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eajan3, If you can't get any satisfaction from the dealer, you may find your next best option is a used CPU from a wrecking yard for the same year. Good Luck!

southwestJim, First off, you've posted in the ES350 forum, so few will have an answer for you. Second, Why not just track down another RX350 and ask the guy to pop his hood so you can get a look?

olegKotov, If that locking rod is bent, pull the door panel on the passenger side and compare it to the bent one. Both will be exact opposites of each other. You may be able to rebend the driver's side one back to original. I've done this on several vehicles where they bent the lock rod when the doors were frozen in winter. A simple refiguring of the lock rod solved the problem. The problem with Lexus is that their factory service manuals are $600 or more to buy, because they don't want you doing the work that they can charge you big bucks for. So beat them at their own game. Check YouTube for door lock fix videos for Toyota Camry's for 1997 - 01 (same generation as your ES300, they are basically the same car, and door interior parts are almost exactly the same). GoodLuck!

Great save!

1stlink, Florida heat tells me you should flush out that old fluid and change the tranny filter, but don`t go to Lexus to pay through the nose. A good independent mechanic can do the job for you for dollars less.

Gentlemen, What lexislexus means is to pull the inner door panel and the plastic weather sheet. Pulling the door panel gets you to the power door lock switch. Use electrical contact cleaner spray to fire some fluid into the lock switch and then cycle it several times. Let the fluid evaporate before you turn on the ignition and try the locks. While there clean the contacts for the wiring connector to the lock switch. Frequently you can take the switch apaert to clean the contacts if the fluid trick doesn't work, but do that inside a large ziplock bag to catch any small parts that may fly apart and disappear. The next thing to do is lubricate the lock assembly itself with WD40 or similar to free up any binding. If all of that doesn't work, the lock actuator may have a bad/dirty motor that needs cleaning/replacing. Lock actuator motors themselves are cheap to buy ($6 on eBay), but can be involved to change out if you've never done one before. If the lock actuator needs replacing, your best bet is a used one from a wrecking yard. Good Luck!

jeharter, I agree with Paul's assesment. You have a blend door or its actuator motor that is broken or stalled in one position, read "very expensive to fix, if you go to a Lexus dealership". The darn thing is hidden way up in behind the dash and is awkward as he** to get at, which equals time = labour dollars. As a DIY fix it requires the pages from the FSM (factory service manual) for the correct diagnostics and the step by step to get at the motor/blend door or its motor. In my case I have 6 vehicles I can drive while the Lexus is tied up, am retired, have the tools, and have been a backyard mechanic for 45 years, so I'd tackle it in a heart beat. Not everyone is so lucky. If you have a good independent mechanic or are a fairly competent mechanic yourself, go for it. Parts would be best found in a junkyard, if you have the time. Good Luck!

akaralnick, A 24 year old car. Ever had the coolant system flushed? The radiator cap pressure tested? The thermostat ever replaced?

glr, The link above is a YouTube video for a Toyota Camry of the same generation as your Es330. Since both cars are built on the same platform, you'll find that the Camry procedure will be almost identical for your ES. Good Luck!

killerbox, I suspect the door lock actuator has gone south. Usually its the motor that develops dirty brushes or has just sat too long in one position and has seized slightly. It may just need to be given either a shot of electrical contact cleaner spray, given some time for the fluid to evaporate, and then exercised. The motor is hidden inside a small plastic gear drive assembly that is sealed, but can be split open to get at the motor. If the motor can't be rejuvinated, it is replaceable for about $15, and then the unit can be resealed up to be made waterproof after testing. To see what I'm talking about, check out this thread from another Lexus forum: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-430/703247-26-diy-vs-1-800-at-the-dealer-door-lock-actuator.html Be sure to read several of the posts after the one with the pictures. There are some additional ideas there. I've changed these actuator motors myself in other cars, and it really is this simple. Sure beats the money that Lexus will want for a replacement actuator. Good Luck!

coppens1, You have a 14 year old car, so if the cost of a new mirror and its installation cost are too pricey for you, you can glue a new mirror surface over the old one, if you can live without the heated mirror function. Basically make a paper template of the original mirror shape and take it to a glass place that cuts mirrors as well. Using a thin mirror tile (they glue them to walls as a back accent behind a shelf, etc.) they can cut a replacement mirror. Then using clear silicone (the same stuff they seal glass fish tanks with and shower stall glass, glue the new mirror over the old one. Then tape it in place so it can't move or slide for 24 hours. Remove the tape and you're good as new. I've fixed several mirrors this way. Either that or you can order a new mirror surface for that Lexus mirror on eBay, and then glue it in place the same way. Good Luck!

alhade, You don't tell us whether the nav system you're buying is an afterrmarket unit, or the Lexus factory one. There is a big difference, and you are chewing off a lot of work. The factory unit has a backup camera, the wiring for it goes from the rear to the dash (read a lot of interior panels have to come off, as well as carpeting). Then there's the GPS unit's antenna and its wiring from the dash to the overhead mirror area, and again a whole pile of panels have to come off. Do the necessary wiring harnesses for the nav unit already exist in the car, or do you have to pay through the nose for them from Lexus? Do you have the wiring diagrams? The center console surround for the nav unit is different from the standard non nav console surround. Can you get one? Does the nav unit come with the latest update dvd, or do you have to buy it from Lexus, read $$? And the biggie ... are you going to do the work .... or are you going to pay someone whose done it before? It isn't as easy as just changing out the radio. At the time that the car was built its an easy job. Not so in this case. Like I said ... you are chewing off a big chunk and may be in for a lot of frustration and far more expense than would make the addition of a nav system worth it. Personally, the only way I'd tackle the job is if I already had the wrecked car with the nav system already in it, and another daily driver to use while I tackled the job of the change over.

