2002 Es 300 Steering Wheel Shake At Freeway Speeds...

[jRingo]

Hello all, I test drove a clean 02 ES 300 yesterday (looking for a clean, reliable car around $10k+/-). In my area, it's hard to find clean cars for this price. I could go with something new'ish like a Fit or an Accent, but I would prefer a used Lexus. In fact, I'm driving a 180k 97 ES 300 right now that has been solid as a rock over the last 85k.

It was owned by an older woman who died somewhat suddenly about 1.5 years ago. Her daughter drove the car from 84k-to-its current 94.5k.

The mother had it serviced at the Lexus of Portland dealer since new. I asked for a printout copy of maintenance receipts before my test drive and she had them there in the car. The copy wasn't a full printout with detailed service as some of it was cutoff or abbreviated. But, it was there and had a list of all service from 0-84k miles.

The car was listed as excellent condition. Always garaged (from original owner; was sitting in driveway when I drove it). I asked to see the car do a cold-start up. It was definitely cold, as it had a few cob webs around the rear wheel arches. The car fired right up. The owner has a newer Altima and Ford Escape, so they don't really drive this car.

Drove the car through town, through slightly higher speed back-roads at 45-55mph. I thought I noticed a slight vibration through the steering wheel.

Then I hopped onto the freeway. Not really when accelerating, but when I let off the gas there was a very noticeable shaking of the steering wheel. It was almost shocking to me. I noticed the rear tires were noticeably less worn than the fronts, as if they hadn't been rotated in the last 10k+ miles.

So what's the most likely culprit behind the steering wheel shaking at freeway speeds? More so when dropping the throttle?

One thing of not, when looking through the service records there was a "vibration in steering wheel" noted at 12k miles. Again, the record were cut short from the dealer printout.

I really, really like the car and made an offer if the vibration was remedied (we were thinking rotor or wheel balancing...).

Anyone have ideas?

[VBdenny]

There are too many used cars out there to consider one with a shake or vibration. Sure, it COULD just be the tires but I doubt that. Sounds like a suspension issue which could be a money pit. $10K seems way too much for an 02, especially one that might need work.

[jRingo]

Thanks for the reply. I didn't say $10k for this particular car. If it was 100%, I was going to offer $8500, which would be a fair price for a mint 02. Hell, I would have even payed $9k.

I've been searching for over a month and clean cars are hard to find at this price point unless I want an 07 Civic, Camry or a 2010 Fit or Corolla.

I drove a near mint 05 or 06 ES330 a few weeks back. Beauty. 62k @ $11.2k asking price. Sounded like an old guy on the phone. I neglected to ask if he was original owner. But when the ad is on autotrader (vs craigslist) and states clean title, no accidents, I assume the car will match up.

The guy looked sketchy from the start, like a car salesman. As we're driving along, turns out he works for Ron Tonkin (huger dealer in Portland, they even have a Ferrari store). He previously worked at another large dealer and that's where he snatched the ES when it was in on trade 2 yrs prior. So no maintenance history available. As we're driving, it's down to about 1/8 tank and he says we should stop and get some fuel. I take this time to look at the car under the lights (it was nearing dusk when I arrived at his house). Looked clean, just a few knicks and light scratches. I check under the hood and fluids, body, tires, interior...then the trunk. It was damp (hadn't rained in a week). As we're driving along, I ask when was the last time he washed the car. He said about four days prior. Why do you ask? he says. Well, the trunk carpet is all damp, it's wet by the spare. He goes into "act surprised" mode. Blah blah.

Ad to that there's no unlimited CarFax anymore and then I'm shelling out $50 per five vins. Of course dealers have unlimited CarFax...but the few dealers I've tried to play ball with won't drop the prices for jack. There's two ES330's that are sitting at $12.9 and 13.6 for over a month and refuse to cut a deal. I don't know how it is back east, but in my local where rust is non-existent, Honda/Toyota's are gold, and priced accordingly.

[BALOO BELLE]

I have an 02 that has steering wheel shimmy. I have been through 4 sets of tires and it changes with the balance and rotation. Depending on what rims are on this car it may need high speed balancing. I have upgraded factory rims that were chromed and are slightly out of round. I'm told its not enough to cause the shimmy but this car is soo sensitive. Currently with road force balance I only get the shimmy when decelerating with the brakes on certain pavement at a specific deceleration. It use to do it at highway speeds when the balance was really off. It depended on the type of pavement and speed too.