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98es

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Everything posted by 98es

  1. Went out to take a look underneath the car... I've attached a pic of the rack and pinion. This is from the passenger side. The boot is destroyed! I expected to see some seepage or something around the seals. So my question is- Is this the "seal" that commonly leaks or is this something different? There is not fluid dripping out of it that i can see... but i do see some type of what looks like grease in the boot. I assume this is the PS fluid that has become dirty? Nothing on my garage floor though.
  2. Thanks Lenore. First time using this mechanic... Former Lexus master tech at local Lexus dealership that recently opened his own shop. He said that the valve covers were just seeping now and recommended I wait til 120k when they change the spark plugs. Thanks for the advice on the pcv. I've changed one before on my '98 ES and it was very simple. As for the other problems, I'll take your advice and wait til they show signs of leaking and revisit then.
  3. Bought our 2005 RX330 AWD about a year ago with 80k on the odo (has 94k now). This is our 3rd Lexus and with a new baby we needed the room. Took it in for the 90k mile service at my local toyota/lexus independent shop, and boy was I surprised at what the inspection found! Leaking rack and pinion seal ($986 to replace) Leaking front differential ($900 to fix) Seeping valve cover gaskets ($400 including tune up- going to wait until 120k service) All I can say is, WOW. So to get her up and fixed, including the 90k service i'm looking at around $3k. Not at all what I expected from a Lexus. Car was dealer maintained until around 50k when previous owner had local shop maintenence done. Sold my '98 ES300 at 165k and still have my '01 LS430 at 145k and have never spent combined more than $500 on repairs (not including maintenance). My wife loves the car and it's definitely serving its purpose as a family hauler- but if these are the types of repair bills i have to look forward to, no thanks! I'm even toying with the idea of trading it in... I just don't even know what I would replace it with. I will say that both of these "leaks" have yet to leave any fluid on my garage. Mechanic thinks that replacing the rack and pinion is the most urgent. Thanks for letting me rant!
  4. I have a 2001 LS430 that has the key/remote combo. Problem is one of the keys had a loose back cover and i have somehow completely lost the 'insides' of the remote. I've looked around on ebay and all i can find is the shell with the key which is what i already have. Any ideas on what i should do? I imagine even if i could find the insides from another key that I'd need to have it programmed to my car. Is that something that has to be done at the stealership? I imagine the car won't even start without the insides (haven't tried). I do have another key so i'm not completely SOL. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!
  5. The time has come to sell my baby. Fully loaded, all maintenance records since I purchased the car in 2004. Dealer serviced every 3,000 miles. 2nd timing belt, new spark plugs, serpentine belt, valve cover gaskets at 130k. You won't find a better maintained ES! Leather seats in great condition with memory function, sunroof, 6 disc changer, new stereo LCD display. All keys(2 standard, 1 valet) & remotes(2). Michelin tires. Power seats. Dual front AND side airbags. Highways miles (long commute). 168k miles. COLD A/C! Original manuals and window sticker! Carfax attached. $6,500 OBO. ES300_carfax.pdf
  6. 98es

    Acura Rl

    Update- Drove the car yesterday... Let me preface this. I drive a 98 ES300 w/170k miles and our other car is a 2001 LS430. I was really disappointed in the ride to say the least. Just like NC said... shifts from 1st to 2nd was rough and shifting overall wasn't anywhere near my ES. I was also not impressed with the ride at all either. I didn't really expect it to ride/drive like the LS, but did think that it would be better than my old ES. So even though it was an awesome deal, i had to pass it up. I knew i wouldn't be happy with it. Plus it was gold... not to offend anyone with a gold car. I'm just not crazy about gold. Anyways, looks like i'm staying with the ES. Thanks everyone for the input!
  7. 98es

