mrbutz1

Before I run afoul of any rules here, may I ask the Moderator(s): can I post for sale our old Lexus here? I plan to list it on eBay and/or Craigslist but thought I would give the offer first to those who've helped me with many questions over the past few years first. If not okay, I won't put it up, thanks.

Fair enough. My experience with this company over 25 years of driving and taking cars there starting when I was 16 with my parents' cars has been nothing but good, spanning franchises in three states and multiple cars. Additionally, unlike at most places, I stand directly next to my car and watch as they drain oil, replace the filter and fill it. That way, as you might imagine, I ensure quality control. On the other hand, the number of times I've been screwed (and found out about it) at small shops...whew. You have valid points, certainly, but my personal experience is what I rely on. Google ANY company and you will find horror stories, as you all know. Ironically, a couple days after I had the oil changed I got a reminder card from the dealership saying my first oil change on my CPO car was on them! For my 65,000 service I WILL be taking it to the dealership. But an oil change, we'll just have to agree to disagree. Welp, turns out 65K service is basically an oil change! ;-)

Fair enough. My experience with this company over 25 years of driving and taking cars there starting when I was 16 with my parents' cars has been nothing but good, spanning franchises in three states and multiple cars. Additionally, unlike at most places, I stand directly next to my car and watch as they drain oil, replace the filter and fill it. That way, as you might imagine, I ensure quality control. On the other hand, the number of times I've been screwed (and found out about it) at small shops...whew. You have valid points, certainly, but my personal experience is what I rely on. Google ANY company and you will find horror stories, as you all know. Ironically, a couple days after I had the oil changed I got a reminder card from the dealership saying my first oil change on my CPO car was on them! For my 65,000 service I WILL be taking it to the dealership. But an oil change, we'll just have to agree to disagree.

It's also funny what people choose to overspend on, isn't it? If you have a Lexus and a BMW, then congratulations, perhaps you don't need to worry about a few bucks. As I mentioned, the savings is much more than just dollars. I live 5 miles from the Jiffy Lube. I live 25 miles from the dealership...in traffic that is 90 minutes each way at least - look where I live. I have to make an appointment with the dealership, I can't just show up when I have a half hour. These are real costs, just not in paper money. But, to each his own. And, the 07 ES has a sealed transmission I believe; Jiffy doesn't work on those and I was referring to actual work on the tranny as an example - but pick any other more complicated procedure than perhaps the most simple, changing oil, not lubing it, for comparison's sake. Cheers.

Cheap, huh? I should pay double for the same oil? Ridiculous. I didn't save the $$ in my bank over many years to buy this car by paying more for things just because one is Jiffy Lube and one is a Lexus dealership. Oooooh. Oil change I would do myself if I had ramps...it's not rocket science! It's not a transmission. Let me give you an example, from when I took the car just a few weeks ago: Service light was on to replace oil...it had been about 5,000 miles since we bought the car which had a fresh change at that time. They drive the car in, take my info (didn't take long as I've been taking our Honda and older Lexus there for 10 years straight with nary an issue), and before I can sit down the "tech" as you called him comes in with the dipstick, shows it to me and says, your oil is crystal clear (I agreed, it was transparent and fully clean) do you still want us to change it? I said yeah, if only so the light goes off and it's been 5,000 miles - clearly they were trying to scam me! He says, okay and ten minutes later my car is vacuumed, tires filled, washer fluid replenished, windows washed and driven out waiting for me - all while I watched from 8 feet away. Even gave me $5 off bringing a new car to their shop. Out the door in 20' from when I pulled up, cost $38, and home 10' later. Yeah, I should have driven the 55 mile round trip to the dealership, paid more for the exact same service, and spent hours of my life. What was I thinking?! Are there bad Jiffy Lubes? Sure. But at least they're a national company with some accountability. An indi shop? A dealership? They, like any business, can be bad too (and regularly are). You pick your poison...I just prefer to pay less for mine - and I have two cars with well over 125,000 miles on them running very well after having been serviced by this company for their lifetimes. If you've got money to burn then go for it. Capitalism provides many choices for the same thing, thankfully, you are free to over-spend!

Okay, that got a giggle out of me. Like I'm going to pay 2x more for the same oil and the same filter at the dealership? Tranny...dealership? Oil...Jiffy Lube. Come on.

Agreed, but do you think the air is drawn from the inside of the cabin or from outside the car? It's gotta be from inside I would think...so installing it with the cotton DOWN and the reinforcements UP is correct. It probably makes no difference but it drives me crazy to not know. Ridiculous. Thanks for the reply.

Don't think that's right. We bought an 07 ES a few months ago. Does not have Nav. Does have BT. The phone buttons on the right front of the steering wheel indicate BT. First car with BT and I have to admit, it's pretty cool but the voice command system bites.

We bought an 07 ES a few months ago. Yes, the light comes on way too soon IMO. Once it comes on I usually have a Range of 0 miles, but I can drive another day to work no problem which is a 30 mile round trip. Basically, once the light comes on I re-fill within a day or so, better to not drain the tank too low. But it comes on ridiculously early when the needle still have a few millimeters to go to E.

