IlyaIlya

some shops have this machine that uses fluid to clean /replace fluid, costs 80-110 bucks. Might be worth it for easy change. Make sure they use a good quality fluid . I did it once , might do it again . I just hit 155555 miles, lol

That's called a flush, and I DO NOT recommend it on a high mileage vehicle. The process can, and often does break loose deposits that have built up inside the transmission over years and this can lead to transmission failure in the near future. A drain and fill is the way to go.

You might be right. Similar saying as why some people do not switch to synthetic oil. But I think it depends on car and luck. Some mechanic once told me that they had a car with transmission that did not work at all. They did the flush, and car started driving. Yes drain/fill is probably best, but for others flush through dip stick works too. In end there is no real wrong way of doing it.

some shops have this machine that uses fluid to clean /replace fluid, costs 80-110 bucks. Might be worth it for easy change. Make sure they use a good quality fluid . I did it once , might do it again . I just hit 155555 miles, lol

even though its non interference, what happens if timing belt snaps at like 85 mph? will it damage anything?

OK, finally installed new kyb struts and mounts. All rears ran me 400 dollars including parts and labor. I think its not too bad for 2. NOw I just need to replace a flex pipe. Mine is busted and making car sound like a race car lol. he quoted me 175, going to see if i can find cheaper.

BTW, no light came on after replacing avs with non avs struts. So i am a happy camper.

thanks for help

do you need some sort of converter, adapter to put non avs struts on avs es300?

or its all bolt on w/o plugging in the electric stuff?

dont you need compressor for removing old struts?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_Car-Truck-...p4506.m20.l1116

would I still need strut mount for this one? and some strut bushing kit? to make sure i replace everything at once? (So that i guarantee no more rattles etc)

thanks

Oh man, if a strut is leaking, it's blown.... and it's done. Yes, used struts are a gamble, but some on here have had success with them. New non AVS struts are a sure-fire fix.

I've read in many places that struts are not in need of replacing unless they are blown... although I've replaced struts that are just 'dying' and not fully blown. If yours are leaking, then they are fully blown, and probably pretty rotten to drive around with, huh? I guess it's your choice of how you want to proceed with the struts; $130/each for non-AVS new replacements, or about the same price or less for low-mileage used with AVS.

where can i get low milage used with avs?

I have heard of people doing this without issue (other than a warning light in the dash coming on), but I have heard of more people having luck with sourcing used AVS equipped struts.

The 'rattle' in the rear is very common on ES300's due to worn sway bar bushings. That would be the first thing to check, for they are quite cheap and easy to replace. It could also effect the swaying of the vehicle over bumps. You may not need struts just yet.

hey Thanks for reply. My sway bar bushing were replaced, and that did solve the noise rattle from back. But now the noise is very very heavy like something is really loose. I think the strut mounts are all messed up. As far as getting used, i think its a gamble. I might just replace with non AVS ones .

when car was checked last time, mechanic said one of stuts is leaking, when i go over bumps on turn my cars rear kind of jumps/slips from side to side. Not a great feeling, Hopefully thats the bad struts and not something else. The car sits just fine though and rides fine on nice road.

thanks

hey, My rear is starting to rattle like crazy, and on bumps+turns it throws the car to one side and other. I believe i need to replace rear struts and mounts.

I have 97 es300 with avs, can I replace with regular struts instead? Avs struts are 320 each + shipping,

thanks in advance

Double check that the tire pressure in all 4 tires are correct....you would be suprised how many shops don't pay close enough attention to that when they install new rubber. If your still having the problem, take the car back & ask them about the alignment too (did you get a print out of the alignment results?).

yes he did put in 32psi in all tires before doing the wheel balancing (I think I will up it to 35psi all around soon). No I did not get the print out of results of the alignment. I guess he had the wheel crooked when he did it. Or maybe something is bent under and causing this. Not a big deal as long as the car dont pull to one side. Going to try going 80+ today and see how it handles ; ) . Also there are few turns that I usually take at 30-40 mph, i will see how well it holds now on new tires. Need to do rear rotors and brakes now though. And closer to july I might invest in new spark plugs/wires. Hope its not too hard to get to the rear plug if i decide to do it my self. Es300 are great cars its just I am getting tired of it already after 3.5 years. But if i decide to buy a motorcycle that should cure my urge for a new car.

Thanks

hello, I ended up with kumho solus KR21 from Strauss shop. install, balance, wheel alignment 506 including tax, + 10 dollar tip - 75 bux rebate. so total about 422 everything. I think this is the cheapest deal. at first I was going with solus KH16, but they did not have and gave me KR21 instead for same price. Havent drove it at 60+ mph but seem fine for now. Steering wheel is just a tad crooked now(very very slight). Only complaint is when I stop i have some vibration in wheel, not sure if its the road, rear brakes, or something is wrong. I will drive for a week and figure it out.

