abackhus

Thank you for replying, you make some solid points.

It's been a while since I've posted, these es300's seem to last forever without any hiccups. '98 ES300 with 175k. My daily driver for 8 years, did the 90k service and everything has been great. It now needs 4 struts, control arm, tires, and links. 2 thousand total for all but I just started taking the bus to work, so I won't be driving the Es300 that much at all anymore. Thinking about not doing the struts but doing everything else and saving that 900 bucks. The ride right now is fine except going over bumps it bottoms out and I can't really take 2 adults in the backseat or it may sink...but i wouldn't be doing any of that anyway. I'm just gonna keep it around and maybe drive it once in a while taking the kids somewhere when we're not in the wife's car. Plus I do have a small sludge problem that gives me white smoke 1 out of 15 times cold start. Do i sink more money in this car or bail on it? I got the car with 75k miles and did all routine stuff, tranny is in great shape, i guess sometimes i worry about that engine oil sludging up. Any thoughts/opinions would be greatly appreciated.

wow, that's a great deal. i just took my 98 back to the mechanic again this morning, COL for the spark plugs. another 200.00 out the door.

my car worked for lexus for 10 years, then started his own shop. isn't that what i'm supposed to do? or is it better going to a toyta dealership? side note - need to replace brake pads, can i just got to advanced auto parts, or pepboys and buy any or do i need official lexus pads?

If your timing belt goes... you will gain a new car :) I waited until 145,000 before I changed mine but I would not do it again- it is worth the peace of mind knowing it won't destroy your engine just did mine today (106K), but on the 98 es300 the timing belt can break and it won't do any damage to your engine. if you search these forums there are threads about how this generation of toyotas/lexus engines don't really get hurt if the belt breaks. you'd be stranded, but it shouldn't damage your engine.

i found my mechanic through these forums and came highly recommended (i actually had him replace an o2 censor last year). he worked for the dealer here in kc for 10 years, then started his own shop, only works on acura, lexus, and infiniti. i thought the price of 1271.00 (90k scheduled maintenance including timing belt and water pump) too high for a private mechanic so i decided to call around to some of the dealers: superior of KC - 1679 lexus of omaha - 1226 lexus of wichita - 1450 it's surprising the difference for the region. omaha and wichita are both only a 3 hour drive from kc, yet the difference in price in the midwest is crazy.

maybe i can take off my whole plastic piece that houses everything, and then use some compressed air and clean it?

hello there everyone. i've had my 98 es300 for the past 2 years without any problems. lately the volume knob has been making me angry. i might be listening to something and turn it down all the way, but the volume stays the same. the only i can "get control" of the knob would be to quickly turn the knob all the way up and then back down again. needless to say that this way of doing it can easily wake a 2 year old up who might be sleeping in the back seat. any ideas?

hello. i'm thinking the one on the right (2nd one), i have a 98 es300 and i have the wood grain by the power windows. i've liked what you've done with the steering wheel. my wheel is all one piece/one color, and i've noticed that the top of the it is starting to get old and crack. i'd like to replace or maybe do the same kind of mod you did. was it difficult?