rosecityrain

Look up and find the title Merry Christmas for service manuals.

best

rosie

I was just curious but has anyone experienced and actual timing belt failure or breakage and at what mileage? I have a '98 ES300 with 135,000 and the timing belt has never been changed. The car runs very quiet, no pinging, no squeaks, no indication that the water pump is going bad. Had the belt inspected and compared to a new belt and only difference was the glaze on the used belt. Was told by a mechanic that if a belt broke, there would not be any damage to engine on my model. Does anyone know for sure ? All I have to do if mine broke, is to replace the belt and re-time it. Haven't talked to dealer because I am sure they would say is REPLACE it. I do not drive hard in my car and it has lasted this many miles with little or no major problems. Just the normal maintaince. Has only been back to the dealer 1 time since bought and that was for an oil change by the previous owner.

My 92 ES 300 has nearly 260,000 miles on the original timing belt. I only recently found this out as I had assumed that my BIL (original owner) had had it changed. He was religious with maintenance but the timing belt just wasn't done, for reasons unknown. I have a new timing belt and kit sitting unopened in my office. I have a mechanic who will do it for me.

In the meantine, there is no sign that it is in any way malfunctioning.

rosie

I'd be willing to bet that there is something wrong with the radiator installation.

I'm just saying...

rosie

well that sucks, do you know about how much it will cost?

Jiffy Lube did mine and did a great job.

They couldn't get the A/C to kick on after, so it didn't cost me anything. They have a guarantee.

However, about 2 miles down the road, it kicked in and has worked ever since!

r

OK so i have a 1994 Lexus Es300 Black. Tan interior. with 220k miles on it. i bought this last year with 169 thousand miles on it yeah i drive alot from back to vegas to oregon and california... i keep up with the transmission oil changes. since i purchased i had to get new axles,shocks and struts all the way around. new tires fix 2 doors (plastic clips were cracked) the back windows will not roll up or down....(still) so just about 2 weeks ago i was driving and i heard a wining noise from the engine all of the sudden i can full press down on the gas and my RPMs dont go up that quickly like im in Nutrual and cant move but it moves slowly about 15mph.. i looked at my gauges and noticed my temperture rising so i pulled into a parking lot and turned it off it was about 3/4 to Hot. i got water and put it into the radiator turned my car on after i let it cool down. i couldnt reverse out of the stall. reverse went forward like it was in drive. so here is a list of problems. of the car.

-Reverse gear is like *(Drive)

-Transmission problem?????

-one of the radiator lines are leaking

-back windows wont roll down

-gauges down light up (tack)

-loss of power i have a camry (97) with the same engine has alot more power

-over heats due to no coolant ( i have to fill it up everytime i stop somewhere)

things i have done

- Oil change every 8000-10000 miles (Amsoil) synthetic They say to change 1 time a year for 15k miles

- trasmission every 15k

- Clarion dvd 765vx

- Kicker l5 12"

- 1200w sony amp

After the rad, check in with Sean at Ger Brock Performance in Portland Oregon. He can fix ANYTHING on the older Lexus ES at a fraction of the cost of elsewhere. The guy is very very good.

rosie

Next is draining the gas tank. Anybody done this?

Yes. I have.

Thank goodness my cell phone was charged and my husband was in a good mood.

rosie

I have ridden in a new ES. I like mine as much or more.

I have more wood and leather and less plastic. Or, does it just look like plastic?

rosie

Does or has anyone installed an after market towing kit? I learned the hard way that the wiring needs a dedicate 12 volt supply to control lights. Any ideas of a simple pickup point for the 12 volts? Also if one keeps the weight at the 2,000 pound limit, do you think that I'd do any harm in towing short distances? Thanks for your input. aLf

There are no words. You are using an ES for towing?

rosie

Well, I was reversing into my driveway when all of a sudden I feel the car jerk and the car starts going forward. Obviously from the gravity. The RPMs fly through the roof becuase I'm stepping on the gas. Then I try to put the gear into Drive and still nothing. I try 2nd and Low. Nothing. This is a really BAD problem, I'm guessing. ANY HELP WHATSOEVER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!! This just happened a few minutes ago and I have NO IDEA what to do or what happened! I need the car to drive to school :( I'm 19 and what I know about cars is strictly limited, so please help!

Have your Radiator and cooling systen THOROUGHLY checked before you buy another transmission.