I ended up also buying CD 2 cleaner for engine. I think it made the lifters tick even more heh. Hopefully after a oil change they get better.

thanks

thanks again for reply. Yes i originally wanted is300 rims on my es300 which look pretty good . But decided against it(Due to cost) Now my tires are almost fully gone, steering wheel vibrating etc, so I decided to get a new set. Even if I decide to sell car , then new tires would make it a better bargain for a person. If i decide to keep it, the new tires will serve me a long time.

thanks again

hey LexusFreak thanks for the recomendations. 2 questions .

How are Kumho Ecsta LX Platinum, they are on sale on tirerack.com now , 4 for 305 shipped.

or the cheaper - solus kh16.

also does 205 60 16 fit my stock 15 inch rim? will it lower mpg? is it worth getting a bit bigger tire?

thanks again

Hi, just wondering if some one would recommend a good tire choice for 97 es300 . Mine are almost bare now. Also my wheel keeps pulling left and right not sure if due to tires or need wheel alignment.

I live in NYC, so need something that will work in rain, snow. I dont mind a stiffer ride if it gives me better handling. Not too cheap but not super expensive either.

thanks in advance.

Ilya

i did about 125 on my 97 es300 (145k miles ) on a highway that I probably should not be going that fast on. Car ran fairly smooth and good. The weather was about 12-17 deg. outside. or about -10 cel. So engine performed nicely. On straight i bet you can even go faster. But I would not do it on bad roads, old tires (mine need to be replaced ) and on a older car . Plus if you get caught, you loose your licence. SO if you going to try going that fast, go in germany or states w/o speed limits on a new rented car ;)

good luck...oh yea, the starvation in my bimmer was because the brakes needed to be replaced.

bmw has wear sensors just like the sc300-400s do. get this, they only put wear sensors on the front left and right rear tires!! so here I am experiencing starvation with my clutch ( because clutch and brakes use the same fluid tank), only to find out the that the brake pads one the right front and left rear were almost gone!!! I would have never guessed if I didn't look, after all isn't that what "brake wear sensors" are for? Thanks bmw for not putting sensors on all four calipers.

Sensors are almost last resort and they fail too. With brakes I would have some one check them , or check your self as much as you can, because I think thats the main component and very very important. Dont rely on sensor to tell you they are bad.

Decided to go ahead and buy some brake fluid and add it even though it was at full line. To my surprise the reservoir allowed me to add some fluid to it and stay at full line. So I guess it was a little short . So far no light ;) Problem fixed.

thanks for advice.

checked everything, it is still doing it. I guess time to take to mechanic ; (

just to be sure, make sure your brake reservoir is at the full line....i know you said it is good, but just make sure it is in fact there. I had a bmw that would loose clutch pressure during a hard left turn..turned out to be starvation...

lol I had same thing on my 92 eagle talon awd tsi . I think it was crankwalk . Even though people checked and never found anything wrong. It did not matter that much since it was mostly daily driven and drag race (straight line) car. I miss it ; (

ye i ll check level again and play with the connection. Thanks

97 es300 , heated seats, tan , avs, good condition, had about 130k i believe, paid 7400 about 3 years ago. I think it was a great deal. Love it to this day. Itching to get something new though . Test drove my friends 335xi, very nice, but made me appreciate my car once again .

Brake pads are fine, fluid level is fine. I think only happens on hard left turn. Right turn did not do it. I am going to try checking the connection. I am guessing you guys mean the connection to the reservouir for brake fluid?

thanks for replies

Hey, this just started happaning. During a hard turn or hard braking the light in the dash "brake" lights up then stops if I put in park and put in drive again, or just stops by itself.

I sprayed brakes with brake cleaner today, pressed manual brake few times today.

Hope I wont see it again.

Any reason it would go on?

thanks

ye make sure to stand right in front of car for safety reasons ;) and also put me in will just in case :P

I've got the same problem if it makes you feel any better lol... hardly bothers me tbh. I can't hear em inside the car so it's all good.

NO IT DOES NOT Make me feel better ; ) ye inside the car you can not hear it, but when you come out its a bit annoying, or if you end up opening a window standing next to a car you hear it resinating. BUt not really huge deal. I probably will keep the car for another 2 yrs like this. Have to fix the rear rattle though, its starting to annoy me a bit . I believe its the bushings.

thanks