I have called the dealer several times and he said to drive the car and they will clear themselves. anyway sick and tired of the dam sensorsas well as the car burning gas fast . i put gas in th ecar at least every day. well i took the car back to get a part that thatr the auction dealer said would fix the gas problem .. it didn't. so finally i broke down and took the car to lexus for a diagnostic test and they said that the car needs 3500 worth of work . I dam near passed out. He provided us with a list of things that needs to be fixed.. i dont want to think that i bought a lemon because its a LEXUS and I love my car . It drives so good and smooth. oh and did i mention that the passenger window rolls down but dont roll back up. the auto glass place said its electrical. Anyway her are the things lexus said needs to get done . can someone please help me navigate through this. i know that i can get the parts from various websites. However it would be q great help if somneone could explain to me what on the list i need to get done first and why. please tell me what part on the list will fix the running through gas problem.

here it goes

A/F sensor B1 S1

3 injectors [bank 1]

FR sway Bar links

FR Sway Bar Bushings

RR Sway Bar bushing

Exhaust intermid ( they said the pipe is rusted and leaks)

wheel ailiment

** they said i needs brakes and tires.( however i got brakes from online and going to have someone put them on)

did i mention that the lcd radio screen is black ...

love my lexus please help !!!!

thanks

[intakerGS]

Hi Ray-tough,

First of all, congrats with your car. Altough Lexus is a very reliable car, it all depends on servicehistory. It's always bit of a risk buying a car without a a decent history or thorough check before purchase, given it's age. Second, parts for a car this class never comes cheap. Then again, if properly maintained, it will keep cost down and run forever.

Back to business. When the car is running rich, the air/fuel/exhaust system is suspect:

- A/F sensor B1 S1 :

Your oxygen sensor needs to be replaced (there are 2 of them, so it's best to replace both). If faulty, your air/fuel reading is compromised, resulting in a 'safe' rich mixture. Also replace spark-plugs, clean and check throttlebody and replace air-filter (MAF).

- 3 injectors [bank 1]:

If stuck of faulty, you can expect bad combustion and other related problems. You might try fix them by adding a good injector-cleaner to you fuel.

- FR sway Bar links;

Part of drivetrain and needs solved before you do any alignment of wheels. These parts are in general not too expensive or hard to replace.

- FR Sway Bar Bushings:

idem

- RR Sway Bar bushing:

idem

- Exhaust intermid ( they said the pipe is rusted and leaks):

Leaks can cause bad air/fuel mixture, perhaps you can quick fix this first with an exhaust-repair kit. Keep in mind that this is mostly a temporary solution, if possible at all.

- wheel ailiment:

After sway bar etc./brakes/drivetrain is fixed, otherwise you need to do it again.

It might pay-off to shop for a decent bodyshop, as the repairs are not too difficult and prices for labour are better. There are a lot of DIY's available, perhaps the person who is changing your brakes can do some other stuff as well.

Is this done in the past?

- All belts changed on schedule at 90/100K or 8-10 years? Not sure if this aplies for the ES as well..

- (Air) filters (all of them)

- Replacement of all fluids for brakes, transmission, power-steering, motor, coolant etc.

- Spark plugs

- What milage is the car?

[dcfish]

Hello All....

I recently purchased a 1998 es 300 from and auction in Brooklyn (uugghh). Ok I love lexus and have always love lexus. Well .. every since i bought the car the check engine light came on. so me not knowing much about cars I got a tune up thinking that it will take the check emgine light off but of course it didn't. I took it back to the auction dealer who said he changed the sensors and reported that the sensors will clear themselves. well the snesors go on and off and blink . I have called the dealer several times and he said to drive the car and they will clear themselves. anyway sick and tired of the dam sensorsas well as the car burning gas fast . i put gas in th ecar at least every day. well i took the car back to get a part that thatr the auction dealer said would fix the gas problem .. it didn't. so finally i broke down and took the car to lexus for a diagnostic test and they said that the car needs 3500 worth of work . I dam near passed out. He provided us with a list of things that needs to be fixed.. i dont want to think that i bought a lemon because its a LEXUS and I love my car . It drives so good and smooth. oh and did i mention that the passenger window rolls down but dont roll back up. the auto glass place said its electrical. Anyway her are the things lexus said needs to get done . can someone please help me navigate through this. i know that i can get the parts from various websites. However it would be q great help if somneone could explain to me what on the list i need to get done first and why. please tell me what part on the list will fix the running through gas problem.

