Mr Bill

In preparation for changing the differential fluid on my 95 ES300, I undid the filler plug, and about 1/2 a quart of fluid came out. Does this simply mean it was overfilled whenever it was last filled (don't know when - not by me) or could this indicate I have another different problem? Fuild was warm not hot (I know this stuff expands). ??

My 95 ES300 has a weird pull feeling (to the left?) when its going to shift, most noticable around 30 mph. It feels a little bit like a short-term torque-steer. Is this a bad motor or tranny mount??

SOme sort of idle valve sticks when the car is cold which may cause this - try giving it a little gas while cranking. If this is the problem, engine will die when you let off the gas. It only takes a couple of minutes for the engine to warm up where it will keep running. Had this problem on mine for a couple of years - happens intermittently.... there is a fix on this site somewhere.....

OK, now I have a lot of info - sounds like I can do this myself. Thanks for all the info Bill

Aha - now I get it. The light came on due to low brake fluid - I had no idea it had such a feature. So the brake wasn't stuck (we use the brake all the time), its just that the fluiid is low. Thank you - The brakes need major work anyway, and this is just another indicator that I need to get the work done. Does anyone recommend specific rotors and pads?? I am somewhat handy - have replaced disc pads before on other cars - would it be overly complex for me to change out the rotors and pads myself (I don't have a manual).??

OK, well I guess is am underwhelmed by those responses - anyone got anything helpful or constructive to say??

My wife just brought the car back after leaving for work this morning, saying "it felt funny" and that the emergency brake light was on, and when she put the handbrake down, the light stayed on. She drove it home and when she put the car in park, the emergency brake light went out. She also insists that she had released the handbrake before she set out on her trip to work. My questions are: do the emergency brakes on this car stick on?? Is the idiot light connected to the parking brake Handle (as I would guess), or some other part of the system? i.e. if the light was on, must the handle have been up? My wife has confessed to driving this car with the handbrakes applied before. The car also has bad juddering when applying the foot brake at speed, I can't really tell if its the back brakes or the front brakes causing it, or both. So I guess I need new rotors etc etc. Do you have a replacement set you recommend??? Thanks for any feedback, Mr Bill

that makes sense - but I have a question - what is a "motorvac" ?? I have never heard of that.

My 96 ES300 has just over 100k miles. Despite a high reading (50 out of a max of 51 ppm hydrocarbons) 2 years ago, it just passed a smog check again today. Given that to change the 3 O2 sensors is something like $400 or more, should I go ahead and change them to protect the catalytic, or just wait until I get a CEL?? Thanks to those who responded to my other O2 sensor question on resetting the ECM. Thank you Bill

Hi, I have a '96 ES300 with just over 100k miles and want to change the O2 sensor. I understand from otyher posts here changing the sensor is easy - but do I need to "reset the ECM" or anything like that - or do I simply change the sensor? TIA, Mr Bill