lenore

Those orange clips plug into holes in the door frame, they generally are plastic and can become dislogded from the door panel or unplugged from the door frame. sometimes they break, and won't clip in. You should see corresponding holes in the door frame for those clips. There can also be metal clips. Or both. I can't remember when I removed the door panel to replace my lock mechanism. If the clips seem lined up with the holes you push them into the holes carefully with your hand on the oposite side of the door panel.. Good luck

Definetly go to a locksmith, even $300 is better than what Lexus charges.

could be one of the clips is broken or loose from the panel, lift the panel slightly and look between the panel and metal door frame. see if you can see a clip loose or broken. Use a flashlight. I wish I had a picture but I don't. The clips can probably be obtained at a auto uphostery shop or sometimes at a hardware section in the local Auto parts stores.

My wife's 2000 RX300 FWD [ 54,000 miles ] also has a periodic noise coming from the either the A/C compressor or the alternator. When I had it in for a oil/filter change recently I asked them to tell me what the noise is. The tech told me he couldn't hear anything. The service rep said it would be covered under the Certified Warranty if either the A/C compressor or the alternator failed to operate or " fell apart ", but " noises aren't covered under the warranty ". I think this goes into the " fix after the warranty expires " file! I just replaced the top engine mount [ dogbone ] myself; 20 minute job and $51.00 part from Park Place Lexus in Plano, Texas. The dealer wanted about $220.00; $135.00 [ 1 1/2 hr. labor ] and $80.00 parts. Service rep said it's not covered under the Certified Warranty; it's a " wear item "! I'm wondering if the A/C compressor and alternator are going to be " wear items "! ← Welcome to the wonderful world of Lexus, take your money no problem, cover the warranty issues, problem. All kidding aside Lexus is probably not the only one who does this, extended warrantys and certified warranty by others are just as bad.

I hope you are right about tightening the belts a little more. My experience fromworking on mechanical things, is that sometimes the bearings are going and when you apply extra force on the the belts it pulls against the bearing and seems to quiet down because the bearing can not move in the direction of least force.

Keep us posted, My rx has 119k and new timing belt at 100k still have the original belts to AC and Power steering.

The suspect would be the idler tensioner or the water pump itself since it too is driven by the timing belt. Maybe the bearing failed and is allowing wobble on the drive roller, causing the belt to walk. At this point the Water pump, tensioner, and cam shaft pulleys are are suspect until you determine which one or ones are bad. By the way did Lexus do this work?

I have been using synthetic blend since day one on my RX300 with 119k miles on it changing the fluid every 3 to 3.5k miles. There is slight evidence of some sort of sludge residue on the oil cap and where the oil is added, but the oil generally always looks good. Back to the transmission failures reported by only a few the local dealership which I hate (Roseville Lexus) The mechanics which I have talked to have heard and experienced a great number of failures of the RX300 AWD, but concur that the two wheel drive vehicles have very few or none failures through their grapevine and training. I don't know if the Highlander has had some mods done that the Lexus didn't get, but It still is a problem when my third transmission after only 5k miles has the indications of dirty tranny fluid and burnt smell. I have change the fluid three times this year ( only 18k on the tranny) but still have that dirty and burn't smell. I am going to add the filter and possibly investigate the use of a thermostatic cooling fan on the aux tranny filter for summer time. So be it.

The car is covered under the Certified Warranty til May 1, 2006. Why would I take the car to an independent repair shop for issues considered to to be covered under the warranty? The ONLY reason I take it to the dealer for customer-pay service is oil / filter changes. This is done to prevent any future problems concerning required maint. to keep the warranty in force. By the way, IT'S HER CAR! I'll support her on this until May 1, 2006! ← I think Lexus of America should re evaluate their entire customer service and maintenance program. This gentleman just expierenced the typical support that Lexus gives unless they empty your wallet. I came from a company that felt its high priced service would last forever, Then the competition proved otherwise, we gave optimum service as a service organization, but the company continued to drive the bottom line till service became a liability. This seems to be the direction of a lot of company's in the US headed by greed at the top echelon. Like I have said before, shame on you for treating a customer poorly, you will loose ten potential customers for that action. I just do not understand why Toyota does a better job at satisfaction and price than Lexus. Lexus seems to think gouging the customer is OK. I say customers are smarter than that. Just because the rich put up with their rediculous service costs is no reason to think they are at the top of the heap. At least Accura and others support their products.

