Lex3486

I recently replaced mine with one that I bought new from Advance Auto Parts for somewhere around $5. It was solid plastic as opposed to the stock one having a metal base and being obviously constructed much better. Anyhow, the new one makes alot of noise and I'm wondering if all PCV's are created equal or if there's another one out there that doesn't do this? I would mention brand name but I can't remember it and my car's still in the shop for the transmission.

With the older model ES's, the radio security code only works if you set it to a 3 digit code of your choosing, therefore, the VIN number I don't believe would do you any good. I'm sure that less than half the people who own ES's have ever even tinkered with this function, so it'd probably be easy to find one that hasn't had the code set.

1993 ES300 w/133k and struts are the least of my worries (transmission and head gaskets take up my time); still drives tight, no excessive roll or anything like that. My only complaint is the occasional squeak, but I've been told this is b/c of sway bar bushings and not shocks/struts. My 92 ES, however, had terrible struts at 145k miles, but I never got around to replacing them before I wrecked it.

Not speaking from experience, but I'd be willing to bet that it'd fit the 94-96 on account of the same 1mz engine as the Camry, but I doubt that it would "fit" (it'd go in the engine bay yes, but it more than likely wouldn't connect to the MAF sensor connector) on a 92 or 93. Just a guess though! Is there a pic where you found it? If so, you should maybe be able to determine if the connectors would work for the 92-93 also.

Have you tried hitting the unit with your hand? Sounds barbaric, but works occasionally; mine did that same thing once and I smacked on it a bit and problem solved and hasn't happened since. Just a suggestion ;)

I just saw a commercial for an upcoming episode of a TV show that airs on TLC (The Learning Channel, for those of you that don't know) called "Rides". They're gonna put a V8 in an IS300 (the 4.3 liter I presume) B) . I caught that it's supposed to be on at 9e/t but didn't catch the date Just thought I'd let y'all know; looked pretty cool.

WOW! My 93 looked a million times better than that! That's a shame...anyone who can't change their oil in a 35-40k dollar car needs some serious help...that's a shame

Well, I picked it up and drove it for about 25 miles no complaints, but soon thereafter it started actin up just as it did before. Needless to say it's goin back in the morning. So much for good luck... <_<

Well, my car is fixed for the SECOND time now; they drove it and it works, so I go to pick it up tomorrow. Wish me luck!

My K&N has seen service in two seperate ES's and so far, no problems on account of it. The intake system (manifold, intake pipe, etc.) did have a lot of residue (dirty K&N oil) in it when I pulled it all apart while workin on the head gaskets, but the way I see it, it's better that the dirt is caught in the oil on the sides of the intake rather than inside the engine, and what's a little oil on the internals of an engine gonna hurt anyhow ya know? It's a nominal amount of oil anyhow; so little that I doubt it'd ever cause the MAF any trouble ;)

Well the car was supposed to be done today, but nothing ever goes according to plan...they first off ordered the wrong torque converter (it was originally gonna be done yesterday, but that happened) and then today when they got it back together and drove it, it began to do the same exact thing that it was doing the day it was towed to the shop, so now it must be torn completely apart again and everything must be replaced once again b/c it apparently tears everything they replaced up when it does whatever it's doin wrong. I just hope they don't try to make us pay more b/c of their screwup... <_<

Sure! It's on the rear cylinder bank valve cover; go to the passenger side and look down beneath the intake and up under there somewhere you'll see a little white pipe coming outta the valve cover with a hose attached to it. It should have a metal base; this is your PCV valve. It's a to get out sometimes (just supposed to pull upward on it with a pair of vice grips or such) and it'll eventually come out, but most of em put up a fight. Once removed, you can test it by blowing on the part that was inside the valve cover and seeing if it allows air to pass through that end but not from the opposite end. Even if it does pass this test, I'd go ahead and replace it b/c they're really cheap anyhow.

It may be a longshot, but I'm gonna suggest the PCV valve; cheap part and it does make a difference in how the car idles. I forgot to install mine when I put the engine back together after doin the head gaskets and it wouldn't hardly idle at all. I also broke one and it'd idle irregularly unless I held it together just right and then it'd idle just fine. Also, unless you've got a check engine light, I wouldn't think you'd have any codes to read would you? I know that there's an idle speed adjuster thingy (don't know its technical name) that works in conjunction with the A/C system...I guess it's a possibility too. Just tryin to make some suggestions here. Hope ya find it! ;)

Towed it off today; 250 labor, 900 max for parts depending on what is actually broken. I figure that's decent even though I still wish I didn't have to do it at all.

