mikey00

newlexusparts.com

Sounds like what you did was a DIY flush of sorts. You did say you had someone ready to pour ATF. Do you get more than 5 qts if this person does not pour? If you didn't you need to give the $1000 back.

It may not be as fortunate as you think that you found a shop willing to flush your trans. As you may already know from reading this forum there are many who believe a flush does more harm then good. A flush machine is a big money maker for the owner. I personally do a drain and fill every 15K, which gets out a little over 4 qts., not just the 3 mentioned above. Here is a quote from a Lexus dealership employee from another forum: "We at our dealer have the same predicament as far as the what we recommend and what the book in every car says.....It will never be identical but there is a reason our dealer turned down a heavy incentive laiden deal with valvoline to do trans "flushes" to all our vehicles....They offered all equipment for free.....demos of how it works, free "trans fluid kits" to all employees and who knows what kind of kick backs to our GSM and Service Director. They even brought by a signed "guarantee" stating that the flush would not void any warranty and if it did cause a problem, valvoline would take care of it....Guess what? That was months ago and they got a "hell no" in response.... Thanks for the kind words... " Here is the whole thread if you are interested: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread...nsmission+flush

HiddenHitch #70777 is very easy to install and comes with directions. There are 2 brackets used as tie downs for shipping under the rear of the car on both sides. Remove these (2 bolts each) and the hitch bolts in to the existing holes. Total time about 30 minutes. You can download the installation instructions for the RX at etrailer.com

newlexusparts.com is actually Park Place Lexus, 1025 Preston Road, Plano,Texas. I have purchased many parts from them as well as irontoad.com which is actually Thomson Lexus, 50 Swamp Road, Doylestown, PA. Irontoad will get you just about any part if you do a request but what I like about newlexusparts.com is they have just about every Lexus part available listed with prices on the site. ← So you are actually getting parts that are made by Lexus/Toyota if you order from newlexusparts.com? ← Yes, genuine Lexus part. They are a Lexus dealer selling parts over the internet cheaper then what you would pay if you walked up to their parts counter.

newlexusparts.com is actually Park Place Lexus, 1025 Preston Road, Plano,Texas. I have purchased many parts from them as well as irontoad.com which is actually Thomson Lexus, 50 Swamp Road, Doylestown, PA. Irontoad will get you just about any part if you do a request but what I like about newlexusparts.com is they have just about every Lexus part available listed with prices on the site.

Steven, I'm getting ready to check-out the TB sensor on my 99 RX. My shop manual gives the following instructions for installation: With throttle valve fully open, insert the TB sensor to the throttle body with it turned clockwise by 30 to 60 degrees against the fully-open valve position. Then, torque the sensor by turning it counterclockwise. Did you follow this rotating/torque procedure? I assume you have to do this to make sure sensor does not bottom-out at full throttle. Finally, can you give me the Toyota part number for the sensor? Thanks. ← I don't have the Toyota part #, but you can get OEM Lexus throtle position sensor from newlexusparts.com for $44, no tax and free shipping.

The jump starter is most likely fine. It's designed to jump start a car when the battery has become discharged, not shorted. Your old battery was loading everything down and was still in place when you hooked up the jump starter. When you installed the new battery, you removed the old one.

Get a new battery. Only $40 at Costco. A lot cheaper than a tow and almost guaranteed to fix your problem.

Lexus converter is $77 from newlexusparts.com. Good luck with your hitch. I have the same one.

Interesting find that you have the connectors even though the towing prep package is not listed. However, once you have the connectors all you need is Lexus PowerConverter PN # 08921-48070 for $77. Just plug it in then plug in the pigtail underneath the car, put the fuse in and you are good to go. No wiring, just a quick plug in.

The first time I changed the trans fluid I reused the gasket on the transmission pan drain plug. I could never get it to seal perfectly. The bottom of the pan was always slightly wet. About 10k later I did another drain and fill using a new drain plug gasket and it sealed good this time. Now 20K later, I have 2 more drain plug gaskets and some type T-IV and will do another drain and fill also using the front diff plug which I missed the first 2 times. I don't think anyone knows for sure the optimum cycle for RX trans drain and fill but anywhere from 15K to 30K looks right to me.

Does anyone know if the vertically positioned 10mm hex to drain the front diff uses the same drain plug gasket as the horizontally positioned 10mm hex on the bottom of the transmission pan?

I have been watching the new Rav4 closely. It may become a replacement for my aging RX. As far as the feedback through the steering wheel, it sounds like a great improvement over current feedback. Remember when ABS first came out and the negative comments about the brake pedal feedback?

