Lexusfreak

It could be a number of things.....start with the most obvious. First off what size tires do you have? What tire pressure does it call for? (what Lexus recommends NOT the maximum pressure that's mentioned on the sidewall). The balance could be out, the wheels could need an alignment (I ALWAYS get a 4 wheel alignment when I install new rubber). Check the basics first & let us know what (if anything) was discovered. It does not sound like a serious problem from what your describing.

It's a good question. I don't know of many owners that have there ES just sit like that for long periods of time without being driven. Perhaps all the 'Toy's' on the car including the security system that has a flashing red light on the dash when the car is locked up, slowly but surely drains the battery down when not used that often. If you are going to let the car sit that long (car's are built to be driven fairly often then not), I suggest to disconnect the battery before you go so it does not completely drain.....try that & seee what happens when you re-connect the terminals as it should hold it's charge. The only downside to this is all your radio pre-set's, clock, memory seats settings will constantly have to be adjusted & perhaps even other electronic equipment (ore detailed information should be in your owners manual, if you don't have one, get one!). That's the best I can suggest, good luck! B) DON'T give up on Lexus just yet! ;) Welcome to the club by the way :)

That's correct! The 'pink' stuff is pre-mixed as I mentioned earlier in this thread. And I saw the same article hammer that the Toyota Gazette mentioned. It's factory fill on many (if not all? ) new Toyota & Lexus vehicles (I saw a brand new RX 330 a month or so ago in the showroom with it. It's supposed to last much longer than the red stuff & you should do a 'complete' fluid flush anyways before installing any new engine coolant so all old stuff is out & will not 'weaken' the performance or dilute the new stuff. B)

Thanks for clearing that up.....I thought it was still 8 characters. Thanks! B)

For those who are intrested in purchasing a pre-owned Lexus RX 300, this write up might intrest you, enjoy! B) Aug. 21, 2004. 01:00 AM RX 300 gave easy entrée into SUV life Lexus sport-ute served up virtues of its Camry forefather Owners found few faults with impressive Toyota build quality MARK TOLJAGIC SECOND-HAND "If you want to go off-road, get a used Jeep and beat it to death." Sage advice from an Internet user who, in response to bleats that the Lexus RX 300 is not a real sport-utility, suggests the microscopic fraction of the driving public that actually does go off-roading wouldn't be shopping for a luxury SUV anyway. For the rest of us, the RX may be just the right prescription. By rummaging through its extensive parts inventory, Toyota was able to cobble together an appealing sport-utility in time for its launch early in 1998 as a '99. As the he-man contingent is quick to caution, the RX 300 is a unibody platform (like the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Nissan Pathfinder) largely carried over from the Camry, although the four-wheel-drive version borrows bits from the RAV4 and Celica All-Trac. In other words, a truck pretender in frilly underpants. Still, Toyota is one manufacturer that rarely makes a misstep. Knowing that the SUV driver is largely concerned with fashion, a tall driving position, comfort, safety, cargo utility and fashion (not to put too fine a point on it), Lexus made sure the RX delivered on all counts — employing car technology to stay within budget, and provide a class-leading ride. The strategy worked. The RX 300 became Lexus's best-selling model from the day it hit showrooms. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONFIGURATION The RX 300 arrived as a sleekly styled five-door wagon, powered by a modified version of the Camry/ES300 V6 engine. In this application, the DOHC 3.0-litre motor was fed by a variable-volume intake system and variable valve-timing mechanism to boost low- and mid-range torque. About 80 per cent of its 222 lb.-ft. of thrust was available at just 1,600 rpm. And it churned out 220 horsepower. To help make an already smooth engine even more sedate at idle, a unique active engine mount created pulses opposite to the engine to counteract shakes at the steering wheel. The RX 300 was available with front-wheel or optional all-wheel drive. As with Toyota's All-Trac models, the AWD RX used a centre differential with a viscous limited-slip device to split the power between the axles. The full-time, all-wheel version lacked a low range, so, again, while it's not ideal for rock climbing, it was more than adequate on gravel cottage roads or in foul weather. The interior was roundly lauded for its design and finish. The standard four-speed automatic transmission gear selector resided in a binnacle high off the floor, maximizing space. Storage cubbies and cupholders abound. There was seating for five, although the rear bench was mounted low to the floor, compromising comfort. Seemingly to compensate, the rear seatbacks reclined, a luxurious touch many owners like to boast about. Unfortunately, the feature cuts into cargo capacity, which is a little disappointing for a vehicle of this size, say owners. The RX 300 remained largely unchanged throughout its production run. For 2001, it benefited from some minor styling tweaks, a larger fuel tank and some new optional equipment. The RX 300 was replaced by the redesigned and more powerful RX 330 for 2004. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ON THE ROAD The lighter front-drive RX 300 could sprint to highway velocity in 8.5 seconds, besting the V6-powered Ford Explorer. The all-wheel-drive model was only 0.3 seconds slower. The Toyota engine made speed effortlessly. Silky and almost silent, the motor seemingly resided in the next county, rather than on the other side of the firewall. Thanks to its extensive car bits, the RX 300 exhibited a delectably smooth ride and a well-sorted suspension, making for some very non-trucklike handling. For the vast majority of consumers, that's a good thing. Still, given the higher centre of gravity and do-everything tires, the Lexus could only muster 0.69 g of grip on a circular skidpad. Braking performance was decent, requiring 58 metres to stop from a speed of 112 km/h. By the way, almost everything that has been said of the RX 300 applies equally to Toyota's Highlander, which is the slightly larger, less-appointed spinoff of the Lexus, introduced in 2001. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHAT OWNERS REPORTED We're always hard-pressed to find a disgruntled Lexus owner. And for good reason: Since the brand was first introduced in 1990 (a year later in Canada), it has been the top-ranked manufacturer in J.D. Power and Associates' vehicle dependability studies every single year. "After four years, my kids still call it `the new car.' I can live with this kind of durability," wrote the owner of a '99 RX 300 on the Internet. There were no significant mechanical headaches noted by owners in their posted comments. There were some concerns, however. Some owners mentioned the "ridiculous" turning radius, deemed far too wide for a compact vehicle. As noted earlier, others disliked the small cargo hold behind the rear seat. And more than a few owners complained about the noisy sunroof at highway speeds. The wind-buffeting problem appeared to be addressed in the mid-generation upgrades of the 2001 and later models. Overall, the Lexus RX 300 is an easy and sumptuous introduction to the SUV lifestyle. It coddles you with creature comforts and safety features, provides you with a commanding view and still delivers decent fuel economy. Build quality and durability are above reproach. Of course, you'll pay handsomely for the privilege of buying a second-hand RX, but that appears to be the prescription for peace of mind these days.