Sorry for this surely dumb question, but... Jiffy Lube wanted $40 (!) to replace the cabin air filter in my 07ES. I immediately bought one for $13 made by STP I believe. Replacing it no problem. However, there is no THIS SIDE UP marking on the new filter and one side is the pure cotton and the other is like a reinforcement material over the cotton. I know the air should flow directionally over the cotton part not the backing part. I can't find the answer in the owner's manual... Thus...am I right to assume the air taken in by the ventilation system on Recirculate that passes over the filter comes from the passenger foot well, and NOT the outside of the car body? Meaning...the filter should be installed with the cotton side DOWN and the reinforced side UP (towards the dashboard)? Thanks.

I have a ignition module I'm not using. i'm in florida. For the 1994 ES300? If so, and the mechanic hasn't been able to locate one, I may be interested! I've been out of the country for awhile so just seeing your reply, and thanks for being in touch about it. Will let you know as soon as I reach the shop, thanks again BMan.

Looking for a used igniter/ignition module for a 1994 ES300. Live in Chicago. Mechanic can't seem to find one at the local junk yards. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

The battery isn't that old at all, should not be dead. I'm more worried that the water has shorted out a wire that runs along the right side of the car.

Well after buying a beautiful 2007 ES350 a couple months ago I delayed and delayed getting my 94 ES300 fixed since the new car, well, occupied my time and interest. In the meantime the tiny crack in the sunroof has apparently turned into a bigger crack and I went out to get the car ready to drive to the repair shop and the right rear seat's footwell is full of about 1.5" of water (it's been raining non-stop in Chicago for weeks it seems). The car battery was DEAD...meaning not even enough juice to unlock all four doors when the key is turned to the left twice. I tried to jump with the new Lexus and got just a split second of power until everything went dead again...and I mean FULLY dead, everything. Aside from having it towed to the repair shop (it will not even go into Neutral to be pushed...stuck in Park), is it possible that the water has shorted something out? Right rear footwell, so water under the front passenger seat. Any advice appreciated.

THANK YOU to all who provided opinions. We bought a black '07 ES350 with 59K miles and the full CPO yesterday for a couple grand under blue book. Rides great, beautiful, I'm thrilled. Thanks again everyone.

Thanks for the comments. I did speak with two sales guys at dealerships near me in Chicago and both said this was an issue but nothing to worry about. It would likely show up prior to 100K miles and I'm covered until then. One told me that the issue was the tranny was a closed system and initially they were not being filled sufficiently with tranny fluid and that could only be detected with the proper equipment. Once it was decided this WAS an issue with the 07 engines a bulletin was issued and repairs made and the problem went away. Does that ring true with your guys' knowledge of the history of this issue? Man, I want this car, it's beautiful, but trying very hard to be rational and objective. I had the tranny on my 94 ES rebuilt due to failure at about 130K.

Anyone here able to comment on problems with rattle, tranny, others in the '07 350s...the first year of the model redesign? Have heard there were many cars that were returned...gulp! Thanks. Or, a thread that discussing them, a search turns up too much extra, non-related stuff.

Nice, keep talkin' my language! (I want the 350, but will be happy with either.) I didn't know that about the engine changes, thanks for your response mkeeney.

Greetings, Well we have decided to finally put our 1994 ES300 with 158K on it to bed and buy a replacement. Would appreciate any opinions you all have on the choice between the two cars below. I trust folks' advice here. Either: 2006 ES330 with 32K or 2007 ES350 with 65K Both CPO, both around $21K, same colors in and out. Both very nice cars. The 350 is a nicer car, more powerful, better styling and one year younger but with "high" miles (is that considered high mileage?) The 330 is also a very nice car, not as "cool" but has half the miles of the other...however it's one year older. Is a three year old Lexus with 65K miles (we would be covered until 100K under CPO warranty) just too many miles in too few years...would you go with the lower mile car even though it's a year older and your second choice of model? Thanks, any opinions appreciated. --mrb

Okay. My acquisition of an iPhone yesterday delayed taking the car to the shop but I will today and will post back. Thx. I have a 94 ES300 to the previous question above. Someone on the club lexus forum suggested that p1300 is a fail safe code that cuts the engine automatically. I hadn't come across that researching online and still can't but here's what he said: "P1300 means Igniter Circuit Malfunction. P1300 is one of those codes that trigger fail-safe mode in the ECU. The fail-safe operation for P1300 cuts the fuel. That's why you felt like it was running out the gas. My 94 Camry V6 had the same issue and at first I thought the problem was the igniter. However, by checking the ignition coils connectors, I noticed a severe bad contact in one of them: by pressing and releasing the ignition connector coil number 6 (the 3rd on the front bank) I was able to affect the engine's rpm! Problem solved with a special dielectric grease. Of course it was a cheap and temporary solution. Nonetheless, it has been working great so far (six months now)."

