olezip

Thank you. I did just that. The headache of maintenance delays because a repair facility could not find a misplaced star key are now gone. As is the trauma of the owner/operator being unable to use the key because it would not securely engage. It must be lack of quality or a poor design for the keys. They should be as reliable as a regular lug, but they are clearly not.

I had the same problem, but it was at Costco. The tire guys couldn't get the lock off, so they used a torque wrench, turned the key too hard and broke the lock. Here are your options. 1. Go to the dealership and ask them to match the key for you and get a lock replacement. One lock and key is like $45. Afterward, go take off all the locks and lubricate the threads with antiseize or oil before putting them back on. 2. Hammer a star socket and get the locks off. I really wouldn't go this option if I don't have to. The hammering process can ruin the threads or bend or break them from the impact. Just imagine that you have to do this three times. The third party got the broken lock stuck in his socket and can't get it out. I don't think you want repeat this three times. A little antiseize lubrication should be enough to avoid this problem. I would stick with the lock and key option to be safe. Thank you for the advice. I want to avoid investing in another key. I have an appointment at a local Toyota Dealer. They have a Master set of keys. They will remove the star sockets and replace them with regular lug bolts. Alternately, I thought it might be less costly in time and $$ to get the star sockets off myself, then a trip to a parts department to get four lug bolts.

For the first time since I owned our 2000 Lexus ES300 I actually had to change a tire. My wife drove the car a llittle off the shoulder of the road and the jagged edge of the asphalt ripped a five inch hole on the inside sidewall of the right front wheel. This happened about four miles from our house. So I drove there in another vehicle, swapped vehicles so I could change the tire, and sent my spouse home. The tire changing wrench, jack, and tire looked new and factory fresh. The special key for one star-shapped lugnut was in place. Guess what? The five star key did fit onto the five star anti theft lug but would not stay on. It behaved like a stripped screw just slipping out again and again. I called for Emergency Road Service, but they could not remove the anti-owner lug nut. Finally a third party did manage to remove the lug bolt and change the tire, but the special star key socket got stuck inside his wrench, so he took it with him. Now I have no key. I have no desire to replace the key. I just want to get an owner friendly lug nut the replace all of the anti theft lugs on our Lexus. Other than making an appointment with a Lexus Dealer do I have any other options? This difficulty did produce a long and frustrating day!

Thanks. The corner lights are probably different because there was some front end redesign between the model year 1999 and the 2000 Lexus ES300. I was not sure that the corner light was affected. The 2000-2001 model years have yet to stock the corner lights apparently. At least I have not been able to find them on the web.

You may be in trouble because you do not have a Master Key. My 2000 Lexus ES300 came with only one master key. Thanks to this forum I found information on how to program it. The new key had to be programmed twice; once for the transponder chip, and a second time for the door locks and trunk lock. I bought the new key from a Lexus Dealer recommended on this forum; I just had to provide my VIN and proof of ownership. I had to use my original master key, though to program the new key. Good luck.

My Driver Side front corner light assembly was cracked in half by a rear bumper. I am looking for a replacement but only can find on the Internet a replacement for the Model Years 1997-1999. The photo of the unit looks identical to the one on my 2000 Lexus ES300. How can I find whether that is the case? There is no part number on the damaged unit that I removed from my Lexus. Do you have the OEM number for the Driver Side Corner Light for the 2000 Lexus ES300?

Wheel misalignment and tires out-of-balance can cause vibration. But you usually feel it in the steering wheel. Sometimes it only happens at certain speed ranges. Other times it will be correlated with the speed of the wheels (likely unbalanced wheels). In all cases the car has to be moving to get the vibrataion from those sources.

I found a "personal mechanic" who works on the Lexus in our area (N. Virginia) via the Internet (CarTalk). All of the reviews on CarTalk were positive, so I gave him a call. He did the repair in our driveway the same day he visited to diagnose the problem. The rotors were not scored but lightly scratched within acceptable limits; you could see, but not really feel a few parallel lines. He drove to the Lexus dealer to get the parts (brake pads). The repair was completed on 9/2/03. The brakes now work perfectly; the grating or grinding sound that came from the rear wheels is gone. It was convenient to have the mechanic come to our home and repair the car; but maybe as costly as taking it to the dealer. The bottom line is that he charged us $254.50 to replace the rear brake pads. In January 2002 with 33,200 miles on the odometer, the previous owner paid $183 for front pads replacement at a Firestone facility. The odometer now reads 56,768 miles. [i do not really want to know what it would have cost if I did it myself.] By the way the color of the Lexus is "Millennium Silver." It is not the Platinum Edition, though.

It happens right away after I back out of the garage and brake softly. It does squeal occasionally, but just about always grinds. We are having it looked at tomorrow morning. I suspect that the rotors are grinding. If is mostly a low-pitched grinding sound and not a squeal. I will report back tomorrow after the mechanic takes a look at it. The parking brake is operating normally. We do not use the parking brake when the car is in the garage because it is on a level surface; the driveway is level for a couple car lengths. Thanks for the advice.

