cardona6569

Check for leaks in the Power Steering onto the Alternator, if that is so, correct the leak and then replace/rebuild alternator, if no leak replace battery only. They tend to kill the alternator because of the P/S Leak. Check ground cables in the motor, clean corrosion as well. Also check all the electrical cables for lost /broken insulation materials, replace insulation materials to avoid further problems the insulation/cable protectors are cheap materials. www.lexls.com good site for your car, with a lot of tutorials C

Hello fellow members: If you have a 1998-2000 the procedure is a bit different. Step one when removing the steering clumn telescopic-wheel-cover, it is necessary to move the wheel and disconnect 2 screws in the top half of the steering colum wheel/motor cover. You will find them by moving the steering wheel to both sides, since there are two of them, once you do that continue with the procedure as the post instructs. For the shim I used a US 1/2" washer with a 1.3mm they sell another that is 1.27 mm which is a smaller diameter than is needed. You do not need to disconect the airbag portion of the steering wheel for this procedure like I did, when it was not needed. Thanks it works like new and saved some bucks. CPR

My kind of girl for a weekend getaway, but not to drive my car anyday! CPR

You need to have your suspension checked, all over, up and down. The problem you have has to do with worn out suspension parts, strut rods and the like. CPR

I got from 18-25 City, and from 24-32 HWY. The AC in the City Driving affects the MPG, but opening the Moonroof in a nice day will not affect your MPG. But the less leadfoot you are the better MPG you will get. I used to get 18 in the city all the time, but I learn how to controll it and I am getting usually in the 20's. In the HWY 27 is the norm, over that is a remarkable day and with good conditions. 52 MPH and 62 MPH are some of the best ranges to get fuel economy, you could find this out using the real MPG feature in the car. CPR

The leather in the seats creat a lot more heat when in the sun and windows closed. That feature allows the hot air to escape in the upper direction which is the usual direction hot air takes. The colder the air the lower it will stay when there is hot air, the cold air weights more. CPR

A bit over the full makr on the oil deepstick should not be an issue. It will compensate for the oil lost/burned in the normal engine operarion or leaks from the gasket covers, which are very normal on the LS as the gasket cover bolts loosen over time. To fix this add lockwahers to the bolts no more gasket cover leaks a fix that costs about $2 and an hour to do. CPR

I agree check the alternator before anything. In Autozone they will do it for free. C

Make sure that verify the wiring harness operation and see if it in fact is under tension. If not, enjoy your car, it is a non- issue in your year. But if still have any concerns call the Lexus hot line in your owners manual, they should be able to answer the problem. The usual way the Lexus cars are made, the mistake made in one year/s are corrected in a very proper way in the next generation/years. Like I said enjoy your car after checking and being satisfied. Second the best thing you could do is intall a PS Magnetic by-pass filter and flush the system and flush the brake system change all other fluids and put Amsoil oil on that engine, you could use other brands of oil, and enjoy the engine for a long period of time. Most here prefer Amsoil, Castrol Synthetic, but in the transmission only use the factory fluid, never allow anything else from non-Lexus places. This will really save you many headaches. Also inspect the wiring in the car and cover exposed, worn wiring protectors. The other thing would be the suspension, eventually will give you some trouble so will the engine mounts usually after 100k due to the heat the engine produces. On the interior using the Lexol and the dealer Leather products its very good. Also there is a nice cleaner protectant Aerospace Protectant 303 it is worth every penny since it will protect your car from the bad solar rays, better than anything in the market. CPR

Start checking the position of the plastics in the steering wheel tighten all screws you can see. Then check for loose articles in the pockets and different areas. Check also in the back seat middle comparment area.CPR

If you are going to replace the mounts, at this late in the game, replace all 3, the tranny you could do yourself and save 100 bucks in the process. Seafoam would be good, see how to in the ES 300 forums. There is also a seafoam for the PS system. I would also recommend putting in a PS system filter/kit. C. PR

Change the fuel filter and see what happens, the fuel pump may be a good candidate, try to see if it is working. To see if it the fuel pump, spray some Throtlle body cleaner in the Throtlle body, if it starts very fast and then it stalls it is a the pump. That a mech taught me and my car had a bad pump. CPR