Trust me. I went in for a new tranny and came out with a new radiator. $134.00. Not a problem since.

good luck!

rosie

Went in for a new tranny and came out with a new radiator? Thats like going to the hospital for new kidneys.. well slightly used kidneys and coming out with a new pair of nikes... sure both items keep you running but I fail to see the relation?

I am certainly no expert on this. However, this is exactly what happened. In fact, I came into possession of the car from my BIL because he thought he needed a transmission. He said the other day that if he had known, he would still be driving thee car. He bought a new (then) 2004 ES.

This story has been told a number of times and there are others on this site that can explian the tech specs much better than I.

Not a word of a lie.

rosie

Well, I was reversing into my driveway when all of a sudden I feel the car jerk and the car starts going forward. Obviously from the gravity. The RPMs fly through the roof becuase I'm stepping on the gas. Then I try to put the gear into Drive and still nothing. I try 2nd and Low. Nothing. This is a really BAD problem, I'm guessing. ANY HELP WHATSOEVER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!! This just happened a few minutes ago and I have NO IDEA what to do or what happened! I need the car to drive to school :( I'm 19 and what I know about cars is strictly limited, so please help!

Have your Radiator and cooling systen THOROUGHLY checked before you buy another transmission.

Trust me. I went in for a new tranny and came out with a new radiator. $134.00. Not a problem since.

good luck!

rosie

Okay, so I spoke with my brother in law about his 2002 Lexus that he bought after someone told him his 1992 Lexus was dead. It's the one I got thinking it needed a new tranny and all it really needed was a radiator.

Anyway, his dealer strongly urged him to change the timing belt on the 2002. He said no way, never did it on my other Lexus (mine) and it has 256,000 miles on it. Said he would still be driving it if he hadn't gotten a bad diagnosis on it.

So, now I know that the timing belt on my 1992 Lexus with 256,000 miles on it has never had the timing belt replaced.

r

The recommended replacement for timing belt is 90,000 miles for the 2002 ES. Many experts, including Click and Clack will also tell you to change out a timing belt at 5-6 years because they are rubber. Most rubber belts don't usually last much longer than 7 years. You will find many anecdotal stories about people that have not changed out timing belts and have not had a problem. These people are not the norm, they are the lucky. In addtition, it will not harm a pre-1999 ES to not change out the timing belt until it fails. The pre-1999 ES 1MZ-FE motors are non-interference and very mininal damage is done if any at all when the belts breaks.

This is not the case on the 1999+ ES models. The 1MZ-FE engine became VVT-i in 1999 and thus became an interference engine. If the timing belt breaks or fails, there is a strong possibility that piston heads will crash into spark plugs and major damage will result. That is a chance I would rather not take. As a matter of fact, my 2002 ES goes in for timing belt and water pump on 3/15/2007.

steviej

I get that completely. I was simply stunned to learn this. I thought the belt had been changed per manufacturer's specs. I will send your information along. Thanks.

rosie

Okay, so I spoke with my brother in law about his 2002 Lexus that he bought after someone told him his 1992 Lexus was dead. It's the one I got thinking it needed a new tranny and all it really needed was a radiator.

Anyway, his dealer strongly urged him to change the timing belt on the 2002. He said no way, never did it on my other Lexus (mine) and it has 256,000 miles on it. Said he would still be driving it if he hadn't gotten a bad diagnosis on it.

So, now I know that the timing belt on my 1992 Lexus with 256,000 miles on it has never had the timing belt replaced.

Other than this, he religiously followed the maintanence guidelines.

rosie

No sooner had I posted this than my husband comes in to tell me about a guy on Click and Clack (motor mouths, to me) who has 350,000 miles on his 93 Lexus (400, I think) and hasn't even changed the spark plugs! Apparently it is leaking power steeering fluid, which is why he callled the show.

okay, back to the game.

r

hey thanks for the advice, but this car is a loan it self.

lol

Yup

The bad thing about the shayandude@msn.com which is the paypal email address is that paypal takes a fee, I did not know that

lol

oh well.

Thanks for the advbice, but i owe 3000 on this one and no way i could pay that off. and get another loan. In another word, I owe mroe than that cars worth. Which is super sad.

I barely get by with car note on this one, libility insurance, and gas.

My dad is not here. And my mom is in no position to help.

Im her way to work also.

Thanks again,

Shayan

What a sad story!

Here's another one. I cried because I had no shoes until I met someone with no feet. Or, how about this story of a little boy? I think he is 17,too.

Hello,

My name is Billy Evans. I am a very sick little boy. My mother is typing this for me, because I can't. She is crying. The reason she is so sad is because I'm so sick. I was born without a body. It doesn't hurt, except when I breathe.