I have all of the repair and maintenance records for my 2000 Lexus ES300 with 56,000 miles on the odometer. The front pads were replaced at 34,500 miles, but the rear pads are original. We just started hearing a grinding sound in the rear wheels when the brakes are being applied, especially when making a turn. I wonder whether I just need rear pads or could there be something else wrong. We heard no such noise for the first six weeks we owned the car. What do you think it might be?

Consumer's Reports is an excellent source of information on consumer products! I shall take a look at that issue. Thanks!

I do not have much to add to this topic. ...suggest that you do some research on filters before using any old one. I have used the inexpensive FRAM and other filters, but then changed the oil at 2000 miles instead of 3,000 or 4,000 miles. There certainly are differences in quality; Toyota should be fine as well as original equipment. Other brands may be as good, but their use requires getting and reviewing the specs for the filters; they might be good; they might be junk. Price may not be a big factor; good ones can be inexpensive.

Welcome! Also, I am a new member; I have found this forum to be the most informative forum I've ever encountered. I've gotten help for finding a source for a second master key; we had only one. Also, this forum helped me find the information needed to program the new master key myself. The people here are the greatest! We also have a 2000 ES300 milennium silver with black leather interior. I just washed and waxed the car today.

I am not much help on this one. ...just bought a 2000 Lexus ES300 with 56,000 miles on the odometer. It runs and shifts smoothly, and is quiet inside the vehicle with no wind noise or vibration whether I'm sitting at a stop light or driving on the Interstate. We are really enjoying the CD and radio sound system. Of course this is relative to my Saturn and Caravan which are incredibly noisy in comparison. Hopefully you can get the windows aligned or sealed, and your engine/transmission vibrations subdued. Good luck.

The automatic transmission fluid dipstick is located next to the battery. It should only be checked when the transaxle is at its normal operating temperature (hot). It is on a "J-shaped" piece of tubing. I am looking at page 1-10 and 1-11 in a Haynes Repair Manual for a Toyota Camry including the 2000 Lexus ES300. Good luck.

I've been washing and waxing cars for many years. But my head is spinning with all of the information in this forum! I never heard of Meguilar liguid wax or Collinite's #845 Insulator Wax?...or Poorboy's EX or Blackfire that are sealants with canuba ? Zymol, Zaino? Mother's? Turtle wax? YES. But not to use! Okay, so I wash my car with Dawn. Then use the eraser thing (Claying) to remove bugs and tar specs. So far so good. Then I polish it with?? Then I seal it with?? Then I wax it with?? Are these materials available at the Giant or Safeway or Track Auto? Or do I have to get on the web? I'd like to keep life simple if I can.

The 2002 certainly represents a changing of the guard. The 1992 - 2001 series of Lexus is gorgeous to me, but they represent the past. The 2002 reminds me of the 2002 Camry and the 2000 Avalon, especially the headlights and taillights, I think. The car looks a little too much like a pregnant guppy, not that that would stop me from getting one if I could afford it. I will stick with the 92-01 Lexus style for awhile. They are beautiful, functional, and affordable. I would love to replace my second car with a Lexus, too. It is a 1996 Saturn. I'll take an older Lexus any day!

Awesome photos! You have a great camera as well as a great car! Pulsing brakes usually mean that you need brake lining. My 2000 ES300 has Bridgestone tires, too, only 16 inch. I've only had the car for a few weeks. According to the maintenance records that came with the car, the tires were replaced at 24,500 miles; it now has 56,000 miles. The tires seem to have a lot of tread left. I am going to look for tires that are not made by Firestone because of their poor consumer record. I do not like Michelin anymore because they are made in France. So I am looking at Pirelli, Goodyear, etc. It looks like I will not need tires for another 10,000 miles. That could be a year from now at the rate I drive.

I guess that it depends what you are looking for in a car. If you love superb engineering and a sports car appeal, the BMW is for you. It is quick, nimble, and has all the appointments of an upscale vehicle. It's road hugging capability does result in a more bumpy ride. If you want a smooth ride and convenient luxury, get a Lexus. Personally I like the smooth ride and luxurious appointments of the Lexus.

I think that spoilers detract from the value of a car. I sure would not want to pay for one! They are worthless aerodynamically. To me they are an unsightly appendage. At least that is my opinion. Others certainly disagree owing to the popularity of such items. I guess that they help you to pretend that you have a "fast" car or something like that.

I became a believer in timing belt preventive maintenance after my timing belt failed while I was driving 65mph on Interstate 70 in Maryland. You are talking about $1,000 dollar bills for repair. The car was not repaired correctly by the little repair shop on the road; the timing was off by one click. My local repair shop had to again tear down the engine to set the timing correctly. The car, an Elantra, never ran the same because it had lower compression and used oil. I recommend following the maintenance recommendations for timing belts.

I bought and used the TV Ding King to remove a dent put on my roof made by kids playing football. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...item=2423072115 The Ding King pretty much worked all right, except I pulled out the center of the dent first. This was a mistake. If you use the equipment to encircle the dent (12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock) it probably would have done a perfect job. I also had a ding on the door to the gas filler cap; that was a small ding that is very difficult to remove. So far it has made progress but not worked. You have to use the ding king about ten times or more to be effective. A little experience goes a long way. It does work. See http://avrum_1999.tripod.com/LexusDing.html for the before/after photos.