SRA

Thanks for the info. When I tried to retreive the codes, I saw that my battery was dead. So I used jumper cables and started the car and charged the battery, before I could check the codes again. The light was blinking steadily which i interpreted as no codes. Is it possible that the codes got wiped out due to the battery going dead? TIA

I am having a similar problem with my 1993 ES 300. Can you tell me where I can find instructions on checking the code. I may have the same code but I dont know how to scan the code, since my car uses an OBD1 system. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for your input, it is definitely useful. I certainly would not have thought of this as being a problem area. I will check this one out. Thanks again.

I have a 1993 Lexus ES300 car. It has an automatic transmission. I am experiencing a slip or a shudder when the transmission engages. I need help troubleshooting this problem to identify the correct remedy. I have the Repair manuals for this car. Does this sound like I need to replace the transmission. The car has about 156000 miles. Any related info is highly appreciated.

Here is a brief summary. I had trouble with the car (1993 ES 300) overheating and the coolant disappearing from the radiator reservoir. It also seemed to affect the emissions because this is the first time in the life of the car that it failed the emissions test. This went on for several months. I was unable to figure out what may be causing the problem. The radiator was tested and showed no leaks at all. Several mechanics in the area had no clue. Finally one mechanic decided to check the codes using a scanner that was right for the pre OBD2 cars and it showed a code 22. It meant that there is an open circuit in the hydraulic cooling unit connected to the cooling fan for the radiator. (I can look up the exact details if you want to try this). It turned out that a certain mechanic had unplugged this connector and put it back wrongly. I dont know how that is possible, but I had checked this connector before and it seemed connected. Anyway once that was fixed, everything went back to normal. Let me know if you need any more info. This exact problem has been posted on this site by several others. Seems like a Lexus specific issue. Hope this helps.

OK Thanks for your reply. I too have a 93 ES 300 and since I have started to care for it myself, it runs wonderfully well. This website has been immensely helpful, thanks to all the wonderful people here.

Hi, I just came across this post, though it is old, thought I may be able to help. Were you able to fix this overheating problem. If not let me know, I had a similar issue and was able to resolve it. I will have to dig up the details.

I just remembered, when I replaced the VCG, i needed a new set of spark plug gaskets (6 of them) and I had to drive to the dealership again just to get these. You may want to have a set of these handy just in case.

I recently had to change the valve cover gaskets VCG on my 1993 ES 300. The rear bank is a pain, you will have to take off the air intake on the 1993, not sure if its the same on the 97. Its not difficult to do just a pain on the rear bank. I also changed the PCV valve and its grommet and hose. I would recommend putting TOYOTA parts from my past experience with the same parts. Also I later found an article here or on ClubLexus with another solution to this problem, if you use the search feature you will see that this is a common problem. Hope this helps.

If you would like to try a different mechanic, you can go to www.cartalk.com (these guys have a weekly car show on NPR) and enter your zip code and find a mechanic (relatively a more reliable one). Once you do that, u can tell the new mechanic all you want him to do is to inspect the cooling system for leaks using the procedure from the repair manual. That way you have a second opinion and in my experience it has always been worth the trouble to get a second opinion. Even if u replace the engine, but if the radiator is bad, it may not solve your cooling problem even with the new engine in place. Just a suggestion.

If you have not already done so, then maybe u can try the following. If you have access to the factory service manual for the 1993 ES 300 (which u can download from this site), then on page EG 254 you will find the procedure to inspect the cooling system for leaks. I have cut and paste this procedure here for ur convenience. You can try to get your mechanic to try it out to confirm or rule out a leak in the cooling system. 2. INSPECT COOLING SYSTEM FOR LEAKS (a) Fill the radiator and engine with engine coolant and attach a radiator cap tester to the water outlet. (B) Warm up the engine. © Disconnect the reservoir hose from the radiator overflow pipe. (d) Install a rubber cap onto the radiator overflow pipe, then fix the rubber cap in place with a clip. (e) Pump it to 127 kPa (1.3 kgf/cm2, 18.5 psi) and check that the pressure does not drop. If the pressure drops, check for leaks from the hoses, radiator or water pump. If no external leaks are found, check the heater core, cylinder block and head. (f) Remove the radiator cap tester and install the radiator cap to the water outlet. (g) Remove the clip and rubber cap from the radiator overflow pipe. (h) Connect the reservoir hose to the radiator overflow pipe. Please update this thread with your findings for the rest of us. Hope this helps.