Best advice is to get one that comes from the automaker (I have a 'Lexus' extended warranty for my 01 ES) as opposed from an 'aftermarket' or 'third party' warranty company. Always read the fine price very carefully to make sure you know what your getting beforehand. The Lexus extended warranty is a tad more expensive, but they have to go over the car with a fine tooth comb because it's a warranty backed by Lexus.....so they are quite fussy compared to other warranty companies. I find the 'third party' route is a huge scam & good luck getting a claim approved for something major if a major part or component fails. So far I have not had to use my extended warranty, but I do have coverage for the next 2 years & 60,000 miles.......that makes me very comfortable! B)

Agreed, a tire like the GY Eagle F 1 is bigtime overkill for an LS. :whistles:

B)

What year ES for the tranny service?

sk, just courious....how many characters are allowed now on Ontario personalized licence plates?? I bought mine back in 94 when you could only get 6 characters & is a space in between characters considered a character? Thanks! B)

Nice car! Looks like you have the factory AVS suspension system like mine B) piece of advice.......get rid of the club anti-thieft device & get yourself the autolock which attaches to the brake pedal.......the can cut the steering wheel to get the club off but they can't cut the brake pedal off ;) It's the strongest part of the car.

Thanks, I assume I can't......I've called 3 Lexus dealers & they haven't the slightest clue as to what I'm talking about. :(

I agree sw! ;) Ford has come a long way. I wish ALL car companies paid closer attention to the original tires they put on their models however.....it's pretty much every car maker too! I am trying to take Ford to task with my wife's 03 Focus ZX5. She has Firestone Firehawk GTA-02's & they are actually worse than the Bridgestone Potenza RE 92's! I didn't know that was possible! (well made by the same company however) Never drove a worse tire even in light rain so I won't even get into snow conditions & she's got ABS & traction control. I hope they might go at least half's with us to get the TPT's....we shall see but I'm not holding my breath.

I should check my rad just to see what it say's. If you feel more comfortable to change the engine coolant then go fot it.......I suggest the pink super long life stuff......I'll be using it next time too.

Your the first person that I've heard that's had any problems with the TPT's. Such low milage too.....strange

29 psi sw? (perhaps the 02+ is slightly lower? ) My 01 says 32 psi all around on the door jamb & I confirmed with 2 Lexus dealers as well. :)

Can you get ahold of the lady you purchased the car from to ask her? Kind of sounds to me that that service has been done from what your describing. You can get a coolant test done as well to see how good it is. :) Where abouts in T.O. are you BTW hammer?

40k miles should be no problem on the TPT's. B) I hope they perform well for you!

Well if you read these brief reviews from several of these very reliable sources, my claim is correct & it's by no means a bad thing. It's a 4 Runner "dipped in gold" B) :whistles: http://www.edmunds.com/new/2004/lexus/gx47...enav..15.Lexus* http://www.canadiandriver.com/roadtest/04gx470.htm http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?se...3&page_number=1

Yeah that's quite possible sw.......I'm still waiting for my 05 ES full brochure (I already received the 05 Camry one lol).

I don't have any noticable tire noise at all on mine how about you sw? (what tire pressure have you set them at & did you do a 4 wheel alignment?) You should notice a more softer, comfortable & compliant ride than the Dunlop's mburn & I bet you will be impressed with the rain & wet weather performance of them as well! Keep us posted. The snow traction is better than the Michelin MXV4's that I know for sure......but we still can't go nut's in the winter as it's still an "all season" tire. :)

Actually Toyota (Lexus) has a new coolant called "super long life engine coolant" & it's pink in colour. It lasts much longer than the Toyota red stuff & should be compatible for your ES (I wish they had it available off the shelf when I did my coolant change back in Febuary :( but I replaced it with the red regular "long life" Toyota stuff but will be putting the new pink fluid on my next coolant change). The good thing about this new coolant is that it's already "pre-mixed" with a 55% - 45% coolant / water mix so you don't have to buy any distilled water......just two (possibly three for "top up's") one gallon jugs should be all you need. I know my capacity is around 8.5 litres or there abouts. Check out a couple dealers both Toyota & Lexus to get prices (I'm courious how much it is south of the border). Let us know & good luck! B)

I second that question sw B)

sk, any idea if the 97 + up one you mention will fit my 01 ES with the AVS suspension system? I'm afraid of messing up something as there are electronics that go thru the strut towers & metal "caps" to boot!?

BTW, Happy B-Day blake! B)