gld98682

I recently changed the transmission fluid in a "97" ES300. The dealer told me that it took 4 qts. of fluid. I put 4 qts. into the tranny and ran it to get it warm so I could check it. Upon checking the dip stick it read a qt. low on the stick. My question is a simple one, could anyone measure the lenght of there tranny dip stick so I would have a reference to the correct lenght? Measure from the bottom of the stick to the plastic handle. (the metal portion only) I have an idea that mine is not the original one. Thanks in advance for your help.

On my 1997 ES300 it's 19 7/8.

My 1997 ES300 is going strong with 165,000 miles. No leaks, no unusual noises, and very little oil consumption. My mechanic (an independent Toyota specialist) would like to do a VALVE ADJUSTMENT as a preventive maintenance. What do you think? Is this service a good idea? BTW, his quote for the job is $559.

Thanks for your input!

Eric - glad to hear of your success.

Here's my post from 4/05...

After new OE struts, strut mounts, and spring insulators (all installed by an independent Lexus specialist), the classic "bad strut mount" noise remained - although not as loud.

I turned to the dealer to solve the problem. They lubed the "bump stops" , and the noise is completely gone!!!

The fix was no charge since the dealer had originally diagnosed the noise as bad strut mounts. Kudo's to Lexus of Portland

Gary

My 1997 (with standard Pioneer radio) does not use a security code.

Get the bump stops lubed. See my previous post.

http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...topic=15062&hl=

;)

raw6464 - I agree with you. I had this same situation (years ago) with a 1990 Ford Thunderbird. I found this strange piece in the A/T pan, took it to a trans shop, and they said what you said...it was a filler tube plug!

Thanks SK. I'll address the IAC. :whistles:

1997 ES300 w/122,000 miles... Occasionally will not idle on a warm re-start unless I keep my foot on the throttle. If foot is taken off the throttle, engine immediately dies. Keeping foot on throttle for about a minute seems to clear the problem. Any ideas what is going on??? Cold starts are always flawless. Thanks for your input.

PS 120k service was done and did not change this situation

Sounds like the classic bad strut mount syndrome to me. However, before going to the expense of replacing parts, have your shop lube the bump stops.

I know it sounds like a simplistic approach, but it eliminated the noise for me AFTER new strut mounts, struts, and spring cushions!

Please report back!

Just for "giggles" have your bump stops lubricated. As posted previously, it solved my noise problem - after new OEM struts, strut mounts, etc.

Was down this road w/ my 97 ES300. After new struts and mounts, I still had the noise. Turned out that having the bump stops lubricated by the Lex dealer solved the problem. Good luck!

Check this out - It may help

http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...=sunroof++shims

The search function is a wonderful thing.

:whistles:

This sure sounds like what I went throught last fall. Check this link...

http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...topic=15062&hl=

Good Luck,

Gary

Hello,

Last night my son got pen in car. He made some marks on leather rear seats.

I used all kinds of soap. Still there. Any idea.

Thanks,

←

Mr Clean Magic Eraser. It will work. Search for prior posts.

Gary

gld98682,

How loud was the click?

Mine isn't terribly loud, but I hear it.

Man, one problem after the next!

←

It was loud enough to be anoying! One of the many reasons I dumped the Avalon!

On the Avalon, you could open the hood, pull the wipers to the resting position away from the glass, and operate the wipers. You could then hear and feel the noise from the wiper motor. However, due to the hood design of the ES (at least on my 97), you can't pull the wipers away with the hood open. I guess you will have to disconnect the wiper arm linkage to verify my suspisions.

Good Luck,

Gary

I had this same issue with a 99 Avalon I had puchased new. In that case it was a bad wiper motor. Unfortunately, I went though several wiper motors (with the blessing of the Toyota zone rep), before getting a quiet one.

Good Luck

Noise is still gone! This cure is the real deal nearly a month later! Don't know how the dealer lubed these, or with what, but they definately refered to them as "bump stops". I'm almost certain that the struts were NOT removed to lube them.

Gary

Another happy camper here! I completeted this is a quick and affordable repair today. Pioneer must be having a "run" on the LED display. Thanks to all who "PIONEERED" this thread!

Gary

So are you saying that the noise could possibly just be caused by dry bump stops?  Or that lubing them would at least minimize the noise?

←

Strut Mounts cured SOME of the noise. Lubing the bump stops finished the job. Of course the question I will never know the answer to is...what if I had lubed the bump stops first???

Gary

After new OE struts, strut mounts, and spring insulators (all installed by an independent Lexus specialist), the classic "bad strut mount" noise remained - although not as loud.

I turned to the dealer to solve the problem. They lubed the "bump stops" , and the noise is completely gone!!!

The fix was no charge since the dealer had originally diagnosed the noise as bad strut mounts. Kudo's to Lexus of Portland

Gary :D

In case you did not figure this out yet...

Put the key in the drivers door, twist right once to unlock the drivers door only, twist right twice to unlock all doors.

This is undoubtedly a security feature.

Enjoy,

Gary :)

Wult - Omni Brake & Alignment in Kirkland is your guy. You can contact him at 425-823-1511.

Tell him I sent you.

Good luck,

Gary Drapela

The shop installed the complete strut assembly...

Gary

Noise is from both sides. You think both new struts could be defective?

Thanks,

Gary

Lexus dealer and an independent specialist diagnosed the clunk noise when going over wide rolling speed bumps etc, as bad strut mounts.

I had the independent shop replace both front mounts and struts with factory parts, and the noise remained. The shop then replaced the mounts again, and the noise remained. The shop then replaced the upper and lower spring insulators, and the noise remained. Finally, the tech drove the car with the stabilizer bar unconnected, and the noise remained.

Any ideas what he is missing???