lexo98

crap.. i just started getting some metallic sounding rattling under acceleration today.... i guess I'll find it when I pull out my dashboard in spring... <_<

Did you check for mice? :D

Now as retarded as this is going to sound I had the same problem. It turns ou when I accelerate the pebbles in my head rattle. Hence, the noise. Seriously though I had low coolant that trapped air in the system and when you accelerate the water pump pushes coolant through what I think is the heater core behind the dash. Top off your coolant and make sure you don't trap air in there..

Does anybody with experience driving on tires that are the same model and size, but different speed ratings have a comment?

I keep trying to reply so sorry if there are multiples. It is possible that you have an air pocket. I've been there. If your radiator was really low or empty when you filled it that may have caused it. Try this. With the engine completely cold take off the radiator cap and start the car. Within a minute or so if you had air you will notice that the radiator was not as full as you thought because the air is bleeding out. While the engine is still running slowly add coolant to the radiator till it's full and top off the reservoir and reinstall the radiator cap. The should solve your problem if it was an air pocket. Now if the coolant went low due to a crack in the radiator you should be able to find the leak. Maybe the coolant wasn't checked in a really long time. Good luck. Please repost the results.

If you did have a trapped air pocket you would have the exact symptoms. Is it possible that the coolant wasn't checked for an extremely long amount of time? When the coolant level runs extremely low and you add fluid when the engine is not running you will most likely create an air pocket. The pocket will not allow the fans to turn on. When the engine is completely cold take the radiator cap off and start the engine. Then slowly add coolant till the radiator is full then top off the resevior, and reinstall the cap. That should fix the fan issue if it really was an air pocket. Make sure you start checking for leaks now.if the radiator is leaking you should be able to find coolant leaking or maybe it was just refilled wrong previously. I had the same probablem after a new radiator install. Good luck and please repost.

I'm in the same situation, new water pump, new thermostat, I found my rely was bad so my fans weren't kicking in. I changed the rely and it still overheats now I'm thinking its gonna be my clutch fani mean that's all that's left to check. Does anyone know how to check if its any good?

P.S

Don't mean to thread jack I just didn't want to start a new thread for the same problem the ot is having.

if there is air trapped in the system the fans won't work either. Sounds strange but I know this from experience.

I have replaced thermastat & waterpump in my 94gs300 and still it overheats. No visible leaks. The heater is blowing cold air even when temp. is at normal to hot. Any suggestions woiuld be greatlly appreciated.

I wish I would have seen this post earlier. What probably happened was is that you left air trapped in the system. When the car is col remove the radiator cap and start the car. Let the air bleed out and and slowly fill the radiator with colant till it's full. That should most likely help you. Good luck

Sorry, one quick follow up. I spoke to a service advisor at the local Lexus dealership about my transmission. He said that Lexus/Toyota does not recommend flushing transmissions. He said it could knock something loose, or bust seals, especially in older transmissions. My car has 90,000 miles on it. Any thoughts?

The advice about the power flush could be accurate -- if you trust your Lexus service advisor then I'd say follow his advice.

Here's the thing with transmissions: they are easy to ignore until you have problems, like the problem you are having now. So generally speaking they are ignored for thousands of miles, foresaking fluid and filter changes until they start to act funny. I'd say that a "regular" transmission service that includes replacing the filter and draining/refilling the fluid could get you back to proper operation. Let your trusted mechanic do this, and if it doesn't work then look into having either Lexus or a transmission shop give you a diagnosis along with a quote for repairs.

Here's a word of caution regarding transmission shops. In 30 years of messing around with every kind of car imaginable I have never found a truly honest tranny shop. Their solution always seems to rebuild your transmission or to swap your existing transmission out for a rebuilt unit.

Be careful.

From what I thought a flush and a power flush were different. Mine was flushed and it worked for me

The change in speed rateing has NO significant effect on cornoring grip! All it mean is a tire can sustain a certain speed for ten minutes with out being in any structual danger. The rubber compound and tread pattern have infinitly more impact on cornoring characteristics than speed rating. As far as any vibration, the speed rating has no affect on that either. That is an alignment or balancing issue. Bottom line is switch speed rating is only a problem if you like to cruise down the highway at WOT for hours. In which case if your not severly injured, I'll bet your drive train will be.

Very well said Killer.

SRK

The one thing that wasn't commented on is braking. In extreme breaking the speed rating and quality of tire will matter. With the quality and construction of the Michelin tire I'm pretty sure you will be just as happy as the other post, but in extreme conditions it will be different than OE. And to comment on the vibration check the balance. Bushings, and LOWER BALL JOINT. That freakin balljoint is notorious for breaking.Oh and thanks for the Costco plug

Good luck,

Costco Tire Center Manager

hi i need to change my rear brake pads and i want to do this myself, so can anyone give me instructions on how to change them so i dont do something wrong. :D

If you do have experience the rears are super easy. There are pins and clips holding the pads in place. No real tools needed once the wheel is off. I have 20" wheels and didn't even take my rims off. Good luck

Just because its shifting hard doesn't mean you need a whole new transmission. It could be the transmission solenoid, could be a sensor. Take it to the shop and let them diagnose it.

I had the same problem at about 150000 miles. I took it in and had the transmiision flushed and 20000 miles later it's just fine for the amount of miles I have.

Hello US RX owners. I need your help.

I am from Holland (Europe) and owner of a nice RX . I bought this used car 10 months ago in Germany complete with 4 wheels with wintertires. Now I try to fit them but its impossible. I think the problem can be that there is a difference between the RX made in Japan (thats mine) and your RX made in Canada. My Lexus dealer has no answer.

The European RX wheels fits with 5 wheelnuts, with a flat base and a ring. So the wheelnut bore is flat / cilindric and is 38 mm wide. I need a 21 mm wheelnut tool to take the wheels off.

The (original Toyota - Lexus ) (winter)wheels (Make RC) have a wheelnut bore of 28 mm and conic (tapered) wheelnuts. Using the original wheel-fitting tool is not possible. I dit not get any of these wheelnuts, but on a US internet site I saw RX wheellocks with conic- tapered base.

My question: can it be that the original Canada made RX is fitted with these conic wheelnuts?

And how long is the studlength for fitting the wheel. because they look too short for fitting my winterwheel ?

Greetings from Holland

The OE lugnuts for that vehicle with ALLOY Wheels would be the lugnuts that you are talking about with the washer and part of the lugnut enters the wheels bolt hole to keep it centered. If your winter wheels are steel wheels or has similar bolt holes to a steel wheel that would be why they gave you different lugnuts. The washer lugnuts probably don't fit inside the bolt holes of your winter wheels.I'm thinking the outside diameter of the winter wheels lugnuts are 19mm which is probably why the OE tool doesn't work. Just use the proper wrench for them or purchase the same style lugnuts that have a 21mm diameter. Hope this helps. Oh and if your concered about the length you can always buy the lugnuts with open ends so they go all the way in.

I have an '02 GS300 and I hear this bubbling noise when Im sitting in the car and its coming from the front of the car. It doesnt happen very often. Maybe like 5 times a month. Does someone know what it is?

you should check your radiator fluid level. I had a similar prolem a while back.