    Acura Rl

    Hey Guys/Gals- I've recently been presented with the opportunity to purchase a 2001 Acura RL with 74k miles from a friend at work. He's asking $8k, which i thought was a steal. I'm going to look at it tomorrow so i'll know more then. I wasn't really even in the market for another car, but it has been in the back of my mind since my 98 ES300 has 170k miles. So... a few questions: Does anyone know about the reliability of this car? I've done a little research and everything seems to check out okay. Which leads me to my next question: Does anyone know of a good Acura forum? I googled it but i can't find ANYTHING even close to LOC. I'd really appreciate anyones input. Thanks!
  8. My drivers side one quit working after i bent it back the wrong way one day. I found a used one on ebay for $25 and installed it myself. You may want to check there.
  9. Happy Birthday Blake! Hope you have a good one!
  10. My stepmother had a 2000 Volvo S80 Turbo a couple of years ago. It was a decent driving car. They finally had to get rid of it becasue it was plagued with electrical problems. I remember driving it for the first time and getting beeped at with the message "BRAKE FAILURE! PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY!". So i did, called my dad who said the car says crazy things like that all the time. I think after the 3rd time to Volvo (each time costing around $1,000), they finally sold it with under 70k miles on it. Just my two cents.
  11. I was in a similar situation a few months ago. It came down to an '01 with higher miles or a 98-00 with lower miles. For me, after the comparison, the '01 was a no brainer. There are a lot of features that you'll be missing out on in a 98-00. My '01 has 101k miles and still drives like a dream; no problems... and the nav is easily upgraded unlike the previous models. You'll be fine with either one, but i definitely think you'll be happier in an LS430.
  12. NC- Sorry to see you sell your lexus, but i know you'll be back! Its funny you went from a LS to a 4Runner; i just traded my 4Runner in for a LS430. Anyways, good luck to you and your wife! I can't wait to have kids someday! I think we're waiting for a few more years... at least... we're both 24 and just beginning careers! Hope to see you back around here.
  13. So lately I've been toying with the idea of getting rid of our 2003 V8 4Runner for a lot of different reasons (gas among the most). I've always been drawn to the LS, so I talked my mom into getting a 2002 LS430 about 6 months ago... Well today I found what I've been looking for! It's a 2001 LS430 w/navigation and Mark Levinson. See the pics below! I was really glad to find the black ext with the beige interior. Its been really well maintained and has 98k miles. I was kind of reluctant about the mileage, but my wife (who will be driving this most) didn't care too much for the previous generation LS which we could afford w/less miles. Anyways, I've been playing with the voice activated navigation and its awesome. It was a real pleasant surprise on the way home to see that it had the Mark Levinson stereo... I didn't even notice while i was looking at it! I ended up paying $18,000 + ttl, which i thought was a real fair deal. This black beauty goes well in the driveway next to my white 98 ES!!!!!
  14. My stepmom had a 2000 S80 turbo... it was a big piece of crap when it came to electrical issues. It was a really nice ride but they spent thousands on electrical issues. I remember the first time i took it out by myself i was driving and all of the sudden all these buzzing alarms started going off and the display read: BRAKE FAILURE PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY! I pulled over and called my dad, who told me it happens to them all the time and its okay.... haha. Anyways, i would stay away. Good Luck!
  15. Congrats on your purchase! The LS is definitely the cream of the crop!
  16. Mine does it every now and then... almost always after i move the position of the seat when my wife and i switch cars. All i do is turn the car back off, reach under the seat to the big clump of wires, jiggle them, and turn the car back on. It almost always fixes the problem. Someone else in this forum gave me that idea. Apparently they didn't make the wires under the seat long enough and over time they need a little 'jiggle'.... just my experience. Good luck. BTW i have a '98
  17. 98es

    Any Bets

    I love how today while he (nutjob) was at the UN there were protesters outside yelling "ARREST BUSH". Yeah... don't mind the madman who calls for the destruction of Israel... Lets go after Bush. Idiots. PS- SICK TWISTED FREAK
  18. My screen name over there is forunnin... i hardly ever post though... just read a lot like i do over here and jump in every now in then when i think i can help someone. I will say they do have the BEST classified section of any forum. I'm always buying things from there. Den-I'll be looking for you now that i know your sn!!! You too NC!
  19. NC- You'll love your T4R.... i have an '03 Sport V8 4X4 with about 63k. I'm sure you've found it already, but www.t4r.org is a great forum for 4runners only. Mine does have the clunk, but honestly i've gotten completely used to it. After i found out it wasn't really hurting anything, i accepted it and moved on. That V8 is sooo smooth and shifts like an LS....seamlessly. I've got a sunroof rattle (only when closing it), and did have some driver seat issues (had the lexus dealer that i bought it from replace the whole seat). Other than that, i love it. Glad you splurged for the V8.... from what i've heard mpg is only about 1 off from the V6... and you can't beat full time 4wd. It also tows great. Good luck with your purchase! Hope to see you over at the T4R forum!
  20. Press mode until you get to the mpg, then hold down reset.
  21. My mom's 02 ES averages around 14-15 mpg per the computer. Ever since the transmission was 're-flashed' the mpg has been horrible. Although her driving is about 100% city, i still think that's pretty low for this car. My V8 4runner does better in the city than hers! Although, on the freeway, the ES gets about 25mpg.
  22. DRL was not standard on the ES until '99. My '98 doesn't have them either. Although I think all Canadian cars had them.
  23. Here's a good website that explains it: http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/awd.html Thanks, very interesting...Didn't know there were so many variations.... Yeah me neither until i got a full time 4x4. Over at the 4runner forum if you say "I have a V8 AWD 4runner" you get a tongue lashing Branshew- I bet if you get the wife to test drive a suburban she'll think its too big. Parking one of those things can't be fun. I'd say put her in a 4runner but i'm a little biased. Good luck!!!!!
  24. Here's a good website that explains it: http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/awd.html
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