lexusk8

When I had my '01, the seat control shield was broken so I ordered a new one from the local Lexus dealership for around $55, and it's pretty easy to install yourself in a few minutes. Not possible to find a cheaper price than that since this is not a common wear item ordered from Lexus.

You have to get yourself under the front end of the car and remove the plastic splash guard which covers the underside of the front end. From that point on you should see how the fog light bulbs are connected, and then go from there to replace them.

Go for it bro. The setup would also look extra sweet with a mild suspension drop (e.g. a set of Eibachs).

Wow, that's a very nice head unit, and could easily pass off as a factory component as well :)

No it wouldn't. The '99 ES was the first year with VVT-i (variable valve timing w/ intelligence) transmission, while the '95 ES does not have it.

I did the same mod when I had my '01 ES. Replaced the nozzles with the ones from a '03 ES, and swapped them out within 15 minutes. Just get a business card and pry the nozzles out from either side as they are held on by clips. When you order the new nozzles, make sure they are the same color as the ones you have before.

Yep, that's called "no-fault" insurance law, and Florida is one of the few states with this law. That basically means when two parties get involved in an accident, neither of them can sue each other for medical or personal damages, and the insurance carriers of both parties take care of compensating them for their damages/losses so more than likely one or both of the parties will receive a generous insurance check from the other party. I personally dealt with the no-fault law when I wrecked my '01 ES last year after improperly making a left turn and hitting a woman head-on. My insurance cut me a check for my loss in an amount way over the KBB value of my car.

The climate control lights are not that hard to replace. To gain access to the lights, you have to remove the entire stereo-and-A/C cluster unit, then remove the A/C unit and unscrew the circuit board from the unit. You will find that the lights themselves are the screw-on type, and things should be self-explanatory as far as replacing them. You can get the replacement lights for around $2-$3 per light bulb at your local Lexus dealership.

The '02-'06 ES never got my attention as it is too boat-like design-wise, but I have to admit the interior is immaculate with the fit and finish. Overall, I have always liked the 2000-2001 ES300 generation. Sporty looking, very refined, great mileage, and interior is nowhere in comparison with that of the Camry.

Maybe take a look at the seats from a '96 ES? I assume they should directly bolt onto the '93.

I can vouch for the ride quality and such for the '96 and '01 ES since I used to own both of them (my '96 was a Coach Edition). You will notice more pep and acceleration with the '01 ES mainly because of the new transmission technology (VVT-i engine), thus more horsepower. Also aesthetically speaking, I think the '01 model looks sportier and more refined than the '96. When I had my '01 after a year, I thought to myself how simple and boring the '96 appears to be. For the interior, the '01 wins hands-down over the '96; it almost feels like sitting inside the LS430 :)

It would greatly help us out if you could tell us what year your ES is. However for most of the ES models, the center brake light can be accessed by pulling the brake light assembly away from the rear window as it is clipped to the carpeting.

Please do a search next time for simple maintenance questions like this. I've already gone ahead and found the answer for you (see below). http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...ost&id=1777

I did two 90K services on my '96 and '01 ES when I had them, and although these put a rather large dent on your wallet, they certainly help out when you plan to keep the ES for long-term. However, if you're handy with a few basic tools and some know-how, you could literally do half of the 90K service work by yourself and save lots of money, such as replacing the air filter, A/C filter, oil change, transmission fluid, etc.

If you say you're not worried about the longevity of the high mileage ES's, just go out and buy one. You won't regret it. Just keep an eye especially on those with a flaky maintenance history.

Sounds like one of your shift solenoids has electrically malfunctioned, hence causing your transmission to shift weird like that. I would get that solenoid ASAP, otherwise you'll risk damaging the entire transmission, be stuck on the road somewhere, and fork over lots of $$$ for a replacement transmission.

Best bang for the buck is installing a set of OEM HID headlamps (including bulbs, ballasts, ignitors) from a 2000-2001 ES300. I did that when I had my '01 ES, and total cost was around $550 for everything from Ebay. Only thing I didn't install was the auto-leveling computer, which is not necessary since you can manually adjust the aim of your lights.

Refer to your owner's manual for instructions on accessing the driver side interior fuse box.

For the headlight bulbs, it sounds like you just need the low beam bulb to replace. The low beam bulb type is H7. You don't need to replace the high beam bulb, but just for your knowledge it is a 9005 type, and also acts as a daytime running light. For the suspension, your best bet is to take the car to a service shop with a lift and check to see if the rear struts are leaking fluid. If that's the case, then you'll have to replace the strut assemblies accordingly.

As long as Lexus Corporate does their due diligence and note that there is an existing handful of ES350 customer complaints on the transmission flair issue (there apparently is, even on the new Camry), you should get exactly what you asked for.

I haven't checked out that part of the glove box, but I would assume that door is for access for the cabin (A/C) filter. Check your owner's manual for detailed info.

Glad to have helped out. I might have to partake on this myself on the wife's '98 Corolla. Nice write-up and pics as well! :)

It's not surprising to see a dirty throttle body like that on a +10 yr old car, but of course it's good maintenance to clean it up. I'd just spray some carb/throttle body cleaner into the butterfly valve where the TB is located. You can get the Valvoline kind at your local Pep Boys or Advance Auto store for a few bucks. After spraying it, clean the gunk off real good with a rag, or if necessary a used toothbrush. After reconnecting everything, your car should start up instantly and at normal idle.

It's possible that the drive belts are getting old and worn out. You can do the inspection yourself: Look carefully at the ribbed side of the drive belt. If you see just a few small cracks here and there, that's fine, but if you see a LOT of small cracks packed together and missing pieces from the belt, that means that the belt is starting to lose its rigidity and so needs to be replaced ASAP. Otherwise, the belt snaps, throwing off the operation of the alternator, which could lead to a very expensive repair. Luckily, you don't need to go to the dealership to purchase new drive belts. Most people opt to go to Autozone or Advance Auto Parts and pick up Goodyear Gatorback drive belts for replacement. These belts cost around $20 to $30, depending on the size and type. It's pretty easy to remove and replace the old belt yourself by simply locating the tensioner of the drive belt assy and loosening the nut that holds the tensioner. This will loosen the old belt so that you'd be able to remove the belt from the pulleys. Just remember which way the belt is installed around the pulley system (as there is only one way). Hope this info helps out.

Since you have a new ES, you're under warranty for almost everything except for items classified as wear-and-tear. Tell the parts dept at the dealer that the clips never came with the car when you took delivery, and that you ask for new ones at no charge. I don't see how they could turn that request down but give it a shot.