steviej

I'll take care of it and the double post. steviej

matching rear lip spoiler, roof spoiler and eyebrows for the headlights. give is that sleek fast look. Of course you need a couple of LOC static stickers. steviej

BINGO. I was about to say the samething! ← sorry mike and brian, the 2002 and 2003 ES are 300's and their rear ends look just like this. 2004 was when we went to 330. However, the LEXUS badge goes on the left. Alan, thanks for the compliment, wait till you see the roof spoiler, it will be your next mod. (if ever they figure out the fit). Our spoiler fits with the curves better.

The Hydroedge is an awesome tires. Even though it is 2 ratings below factory fit (V > H > T) it can still attain 118 mph if aired properly. However, how many of us see 118 mph on a daily basis? Second, another slight disadvantage will be in cornering. The car may lean a little more than if it had V or H rated tires. I switched to H rated all seasons simply due to availability and pricing for my winter tires. Honestly, at the speeds that I drive, I wouldn't know the difference if you blindfolded me and had me drive two identical cars, one with Vs and one with Hs. The ES is governed to speeds around 140-150mph. It is very hard to go over that. The manufacturer's tire rating must at least cover this hence the V rating. In actuality, how many of of even attempt a stupid stunt of trying to get to that speed? H and T rated tires are perfectly ok depending on your driving. The V-rating is not a requirement. steviej

palacie, Don't take the cap off the radiator when you get back from your little drive. Just look at the overflow jug. If it were coolant burning, then I would expect a sweet maple syrup smell. If it is a rubber smell then I would expect petroleum product of some kind. I am sure something has dripped onto the rear exhuast manifold or leaked and pooled next to it from the timing belt operation. The ride around the neighborhood is an awesome idea. You may be able to see trails of smoke that will indicate where it is eminating from. Now, you just go and have yourself a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family. By the time you read this you will be full of turkey and stuffing. Enjoy and don't be worried. If you temp is normal and not lights come on, and not drops in the driveway....go have a good time. steviej

do a google search on motorvac to find shops in your area that offer the service. you can pull the ecu fuse, but this is only treating the symptom and not the cause. The light will come back on if you done fix what triggers the light in the first place. steviej

It is not as easy to collect as oil or tranny fluid, and there is way more of it. Around my parts it is illegal if any goes into the street sewer. I just can't be bothered with the possibilities of "what could happen" that's all. In addition, The ES also has a particular refill procedure that can be tricky if not done right. I leave mine to the dealer. steviej

Alan, Boston ain't much better. I cheat and park at the hospital I work at and only pay $7. The hospital is right in the center of Boston's Theatre district and Chinatown. The guy in the booth doesn' know I'm not really going into work. Now the Airport.....that is a different story. :chairshot: I feel for ya dude. steviej

what's with all the spoiler haters??? :cries: as for the LEXUS tag, you are right. It is supposed to be on the left. Guess the bodyshop didn't pay attention to details. steviej

NOOOO!!!, I have a spoiler. However that was a good guess in that this spoiler is from a Camry.

I caught this while browsing ebay. Who is the good sleuth? What's the problem here? steviej

how do you know the ABS is working fine? Did you hit the brakes real hard on a wet road and get brake chatter and vibration in the pedal? Usually when the ABS light is on, the ABS is shut down but the brakes still work fine as conventional brakes. It may be a sensor or wire got dislodged. Take it to the Lexus dealership and have the Tranny shop pick up the ticket for the diagnostic and the repair if necessary. steviej

the optima batteries with the R in the number, ie. 34R, will fit properly. R is for reversed. The connectors will be opposite what they usually are so that they match up in the cars that have put the cables opposite to what most cars are. did you follow that jibberish? steviej

correct, the timing belt on an ES is usually done around 90k on a normally driven car (average 15k miles/year). HOWEVER, palacie's ES is 11 years old, that means the timing belt is 11 years old if it has never been done before. It is well overdue for a change. palacie, you are smart to get it done now while the car is drivable. You wouldn't want to have it break on a long trip in the middle of nowhere. It is totally normal to replace the waterpump, accessory belts, tensioners too. It is pricey but worth the effort to get it done all at once. As for the price, this is variable but in the ballpark or what you would get around here (Boston, MA). My firend just has his 98 Avalon done by an independent (just TB, WP and new accessory belts, no tensioners and it was upwards of $600. The axle shaft(s) are and easy fix and if the price is jumping to $1400 that means he is charging you $541 for the axle shaft replacement. This is absurd if it is only for 1 shaft. If it is for both, then somewhat reasonable. The shafts themselves aren't more than $75 each and only about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to do. I would expect $250 per side for the shaft replacement(s). steviej

same thing on www.tirerack.com steviej

I do most of the stuff myself: Inspections, tire rotations, oil & filter, tranny drain and fill, cabin filter change, wiper insert changes, the easy stuff. The only thing I take to the dealer or independent are coolant flushes, brake fluid flushes, power steering flushes (all part of the 30k, 60k, 90k etc.) steviej

Jacob, personally this is one flush I leave to the dealer simply because I don't want to be responsible for proper waste disposal. I don't want ethylene glycol in my driveway (don't want to have an accidental poisoning of someones' pet that may come across leftover spill). Oil and tranny fluid I collect and take to the waste disposal station. It is easy to contain and or clean up if necessary. Coolant flush is not so easy. Do the coolant at the dealer. steviej

None, they are a bit cramped for me. The ES has great shoulder room for me. If I has to choose, then it would be the Avalon just for interior space. steviej

go to a professional and see if the rotors have enough meat on them to cut and still leave you with enough metal to be safe. If they do, cut them. If not, replace them. If you like the OEM feel and quiet of the brakes now, then I would get all the stuff online at www.irontoad.com or www.lexus-parts.com. If you buy aftermarket you get aftermarket....they may squeal a little and they may produce more brake dust. Pads come in fours so it is the whole axle or nothing at all. If you got a seized caliper then maybe the caliper should be looked at. Alot of times it is old rubber boots that don't retract back or as simple as dirt that is jamming the caliper. If the boot around the piston is torn then I would expect pressure release and even leaking fluid. If the rubber brake hose have never been replaced it may be a good idea if this part is suspect to accessory to the problem. They ain't that expensive so go for it if it looks weak, kinked, uneven, etc. you won't know about the parking brake materials until you pull the rear rotors and have a look. They may be ok or cleanable. steviej

it is never too late, especially if the oil changes were timely and regular in the past. If is starts to weep oil, just switch back immediately. steviej

moved to audio section

chuckb, in all fairness there are plenty on men on this site that complain too. bartkat, thanks for the smiley. now that it is over, let's maintain some maturity and just let this thread slowly slip down the page. steviej

it's over now ladies and gentlemen. move along, there is nothing to see here anymore. :D (we need a smiley face with a little policeman's hat on it). steviej

I concur. steviej

I think it would be better to say, "it is misinformed people who fill other people with bad information". steviej