ArnoldsLex

Just Do it yourself. By a pan that is also a storage container. All it takes is taking off the dust cover under the bumper to get to it. Get a good filter wrench that fits it's size and another for the pan and may be a funnel if you are a bad aim in filling it. The thing is by the time you pay for the Quick lube outfits to do it with their cheap !Removed! oil and filters and the cost of driving there plus your time you can pay for the 7.00 Mobil 1 Extended or Amsoil and the best filters out there in Wix. What you can do to also save money is to go 12000 miles on the Synthetics and just change the filter and add 1 new quart of oil every 3-4000 miles. This way you do not have to pay 40.00 every 3000 miles for it and you end up pretty close in cost to dino oil and a cheap filter. Instead it cost 12.00. If you think this a bad practice there is a site out there where a guy took a Corvette to 25000 with out a change but did what I said to do. He did an Oil Analysis every change. He found the base oil improved and by adding a new quart and filter it would replenish the additives. The additives are what protect the engine and oil breakdown. With the analysis they can tell the condition the engine by the oil and it was showing no signs of wear. I believe they tore the engine down too and confirmed this. Dealers are stupid high in price. I know the Kansas dealers charge 109.00/hr for labor. That is doctor's fee high. Oil changing is not rocket science and mentioned.

Franks Auto and Tow! I worked for him when i was a college kid and I now take my cars to him. They are very honest guys and I promise they are the most reasonable cost wise you will ever find in KC. His mechanic Howard is very good. I have never had to take anything back. Frank is getting a little order so he doesn't do the heavy stuff anymore but over see's allot of the work. His place is far from the Lexus sparkling clean leather waiting room so do not expect a luxurious experience but expect to pay almost half per hour on a job. Probably best to leave it if you can. I think that is most important as I know that Lexus North charges 109.00 per hour. Is that as high as a Doctor or more? He is right off of I-35 in Claycomo or 1 block north of the Ford plant just outside of Liberty. Go- I-35 North to the Pleasent Valley / Glenaire Exit and go right at the end of the ramp intersection. You will go past a Sinclair and a Shell Gas station and it is right next to the Shell. 816-792-2244

We are looking at a really nice RX330 that has the Air Suspension. I have seen the result of old Air Rides on Old Lincoln's you see looking like low riders bouncing down the rode. This is my fear and the cost of replacing an Air Strut at 900.00 a corner. Has anyone experienced any problems with them? I know these cars are only 5 years old but I am thinking someone may have driven allot of miles on one? If in fact I would run into this problem is there a way to swap over the stock springs on these cars if need be? Searching on other sites I have seen there are aftermarket springs and aftermarket Air ride kits for the Standard Sprung types. So this swap looks feasible so it would make sense it could go in reverse? I am sure it would mean getting the upper mounting pieces from a bone yard or new along with KYB Struts? I am mechanically able to do this as I have done the RX 300 Strut replacement, as well many performance conversions, so the RX330 should be no more difficult. I would imagine the chassis is able to accept both Air and Std. Struts? ;)

Mine Broke too. Same scenario. Bought it for 75.00 from a bone yard CA and install myself. Was not easy. I think it was Rhino Auto parts. they sell on e-bay too. The L on the Grill adds about 40% to the price. Try a latch from a Toyota Highlander?

I just lost mine at 99300. I am the second owner. If Lexus would not have stated that it had a lifetime fluid maybe those 20% would not have had this problem. I cannot believe that any manufacture would do this. That is just arrogance or stupidity on their part. the car I had was a leased vehicle so I believe under those pretenses would it not have to be serviced by the book? I do not know what planet some of you live on but a World class car should not have a failure rate of 20% under 100k. Mine was so chewed when it came apart they could not get the clutches out and cannot rebuild it. It is a boat anchor now. Used they are 2100.00+ for 75k units. I am telling you that what I have learned is that you cannot find cores because as one source said that most of them are destroyed like mine. I think also it may be due to most of them are going before the warrranty is out and Lexus is snatching the rebuildable ones up and sending them to their reman shops and making the money on the backend with their 4800.00 deals.

Has anyone done any shift modifications on your Lexus? Any secret gurus on this? I have a RX300 and I lost the trans. I was talking with my trans guy and thought we might increase the line pressure a tad. This is not of course to go faster but to quicken its shifting. There is a problem with these vehicles trans. According to what I have read is that they upshift in coast down and therefore do not produce enough pressure for the insuing upshift and the clutches do not clamp fast enough resulting in a slip which is wearing them out early. Bigger Coolers too?

This should have been published so mechanics could tell those like myself as second owners these nuances about our cars. Update: When it started to fail I turned around an drove back to my garage. This sucker was so screwed up and would not go into reverse and locked up and had to be dragged out of the garage! We squirted silicon spray behind the tires and onto his flat bed. I think this is worst than clutches. I ask the trans guy if I could take pics so I will have proof so if buy any chance I can get a refund if this becomes a recall or class action suit. I may post them for you all. In the rebuild we are thinking of increasing the line pressure a bit to see if this helps the trans speed up its shifts and put a larger trans cooler on it. Also using the filter and not just the screen. What do you guys think about doing this?