here it goes

A/F sensor B1 S1

3 injectors [bank 1]

FR sway Bar links

FR Sway Bar Bushings

RR Sway Bar bushing

Exhaust intermid ( they said the pipe is rusted and leaks)

wheel ailiment

** they said i needs brakes and tires.( however i got brakes from online and going to have someone put them on)

did i mention that the lcd radio screen is black ...

love my lexus please help !!!!

thanks

Welcome to the club

This is the GS forum, You may do better in the ES forum ;) Mods would you please move this

[Sexus ES300]

regarding the windows: pick up a can of electrical contact cleaner and remove the switches (takes like 2min) dissemble the switch as much as possible, spray the hell out of it(Try to spray inside the switch to get to the contacts) wait like 5 min then repeat at least 3 more times. same prob with my switches but fixed them with a 5$ can of cleaner.

If you do get the can of cleaner go ahead and spray out the MAF sensor (you dont need a new one)

for the o2 sensor the front one is easy but the one close to the firewall is kinda hard to get to but its still a very easy diy

as stated above try getting a can of injector cleaner

everything else intake gs said is recommended

btw DO NOT flush the transmission a simple drain and fill should suffice maybe the filter if it hasnt been changed

[Ray-tough]

Hi Ray-tough,

First of all, congrats with your car. Altough Lexus is a very reliable car, it all depends on servicehistory. It's always bit of a risk buying a car without a a decent history or thorough check before purchase, given it's age. Second, parts for a car this class never comes cheap. Then again, if properly maintained, it will keep cost down and run forever.

Back to business. When the car is running rich, the air/fuel/exhaust system is suspect:

- A/F sensor B1 S1 :

Your oxygen sensor needs to be replaced (there are 2 of them, so it's best to replace both). If faulty, your air/fuel reading is compromised, resulting in a 'safe' rich mixture. Also replace spark-plugs, clean and check throttlebody and replace air-filter (MAF).

- 3 injectors [bank 1]:

If stuck of faulty, you can expect bad combustion and other related problems. You might try fix them by adding a good injector-cleaner to you fuel.

- FR sway Bar links;

Part of drivetrain and needs solved before you do any alignment of wheels. These parts are in general not too expensive or hard to replace.

- FR Sway Bar Bushings:

idem

- RR Sway Bar bushing:

idem

- Exhaust intermid ( they said the pipe is rusted and leaks):

Leaks can cause bad air/fuel mixture, perhaps you can quick fix this first with an exhaust-repair kit. Keep in mind that this is mostly a temporary solution, if possible at all.

- wheel ailiment:

After sway bar etc./brakes/drivetrain is fixed, otherwise you need to do it again.

It might pay-off to shop for a decent bodyshop, as the repairs are not too difficult and prices for labour are better. There are a lot of DIY's available, perhaps the person who is changing your brakes can do some other stuff as well.

Is this done in the past?

- All belts changed on schedule at 90/100K or 8-10 years? Not sure if this aplies for the ES as well..

- (Air) filters (all of them)

- Replacement of all fluids for brakes, transmission, power-steering, motor, coolant etc.

- Spark plugs

- What milage is the car?