The doctors gave me an artificial body. It is a burlap bag filled with leaves. The doctors said that was the best they could do on account of us having no money or insurance. I would like to have a body transplant, but we need more money. Nommy doesn't work because she said nobody hires crying people. I said, "Don't cry, Mommy," and she hugged my burlap bag.

Mommy always gives me hugs, even though she is allergic to burlap and it makes her sneeze and chafes her real bad.

I hope you will help me. You can help me if you email everyone you know about me. Email people you don't know too. Dr. Johansen said that for every person you email, Bill Gates will team up with AOL and send a nickel to NASA. With that funding NASA will collect prayers from school children all over America and have the astronauts take them up into space so that the angels can hear them better. Then they will come back to earth and go to the Pope and he will take up a collection in church and send all the money to the doctors. The doctors could help me get better then.

Maybe one day I will be able to play baseball. Right now I can only be third base. Every time you email someone about me, the astronauts can take more prayers to the angels and my dreams will be closer to coming true. Please help me. Mommy is so sad, and I want a body. I don't want my leaves to rot before I turn 10. But, if you don't email people, that's okay. Mommy says you're a mean and heartless *BLEEP* who doesn't care about a poor little boy with only a head. She says that if you don't stew in the raw pit of your own guilt-ridden stomach, she hopes you burn in hell forever. What kind of a cruel person are you that you can't take five freakin' minutes to email your friends so that they can feel guilt and shame about ignoring a poor, bodiless nine-year-old boy?

Please help me. I try to be happy, but it's hard. I wish I had a kitty. I wish I could hold a kitty. I wish I could hold a kitty that wouldn't chew on me and try to bury it's turds in the leaves of my burlap body. I wish that very much.

Thank You,

Billy "Smiley" Evans

I didn't make the decision to nothing...

I was lied to when i bought it,

I truly love the car

but being 17 i cant upgrade to a new lexus or just go out and get another car.

So when it goes wrong what do i do?

I have to fix it or i wont have a car.

Okay, I've grown tired of the whining.

Clearly, this is a problem you seem to think someone else should solve. And, no matter how many people try to explain the facts of life to you, you keep coming back with some excuse or other for why you just can't solve this problem. I don't see anyone here stepping up to offer you a car. Ain't gonna happen, my friend. Take the good advice and fix it yourself, or find a solution that works.

So, do what you have to do, even if it is to get a job, save up and ride the bus in the meantime. Or. buy a bicycle. Maybe you don't need a car.

A 17 year old is quite capable of riding a bicycle anywhere. And, you can buy a wonderful bicycle for $1900.00 and the bus goes anywhere. Just a thought.

Rosie (a girl)

Seriously

My we should start one. Its a car made to go wrong.

Ive been stranded middle of the road 3 times in one year and the year just started, since they cost so much you would think it woulent do this.I'd expect this from kia or something not a $30,000 car.

Im 17.5 by the way

lol

Well, my dear, the sad news is that a 92 ES300 is, at best, a $5,000 car. You bought one that had issues.

Ay 17.5, this will be a great object lesson that being around cars is not the same as being around people selling one to you.

study hard!

rosie

WEll i bought it two years ago with 160,000

I realize its a old car and its normal for thigns to start needing repairs. But its things that should outlast the car

Such as the steering rack, the door lock. It's like they make them to where you have to replace everything in few years. And we know how lexus parts are.

I own a well maintained 92 ES300 with 256,000 miles on it. Runs like a dream.

BUT, I had to buy tires for it and a new battery recently. Let's start a class action lawsuit against these guys. I mean, really, besides the fact that it drives like a new car (and looks like one, too) they ought to be ashamed to put their logo on it!

rosie

You know Stephen,

Like all stereotypes and strong opinions, they are subject to closer scrutiny. And, as a journalist, I am, frankly, surprised you have so many intractable opinions about groups of people, restaurants and the like.

What's say you open your mind up to the possibility that Americans are not all fat, good coffee is available in the most unexpected places (unless, of course, you have taste tested every pot of coffee everywhere) and that you may have poor radar as it pertains to the places you stop to eat.

Maybe let the moths out of your wallet and try some better places?

rosie

Rosie

Lighten up. See, this is the differnce between Australians and Canadians. You guys take yourselves too seriously (and yes that's a stereotype, but most stereotypes are based on fact). Australians have that rare ability to make fun of themselves. You should try it.

Love

Stephen

Could you point out where you were making fun of Australians cause I missed it.

