LexuSY

I have replaced my iacv valve 2 times since I owned my 98 lexus es300, i think. I'm not knowledgeable about cars, but I've had a problem where i start my car, then the rpm will just drop and the car would shut off. The first time i took it to the dealer, they said i needed to replace a valve or something that cost me $400. About a year later or so, the same thing starts to happen but this time i just ignore it and just pump on my gas pedal as soon as i start my car to get it to stay on. Finally one day my car wouldn't stay on so i had to get it towed and the lexus dealer says i need to replace the iacv valve which cost me $500. My question is, is there something I can do to prevent this from happening every year? I searched the forums and know this is a common problem with my model/year and saw ways to replace the part/clean the part myself. But honestly, I looked under the hood and I just don't think i can do it. Can I use some sort of engine cleaner or fuel additive that I just pour somewhere? Please shower me with some automotive wisdom... Thank you!

no more check engine light and no jerking. the shutting off problem i have has to do with my iacv valve, or that's what the dealer said. and a search in these forums show that getting motorvac service will solve this issue. i haven't done it yet, but plan to this week or next. however, i haven't experienced the problem after getting service for gasket replacement and oil change. but we'll see...

so i took my car back to the toyota dealer today and they fixed the issue in about 45 mins. they said hose #127 was loose causing a leak in the vacuum seal? oh well.. runs well and strong now and there's no smell. thanks!

Hi all, first would like to say that this site has always been helpful with my problems on the 98 lexus es300 i have. searching the symptoms of my problems seem to always give me the correct resolution. here's my new problem: a few weeks ago i noticed that my car would smell like fuel when i started the car and i stood near it outside... inside, as i drove, it would start to smell slightly like burning rubber. so i searched and found that the valve cover gasket could be the problem. i thought this is probably correct since the toyota dealer that did my 90k service and timing belt package recommended that i change it along with my transmission pan gasket. ( i have no idea what these are...) so today, i went back and got my regularly scheduled maintenance and said i would like my valve cover gasket and trans pan gasket changed as well. when i went to pick the car up, i started to drive away and got immediately on the freeway. the car then started to feel jerky... as though there were intermitent signs of acceleration .. then the check engine light came on. is there anything that they can do while changing these gaskets that can cause a jerky drive? is this serious? I then parked my car at my destination (about 5 miles away) then turned the car off.. then tried to turn it back on, and the car would start and die immediately. i also searched the forums for this and am planning on getting motorvac service sometime this week. this symptom has happend to me before, but after changing the gaskets, it seems to be more severe of a idle and shutdown of the car when i try to start it. i called the toyota dealer back and mentioned this and he said, maybe a hose came loose??? bring the car back tomorrow morning. should i be alarmed? am i safe to drive this back home tonight??? well.. just wanted some feedback from the knowledgeable members of this forum!

I used to just press the memory button right before leaving the car, no foot on the brake and no key in the car and it worked. Now it only works once in a while... should still work right? even without the key in the on position, since it worked before?

Hello all, I have a 98 es300, and recently, my seat memory buttons would stop working. i press them and there is no beep as it usually does and the seat does not change position. However, if i leave the car overnight and try the button again in the morning, it works... no problems, i dont' even have to press hard or anything. Is there a battery i need to replace somewhere for the seat memory? or is this something else? Seems strange that it would work and not work without me touching it. Any advice would be appreciated! THANKS!

It's probably because of some of the ads that have japanese on it. Like www.plan-japan.org. you don't need to download them since the bulk of the information you need is in english, in the threads.

Some dude backed up into my car and peeled the paint of my rear bumper, the dealership quoted me $395 to get it repainted. The car insurance estimator said it would cost about $500 to fix. This is in Los angeles california... So I guess it runs around 350-400 to fix.

Yea, i'm gonna take it to an independant shop, ask them if they can confirm the suspension problem and the oil leak and if it's there, then ask them to fix it. I do not trust the dealer anymore. I also found out that the air filter replacement is included in the 75k mile service which they didn't do. That's why at my 80k mile service they said it is dirty... when i asked them if it's normal for an air filter to get dirty in 5k miles, they said it depends on driving conditions... wahtever.. i'm sure i could have taken it back and complain, but it is not worth my time and who knows what else they would say... another thing that annoys me is that on my 80k mile service, they didn't tell me again that my control arms bushings needed replacement which they told me at my 75k service.. Does this mean they didn't check or what? thanks for the concern ArmyOfOne, i will take your advice for sure.

So i replaced my air filter and light bulb!!! Was easier than i thought!!! glad i didn't shell out 35 bucks for the bulb at the dealership when i did it myself for under 5 bucks. I realized there are some oil spots on my parking space after all... assuming it comes from my car. i guess i'll shell out the 1000 for the oil leak fix and the suspension fix and put the timing belt off till later. Thanks again for all your help guys!

Thanks guys! I think i'll wait on the TB then since i have 80k miles i guess i can wait til 90k. However, the dealership said that it is a timing belt package and i guess it includes the stuff steviej mentioned, what is the full list of things that are done? No wonder the dealership wanted to charge me 1500 and the independant place said 325 to change the timing belt. and about my oil leak... i don't see any oil leaking and my oil levels are normal i think. I mean, when i see the gauge in the car (if it is the oil gauge) it was always the same. I don't see a puddle of oil or drops in my parking spot either... it's just what the dealership told me. is there a way i can check myself? he said it was the rear main seal... oh, and one more thing, i mentioned the lower control arms bushing needs to be replaced cause i was told it was broken. the dealership said 1000 to repair and the independant place said 315 to replace the whole thing since just the bushing cannot be replaced.. why is there such a huge difference in price? ADthanksVANCE, this has to be the most helpful forum ever!!!

