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when I turn on or turn off the AC, OR, adjust temp from low to high or vice versa, the loud noise comes and lasts about 5-10 seconds then gone. It is not a chirping or gerbil or any kind of sharp noise, it is more like the motor start/stop or you put a card in bike spoke. So is it more like servo or AC blower motor? Is it a DIY-able job? btw the AC does blow cold and hot air, but not so much below 3 bars (I had a es300 and I did not realize rx300 has like 8 bars max, so I assume I should not expect much air below 4 bars). Thanks in adv!

Long story short, my 99 ES300 windshield was replaced a few yrs ago and apparently the body shop guy did not do a good job. The result is that I can hear and feel (at both top corners) wind leaking in cabin at 50mph+. Also it looks pretty bad from outside.. yes just like kids playing with some black-color glue or someone just spent 5 mins sealed it after putting new windshield on... I tried using some 3M black tape to cover around the windshield, hoping for reduce leak and whistling noise a bit, it didn't work. That tape does not stay on that glue-ish thing and it fall off in a few days. So... is there anything else I can do to make it slightly better? I don't really care how it looks from outside, and water does not leak in (as I can see), but the wind noise is really annoying and I know I am not driving a convertible. Thanks! Tony

Thanks gbhrps! believe it or not.. that thing comes back to alive yesterday morning... for no reason. It just started working again like nothing happened. The day it went bad was pretty hot, but I am not sure that makes a difference, anyway I think the driver door power lock actuator is used most and maybe it's signaling its age.

Yeah I know there has been long discussion on this, I know my 99 es300 only requires regular gas, I understand using higher octane rating gas may result in unburned fuel leaking into cat converter or affect performance since the engine is designed to use regular gas etc.. But the FACT is I am getting better mpg on 91 than 87: full tank of gas, exact same commute route - 349 miles/tank on 91 and 287 miles/tank on 87. yes, VERY similar driving condition and route everyday, both with AC on in cali. The mpg difference is way too significant than I expected, since I had been using 87/89 all the time. My question is: shall I worry about engine damage by switching to 91 from now on? thanks

99 ES300 Wife was driving the car and problem came when I tried to moved the car to garage.. When I unlock the door by pressing once on remote, there is no response, I did hear a light "click" sound but driver door didn't unlock as usual. Then I click twice (to unlock all doors) using remote, all 3 other doors got unlocked. At the beginning I think remote got problem, but then I tried to use the control button on driver's door panel, unlock and lock - all other 3 doors worked, but not the driver door. Is the powerlock actuator failed? How much will it cost to fix? it's a old car and I am not sure if I'd spend $400 on fixing such thing. Could it be relay instead of actuator? The key still works, just no action inside the door panel for powerlock. ps: there is a square -shape button beside the powerlock button on the control panel, is that window lock? Thanks guys!

Thanks! I did not expect it's located there... seems some model year does not even come with a filter, let's see!

Hi folks, I saw on a youtube video 01+ es300 cabin air filter is behind glovebox which can be accessed by removing the glovebox cover. However, on my 99 es300, I did not find a screw on the side of the cover at all, there are about 4 screws on the frame of the glovebox... maybe not frame..but they are on not on the cover, hopefully you know what I am talking about... so anyone can point me to some instruction of how to access and replace cabin af on a 99 es300? thanks!

I got both lights on twice: first time it turns out cat converter went bad, I did not bother to fix and simply use a $3 resistor to trick the computer and the light went off 2nd time it is P1135, if i remember it correctly i bought it for $100 from amazon and installed it, it was a pain to remove the old one though.

thanks guys! body work alone will be about $6300...

Hi, Got rear ended by someone today and it was a big hit, rear bumper, driver side panel a, trunk lid and taillight are all damaged as pics shown. They have not arranged a bodyshop for estimation so far, but I'd like to know how much would the repair cost for such damage at bodyshop? It's a 99 es300 with about 100k miles, the car feels shaking after the accident, not sure if any frame damage. Will it be around 2k, 4k or close to total? Just trying to get some idea. What is worse is that I got back and neck pain after the hit, hope they will cover the cost.... thanks guys!

Hi, need some help P1133 (typo in title) code on 99 es300. CEL and TRAC OFF light on, code read P1139 (not p1135), mechanics told me it is the A/F sensor between the firewall and engine, bank 1 sensor, not the one between radiator and engine. However I found this "FRONT-RIGHT" and FRONT-LEFT A/F sensor on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Denso-234-9009-Oxygen-Sensor-Ratio/dp/B000C5YCZ2/ref=au_pf_pfg_s?ie=UTF8&Model=ES300|997&n=15684181&s=automotive&Make=Lexus|75&Year=1999|1999&newCar=1&carId=005 http://www.amazon.com/Denso-234-9007-Oxygen-Sensor-Ratio/dp/B000C5WCY0/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top - what is the different between denso 234-9007 and 234-9009? - which exactly sensor shall I replace for code p1139 for 99 es300? Thanks! m

thanks! i will try detail shop

Hi, another question on 99 ES300 Noise sounds like "breathing" or slight gas leaking when applying gas paddle, it gets louder above 2000 rpm right before tranny up-shift to 3rd gear. After gear shifted to next, it is lowered. Some mechanic said it is normal, which is the sound of the intake as engine needs more air at high high rpm? The explanation makes sense to me but such "gas leaking" noise is a bit too loud in the cabin to me, does anyone has similar issue or I need to clean up some intake part? thanks!

Hi folks, Need some advice on hood paint, looks messed up - from the pics you can see it seems the clearcoat is going bad on the hood and the previous owner may tried to wax it but made it worse, the bumper and quarter panel is fine, but hood is pretty bad. *Anything* I can do to make it look better except repaint? I was quoted $600+ for repainting the hood which I cannot afford.. Thanks in advance!

hi, I am buying a 99 ES300 and need some comments. The car drives fine - although the engine does not feel so smooth as some other es300 I tested, not sure why. What concerned me is I observed significant oil leakage, as shown in pic. I did not get a chance to check the oil pan. Anyone knows where may leak from and whether it is really bad? Seller said he did major maintence around 90k 2 yr ago, now the car is around 120k, he asked for $6k, not sure if it is a good price in CA... -another Q: the seller said the car does not come with a 6-CD player (the holder is just empty), is it easy to get a aftermarket one? Thanks in advance!