lenore

Well there are now 13 different complaints at the Nhts board for tranny failures. Very interesting especially since these were only on the 1999 RX300. I didnt check the other years yet.

I dont understand, the warranty should still cover that with that oil change regiment. I would elevate it to the state you live in and get a copy of the sludge warranty that Lexus sent out. It was for 8 years, but I cannot remember the mileage limitations. I found the letter, It covers the vehicle for eight years and unlimited mileage from the date of first sale.It required only proof of regular oil changes (quote: you show a reasonable effort to regulary maintain your vehicle.)

Connect the ground to the chassis, make sure you have a good connection. A star washer between the wire connectors and the chassis adds bite into the metal and provides solid connection.

Checker and Kragen are the same outfit i believe. I too have had bad luck with their rebuilds. I find Napa and Pep boys parts are better, have not ever had to return one of their rebuilds.

Hey, and if you invest, you can truely say you own part of the company, instead of handing your money over to support those stockholders.

Maybe your engine is sludged. Read about posts on Engine Sludge.

Ok everybody, I think I started this disaster with my comments. I did buy my Lexus brand new in 1998 and was very proud of that fact. I do not make 300/hour but I am a blue collar worker, or at least used to be. I have just found it weird that people give there money away for a perceived service. But I am ok with them doing so if that is what makes them happy. I know we in this forum come from a wide spectrum of financial status, but I try to make comments to save those of you with families and tight income when I can. for the rest of you, continue as you were and my appoligy for ruffling the feathers of those that can afford the over inflated prices at most Lexus dealerships. I truely do enjoy the posts of everybody, it gives this retired, grandfather, something to get fired up about, as well as gives me a chance to exchange information that helps everybody. thanks all, Lenore (tom)

sorry my mistake

This is what i mean, The Lexus customers have no clue! That free loaner is because of the exhorbant prices they charge on the maintenance end. You could go rent a Mercedes S class for the price you will pay for the service in their dealership. sorry folks, but you are just padding the pockets of the Lexus dealership. Yes, we too have never gotten anything other than a new ES300 or RX330.

Maybe in manufacturing the keeper was not installed and the piston fell out after the fact. And for some ungodly reason the tranny still works. Yeh Lexus.

hey toys yu are so right about transmission being a big hoax. After I personally rebuilt a Ford A4Ld tranny and made my own tools to remove and adjust the clutch packs, I discovered they try to scare you into thinking they are extremely complicated. The valve bodies are a little nerve racking but just require attention to detail and cleanliness. Making notes and now with digital cameras some quick pictures make it a piece of cake. I to enjoy your responses and posts. Lenore (tom)

Is it possible to put the thermostat in backwards? It could be causing that problem.

Hey west, what started you on this thread. Are you talking about the pto with 75-90 w gear lube on the front of the vehicle? When I changed mine it was clean at that mileage also, however the second time I changed it at 120k miles it had some discoloration and contamination. I switched to Full synthetic but still with the required GL5 requirements. Please note: I have had the transmission changed twice since the orginal change of the PTO fluid at around 60k miles. I don't know if this is helpful in your quest. Oh by the way my LExus is a 1999 and does not have VSC. It does have limited slip on the rear axle.

Try cleaning the antenna mast with a solf cotton cloth and then apply a little WD40 on a cloth to the same mast in the extended positon. Then try it up and down. If it is still noisey than the mast is bent somewhere. The mast itself can be replaced for about $75 cost. Not counting labor. If you are a diy person you can do it yourself.

Looks like some battery acid got to that part. hope it is not a diagnostics port. I would unhook the battery before cleaning. A Plastic brush, maybe a tooth brush with DE Ox would work great. The DEox is available at some electronics stores. Otherwise use vinegar with the toothbrush and dry it out with a hair dryer, but dont melt it.

you know you need to take the oil filter off immediately after you purchase a Lexus or Toyota filter and then compare the seal area. If they do not match exactly than you may be blowing oil down the frame of your car.

Also for all Lexus owners the worst thing you can do is put your key on a ring with 5 or more keys. The pressure exerted on the lock mechanism over the years will wear the tumblers as well as the key. I have seen this over the years and highly recommend only the car key and maybe a house key. Best of luck to all. And yes I would go with a Locksmith first, much cheaper than a dealership.

Then the 1/2 quart difference is pure profit in the long run. Hmmmm maybe consumers should demand the 1/2 quart in a container for topping up, especially since they paid for it. try that next time. I am sure the consumer organizations would really like to know about this overcharging because of a .5 quart. excuse me since when did a computer not recognize .5.....

Total number of RX300 transmission failures reported on NHTSA website: '99=8; '00=2; '01=0; '02=0; '03=0. Note: not all the problems reported under the "transmission" category were transmission failures. Ok I reported my transmission to NHtS board, I suggest anyone who has had a failure to at least report it to this organization so we can get a better feel for the failure rate. If you read this posting and had a failure make the report. Thank you Lenore (Tom)

Sounds like a hydraulic problem. Check the rubber flex hose that connects to your slave cylinder. The rubber gets "mushy" over time, it can collapse internally and block the flow of hydraulic fluid back to the master cylinder when you let up on the clutch pedal. If the hose has deteriorated, the fluid flows OK to the slave when you push down on the pedal, can't flow back freely when you let it up - it feels like the pedal is "sticking", as you describe. The hose might look fine on the outside... the "collapsing" problem is inside of the hose. Could also be your master cylinder leaking internally. Fluid can leak past the seals inside the mc, leading to problems when you have the pedal depressed for any length of time (like waiting for a red light). Slave cylinder can develop leaks, too - but fluid usually leaks out, leaving spots on your driveway. Worst case scenario - a problem with the throwout bearing or pressure plate. It's "worst case" because the clutch has to come out of the car to fix it, a big job. This is unlikely. You don't have very many miles on your car, clutch components can last MUCH longer than 105 K as long as they're not abused. Here's what I'd do: ** Always do the cheapest/easiest things first, then move on to the more involved/expensive! Before replacing anything, be sure the fluid level is topped up. Make sure there's nothing interfering with the movement of the pedal itself. Bleed the system to be sure there's no air in the line. ** Replace the clutch hose first. It's the easiest and cheapest. Bleed the air out of the system and go for a drive. If you still have a problem, then... ** Get your master cylinder and slave cylinder rebuilt. New fluid, bleed... check it out. Should be fixed. If not, it's probably an internal clutch problem. Hope your on good terms with your favorite mechanic!... Good luck! tck... Hey tc I see your mgb, that would certainly bring up fond memories of british hydralics and failing slave pistons. Rebuilt many a Triumph, MGB, and Jaguar clutch and brake system. And your assessment on diagnosing the problem is excellent.

Its cheaper to go to Walmart and buy the entire wiper. Note the right and left side have different length blades. You can buy The Michelins blade assembly at walmart for cheap. Takes less than a minute to change that way.

Lexus is !Removed! you, What is wrong with putting in the correct amount and checking the dipstick. by the way if they check it too soon, it may not have drained down yet, I hope that is not the case, because overfilling is bad.

It is normal in RX300, Mine has done that for 7 years. Lexus decided that everything should warm up before going.

Ive never seen a replacement boot, but I could be wrong, Seems to me you have to replace the ball joint.

Your too funny RX, My wife does the same thing, I finally created a work area that was clear of my junk and next day I find her stuff piling on top. My solution I found a Rubbermaid tub and deposit her stuff and when she asks for it I go well I was working and i put it in the tub over there in the corner of the garage. No fights, and I act innocent..... she is italian and you never know what the reprocussions could be, Her family does have ties you know. NC you space is coming along, good luck.