lenore

The michelin LTX/ms are great tires, kind of noisy when they wear, but otherwise ok, The Michelin Cross Terrains are great, long lasting and quiet. However they are not snow rated as I have discovered. I checked with Michelin on that one. Go to Tire rack.com and check the reviews and pay close attention to the Snow rating as you go over the pass to Tahoe and all are not equal. Look at Kumho's, though I have not check their rating. Good luck I had both of the above tire types on my Lexus so I do speak from experience. The only reason I mentioned the Snow rating is the California Highway Patrol could ticket you if you dont use chains even if you have 4wd.....

Does anybody have the wonderful experience of pulling the engine? 1. Can it be done from above or do you absolutely have to drop the engine tranny cradle and drop from below.??? 2. Can the transmission be dropped without removing the cradle.??? My neighbor is in the process of removing the engine from his highlander (50k miles) which has sludge damage. It was a 2003 so as near as we can figure out it is not covered by the 8 year warranty....

Just found this posting for a SC430 which should be very similiar: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-430-mod...tion-notes.html

timing_belt.pdf This is for the 2uz on toyota v/8 tundra/sequoia. probably very similiar.

I pulled my plugs at 125k miles and they looked perfect. I did change them but used the same plug as a replacement (iridium Denso) Great plugs but yes the rear plugs are a real challenge even on the RX300...have a great day

This is from another site CL but will answer every question about transmission fluid change: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx300-foru...ter-change.html

you would need 4-5 qts of tranny fluid for a drain and fill. The wire mesh filter has been discontinued as far as I know... So paper it is....

Next time ask them for the codes, we like giving help when the codes are given, it also adds to our data bank of problems so others can fix their cars....

Welcome aboard, for the tranny fluid I would use Toyota Type IV from either toyota or Lexus dealership. An alternative is AMSOIL.... For the engine use a full synthetic such as Mobil 1, Castrol Oil, etc. Personally I use Castrol oil 0-30 which you can get at Autozone. It is the European formuala made in Germany. A very good oil which should provide the protection that is necessary. The windshield wiper sensor should not have to be reset, though I have never had that light come on.

I have bought from both the dealers (4times) and independent (2times) the filter is the same and no difference in quality. As for fit they fit perfect. The very first filter I bought in 2001 was the wire mesh, but after that they were no longer available. Cost from the dealerships was $43 to 53.... the independent was $18

This is Detroits biggest problem and why should we bailout bad business practices: Subject: Fw: Detroit 3 Automakers - Union Wages D3 - Detroit 3 Automakers - Union Wages According to Forbes: Labor cost per hour, wages and benefits for hourly workers. > Ford: $70.51 ($141,020 per year) GM: $73.26 ($146,520 per year) > Chrysler: $75.86 ($151,720 per year) > > Toyota, Honda, Nissan (in U.S.): $48.00 ($96,000 per year) > > According to AAUP and IES, the average annual compensation for a college professor in 2006 was $92,973 (average salary nationally of $73,207 + 27% benefits). > > Bottom Line: The average UAW worker with a high school degree earns 57.6% more compensation than the average university professor with a Ph.D., and 52.6% more than the average worker at Toyota, Honda or Nissan. Many industry analysts say the Detroit Three, must be on par with Toyota and Honda to survive. This year's contract, they say, must be "transformational" in reducing pension and health care costs. > > What would "transformational" mean? One way to think about "transformational" would mean that UAW workers, most with a high school diploma, would have to accept compensation equal to that of the average university professor with a PhD. > > > Then there's the "Job Bank" > > When a D3 (Detroit 3 carmaker) lays an employee off, that employee continnues to receive all benefits - medical, retirement, etc., etc., PLUS an hourly wage of $31/hour. > > > Here's a typical story.... > > Ken Pool is making good money. On weekdays, he shows up at 7 a.m. at Ford Motor Co.'s Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, signs in, and then starts working -- on a crossword puzzle. Pool hates the monotony, but the pay is good: more than $31 an hour, plus benefits. > > "We just go in and play crossword puzzles, watch videos that someone brings in or read the newspaper," he says. "Otherwise, I just sit." > > Pool is one of more than 12,000 American autoworkers who, instead of installing windshields or bending sheet metal, spend their days counting the hours in a jobs bank set up by Detroit automakers as demanded by the United Auto Workers Union - UAW - as part of an extraordinary job security agreement. > > Now the D3 wants Joe Taxpayer to pick up this tab in a $25 Billion bailout package - soon to be increased to $45 Billion if Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton have their way. > > The "Big 3" want this money - not to build better autos. No. They want it to pay the tab for Medical and Retirement benefits for RETIRED auto workers. Not ONE PENNY would be used to make them more competitive, or to improve the quality of their cars. > > We ALL have problems paying for our Medical Insurance - but the Democrat leaders in Congress now want us to pay the Medical Insurance premiums of folks who have RETIRED from Ford, GM and Chrysler. > > Not a good deal for us. How about Chapter 11 - and getting rid of these ridiculous union contracts

I have had them for around 50k miles, plus I have the external filter (screw on filter). Things have been going fine, I just wish I had more time so I could do the cooler move to the front of the vehicle instead of inside the fender well.

SK the problem is the mesh one is long gone, I do not have it. So I guess I am stuck with paper ones.