First check for the 2 most common causes: Loose gas cap or black vacuum hose behind air filter box comes off the metal tube below it after someone checks the air filter. Then pull the EFI fuse to reset the lights. If it comes back after that you will need to get code read.

Are you using OEM sensors? I have read multiple times about the RX having problems with aftermarket sensors. Do a search here for more info.

I think you are right with the statement about different years causing the confusion. tealboy: You never said what year you have, so I am not sure what is the correct answer for you. I can guarantee you that a 2001 with the towing prep package did not come with the controller/brain. It was called the towing prep package and consisted of the trans cooler and the plug in the compartment under the car. The point being that if you wanted to tow the controller and pigtail is just an easy plug in and the hitch a simple bolt on once you have the towing prep package. Here is one of my old posts from a competing site: "Here is everything I know about the RX300 tow hitch wiring and all the confusion that surrounds it. Pre 2001 RX did not have the hitch wiring built into the factory wiring harness and required a more complicated kit with connectors connecting to individual taillights etc. It required more labor to install it. Everything following pertains to the 2001+ RX. If you buy the hitch package from Lexus you get hitch, pigtail wiring connector, 20 amp fuse and control module (Lexus part#08921-4870). I purchased a pigtail from ToyotaGuys.com ($12) for a 2001 Highlander complete with the fuse and directions (Toyota Part#00016-48102) as did many others and we found after installation the trailer lights would not work. I have since went to the Toyota Guys website and the part is no longer there. Anyway, it was determined we needed the Lexus control module 08921-4870 which is about $80 from the dealer. Once this is plugged in everything works. It mounts on 2 studs in the cargo area near the spare and plugs into a connector there. Not to confused with the pigtail connector, which plugs in underneath the car. If you want the pigtail it can be had at etrailer.com for $13. They have directions on the site complete with pictures of it and where it plugs in under the car. The pictures are actually a Highlander but the RX is the same in this area. My opinion: The neatest install is had by buying the plug in parts and plugging them to your wiring harness, which is already wired for the tow hitch. The quickest and easiest install is to stop at a trailer place and have them do it. They usually do it by tapping into the taillight wires as done on a pre 2001 but the cost will be about the same because they don't need the $80 module. Mike "

Given the problems that some have had with using aftermarket sensors, I would stick with OEM. There's nothing worse than troubleshooting a code when the new sensor itself is causing a code. This has caused some DIY ers to spend quite a bit of money on a simple fix. Try newlexusparts.com and irontoad.com. Irontoad doesn't have them listed on the site but a phone call should do it.

Check this link. http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread...ng+prep+package

It sounds to me like it's the flex pipe lenore mentions above. This is a common failure item. Have it checked at an independent muffler shop as suggested.

Just a word of caution on the wiring info. I had a 2000 RX. Back then the towing prep package was an option and if you didn't have it a wiring kit was required that connected to individual lighting wires by removing panels in the back cargo area. It was a fairly complex install. When I got my 2001 the towing prep package was standard. That means you have the transmission cooler and the wiring plug in the plastic compartment under the car as discussed above. This plug is already attached to the individual lighting wire through the wiring harness which makes things a little easier. The info presented above leads you to believe that you just need to plug the harness into the plug add the fuse and you are good to go. Not so. You are also missing the controller/brain. Still, the controller/brain is just another simple plug in install. A search on this subject should provide you with all the necessary part numbers as it has been discussed a lot in the past.

Just curious, how much does this 16 Qt flush cost? It looks like at least $60 in just fluid alone, unless they are not using the real Toyota fluid. If you add in the labor and the price of the machine it must be expensive. I do a drain and fill every 30K for about $15. I am approaching 90K and my transmission shifts smooth and fluid is pink in color, same as yours.

A very common cause of CEL is that during an oil change someone inspects the air filter. In doing so you lift up on the top cover of the air filter box. This puts stress on the rubber hose between the air filter box and the firewall and pulls it off the metal tube down below the air filter box. This definitely causes a CEL. If you find this hose off, I bet it was the cause of your initial CEL. If you still continue to get CELs after replacing the hose I bet it is now due to one of your new sensors.

I bet when he did the oil change, he also opened up the air filter box to check the air filter. If he did, he most likely knocked off the rubber vacuum hose behind the air filter box. If so, just re-attach it to the metal tube below.

I can not believe what Lexus service has been able to pull off here. I consider it to be borderline fraud when I read of some of the services performed and prices paid. I believe most Lexus owners do not visit sites like this. They just go to the dealer and request the 60K or whatever service and pay and pay and pay. Some actually feel good because they are getting what they consider a free loaner. I find the statement above interesting that the tech could not even tell you what services were being performed. It's like just give us the money.