RX300 Steven

I've been using Amsoil for almost all fluids now for over a year (20,000 miles) and everything is running great. I did a few drain and fills back to back to flush out most of the old stuff. It's still bright RED and clean looking after a year, but I'm planning on changing it again soon just because it doesn't cost that much and it gives me a change to really look at everything up close. Going to change the diff. oil and engine oil at the same time. I'm just over 95,000 miles now (2000 RX300 AWD), only thing other than fluid changes is a throttle position sensor I replaced around 80,000. I'm hoping to reach 150,000 without major repairs, then time to decide what to drive next.

I had a remote starter installed before Thanksgiving by a very good local shop, one I have used for many years and several cars. Everything has been great until one day a few weeks ago when it was like 4 degrees cold in the morning. I hit the remote as normal to warm up the car before having to leave and I could see the headlights came on out the window and thought all was great. When I went outside to leave the car was not running and the lights were still on. So I open the door and put the key in to start it and silence, nothing. I tried remote start, tried normal key start, could not get a sound out of it. All power/accessories working fine and full of power. Finally had it towed to Lexus for help. After 2 days of them looking at it and of course saying it was the after market remote, they finally had someone trace the remote install. The tech said everything was perfect with the install. I have the high end Viper remote system but did not have the Viper immobilizer option installed because I felt it was redundant and not needed. So after proving the remote had no immobilizer built into it they would research some more. I got a call a few hours later that they had just reset the Lexus immobilier and it was starting fine from the key and remote. They ended up not charging me anything because they really didn't fix anything and I thought that was very nice ( I was afraid of the bill I might get ) The thought was that it was cold enought that the engine just didn't start right and caused the computer to think it was being stolen and locked it all down. Now to finish a long story; how to reset the engine immobilizer. The Lexus tech was happy to show me how to do this myself if it should ever happen again ( and knock on wood it has not ) To reset: put the key in the drivers side door and turn to lock, and then unlock. Then on the key remote click lock and unlock. This resets the engine immobilizer system and it should start right up as normal.

Thanks, I found the red one and just knew it was the one. I haven't seen another red one anywhere around my area so it's pretty cool and stands out in the crowd. Lot's of cream and silver ones are what I normally see around my area.

I purchased a 2000 RX AWD this summer for $17000, 60K miles, excellent condition and records. One of the better cars I've ever had/driven. I think 21000 sounds high even with the low miles, after all it is a 2000 and warranty isn't going to do much for you now. You didn't say if this was a CPO w/extended warranty ? if so maybe it's not so bad. I'd just search online for every similar car you can find and that will give you the best idea of the fairness of the price. I searched several cars before buying mine. Got all the options I wanted and for the best price in the area I could find.

The throttle position sensor has two mounting screws to remove and then it will rotate 15 degrees counterclockwise. Just remove the last screw slowly and hold on to the sensor. Then when you put the new sensor on, it goes back on in the exact same 15 degree counterclockwise turn and then you turn it back clockwise to line up with the mounting holes. Basically that is the torqueing process. I read some postings that on other Lexus models you have to calibrate/adjust the sensor mounting position, but the RX mounting holes are fixed, no way to adjust. The sensor is keyed so that it can only go on 2 ways, the right way, and 180 degrees the other way and the holes don't line up that way. I throttle post (whatever it is that pushes inside the sensor) is spring loaded, so when you push the sensor on and turn it clockwise to line up the mounting holes that is the torquing that you are referring to. I don't have the number handy, I just picked it up from AutoZone.. It was a Wells name brand around 50 bucks. They did list another brand for 34, but were out of stock. $50 was still better with maybe a whole 15 mintues my time then taking to the dealer.

I have a 2000 RX300 and it's on the back left side of the engine closest to the firewall. When I went to Autozone for a replacement their book had the wrong part listed. I guess some RX's use a push in plastic PCV, but mine has a metal screw in type. I found the part number on here in another posting and stopped at Toyota dealer to buy it for a couple of bucks. very easy to replace yourself and save some money

I switched over to everything Amsoil this last summer. Transmission, engine oil, rear diff gear oil, the whole works. I've noticed that everything seems to run smoother and shifting is very nice in the transmission. Maybe 2 mpg gain also with all the fluids changed over. I've put about 20 miles on my transmission with Amsoil and so far everything is very good. I recommend doing it if you are out of warranty espically. some people worry that Lexus will not do repairs if you don't use their oils.

I replaced my throttle position sensor today. Was actually pretty easy to do and save me a hundred bucks or so from the shop. Hardest part was that it's on the back side (firewall side) of the intake into the TB. Just needed a small screw driver to get back there and a little patience. No more check engine light and it actually runs very smooth now and shifts very smooth. Guess I didn't really notice it getting worse over time until I have replaced it. Now it's like brand new again on idling, accelerating, shifting maybe even getting better gas mileage now... I think with the bad sensor it was idling a little too high sometimes and that eats up gas over the long run. I really noticed a difference in shifting from park to D or from neutral to Drive... no noise, or jolt, or anything, just goes into gear and drives away.