That's awesome! What a find, way to go man.

Had it towed to a transmission shop today; they're gonna estimate it once they've torn it apart, but they guessed $900 if everything that could possibly break was broken, and $250 for labor either way, so I guess that's better than it could be. As for service records, nothin past the last routine maintenance done at Lexus of Knoxville in like 1997, so...but I don't think the car was abused but who knows. I know I'll take good care of it b/c it's the only thing I've got right now, and after this, it'll be good as new the way I see it, so B)

Actually, I replaced the radiator and it wasn't overheating when it broke; I just smelled the antifreeze from where it had a hairline crack on the top. The overheating due to the head gaskets I suppose coulda hurt it, but I don't hardly think it shoulda crapped out completely b/c I never drove it for long periods of time when it got hot. Anyhow, I'll check into it myself but I was just wondering if anyone here had had any experience b4 I went off searchin. Keep the suggestions comin though!

Does anyone know about how much I'd be lookin at to have a transmission rebuilt if I removed it and took it to the shop myself? I'm thinkin this is my best alternative, b/c I believe (although I'm not 100% sure just yet) that me and my dad can handle pulling the transmission and if so, that's that much less we'd have to pay someone else to do it for us)

Yeah, well we're not about to spend 2k on this car. I'm hopin I can find some po-dunk hole in the wall transmission shop around here that will rebuild it for cheap, and possibly me and my dad will remove it and "deliver" it ourselves, b/c if we don't, then thats another hundred or more to have it towed to a shop. Last night, the Land Cruiser broke a fan belt and started overheating <_< We're just not havin much luck with cars lately; at least the 96 ES is still goin strong ;) (knock on wood)

If I'm not mistaken, I believe that there are a couple different "error" codes that your CD player can give you, which I believe are overviewed in the regular Owner's Manual, so I'd check that out first. Far as the tape player goes, I have no clue. Mine acts funny sometimes too, but never will it not give me the tape. It's more like I'll try and fast forward or rewind a tape and it'll only do it to a certain point and then stop and begin playback w/o me tellin it to. Really annoying; I just stopped listening to tapes (unless I take the CD's out and forget to replace em <_< )

Bought the car in May of '03, approx. 125k miles. Now has 132800. Have done all regular maintenance (i.e. oil change every 3k, air filter change, valve cover gaskets, new spark plugs, new radiator, supposed to have new timing belt...looked pretty good when we removed it while workin on the head gaskets, replaced transmission filter the last time it froze up like this, probalby less than 500 miles back, new transmission fluid) I don't have a clue as to why it's actin up so bad; it's not as if the car has been abused and neglected. Maybe it's just a lemon...? <_<

Silverstars are the way to go B)

Well, I don't think I'd neccesarily call my driving "hard" but you wouldn't call it "grandpa" either...actually lately being that I've just rebuilt the engine and the tranny's been actin strange, I've gone really really easy on it. But most of the time, I guess a good word to describe my driving would be..."enthusiastic" But with proper maintenance, which I strive hard to keep up with, I shouldn't be having problems like I have had with this car at 130k miles...my 92 had close to 150k miles and to the very day I totalled it, it was an awesome car. Sure it had some wear and tear on it; tranny wasn't silky smooth and we had to do valve cover gaskets, but it was NOWHERE near as bad as this car has been. Oh well, I guess that's just the joys (or annoyances) of owning older cars; sometimes they need some special attention. And to sk, I didn't pull the motor when I did the head gaskets, but I forsee a motor pullin in the near future I don't think me and my pops are gonna take this one on ourselves though; I think we're gonna give in and let someone else take this one, b/c neither of us have a CLUE about automatic transmissions.

Well, tonight my transmission died I'm pretty sure. It appears to be stuck in one gear, or to have major clutch issues; actually, it's probably both. I just fixed the head gaskets; I can't believe now I'm gonna have to put more time and money into this thing. Once I fix it this time, I'm seriously thinkin it's outta here, b/c I can't afford this stuff in the sense of time or money. Think I'll try my luck on a earlier model burgandy SC300 with a 5 speed B)

I had an overheating problem recently, but it was worse than your case from the sounds of it. Fixed mine by replacing the head gaskets. Better hope that's not your problem b/c it's a tough job for the DIYer...I managed to do it though, and the car runs like a top now B) In any case though, good luck.