plp, This is a job I'd tackle in a heartbeat, as I have quite a garage full of tools, I've been wrenching on cars for over 50 years, and I've had to do quite a few door handle removal/replacements on all kinds of vehicles. You, on the other hand ....? There are a lot of little problems you can run into, and frequently you won't know what they are until you get in to the disassembly. But ..... unless Lexus did things differently than they did on the same generation Toyota Camry, follow this YouTube video to get an idea of what you may be up against. Keep in mind that your key lock is under the rear chrome cap, that simply pries off. Good Luck! And I am not responsible for the opening scene of the video, though I'm sure there are a lot of guys out there who would admit that they wish they were.

rexbella, Good job! Glad it worked out for you.

travelmench, Check your local yellow pages or the better dealerships for guys who do the interior trim touch ups on cars, repairing torn leather seats, scratched panels, etc. They have the tools and methods needed to refinish/touchup the area of concern without breaking the bank. Even if their repair wears off in two year's time, you can get them to do it again. Either that, or find a wrecked unit at a junkyard and have it pulled and replaced.

travelmench, Depending on the paint tech and how deep the scratches are, good techs can fill the scratches and "blow in" the offending area. Blending of the paint will end up with a repair that you won't be able to tell from new, without having to repaint the entire bumper cover. I've seen it done many times in the shop I frequent. Again, I say a good paint tech, not some backyard guy who hasn't been in the backyard for very long. As for cost. it comes down to how big an area is the repair, and the time and materials needed.

Darius, You haven't given us much to go on, in order to nail down a fix. From your post it is obvious that you know very little about car mechanics, and there is nothing wrong about that. I know nothing about brain surgery, so we're even. Your problem sounds like it may be steering pump related, but then again could be anything under the hood. You've spotted an issue early, and that's the best way. The best advice I can give you is to get the car to a good independent mechanic whom you trust and let them evaluate the problem. There is no need to go to Lexus, unless you want to, as any good mechanic can solve your issue. It'll also cost less that way as well. Before you drive very far, check the fluid level in the power steering pump, and if its low top it up before you drive the car too far. Do the same for the transmission and the engine oil. Check your owner's manual for those procedures. That will ensure you do no more damage on the way to get the issue fixed. Good Luck, and keep us posted as to how it all works out!

pakaplan, In almost all cases the front bumper cover must be removed, in order to get at the back of the fog lights to their mounting bolts/screws/tabs. Generally when all of the plastic plugs/bolts/screws that secure the bumper cover are removed, the cover is pulled forward until you can reach in behind and disconnect the wiring harnesses to the fog lights. Then the bumper cover is freed up to allow access to the fog light mounting points. I expect your fog light has a broken mounting point, or a bolt/screw has come loose. On some cars there is enough room to get at the back of the fog lights, if the bottom wind shield from the bottom of the bumper cover to the oil pan is removed. Others have to have the inner plastic wheel well unplugged/unbolted and pulled away to gain access. In either case you won't know until you get into it. Having never removed the bumper cover on my wife's last ES330, an 04, it could be any of the three above sequences. Not hard to do, but finicky for sure. Good Luck!

wasabiboys, I did some searching for you as well, and I'm wondering if your locking system needs to be reset. I've found a post with the procedure, so maybe this will do it for you. Fingers crossed! Good Luck! Sit in the driver's seat and lock all the doors. Unlock and open the driver's door. Insert the key into the ignition and remove it (don't turn it...just remove it). Using the MANUAL lock switch on the driver's door, lock and unlock the door 5 times. Close the door. Open the door. Lock and unlock the driver's door 5 times (I'm almost certain you use the MANUAL lock switch again, but if this sequence fails to work, try again with the power switch). Insert the key into the ignition and turn it to the "ON" position. Remove the key. The driver's door will now lock and unlock itself one time. Press and hold the "LOCK" button on the key fob for at least 1 second. Close the driver's door. Open the driver's door. Press and hold the "LOCK" button on the key fob for at least one second. Close the driver's door. Press and hold the "LOCK" button on the key fob. The door will lock. Press and hold the "LOCK" button on the key fob again. The door will unlock. You should be all set. Read more: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/es300-and-es330/458381-1997-es300-key-programming.html#ixzz3Wg6091sp

VBdenny, Just for clarification, my wife's last ES330 (an 2004 ) developed this exact same flashing AC light and no AC cooling issue. At that time I did online searches to discover the change in the updated relay as the TSB fix for the problem. I replaced the relay with the newer one and the problem was corrected. The AC continued to work perfectly for the next few years until we decided to trade up to her present 2011.

doc77032, You have the newer updated relay. I would pull it and try cleaning all its contacts, and then reinstall it and try again. If that doesn't do the trick, I would wonder if it is bad and needs replacing, again, or if your harness connectors at the relay and the AC magnetic clutch are corroded.

newportman, Stranger things have happened when low voltages from battery or alternator hit the system. I'd keep a close watch for the code to pop up again. If you don't see it again in say 3 months or so, you may be good to go. It it rears its ugly head in the meantime, I'd track it down to prevent expensive repairs that'll stranf you miles from home. Good Luck!

newportman, I guess it would help if I attached the link! Duh! My apologies. http://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-first-generation/452555-code-p1354-help-please.html

WC Man, I agree, but that Nav screen gives you a great back up camera screen! My wife's 2011 ES Navigation system is no where as convenient to use, or as intuitive as my two year old Garmin GPS. I found the same thing with her last 04 ES330. It is what it is.

Your sarcasm won't do much to win you any replies. This forum doesn't have a lot of wrenchers, and those who are will be reluctant to reply unless they have a pretty good suspicion that they have a possible cause for you to chase down. I found this thread on another site that may help you out, particularly posts 3 and 8. Good Luck!