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wwjdwithca

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  1. The ES is not an interference engine, so that point is moot. If I implied that preventive maintenace should not be completed then your right. I don't believe that is what I said. The car has 175,000 miles on it. Which warranty would that be? My conversation was regarding high milleage cars, I apologize for not being more direct. Again, the car in discussion has 175,000 miles on it. Isn't it obvious we were discussing high milleage vehicles? I'm not saying that he shouldn't replace the timing belt, I'm saying that on a high milleage vehilce you need to think twice. Old parts are many times better than new. Believe it or not. Ya know, just cause someone doesn't do it the way you would, doesn't mean they are "ridiculous." As for fixing the instrument cluster, I don't brought mine into the dealer and the only thing they said they could do is "replace". $800.00 The dealer won't check the ECT. Take the car for a drive again. Go slow from 0-60 with ECT off. Go fast with ECT off. Then repeat process with ECT on. Then take off and accelerate slowly about 15 mph and back off. See how the transmission shifts. Your looking for "hunting" when the transmission shifts or jerking. Good luck. KD Out.
  2. I've never agreed with that mentality of changing items that are fairly expensive to replace before they are broken, so it won't strand you latter. I've heard way too many stories of people doing that to run into a slew of other problems. All of those components wear together, and they like each. Sometimes when you change them you throw off the balance of the engine, and can cause severe damage within the motor. Just two weeks ago I was talking to a guy at work who's had two cars that when he changed the tranny oil the transmission came apart. I've actually heard of that on several occasions, particularly when the oil has never been changed and the transmissions has a lot of miles on it. Now don't get me wrong. I'm not at all saying your worse off changing parts out like timing belts, but it's not like were flying airplanes. I had a 1978 Celica GT that at 150,000 miles had a timing chain that was in as good a shape as it was brand new. Incredible! That engine had been BEAT for at least 70k (my first car), and in the winter the thing would always start, but would run rough until it warmed up and then ran just great! Why would you change the chain on that car when all the parts and pieces ran so well together? Fix things that break, or that don't work good anymore.....isn't that the rule? KD
  3. I had bought a rebuilt unit for 3 grand, and new one was $4500. Nice! The transmission would jerk hard at shift points, and when you'd "kick it down" it wouldn't shift, but go all he way to redline. At first it started doing this only when the ECT was activated, and latter it did it in any mode. I was not told that I could have "saved it" if I would have brought it in for service when I immediatly noticed that it was acting-up. It's been a few years so I'm not certain what time period ellapsed. My mechanic is not a Lexus mechanic. I personally do not like the Lexus dealership here in Ontario, CA. They've never seen a problem that they couldn't fix by replacing the part! My mechanic I've used for over 4 years now, and is very competent, and extremely honest. I've asked him to change the oil during another service, and he calls me and says, "You just changed your oil 1000 miles ago, still want me to change it?" He also put Freon in my A/C system several times at no charge when he couldn't figure out where the leak was coming from. Finally, he refered me to an A/C specialist who said, "compressor, replace it!" Thanks. He had an transmission specialist look at the tranny before he replaced that as well. He was familiar with the car, and said that the electronics in the transmission were defective, and was shifting the transmission incorrectly. Again, that was several years ago, so I don't remember his exact words. My mechanic replaced the trans, and actually did if for very little. Charged me like $300 for labor (seems like he had 8-10 hours invested, but again, don't remember all the specifics very well), and he said he made nothing on the part which was around $2500. Still didn't make me feel very good. Actually, that's probably the biggest reason I still own the car. It was such a big chunck of change that I couldn't get rid fo the car, so someone else could have a brand new transmission. Kevin
  4. OK, I think I figured out this PIC thing. So, yesterday I put a set of SC430 wheels on my Lex with Kumho P235/40-18 tires. I bought the wheels off of Ebay and got the tires from Discount Tire. The whole deal came in under a grand, and I am completely blown away at how much better the car looks!!! I decided I wanted to go with 18's, and I wanted Lexus wheels, so the SC's were the only ones I could find. The thing I didn't think about, or realize was how the fact that the wheels are still Lexus that it throws you on what your looking at. You know how aftermarket wheels can somehow cheapen the feeling of the car, even though it still looks better? I don't know, it's hard to explain, but I look at my car now, and I'm like...."What car is this?" The car just looks more luxurious, and larger all at the same time. It's added a sporty look as well, but it seems to have added more luxury than sport. It seems to be comming from the fact that the wheels are big, and the wheel covers make the wheel even feel larger. I'm now calling it my LS300 :D The tires look really good, and the tread looks like it could handle getting into some water without hyrdroplaning too much. They do track weird. Much more sensitive to the road conditions. The car does certainly handle better, but it just reminds me that I need to replace the shocks and struts to really get in handlling well. I'm wondering what kind of milleage I can expect with these things; 30 grand? I needed spacers in the back and just used 1-3/8" washers instead of a one piece 1/4" one-piece spacer. Only reason was I couldn't find a set of spacers yesterday that fit my bolt pattern, and I didn't need a 1/4" anyway. I'll change them out if the consensus is I could run into problems. Didn't need anything in front, fits great. Kevin
  5. test sorry, just trying to figure out how to post a pic. Now I'm trying to figure out how to delete a post???
  6. Not sure why your worried about the timing belt? Just the milleage? If that's the case and it's not showing timing problems I wouldn't worry about. Toyota engines are built to last! Now the transmission!! I would be worried about that with 175k on it. If the tranny has never been replaced then........well, let's just put it this way. My '92 300 trans only lasted 90k. Not good. Anyway, 150k is typical for an automatic transmission. By the way, the reason they figured the trans went on my car so early was the ECT chip. They said that malfunctioned and ruined the transmission......over time of course. So I would slap it into ECT mode and see how she drives; or shifts as the case may be. Good luck! Keivn
  7. Thanks on both counts. I thought that's what you might say! Rats!! Anyway, I'll just keep my eyes pealed. Thanks for the input. Kevin
  8. I just realized that I should have asked this question to you guys long ago; my stereo button spins free on my '92 300. If you pull on it then turn you can change the volume, but you cannot turn the stereo off by pushing the button in. I was just going to take it in to the dealer, but I figure they're just going to say "replace" like they do with everthing else electronic. What say you? Oh yes, one more thing. Anyone else have their needles on their gauges (speedo and tach) stop illuminating? Is their another fix then replacing? Thanks again. KD
  9. Hello everyone. First time posting. Been lurking since I recently decided to put some money into my '92 300 instead of getting rid of her. Bought some wheels and tires, and will post pics once I get my ISP problems sorted out. I will mention that this site was very helpful in making my decision. Thanks. I love the results, but I don't want to talk about it until I can show it off :P So, another item I'm thinking about doing is changing out my seats. There's two sets on Ebay right now; one from a '98 or '99 (add contradicts itself), and an 03'. Prices are very reasonable. My seats stink. Not cause of me of course. The first owner managed to ruin the seats while only putting 25,000 miles on the car in four years! Has anyone ever done a similar conversion? Is it possible, or do you have to stick with your exact body style? And since we are at it, which years were my body style? '92-'96? Thanks in advance. Kevin
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