chargerucd

How about a 1996?

Thanks for the reply, Yes the plugs i repalced with were platinum and I didn't expect that much would be needed so i guess i have to save for the timing belt/water pump/thermostat/antifreeze/belt change (any estimates on how much it would be?) but while doing the small items like filters myself. I already replaced all 4 tires (that's the first thing i did when i got the car), changed the oil & filter a couple of times already. but have not noticed any noise from the negine that flagged anything wrong with the mechanical part of the car. thanks for the help

Hello, I got my 96 ES300 about 6mos ago and after looking at the previous records, the previousm owner never did anything much other than take it to jiffy lube for oil changes, not even the timing belt at 90K!! (seeing an extremely dirty air filter on the air box should have told me something, but none the less the car is now mine and have to maintain it and get it close to HAPPY as possible) so right now i am trying to think what maintenance items could have been missed, I already changed spark plugs (not sure but i think those were original spark plugs) and air filter. Don't know how often the fuel filter needs to be replaced, I looked through the service manual and it does not mention it. clean the intake throttle body (i saw a previous post on it) but what else do you guys think should be on the check list of things to do. I am setting up to do a brake pad change on all 4, so maybe i can do it all at once. thanks for the help.

Will do, I was thinking about getting "performacne Friction" pads and brembo blanks, and also some spare "stock wheels"(required for stck class) and add some sticky rubber for the track i am already running 215/60/15 but thouught that 225/50/15 would be best for that. Initially i was looking for harder shocks and haven't found much since i don't want to lower it (stock class). so it you have some recommended replacement shocks let me know. thanks a lot

Hello, I am thinking about autocrossing and to that end i was looking for suspension upgrades on my es, now my car does not come with a strut bar and i remember seeing a car that had a "stock-looking" strut bar, so my question is, did some ES 300 had a stock strut bar? The reason i am asking is because if i get the "after market" version(already got it by the way), my car will then have an suspension upgrade and will not be in the stock class anymore. if other cars had a stock one, can you tell me which ones so i can scout the junkyard to see if i can get one in my car. OR if anybody Has a stock strut bar and would like to trade, please let me know. thanks for the help. ChaRgerUcd

well that happened to me in a chevy camaro, the alignment was done a couple of times and it turned out that the car had been in an accident and the frame was bent. thus all the suspension was lined up but the frame was changing the geometry to pull the car to the side. so, dunno exactly what to tell you to do other than to find somebody that will align the "wheels to the road" like they do it on racecars. Not aligning the suspension to the frame.

How about the plugs, maybe they are new but have a bad gap!?! or too old? does it back fire? how about when you accelerate and then let go of the gas? Also you mentioned that you had a cap & rotor, make sure that 2 Wires are not switched, or that the timing got changed on the distributor !!! Let us know

Definitely, an alignemt is a must when replacing suspension parts as little "differences" on parts change where the wheel is pointing, definitely the toe settings are off, and it also sounds like you got some bump steer!! So yes, an alignment is is order.

Hello, well i haven't done it yet on my ES300 but have done it on other cars but basically you need to remove it and clean all the carbon deposits, you also have to check that the mechanisn isn't sticking so get a vacuum pump amd put in a vacuum to see if the valve opens normally, if you cannot build pressure in there, then the diaphram is ripped and there is a vacuum leak. you can also check the vacuum hoses for tears and cracks as well as for the ends being work out. have you removed it yet? i believe there is another thread on this, chargerucd

Has anybody tried the "Performance Friction" Pads? Just checking

Hello, I was just wondering if anybody in southern california has a spare set of 2 stock es300 - 15 inch wheels that wished to sell to me. I need pair, if you have some please mail me chargerucd@yahoo.com. thanks, chargerucd

TANKS a lot, that link was exactly what i was looking for. Chargerucd

Lola, don't feel bad, i have gotten responses like that and i AM a mechanical engineer!!! don't give it a second thought if you have a question, some us will try to help you gracefully. chargerucd

Yes, that's what i thought i could do so i removed it and couldn't figure out how to tighten any part of the hinge. How can i do that? thanks for the help.

Hello my visor seems to have lost it's grip in the Up position, when i put it up, it flops back down halfway, it's annoying. but the thing is that when it put it forward it is pretty tight. is there a way to fix it or do i need to buy a new one? would a Camry replacement fit?