Accepted. Having been a member since 06 you know that sometimes things can get hot around here, just read up some of the older exchanges with the real old timers. Post often enough and eventually you develop a thicker skin and learn not to be too sensitive. A lot of comments get misinterpreted because humour can be very subjective. I did review this thread, and yes you were appreciative and thankfull and perhaps my humour wasn't timed very well. So now that we've smoked the peace pipe, lets see your tech finds out. Okay. My acquisition of an iPhone yesterday delayed taking the car to the shop but I will today and will post back. Thx. I have a 94 ES300 to the previous question above.

Thank you Ray. I also believe it's the fuel pump or related based on what I've been told here and what I have researched online. The P1300 threw me, though, which is why I posted the reply and asked for thoughts on it. Thanks for responding.

Whoa there mr! You're out of line here! Control yourself! There's no call for you to make this personal. If you can't observe some modicum of decorum in this forum, then I suggest that you not post. As far as I can tell, this is a public forum. If you don't want yours to be read then do your communication in private - use the pm feature. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on this. But understand how it can be interpreted as an insult to George. Here's a member who has patiently been trying to help you out through the whole thread and you post a comment that challenges his contibutions. Posting your mechanic's opinion that the P1300 means a prob w the dist is one thing, but refuting all of George's suggestions regarding the fuel system by pronouncing that pumps and filters never go bad is insulting to say the least. Diagnosing a prob can and often does go down more than one road before you get to the solution. My comment was made in humour that giving advice on this forum can be frustrating at times. None more so than op's who never respond to any advice given or don't post results for their probs. I would suggest that in your future posts, to consider how you present your responses. You're getting advice for free through the generosity and good will of those who have knowledge they're willing to share and think it might help. Appreciate their efforts but certainly feel free to accept it or not. It's often difficult to diagnose online whithout the benefit of seeing the prob, so, much of it can be guesswork. Often you will have differing opinions which doesn't make it any easier. Of course you always have the choice to pay for it at your local shop. Dude. First off, your comment was jerky, man. You could have PM'd George to say that, but you chose to say it publicly. Your choice, I just thought it was a lousy thing to say. As for whether or not I should post here, come on. You didn't expect I would be smiling when I read your comment did you? I don't have to know you personally to know you knew what you were writing. At any rate, look through my previous posts and responses over the past four years and I think you will see I have more than a modicum of decorum! Secondly, I "refuted" nothing whatsoever! Even George himself said that before 150K it was a little early for the pump to fail (I have 157K) and I did not say they don't fail, I reported what a trusted mechanic who I know personally told me (I would never say that, I am a health care administrator, not a mechanic or anything close) upon reading the code and even then I wrote accurately what he told me which was they "almost never" fail, not that they "never" fail...that's how George re-phrased it. To your point, I have indeed responded to his suggestions and had the codes checked (twice in fact) and both times I immediately reported the results (first time no codes, last night P1300). I'm sorry if another person's opinion mildly conflicted with George's opinion (but did it, really?) but good grief your two responses were as if I had written something calling someone an idiot and how on earth could they suggest the fuel pump of all things! I know you can't read emotion through typed words but I said or implied nothing whatsoever like that. In fact, in this thread and in the PMs and emails George and I have exchanged privately I have been very appreciative and thankful and said so several times as he knows. I am surprised if he feels I am downplaying his help or his knowledge...my comments will very clearly indicate otherwise. The truth is that these boards are a god send for people like me who don't know much about automobiles. I've saved lots of money, learned a great deal and enjoyed working on my Lexus since I got it several years ago...all based on the good people here who are willing and excited to help. When I personally have had an answer for someone I have offered it. I believe we are all adults here (or close to it). If I offended, I do apologize. However it is reasonable for those who are offended at something to keep in mind the history of the interaction and perhaps re-read comments that immediately cause feathers to ruffle in the context of what they know about who they are talking with. I simply re-stated what a mechanic told me after I followed George's direction and had the codes read. Then, in the next sentence I said, "Any thoughts?" assuming that this new information might, as you note above, take us "down more than one road". Either way, I am taking my Lexi to a mechanic who my friend the tranny mech strongly recommended. I will post the results. Thank you again, particularly George, but also the others who have helped me. This leaves a lousy taste in my mouth, but I DO appreciate sincerely appreciate the help and knowledge sharing. --mrb

So they finally got to ya Georgie! lol I'm surprised you hung in there for as long as you did. Sometimes you just have to move on. Good call. Huh? You can't be serious!! Wow. I am merely reporting what a mechanic I know (the same guy who rebuilt the transmission in this car three years ago) said about the problem when seeing the code and you get *BLEEP*y? Well, thank you for your past help George Jetson. I'm sorry you took this personally, though I can't figure out why, but you did. My apologies. And eatingup...your comment was helpful too - lurk around following a thread of someone not car-wise seeking opinions of those in the know until you see an opportunity to be a jerk. Good call. Impressive.

Throwing code P1300. My neighbor who is a tranny mechanic says the fuel pumps and filters almost never go bad on these cars and that it's likely the distributor. Any thoughts? Most appreciated!!