amf1932

Try this: Test 1 1- Drive at a normal speed 2- Take your foot off the accelerator(as if you're in stop & go traffic) 3- When the car decelerates to about 2 mph or lower, press the accelerator normally(not flooring it), and see if the car goes into a lower gear immediately, or it hunts for a gear to go into and then lurches forward. Test 2 1- Drive at approximately 40 mph. 2- Floor accelerator quickly(as if you need to pass another car in a hazardous situation in a hurry). 3- Check that the car goes into a lower gear immediately or there is a rise in engine rpm's while the car is figuring out what gear to go into. This is the hesitation that we're talking about. This is another test where this car fails miserably. There are ways to overcome these problems by driving in a certain manner, but in certain cases you don't have the time or wherewithal to concentrate on "nursing" this weird transmission shifting behavior.

It could be the switch due to oxidation of the internal contacts. Make sure that you're getting 12V to the switch using a voltmeter. Also check the bulb contacts. Finally, check the bulb(s) with an ohmmeter to make sure the filaments show continuity.

Make sure the doors or trunk lid are closed properly. ;)

I was checking the oil level on my friends '03ES and it looked like there was a low oil level. It turned out that there is an O-ring on the dipstick that prevented me from pushing in the dipstick all the way down. I than lubricated this O-ring with some oil and then it went all the way down. It then showed the level was low, but not empty. If there was no oil, the indicator light on the dashboard would be illuminated showing low oil or no oil pressure. This is assuming that these sensors are working.

So what happens to the guys/gals that prefer to do their own oil/filter service??? How do they prove they've done it?

Would you believe that in the 1950's they recommended changing the oil every 1000 miles. :o So I did. ;)

How do you go about testing your oil? I would think that you would need some pretty sophisticated testing equipment to do it properly.

Even though the bulbs are good, there could be oxidation built up in the sockets. This added resistance could sometimes cause this problem. I would try cleaning the contacts in the sockets using an electrical contact cleaner and/or sandpaper.

You got it right......just unclip the clips, remove the air filter and drop in the new one. ;)

Mild or occasional detonation can occur in almost any engine and usually causes no harm. But prolonged or heavy detonation can be very damaging. So if you hear knocking or pinging when accelerating or lugging your engine, you probably have a detonation problem. I don't hear any detonation with regular fuel........EVER! I guess my knock sensor is working.

Read on Mcduff: ;) Regular verses Premium I have NEVER heard engine knocking using regular gasoline on any of the Lexuses I've owned!

I didn't notice ANY difference in performance when I used Premium fuel, so I went back to Regular fuel. If I did I would definitely go back to Premium. This is on a '03 ES. The same situation happened on my '94 ES......I started using Premium when this car was bought new for about a year and then switched back to regular for the next 8 years with absolutely NO problems and NO difference in performance. ........and I'm talking about really driving the car and NOT babying it!!! Plus the fuel economy was virtually the same!

If you watch your tire inflation (every month), rotate the tires (every 5000miles), and don't take turns at too fast a speed you can increase your tire mileage.

You want to read about sludge read on: Sludge

It could very well be the tires. I had the same kind of sound on my previous ES300 and when I replaced the tires it was once again smooth & quiet. ;) Oh yes......welcome aboard!

On my '03 Nav I just touch the screen where the compass is shown and it'll change the direction.

Follow up: I drove the car back to the dealer and they had to remove about 1 quart of oil! They told me that they use a machine that meters in the proper amount of oil. I guess the machine was NOT so accurate......and what about the service person checking the proper oil level on the dipstick? I guess that would be too hard to do. Lexus service, in some cases are no better then the local service station, and you pay premium prices there. At least you get free coffee & donuts while your car is being worked on. :D

Come on.......isn't this a ridiculous way to have to drive a car? Having to nurse the transmission along to make it shift properly is not what I consider a good design. When you're in a situation that demands quick action I like to know the car will respond in like! I have found that sometimes I need this response to get out of a hazardous situation. Not......now let me think.......I'll push the accelerator a bit so it won't downshift 2 gears instead of 1. I have to admit I'm venting my frustration with this car. While my car was in for service today I had an '04 ES330 loaner that responded the same as my car, so I know this is NOT an isolated incident. I swear I feel like going back to the old stick shift.

This concerns my 2003 ES300: Transmission, Electronic throttle, Lexus raising the HP of the ES330, Having to learn how to drive the car........all I say to that is Bull! I've owned more than 30 cars, from older Lexus's to Cadillacs, from Acura's to Lincolns, and I never had a car perform so shabbily. This shifting thing, whether I'm on the highway or in the city is really starting to get me down. I have gone through the route that alot of Lexus owners went.....reprogramming the ECU, driving the car gingerly, you name it. I find myself in driving conditions that require immediate responses. This I don't have with this car! No matter how smooth and well made this car is, this problem takes precedence over everything else and I've just about had it.

My car has had 2 oil changes at my Lexus Dealer since new (8450miles). The first oil change they did, I checked it on the dipstick and it was ¼ below the full mark. This I can accept, but I just came home from the dealer after the second oil change and once again measured the level and it was at least ¾ above the full level on the dipstick! This I can not accept! :chairshot: For 8 years I changed the oil & filter's myself on my '94ES and on all these occasions the oil level did not vary more then + or - a fraction of an inch from the full mark on the dipstick. This is the reason I'm so annoyed: "Be careful not to overfill. To high an oil level in the crankcase will let the crankshaft churn the oil to foam. This will result in oil pump starvation, which means your engine won't be properly lubricated. Overfilling can also lead to high crankcase pressure, possibly leading to oil seal leaks." One other thing: It says in the Owners Manual, the oil weight should be 5W-30. The first oil change they put in 10W-40, and on this change 10W-30. After this I'm going back to doing this service myself because I know when I do it, it'll be done right.....and I'm not trying to save money!

The 2000 Acura's used R-134a. Honda Motors switched from R-12 in 1994 or 1995.

To cool down the car quickly you should use manual operation instead of automatic. 1- Lower the temperature control to the lowest degree. I think the lowest is 60°. 2- Manually turn on the fan speed to the highest. 3- Make sure the recirculation indicator is lit. 4- Turn off the air vent control to the rear seat, unless you have passengers there. 5- Make sure all the front vents are open completely. 6- After the car is satisfactorily cooled you can once again press the 'Auto' button and re-adjust the temperature control. The automatic position will cool the car much more slowly since it regulates the temperature & fan speed at a more moderate rate then manual operation.

Don't spoil your car......go back to regular gas. :D

Dismantling a strut requires specialized equipment, so I can't comment on doing this type of job. Sorry. :( You could always go to a front end shop to do what is necessary though. Maybe somebody else could chime in??

Check out this link: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...wtopic=3344&hl=