And put your "shrimps" on the barbie while you are at it, mate.

rosie

Same problem with me. It usually only takes a few minutes instead of 10.

Pretty scary.

All I know its it is not the transmission fluid. Had mine flushed and new put in, and same problem.

Check your radiator....trust me.

rosie

Well guys, it's almost here. My beautiful 2000 model ES300's 80,000 kilometre, (50,000 miles) birthday is rapidly approaching. I just had a look in my service book and it's a biggie! I phoned my Lexus dealer and that quoted around $800 for labour and parts (that's about $600 US Dollars).

What suggestions do you have to keep the service costs down, while still having the service done at Lexus? For instance can I buy all the service parts online and if so, which ones do you recommend?

Any advice greatly appreciated by myself and my wallet.

Cheers

Stephen

Sydney Ozland

Start saving now for the service. It won't seem like so much if it doesn't come out of your account all at once.

rosie

You know Stephen,

Like all stereotypes and strong opinions, they are subject to closer scrutiny. And, as a journalist, I am, frankly, surprised you have so many intractable opinions about groups of people, restaurants and the like.

What's say you open your mind up to the possibility that Americans are not all fat, good coffee is available in the most unexpected places (unless, of course, you have taste tested every pot of coffee everywhere) and that you may have poor radar as it pertains to the places you stop to eat.

Maybe let the moths out of your wallet and try some better places?

rosie

Stumptown coffee is local brew. We have LOTS of microbrews, too, including the best rootbeer on tap (only)

Anyway. Got my car washed FOR FREE today at my local Lexus service centre. They'll wash your car once a month for life. Love it. THAT I would love.

Cheers

Stephen :

PS: Sorry about the insult (calling you American). I went to Canada once and almost got mugged near the Rainbow Bridge at Niagara Falls.

I am hardly insulted and certainly not obese. I'm not overweight, either.

Try western Canada. Eastern Canada is a different universe.

rosie

Rosie, my rainy state friend

I mention good coffee (ie real coffee, ie, espresso) and you come back at me with Starbucks! Come on girl. You been spendin' too much time up in Seattle drifting out to those Nirvana tunes.

Tomorrow I am off to Sydney (I live one hour north) to visit the Italian district of Haberfield. Now THAT's where you get coffee. I've watched enough American sitcoms to know that all you guys drink is percolator stuff.

By the way. I will look into that CEM goo for you.

Cheers

Stephen

You must have stopped reading at Starbucks and not noticed that I.personally, love Stumptown.

Guiilty as charged re: percolated vs espresso. Last concert attended: UB40 At Waikiki Bowl.

Eat your heart out LOL

Thanks for checking on the goo.

(PS, I'm Canadian)

rosie

Two things...

Have you heard about a product by CEM in Australia that is advertized to clean out carbon from the engine? I have been tempted to order some and have it shipped to Portland (Oregon, the capital city of coffee roasting)

Two, see above. Coffee is a way of life in the USA. Wait! I think Starbucks, Tully's, Seattle's Best and my favorite (and chef's choice) Stumptown Roasters started right here in the USA (although the beans are from elsewhere but not Australia) You can't go past a streetcorner without a roaster or coffee wagon on it. This city smells like coffee! (Unless you're in the South and then it's a church, or LA where it's a gas station.

If you want to swap coffee for the engine miracle goo, let's talk. We'll see who gets the better deal, eh mate?

rosie

That would be great, any more infor in the matter will be greatly appreciated, what exacly you have done on the radiator?

It was simply replaced. New fluid, of course. (before the rad replacement, it worked just fine until it was warmed up. Then, only reverse worked properly)

rosie

God I wouldn't The E52/53 swap costs more than running a fully built race automatic transmission LoL! Besides. For less than the cost f the swap you can just buy a 92-93 factory M/T online. They're only worth 3500-4500 to begin with.

Miguel change/flush the fluid & adjust the kick-down cable if needed. If it will move in reverse without slipping, but slips in drive. Add another quart of fluid to however much is already in there. You may be reading incorrectly. Sometimes they're just a !Removed! to read & you wind up a quart, or two low.

(If you pull the dipstick out & it's foamy. Then you have too much fluid.)

I try it and it didn't work, any other suggestions? Any help will be appreciated.:cries:

I had EXACTLY the same thing happen on my 92 ES (which is how I came to own it) Turns out, it was the radiator and not the trans that was bad. Fortunately, I was able to return the trans I bought and replace the radiator for about $134.00.

rosie

There is an explanation for that but I can't remember it well enough.