[Ray-tough]

THANKS SOOO MUCH FOR TYE INFO..... I REQLLY APPRECIATE IT ... BECAUSE I *BLEEP*ED A !Removed! ABOUT ALL THE WORK I HAVE TO DO... THE AUCTION DEALER SAID HE WILL DO EVERYTHING FOR FREE ... ( UUUM.. WILL KEEP U POSTED ON THAT ) ANY WAYI LOOKED UP THE PARTS ANSD WHAT THEY DO AND FOUND IT TO BE VERY INFORMATIVE ABOUT THE PARTS AND WHAT THEY DO... OH THE CAR IS ABOUT 105,000 MILES . TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE SPARK PLUGS , AIR FILTERS ETC WASN'T CHNAGED UNTIL I PURCHASED THE CAR.ALL THE FILTERS, SPARK PLUGS, OIL CHANGE WERE CHANGED BY ME.. I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE BELTS THOUGH...

ANY OTHER INFO WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED !!!!

WILL KEEP UP POSTED

[Ray-tough]

regarding the windows: pick up a can of electrical contact cleaner and remove the switches (takes like 2min) dissemble the switch as much as possible, spray the hell out of it(Try to spray inside the switch to get to the contacts) wait like 5 min then repeat at least 3 more times. same prob with my switches but fixed them with a 5$ can of cleaner.

If you do get the can of cleaner go ahead and spray out the MAF sensor (you dont need a new one)

for the o2 sensor the front one is easy but the one close to the firewall is kinda hard to get to but its still a very easy diy

as stated above try getting a can of injector cleaner

everything else intake gs said is recommended

btw DO NOT flush the transmission a simple drain and fill should suffice maybe the filter if it hasnt been changed

[Ray-tough]

regarding the windows: pick up a can of electrical contact cleaner and remove the switches (takes like 2min) dissemble the switch as much as possible, spray the hell out of it(Try to spray inside the switch to get to the contacts) wait like 5 min then repeat at least 3 more times. same prob with my switches but fixed them with a 5$ can of cleaner.

If you do get the can of cleaner go ahead and spray out the MAF sensor (you dont need a new one)

for the o2 sensor the front one is easy but the one close to the firewall is kinda hard to get to but its still a very easy diy

as stated above try getting a can of injector cleaner

everything else intake gs said is recommended

btw DO NOT flush the transmission a simple drain and fill should suffice maybe the filter if it hasnt been changed

[Ray-tough]

THANKS SOO MUCH FOR THE INFO... I WISH I KNEW THE SERICE HISTORY!!! I DONT THINK THAT ANYTHING WA SDONE TO THE CAR BEFORE I PURCHASED IT!!! THE DEALER SQID HE WILL FIX EVERYTHING... I HOPE SOO CUZ MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER IS TOTALLY *BLEEP*ED AND THE DEALER KNOWS IT. I WILL KEEP UP POSTED . SORRY ABOUT BEING IN THE WRONG FORUM !! I THINK I WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT FINDIN THE WEBSITE I JUST BEGAN TO TYPE

WILL KEEP U POSTED!!! THANSK AGAIN.

[Sexus ES300]

THANKS SOO MUCH FOR THE INFO... I WISH I KNEW THE SERICE HISTORY!!! I DONT THINK THAT ANYTHING WA SDONE TO THE CAR BEFORE I PURCHASED IT!!! THE DEALER SQID HE WILL FIX EVERYTHING... I HOPE SOO CUZ MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER IS TOTALLY *BLEEP*ED AND THE DEALER KNOWS IT. I WILL KEEP UP POSTED . SORRY ABOUT BEING IN THE WRONG FORUM !! I THINK I WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT FINDIN THE WEBSITE I JUST BEGAN TO TYPE

WILL KEEP U POSTED!!! THANSK AGAIN.

Easy on the caps lol. btw since you dont have any records id definitely look into the timing belt/water pump even though if the belt breaks or the pump dies you wont damage anything

[toughy]

THANKS SOO MUCH FOR THE INFO... I WISH I KNEW THE SERICE HISTORY!!! I DONT THINK THAT ANYTHING WA SDONE TO THE CAR BEFORE I PURCHASED IT!!! THE DEALER SQID HE WILL FIX EVERYTHING... I HOPE SOO CUZ MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER IS TOTALLY *BLEEP*ED AND THE DEALER KNOWS IT. I WILL KEEP UP POSTED . SORRY ABOUT BEING IN THE WRONG FORUM !! I THINK I WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT FINDIN THE WEBSITE I JUST BEGAN TO TYPE

WILL KEEP U POSTED!!! THANSK AGAIN.