I have a 2000 RX AWD and need to replace my throttle position sensor... ECU is continuing to report it bad after a few resets. Where is this hiding on the TB ? does anyone have a pic of it's location ? Any warnings on replacing this sensor with a new one ? Thanks

I use Amsoil in my 2000 RX, seems to work just fine. I've put about 8,000 miles now with just Amsoil and mileage is good and shifting is very smooth.

I've been thinking about doing this also and changing the color of the calipers. Where did you get the paint kit ? I want to make sure I do it the right way and it doesn't wash off in the first rain. hahahahaha

I replaced the transmission, rear diff, and front transfer case (or diff depending on what you call it) all to Amsoil. I got at least 2 mpg improvement and I think it shifts better and overall runs better. This is a very easy process to do yourself and makes you feel better knowing you saved all that money.

2000 RX300 AWD 78,000 still running and looking like a new car.

I went to Sears and got the 1/2 drive socket with the 10mm hex head, worked great. Plus it's perfect with an extention added for doing the rear differential.

Don't forget to check your PCV, just changed my today. $7 bucks and 5 minutes of time. Only thing to watch out for is that I know my local AutoZone has the wrong part in their computers and books for the PCV. I think from reading other links they've changed this part back and forth between the normal plastic kind for $2, to a metal screw-in for $7. My 2000 RX has the metal screw-in. I'd also change the differental gear oil also if you're doing major maint. I've noticed a slight increase in gas mileage switching to Amsoil synthetic gear oil.

Personally, I've switched to Amsoil since the warranty ran out. If you are under warranty, go to Toyota service shop and get the T-IV. If not check out amsoil.com I have it for all the fluids and very happy so far.

It's hard to say, all the people I know that have/had an RX300 none have every had a tranny problem. On message boards and forums like this you really only hear the ones with problems, trying to reach out for some help on what to do. It's not common for someone with no problems to just randomly post from time to time that it's all working right and going good. I have a 2000 RX w/75,000 and so far (knock on wood) no tranny problems or hesitation problems like some people have reported. Used cars are pot luck, even a perfect one w/no problems the day you get it can completely fall apart next week. I had a LeBaron GTC that was checked out by my machanic and certified warranty, 3,000 miles past it's warranty the transmission exploded on the highway and left us started on Thanksgiving Day.

From what I've heard and know, OD off is really if you are towing something, or if you were in some real up/down hills where the tranny would just keep up/down shifting. Sometimes it's better just to say out of overdrive, then continously shift in and out of it. I guess its really just help prevent excessive wear on the tranny. Under normal driving you should never need OD off.

15/16 size, it had a washer, not sure how to tell if is was a crush type. looked gold in color like it was brass. Did you look at the pic I attached before, your's doesn't look the same ? The blue label is at the bottom side of the gearbox, and the fill is straight up with no label, just a little yellow mark. If your fill is on the side and not on the top, how do you get fluid to stay in it ? Maybe they just put the blue label on the wrong one for me.

On mine, and in the pic, the one with the blue label on it is the drain plug, vertically, and fill is on the top of the diff at a slight angle (not horizontal/vertical)

Under the passenger side axle coming out of the transmission, just a few inches up and to the left (if under the car looking forward) tilted at a slight angle (not vertical like the drain plug) I attached a pic, guess I'm not sure if you call it the front diff or transfer case, I hear so many people interchanging them I'm confused. but the drain ithe one with the blue label that says 80W90 gear oil, and the fill is just to the top of it.

Okay, I have been changing all my oils over to a nice synthetic Amsoil. Did the engine oil, rear diff, tranny, and working on the front diff. I have tried for a week now and I can't break the drain plug free yet. got the fill plug off okay, just not the drain. so I figured maybe at least I could use my pump and suck out some of it and replace it until I can either get better tools to free the drain or get something better then WD40 to loosen it up. I put in the hose and nothing would come out, so I figured it's a little low and I'd just add enough to fill it back up. well, long story short it took a full quart. so that means it was 100% empty. :cries: that may account for why the drain plug is so hard to get off, it's probably baked onto it. I filled it full and no leaks yet that I can see, and I'm going to check it several times a day for the next week to see if it's leaking and that might be why it was dry. Big question is: what might I expect to happen running the front diff with no gear oil. I've only had my RX for 5,000 miles. It's a 2000 with 75,000 miles on it now. did I do the right thing by filling it back up ? or because it's been dry and suddenly adding oil going to cause new problems. It's actually been running perfectly, getting very good gas mileage, shifting is very smooth and nice, I don't have any complaints on anything mechanical about it. someone re-assure me that I did okay filling it, and what to look out for to stop any problems. I'm planning a trip (600 miles 1 way) next month. :cries:

I found the rx300howto website has some good instructions for doing this. rx300howto for radar detector

The part itself is only $120, I think I'd figure out how to do it yourself before I'd pay $975. Unless it's one of those take the whole apart projects. Here the link to the part: Knock Sensor for Rx300 search for make/model/ and keyword knock sensor

Funny thing, working on the front diff tonight I got the fill plug off without too much trouble but couldn't get the drain plug loose (and that looks like the easiest one of all of them to get off. oh well, back to soaking with WD40. Does anyone have any other product that might work better/faster than WD40 to loosen up a plug ? I'm arms are too soar now to try anymore tonight.