Hi: He meant the water pump, not the fuel pump. But also know that your car had some problems with the fuel pump and there is some info about it. C. Cardona (i think i might just play it safe and follow the service manuals recommendation. i do know that most recommend replacing the fuel pump at the same time as the timing belt since they're close in proximity. be cool, )

Change the radiator coolant cap, refill and keep and eye on it for a while, watch for other leaks such as hoses, pump, but otherwise this should do the trick, unless you have bigger problems. CPR

Take it to a reputable Tranny shop and check the Torque converter, the mount and changing the fluid is not a bad idea with the filter. But to me it should not be the mount since it has been there 3 years, unless the mount came bad from the factory, not unheard either. Start the checks until you find it. It also seems something mechanical since no other functions have been affected, it is either something broken, loose or internal in the tranny and in the longrun/shot check the front suspencion, strut rods. Try to run the car and without ac radio open windows determine from where it comes. By doing this the Techs can reach a faster conclusion. Record at what speed or when it happens exactly and what conditions. If nothing works use a tranny treatment, and ask in the tranny shops which is the best they have used. CPR

Reset the code make sure your gas cap gasket is good and see what happens, if it comes back then check it out further. CPR

If the valve pass the checks you can drive it for ever, provided you clean the valve and the grommet every year at least. Your car is a good candidate for Seafoam treatment of oil, gas and engine air systems. Look in the forums and you will see the producedures specially in the ES 300 or in the Lexls.com website. While you are at it check all your hoses for signs of cracking specially the ones that sit on top of the engine under the Lexus Logo etc. You will probably find some of the carcked too. You should also look in to cleaning your mass airflow sensor, but be very careful doing so, look in the UK forums for that info. C. Cardona

Hi: This may be a long shot, check your battery for proper functioning, charge, if failed in any respect replace and reset the computer if the faults come back continue troubleshooting. Remember also every 24 months or less to flush your brake system it will prevent problems with the ABS. C. Cardona

Hi: About your PS problems try going to the college, they need cars to practice and that job they cannot really mess it up because is so basic. You never now maybe all you need is like 25 buck and all fixed. To all the others a good alternative could be: putting a filter in the PS system and that will preclude the solenoid getting clogged. Use Mobil sync or Amsoil sync tranny fluids and presto the system will probably last forever as long a you change fluids once a year or every 30,000 miles. Just get a pump and suck it out of the reservoir you will get most of the fluid out anyways ( you can always do a flush also if want to do it super correctly). Can't wait for electric PS a lot less problems than today and more fuel savings, less parts, bolt on bolt off. CPR

It is incredible what the Tech told you. My service Rep at Lexus told me they usually go after 100 K due to the Heat. Here in Puerto Rico heat is a big factor. I changed all 3 and the Tranny was in the verge of falling in pieces and one of the motor ones, they were realllllllly bad. Mine only had a 100k I cannot imagine what yours would look like after 200k. Try www.irontoad.com I feel they are charging too much for the tranny mount in your case mine was a lot cheaper than what they quoted unless prices went up. Get a quote it will not cost you nothing but time. Now I have vibration because of the tires but just a bit. Maybe I should have rotated the tires as the manual said lol, 7500 miles. CPR

Hi: I feel that for 24,000 you can do a lot better than that car with so many miles on. Keep checking cars until you find the perfect one. If it is that one for that price, then do it, but you now know the positives and the negatives of such a type car and condition. CPR

Hello: If you observe the engine carefully engine drivers side, there is this rubber house near the brake fluid reservoir, in mine it has a black rubber hose that goes to the fuel rails, if that rubber hose ruptures that is a good place for a fire to start. So inspect those with a mirror every year, if you see a crack replace immediately. The same goes with the brake rubber hoses that the manual states they should be inspected with a mirror, if cracked replace immediately. CPR

Hi: I saw that commercial and thought it was different and great at the same time. But I bet none remember that Buick/GM made a rebuttal of it, doing the same. I bet no one finds that one. I will try. CPR

Hi: Both of mine were blown, you just have to be patient with them. If you are unsure, just take pictures as you remove things. C

Hi: Make a visual inspection under the globebox and you'll probably find what its wrong. It is nothing stuck in there, outside or inside you may have a bad blower. CPR