jbarhorst2

I am pretty sure it is a four speed like my 97 SC.

If you have the traction control button (this button deactivates the traction control until you restart the car or re-activate it) it means that you do not have 4WD. You have a Front Wheel Drive (2 wheel) RX.

I would drain and refill. If you want to really clean out your tranny you could drain and refill 2, 3, or 4 weekends in a row. That way you have really changed out all of the old fluid. When you do a drain and refill you are only getting out part of the fluid that the tranny and torque converter contains. It's not very hard or expensive and can really extend the life of your tranny. I tend to do a drain and refill at every other oil change (10,000 miles). It may be overkill, but like I said, it is cheap insurance.

If you go to www.homelink.com you can get complete instructions.

Here is a brief summary (at least as correct as I remember).

Press Outside 2 buttons at the same time for more than 20 seconds. This will erase the programming on all 3 buttons and get it ready for your use. After the 20 seconds, the light will change its flash. (I think it flashes fast when it has been erased)

Then, hold the remote you want to program near the buttons. Press and hold the button you want to program and at the same time press and hold the button on the remote you wish to copy. After a few seconds the light will change its flash and it is programmed.

I'd have to see them on the car too. I am a fan of stock parts, though. I would rather see stock chromes.

Lower pressure will give you slightly lower fuel economy. I have had good luck over the years with fuel economy and tire life by running a higher pressure. I personally run about 38 psi in my SC300 and RX300. Both tires are rated for 44 psi maximum cold. Of course, the manufacturer rated pressure is lower (30-32). You do lose lateral grip when running a higher pressure (the tires don't "give" as much), but I never drive my vehicles at the limit anyway. I notice a significant difference in ride quality at the higher pressure, but it certainly is not objectionable.

Higher pressure will give a slightly harsher ride. Conversely, lower pressure will give a softer ride. That is true. The tire pressure should not cause the vibration. Sounds like the shop did not properly balance the tires, or a wheel weight has fallen off. Either way, that should not have happened so soon. Did they do a dynamic or a static balance? Dynamic (in my limited experience) tends to give a slightly better result. My tires have 48,000 miles on them and still are in balance from when they were installed. Also, your alignment should not be off. It is possible that they did not tighten everything properly and it is gradually moving. How well do you trust the shop that did the work? Even if you trust them, they could have had an off day.

I would take it back to them and ask them to fix it. If they say "tough luck" then it is either time to get more demanding or find another shop to do your work.

Could be an electrical issue. Possibly a ground gone bad or the gradual deterioration of the spark plug wires (or spark plugs themselves) now allows electrical interference to be emitted. Does the static/interference change as the engine speed changes??

New update. I checked out the Lexus website and it says that the Navi system in 2000 was DVD based. I did not know that. Check it out. To see the difference, go to a dealer and look at a pre-owned car with the older system then check out one with the newer system. There is no comparison.

If you are wanting a GS with Navi (and I highly recommend it) then you should concentrate on looking for a 2001. I believe this is the first year for Navi with the DVD based system instead of the hard drive based system. There is a lot more info on the newer system. And, you can upgrade to the newest year by simply changing out the DVD disk. I have a 2001 RX with Navi and love it. My wife and I use it a lot more that we thought we would. If you get the old system then I am afraid you will be disappointed in the performance. Just my 2 cents. I know it will cost more, but I believe it is worth it.

20 and 24 MPG. That's about what mine gets. You are getting just a little better than me.

Wow. Both rear calipers bad at the same time. I would not have guessed that one.

Is it both rear wheels or just one?? If it is both, then I would rule out a caliper failure. If it is both you need to search for something wrong that would include both wheels. That means look forward of the rear wheels. Could be a bad proportioning valve, bad master cylinder, or a few other things. Jack the car up so that both rear wheels are off the ground. Properly block the front wheels so the car will not move. With the car in neutral, how difficult is each rear wheel to turn? Does it feel like there is resistance? I assume that with this condition you will feel a resistance.

Unless you are a good backyard mechanic, I would recommend having your brake system checked out by a Lexus dealer.

Tom

Do you have a noise?? Does it get worse on a left or a right turn and then disappear when you turn the other way??

You're welcome. Glad to help.

I have the same issue if I close mine from the vent up position. If I close mine from the slide open position then it seals better. I still hear a slight noise (probably just increased noise due to the single layer of glass instead of the roof panel and the headliner), but if I close the headliner I don't hear it at all.

Maybe that will help with yours as well.

Tom

I also think the radar is better than the laser system. Radar will "burn" through rain and fog where the laser can be "fooled".

Tom

Check your cigarette lighter. Do you have power there?? If not, there is your problem. The cigarette lighter and the HVAC control system use the same fused circuit. You may have had a coin fall into your cigarette lighter and short out the fuse. That fuse is located in the drivers footwell on the left side just above the carpeting.

If you do have power to your cigarette lighter it sounds like it could be a faulty control panel.

Let me know what you find and if you need more detail about which fuse to look for.

Tom

Here's some interesting info for you too.

Toyota dealer in Springfield, OH. $19 and change per gallon.

Lexus of Dayton $16 per gallon.

The Lexus dealers are not always the most expensive.

I have a '97 SC300 with the same engine as the GS300. I am just turning 129K with no engine issues. I did have a small air conditioning issue (leak) that was repaired under warranty. I also have not yet changed the timing belt. Since it is a non-interference engine, I wasn't going to worry about it until it broke or the water pump started leaking. I bought mine 1.5 years ago with 82,000 on the clock and have been very pleased.

A certified vehicle is supposed to come with a COMPLETE set of keys. This includes 2 masters.

I also recommend the ozone fogging. I had a Cadillac (before I saw the light) that was in for repair (of course) and the service tech smoked in my car. Needless to say I was not pleased. The dealer ozoned the interior and it smelled brand new. I was impressed. Give it a try. Since yours seems to be in every nook and cranny, I would make sure that your HVAC system was up and running while it is being ozoned so that the ozone also gets into every nook and cranny of the system.

You should be able to remove your inner wheel well plastic by removing the bolts that hold it in. After that you can reach the back side of the light and remove the bulb for replacement. Reinstall the wheel well and you are back in business. It is sometimes easier if you first remove the wheel.

Yes, it is so you do not blind the driver in the car coming directly at you. Generally a good thing.

I believe the glass is impregnated with silicon or silica (I cannot remember which). I read a report in an industrial periodical. It certainly is more than a "glaze". It really works great.