Easy on the caps lol. btw since you dont have any records id definitely look into the timing belt/water pump even though if the belt breaks or the pump dies you wont damage anything

[toughy]

PROBLEM SOLVED FINALLY!!!!!

OK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS OFF!!!! BUT U HAVE NO IDEA IN WHAT I HAD TO GO THROUGH TO GET THAT DAM LIGHT OFF. THE DEALER FIXED EVERYTHING!!! WHEN HE SCANNED the CAR IT KEEP READDING " SYSTEM TOO LEAN". I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL THAT MEANT SOOO I JUST WENT DOWN THE LIST THAT LEXUS GAVE A FEW WEEKS AGO. SO THE DEALER PUT ALL THE O2 SENSORS ON ....."ONE BY ONE " THEN HE SAYS THAT THERE IS A 3RD SENSOR WHEN I THOUGHT THERE WAS ONLY 2 . SO HE PUT THAT ONE ON AND THAT DAM LIGHT WAS STILL GLARING AT ME. SO THE NEXT THING ON THE LEXUS LIST WAS THE FUEL INJECTORS. THAT WAS DONE AND THE LIGHT WAS STILL ON... AT THIS POINT I FELT LIKE TORCHING THE DAM CAR CUZ WHO WANTS TO SEE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHEN U DRIVE. SO AFTER THE INJECTORS THE DEALERS WAS *BLEEP*ED AND DIDNT KNOW WHAT TO DO. SO AGAIN LOOKING AT THE LIST THE LEXUS MECHANIC GAVE I DECIDED TO GET THE CATAYTIC CONVERTER CHANGED WITH THE INTERMITENT PIPE ..(THAT WAS REASONABLE CUZ IT CAME WITH THE MUFFLER ). DON'T U KNOW THAT DAM LIGHT WAS STILL ON. AT THIS POINT I WAS LIKE " FOR SALE AS IS". FINALLY THE THE DEALER WAS LIKE IT COULD BE THE "BRQKE BOOSTER" . I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THAT DID. BUT SINCE HE PUT IT ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN OFF!!!

AND THE PASSENGER WINDOW HASN'T BEEN A PROBLEM ANYMORE!!!!!

SO IN TOTAL SINCE GETTING THE CAR I HAVE DONE THE FOLLOWING :

FULL TUNE UP SPARK , PLUGS ETC,

MUFFLER SYSTEM, TO INCLUDE CATATYLIC CONVERTER AND CENTER PIPE

3 FUEL INJECTORRS

BRAKE BOOSTERS

OXYGEN SENSORS

NEW TIRES AND BRAKES

WHEEL ALIGNMENT

OH AND I FIXED A RADIO FOR THE LCD SCREEN TO WORK PAID $179.00

SO AT THIS POINT I LOVE MY LEXUS

BUT MY ONLY OTHER QUESTION IS THAT THE CD PLAYER ISN'T WORKING ... ANY IDEAS HOW TO FIX IT !!!!

[BoaR]

Lay off the caps. nobody wants to read wall block text.

Cd changer. scrap yard. (if your lucky 40bucks. if you arent 100bucks) before you go nuts, make sure you just arent placing the cd's in "upsidedown" by accident. the lable goes downwards into the tray slot and you should be looking at the bottom of the cd while putting it back in.

[toughy]

Lay off the caps. nobody wants to read wall block text.

Cd changer. scrap yard. (if your lucky 40bucks. if you arent 100bucks) before you go nuts, make sure you just arent placing the cd's in "upsidedown" by accident. the lable goes downwards into the tray slot and you should be looking at the bottom of the cd while putting it back in.

[toughy]

Thanks for the tip about the cd player ...it worked . all this time i had the cds in wrong. well so far so good with the car. looking into purchasing a 2001 a es 300 or an GS.

i will keep u posted