Hi all, I've been to the dealer for my 75k and 80k mile service and each time they told me i need to fix something else which i've put off, but now i feel like the list is growing longer and i need to fix these asap. first they told me my lower control arms bushings are broken and need replacement. then, they told me my timing belt should be replaced, my rear main seal is leaking oil, my rear tail light is out and my air filter needs replacing cause it's dirty. What can i do on my own? I'm not car saavy enough to take apart an engine, the only thing ive done is replace headlights and wash a car before. I think i can do the filter and light, but not sure about the others. how urgent are these and how much should they cost? The dealer told me the grand total will be about $3350 bucks. What else needs to be fixed when they do this? The dealer said when they replace the timing belt they replace a bunch of other stuff or something and that's why it costs 1500 to replace. or does anyone know a good mechanic in the los angeles area? Thanks for all your help!!!

You guys are awesome! I'll look into those suggestions and let you guys know what happens. So, should i get my iacv replaced or clean out my throttle intake first? or is there a way for them (different dealer) or any mechanic to know what's causing the problem if i ask them to look at all three? (iacv, egr valve, throttle)

Hi everybody, i have a 98 lexus es300 with 75k miles. I brought my car to the dealer for regular 15k service and a problem with the car starting sometimes. The problem was sometimes (maybe once a month) the car would start, then the rpm would lower and the car would shut off. The only way to start the car is to start it, then pump the gas before the rpm meter went down and try again until it stabilizes. They call me and say they found a few problems. They need to replace the EGR Valve which will cost me $400 parts and labor. And they found that the front suspension bushing needs to be replaced because they are cracked/broken. And that will cost me $900. My question is, are these critical to fix? Are the prices reasonable or can i get it done for a lot less? I don't have much car knowledge so i have no idea what these things do. Maybe getting the part from somewhere else then bringing them to the dealer would be cheaper? Any advice or references to a good mechanic in the LA area would be great! adthanksvance

i've had a similar problem where my cel was on when i needed to replace my fuel valve or something (forgot what part.) anyway, they replaced it, and the light was off. then a few days later, the light came on again so i took it back. they said nothing was wrong with the car, it's just that the computer needed to be rebooted. it still had the previous error code activating the cel and he said this happens sometimes when the problem is corrected but the computer isn't reset, or something like that. basically, you don't need a new computer, just a few resets to flush out the error code. or find out how much it is to get a new computer and then see if it costs more than 100 bucks.. if it does, then take it to a dealer to look at since i think it costs 100 bucks just for lexus dealers to take a look at your car. if they find nothing wrong with your car but just the computer needs resetting, then i'm sure they can do that for free, but you'll still have to pay for the checkup. of course, there's the risk that the computer DOES need a new computer, which you'd then be shelling out lexus dealer checkup fee + new computer fee. :) this is just based on what my experience was, and what could be your problem... good luck!

thanks guys, i guess i'll just wait until someone else scratches my doors before repainting and use $350 as a guide line price. thanks.

:( Hi all, I just got my car keyed on the passenger side doors and dont' know what to do! i just got the car about 2 months ago and was so loving my car. then some a hole had to key the doors. the scratches are on both of my right side doors, each about 1.5 feet long and deep enough to see the metal beneath the paint. anyone have any ideas on how to fix this without spending a bundle? i am going to try that scratch removing solution today, but i'm sure it's only temporary. is it a DIY job, or should i take it to a shop, and if so, how much would it cost me? i'm so sad that my baby had to get damaged :(.. i don't even know why or who did it ... please help! thanks!

I think i had this problem with my 98 lexus as well. and lexus replaced the $400 part for free because it was under the california emission warranty. I suggest checking to see if it is covered before driving over 100k. cause i think that's when the warranty is over, assuming you are in california. :)

hey, looks like no one is helping you out on this one. but yes, there is a small piece of flat metal that looks like a flat strip that is bent into an L shape that fits on your fuel door. it is about the size of a quarter. i dont' know exactly where you can get this, but i'm sure if you just go to your lexus dealer and ask, they can give you one. probably doesn't cost much either. good luck!

About the window tinting, i just got mine tinted for $289. Formula One tinting. it supposedly reduces heat by 52% and glare, UV, shatter proof. .etc. i got it for the same reasons. but i chose formula one cause they are lifetime warrantied and have several dealers across the country. and since i plan to move some time to the east coast, i thought that was a good investment. this is their second to most expensive tint. they have cheaper ones for 169. and i also heard from other friends that you can get tints as cheap as 75, but i dont' know about quality and stuff... and welcome to da club!

Change in the ash tray? how did that happen? did you keep your change in the ashtray, cause that's what i do. is that not a good idea?

thanks amf! it was the battery! i thought the remote wouldn't work at all if it were the batteries but i guess not.

Hi guys, i have a '98 es and when i use my key remote for the doors or the trunk i have some difficulty... do i have to double click and hold down the button the second time? cause sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt. but it def. doesn't work if i only click it once, or just hold down the button. is it the battery? Let me know what you guys think! thanks!

jeez.. sounds like a lot of work for an mp3 player... and a lot of money... i guess i'll just keep the stock stereo with my mp3 player plugged into the cassette deck until i win the lottery or something..hehe... thanks guys.

dang.. nice job fellas. but i dont' know if i am that crafty. I'll post up any updates if i go ahead with doing it myself. thanks for the info!