Hi, I have a 93 ES 300 and had the same problem about a month back. The emission inspection person i took it to was not the regular place i normally go to. This guy sent me out with a failed emission and I ended up spending $200 for a fuel injection service that he did for me and at the last minute talked me into adding some additive which hiked up the initial estimate. Then finally when i re-tested it, after driving the car around as he told me to, i still did not pass the emissions. So the same day I took it to the regular person i go to, and my car did pass the emission test without any change. I suspect the emission's inspector did some funny things not sure what. I would recommend u take it to a known emissions person where u have had a good experience before. That being said, you can try to find out at this site how to clean your fuel injector and throttle which may help. In my case it was just a terrible emissions inspector who was the problem. Hope this helps.

If you are replacing the high pressure hose, you may want to also consider replacing the hose that goes from the power steering reservoir. This is available at Autozone for about $50. It will be a pain to go back in there later, so I replaced both these hoses when i got mine done.

Sorry for the delay, i finally found the packing for the power steering hose, it is a hydraulic hose available only at a lexus dealer, the part number on the packing is 16927-62020. It is a Toyota Genuine part (it has this sticker). I cannot find the receipt, since my friend bought it for me. Hope this helps. Let me know if you need any more info.

I will look for the part number and post it shortly. It cost me around $100 or so (i had a friend buy it for me, not sure where he got that price, but I can check) and I paid around $100 to a mechanic to install it. The replace is a pain but a good mechanic can do it, its not a big deal, you just have a lot of other stuff in the way and need to be careful. Trying to pinpoint the leak in my opinion is not worth the trouble. It could be difficult to pinpoint especially if it is leaking under high pressure, but I may be wrong.

Thanks for your suggestion, I will check the cruise control. Buying a used cluster and replacing just the gauge seems like a good idea. Had not thought of that. Thanks again.

I have a similar problem on my 1993 ES300, the speedometer needle is stuck around 20 mph and does not move when I am driving. The mechanic says i will have to send the entire instrument cluster to get it fixed costing around $1000. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix the speedometer gauge?

I had the exact same situation with the level of the PS fluid at the seam and I was almost certain it was the reservoir container. Then after changing the hoses, the level is fine and not at the seam. Looks like a very similar problem. Not sure why the leak stops at that level.

I have a 93 ES 300 and had to replace my high pressure power steering hoses, there are 2 hoses that I replaced and I think they are both high pressure hoses. One costs about $100 and connects to the PS fan (I think). The other hose costs about $50. Both the hoses are a pain to remove and replace. My engine was also soaked with the power steering fluid , which is nothing but oil (the 93 ES300 uses ATF - auto transmission fluid), which I guess is oil and it may have damaged my CV boots too. My passenger side CV boots were worn out. So I also had to replace the drive axle on the passenger side. If you need any more info, let me know. Hope this helps.

Thanks for your response. I took the car to a local mechanic and he found a leak in the high pressure hose, he said that the labor would be $100 to replace the hose and the hose should cost about $120, does this sound right, about $220 to replace a hose? Is this something that I may be able to do myself? Thanks in advance.

I had the same problem on my ES300, I made sure the power steering fluid is at the right level and havent had the noise since then. Hope this helps.

I have the same problem of leaking power steering fluid. Were you able to get it fixed. Any pointers on what I should look for? Thanks