I just did some deep searching of receipts and found the ones before my tranny failure. The Old part number was 35330-21020 which Lexus when I called no longer carries, it was superseeded by the new filter with paper gasket.llll So does that mean they know they had a problem and they switched the filter medium.??? By the way the last change I did before the tranny failure was with the new style filter.....Oh boy....

I just ordered a tranny filter for the RX300 and what they shipped in was the paper filter medium, not the screen one. Does anybody have a number for the older screen type filter. The one that came in had part number 35330-06010 and it was the paper type. Help I want the OE screen type but Lexus of Roseville only gets these now...

Hey code 58, He finally found out the solution, it was from the BG products. so much for what it did, the car is using 1qt every 400 miles. He went and got a used engine yesterday. I walked over and the front camshaft sprocket was bent in toward the cylinder head. I asked if he noticed and he hadnt. So the engine goes back today for another which has 50k miles on it. I really feel sorry for the guy as I feel Toyota should have been hit up for this. Time will tell on this episode. Maybe I will standback and take pictures of his experience (yea I will probably help it is my nature) I used to be an absolute perfectionist also, but it does create tension, so as you I reserve it for my work, and not others. I give my opinion when asked....

I had mine done at 100k and the belt looked like new, could still read the writing on it. I also had the water pump done and must say the pump bearing is quite robust. If the fluid is kept clean and fresh I suspect it would make the 190k mark. If the antifreeze is original, no.... Also a side note changed the plugs at 125k and they looked great. If you have them done stay with the original equipment iridium plugs, they are worth there cost which has gone way down, probably around $8-10 per plug. There are some other idlers in the timing belt area, I will tell you about their condition when I reach 190k miles.

Hi Lenore- Do you have any idea what the "professional cleaning by a mechanic" actually entailed? Having worked in automotive all my life I can assure you not all mechanics are created equal. Though I have worked with a few really good mechanics, it saddens me to say I feel they are in a clear cut minority. The one thing (among many others) that your neighbor needs to do is a compression check to see if the rings actually seem to be worn or stuck. My bet is the damage is done but there is a lot more checking that needs to be done before that determination can be made. I actually laugh when someone says or advertises "maintained by professional mechanic". I could tell you horror stories till the cows come home of the things I have seen "professional mechanics" do over the years- and that was almost all in dealerships! It ain't pretty! I agree with you, The guy that did the professional cleaning (quote from my neighbor he said he uses a solution only available to mechanics) charged him $300. As far as I can see the valve covers were not removed. I agree with you he needs to do a compression or leak down test. I agree with you about mechanics (not my trade) however I am a meticulous when doing mechanical work. I have rebuilt three engines and one automatic transmission on my own and was successful on all three. I am self taught and you may laugh, but I learned the hard way on British sports cars, and you know how undependable those were in the 60 and 70's . I enjoy your posting by the way I kind of relate with you when fixing things properly and making do when necessary (ie door lock solenoids). I feel for my neighbor, whom is no slouch when it comes to fixing things, He tears in and goes, but is not meticulous is his work. I think he should be pushing Toyota, after all it is obvious the sludge problem was not fixed in 2003....

Does anyone know whether the sludge issue on the 2003 toyota and lexus imze engine has been addressed for warranty work? My neighbor has a 2003 manufactured date hylander that has massive sludge issue at 50k miles with all oil changes done at Toyota until the 36k mark. Then the rest of the maintenance was done elsewhere. It really sucks as he is getting smoke after startup for about a 2 minute interval. He had the sludge professionally cleaned by a mechanic. But the smoking is still happening. Any thoughts or ideas of what he could do at this point. HE want s to replace the engine with a used one with 40k miles on it. I think toyota should be held accountable. I cant believe how bad the sludge was at 50k miles and the dealership had changed the oil last with a full synthetic before this discovery. I got a check engine light with a P0222 code when he noticed the problem. Can this engine be still good and the cleaner is still throwing crap in the catalytic converter?

take it down to your local Autozone and get the code for us, then maybe we can help....

I wonder if they did pending codes, those would not show up as a check engine light....Either that or they really didnt do a check at all. If the engine is running rough the knock sensors could be bad causing lost of overdrive.

Hey code58 my car also has that low rumble, it has 158k miles, Idle is at about 650 rpm, and the engine doesnt appear to vibrate, I just chalked it up to a ten year old car with higher mileage. Thank goodness my hearing is going a little bad, it is really less noise than my 2005 Ford F150 at idle. I know none of my motor mounts have ever been replaced and the original cats and mufflers are on the car. I had the flex coupling replaced about 4 years ago...Cold weather seems to acentuate the sound...

sounds like your overdrive isnt working, that is how my tranny failed....But mine threw a code. The other reason it would not go into overdrive is if the engine isnt warmed up or a sensor is bad. First take the dip stick out of the tranny and look at the fluid, smear some on a clean white cloth and smell it. If it smells burnt and is real dark brown in color than you probably toasted the transmission. I SERIOUSLY doubt the computer is bad. Have never read any post indicating that. good luck

If the tranny filter is clogged then you will have problems. The standard filter is nothing more than a wire screen mesh. However aftermarket filters are the standard paper filter medium. Drop the pan and see if it is good or bad news..Dont do a tranny flush, you will not like the results. Good luck...

You might look under the car and see if the flex pipe on the exhaust is cracked, it is just under the oil pan of the engine. This would cause a booming sound. If so , get it repaired at an independent muffler shop, (a lot cheaper) normally around $100...... by the way if it is cracked you might feel some exhaust coming out of the crack.