I lost my trans this weekend. I added to your Trans Thread. Who in the hell is the Monarch? He sounds like he is from corporate Lexus waving their flag. Looking for solutions to keep this happening again. The wife loves this SUV and I feel it is still nicest vehicle out there in its class but if this really a bad problem it is gone after i fix it. Can you post a picture of what you did? I hope you found the solution! I am hoping to find a bone yard trans for 1000.00 and install at my buddies for 500.00. Should I get my rebuilt or does it screw it up to bad and shelled?

I just read Lenores thread about all the failures. I read your reply and I know you' re a flag waiver for Lexus. Have you had to put 4000.00 bucks in yours yet? Sounds like you just think you have the all answers or shall I say all the excuses. Do you work at dealership? You sound like you do. I am now wanting to friggin strangle the engineers that have done this shiot job. I am an experienced car guy enthusiast, not your typical Lexus owner big bucks, never get there hands greasy person. I have done numerous restores. Try changing out a FWD trans in your home garage. Done it. I inspect and take care of my cars. I did notice the fluid looked brown but the owners manual said it was a lifetime fluid. It did not smell burn't and I just wrote it off as a normal, a special fluid? God i wish I gone with my gut and changed it. But according to allot of people out there and not just on this site nothing would have helped. I bought from an Auto Auction. I found the previous owners insurance card and called him. He was leasing it and had driven for his outside sales car and mostly highway. I though that is great 9 (easy driving) and it explained why it had no door dings on it. No Mom trips back and for to the to the mall. Anyway I am screwed especially being the second owner even if there was Recall! You know though I felt very secure in buying one the best rated used SUV's out there beut I apparently I was duped!

There's no other car maker in the world that can match the overall reliability / durability of Toyota / Lexus. From time to time over it's 40 year history in the USA, Toyota has underengineered a model here and there, but overall a large majority of its vehicles have had a steller record of reliablity and durability compared to European or American makes. If you stray from Lexus, I would suggest you look at another Asian car maker like Acura or Infiniti if reliability and durability is a top priority. Hyundai is a rising star in this field as well. ← Hey Monarch, I think their 40 year record has just gone down the Shioter! I just lost mine at 99k! I have owned 2 Mazdas at about half the price of this rig and drove them both to 180k with no major crap. In fact I just purchased a lower mile 95 MX6 LS 5 spd for my son with a 3rd gear synchro out of it. I new though and bought it cheap this way. Fixed it for 1200.00 installed. There is another big difference. It is just a Toyota trans so price it so not 4000.00.

I tell you guys that I am from now on going to go online and join a Forum about the car I am interested in buying to find out it s problems before buying it!! I just assumed being a "LEXUS/Toyota" I did not have to worry about American Car shiot type of engineering. I guess we are all becoming global and the Japanese are now no better. They have been westernized!! I LOST MY TRANS at 99K!!!! Just yesterday on my 2001. This is Friggin unbelievable! Supposedly the best SUV and I read here that they have been failing everywhere at as low as 50000 miles! Of course since I am the second owner I am screwed! One thing that has always scared me buying elite high dollar cars is the parts cost. Just friggin double it! Damn, I am afraid to go buy a use one if they fail at that low miles. Rebuild the one I got? Get a huge trans cooler and the new fiber filter, use Amsoil or this Scwepco or whatever from Mercedes dealers? Friggin High tech Bull Shiot. This is what happens when you want luxo shifts in heavy car!!!! Any help? Suggestions where to buy one? Local bone yard as good as any?

Well I can tell you the owners manual is bogus as it says the fluid change for the trans is a lifetime fluid for the trans and now I have lost my trans!! 2001 with 99k.

I have a 2001 RX300 and the Trans is going out. It is my wifes SUV. I am very mechanical, restore cars have done major engine swaps and the like so I know this is serious. Damn, you buy supposedly the best SUV on the road even used and you expect it to last since it is a Japanese Toyota!! I mean 42000.00 car that is only 4 years old crapping its trans? NO excuses!!!! Fu%#$@@$))!!!!!!!!!! What I have learnd is that there is some problems becasue of the lifetitme Trans fluid the manual say it has. I have heard that the dealers have retracted this and recommend a change every 15k! It had 73k on it when I bought or as they say " Not evne Broke in for a Toyota", " Hell it go 250k without a problem". My butt! Be leary folks if you have not changed your fluid. What I have read is that for the sake a fuel economy the trans has some engineering problems with the shifting where it hesitates to long in between shifts which cause excessive wear. I notice the luxury soft shift since I drive a Mustang GT that I modified the Auto trans to shift harder and quicker. It felt almost screwed up. Well it is!!! The newer 330's are now dethrottled between shifts by wire to eleviate this problem. Has anyone else had this problem? How much to replace? I guesstimate 3000.00? Any JDM sources out there or whatever? Damn, this just *BLEEP*es me off!!!!!!!!

RX 300 2001 - I have a real big friggin problem!!!!! Trans is screwed up. I pulled away from a stoplight and felt something pop. It then shifted very slow and when I had to stop and go again it had litterly had no power as if it was taking off in 3rd gear or the torque converter is not working slipping or something! I bought used and read in the manual that they have a lifetime no change for the trans fluid. I thad 72k on it and now has 99k. I thought about changing anyway. I should have now that I have read that the dealers have been telling people to have it changed at every 15k. Damn, I wished there had been a Service Bulletin. I am very mechanically inclined and frequent a freinds shop and they never told me anything about a problem or heard of any. This is going to be expensive!!! 3k? - 4K Shiot!!!