Your car won't go faster or run better if you use Iridium plugs in place of factory original Platinum plugs or use aftermarket plug wires in place of factory original wires. ← I concur, do not buy Bosch plugs (platinum) I have had these fail early on several different vehicles, both american and foreign.

Very well said, and I concur that Lexus has not given a firm position one way or another on the fluid changes. Lexus of America says differently from the Local dealerships, obviously not dialed in on the mechanics whom are finding different results than what the owners manual says. Good Luck everyone if you own a RX300 AWD.

Another example of Lexus thinking that high end cars are only bought by people that have no mechanical ability and lots of money. So sad. If its two bolts I would do it myself or take it to Toyota. But I too would pursue the warranty issue, that is not a wear item.

I would not have the spark plugs changed, they are supposedly good for 100k miles. Engine oil, filter, air filter, Replace brake fluid (flush) Automatic transmission fluid change, Inspect brakes, and all other fluids. Get it done at Toyota, it will be considerably cheaper.Have the transmission flushed immediately if they used dexron. Make sure to have Toyota Type IV put in.

Does anybody know which line from the front of the car left or right is the return and fluid out line on the 1999 Lexus RX300? Oh by the way I am talking about the automatic transmission cooler lines.

My rotors have 117k miles and show some warp. Seems to have happened after Lexus of Roseville worked on my car last time. That supports the dumb mechanics not torque the wheels properly.

Drain and fill might be good on a Mercedes or car that has a drain plug on the torque converter and transmission pan. This at least allows a greater percentage of fluid to be evacauted. I am with RX, this transmission has a poor design or the converter to the rear drive puts too much load on it. The other problem may be the searching in overdrive. And the cooler is definetely located in a poor position. Monarch does not even have a RX300 yet continues to support his position. Lexus is just not willing to stand behind their product. My time is close now on my warranty, and Monarch you would be proud of me, I have changed my fluid twice in 12k miles and it still gets that dirty look and smell. How sad, my Ford windstar has gone the same mileage and the fluid still looks clean, and smells like new Ford fluid. For all of you out there listen to the tips and hints, ie tranny filters, synthetic fluid, etc.. I know I will follow the info on the synthetic fluid change, because if it doesn't break down as readily as the Type IV than maybe it will save me another failure before I get the useful life out of my RX300.

I have a 99 RX300 and the little controler box is a converter from the asian/european wiring to american trailer lights. Mine died and I went to Walmart and replaced the Lexus controller with a generic off the shelf one. works fine and cost only $12 . It has to do with the seperate brake/running lights conversion.

<_< Boy, that was a better mousetrap, Put V rated tires on a vehicle that won't even get out of its own way. That makes sense. All kidding aside those big rims and racey tires defeat the whole idea of a well rounded vehicle for the urban dweller. I laugh at Lexus as they laugh at the consumer all the way to their fat wallets.

Maybe its the flex pipe between the front head pipe and the pipe going to the cat converter. See if its cracked, if so go to an independent muffler shop and have a honda style flex union put in. It will cost you a lot less than lexus and is a lot stronger.

Hey RX when you replaced the belt was it a Toyota/Lexus belt. I am curious because I had a squeel on my mothers Mustang and until I went to the Ford belt, the noise kept coming back. I usually use after market parts and have no problem but the belt was one of those that seemed to work better with the OEM.

Gas is 3.10 in Sacramento. I remember 32 years ago it was 3.20 a gallon in Spain.

You have got to be kidding, 20k miles, I got 40k on the OEM tires (bridgestones) and 80k on the Michelin X. The RX330 seems terrible. Other than my transmission problems the RX300 does much better.

I agree the clutch probably is bad. By the way access through the right wheel well by removing the cosmetic dirt panel and right wheel. Access is great then.

Well Some will have good luck, but statistics still show a high failure rate of the AWD transmission in comparison to other vehicles. So be it.

Ok, What is DBW? By the way I have asked my wife to use the overdrive button selected while driving in heavy traffic, stop and go. What is your opinion?