2001 Rx300 Needs New Computer?

[pablo1992]

I have a 2001 Lexus Rx300 and it's been acting funny lately. I took it to Auto Zone so they could run their test on it and they said it was the coils that were misfiring and 4 cylinders were not firing right. I took it to a mechanic they referred me to and they called me today and said it was the computer and I had to get a new computer for it and take it to the Lexus dealership so they could program it. Could someone explain this to me, what is the computer and what exactly is wrong with it?

Also There's a noise near the steering wheel that's like a ticking. When the car is on cold all the way and defog and defrost are on it kind of runs but it sputters and shuts off and when I push on the gas it doesn't accelerate, I just have to keep my foot lightly on the gas. If the Heat is on all the way the car won't run it'll sputter and shut off automatically.

How much would the parts I need to get cost and what's wrong with it?

[jaswood]

I have a 2001 Lexus Rx300 and it's been acting funny lately. I took it to Auto Zone so they could run their test on it and they said it was the coils that were misfiring and 4 cylinders were not firing right. I took it to a mechanic they referred me to and they called me today and said it was the computer and I had to get a new computer for it and take it to the Lexus dealership so they could program it. Could someone explain this to me, what is the computer and what exactly is wrong with it?

Also There's a noise near the steering wheel that's like a ticking. When the car is on cold all the way and defog and defrost are on it kind of runs but it sputters and shuts off and when I push on the gas it doesn't accelerate, I just have to keep my foot lightly on the gas. If the Heat is on all the way the car won't run it'll sputter and shut off automatically.

How much would the parts I need to get cost and what's wrong with it?

The ticking is one of the climate control servo motors, very common problem/issue, and can be ignored.

I would start by being sure the battery is being fully charged, the battery posts have been cleaned and burnished, all engine/chasis grounds are fully established, etc.

COLD/DEFROST...the blower runs FULL speed. The engine control ECU, if I remember correctly is in the passeneger side kick panel and so a poor electrical connection 12 volts supply or ground, in the local area, BLOWER and ECU, would be well worth looking into.

[pablo1992]

But the ticking is annoying and I think the car smells funny cuz of that; how do I fix that and how much could it run me? & Well I charged the battery fully and the battery posts are fine. Here's what they told me on another board.

wers (2)

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• bo
  
  

  
  
  

  
  don't know what's wrong with it the garage should of told you that. the computer basically tells the car what to do and when they put it in they have to reset it for the make/model car with the options you have in it. just like your home computer if something goes wrong and they have reboot it after doing work to it. as for other problem it might have something to do with the computer or another problem but until computer problem taken care of don't know. the computer cost can be several hundred dollars plus labor for replacement

  • 2 days ago
    
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  Dennis

  I'd take it to the dealer. A computer is a hard call to make and it doesn't sound like a computer issue to me. A new computer has to be programmed to match the chip in the key. and to match all the components. The dealer at this point is your best and probably cheapest option. I have a regular customer with that same vehicle and I would farm this problem out to the dealer because they have better equipment to diagnose and will be cheaper in the long run. Since it will end up at the dealer for reprogramming anyway. It might just need to flash the computer with updates to fix it. This might not be a cheap fix no matter what so cutting out the middle man will be your best bet at this point.

  • 5 hours ago
    

If the car is running, the likelyhood of needing a new ECU is about .001%

The stealerships cannot program the ECU to change anything. Post back with your PO codes and we'll see if we can help.

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[jaswood]

How does it act COLD but with the climate control off, totally OFF...??