shovel99

Hi Guys, My brother's 2003 ES300 with only 106,000 miles has been diagnosed by a local repair shop that heretofore has been reliable first 1) no oil pressure then 2) "dead engine" needs replaced, then (when I told my brother he needed to have the shop replace the oil filter before declaring a Lexus Toyota product dead with only 106k miles dead) 3) replacing the oil pump has a 90% probablility of fixing the car. He was quoted $2200 and 14 hours, with the statement "if you are going to do that, there are a number of other things you ought to replace." That sounds steep, but some crazy things going on in auto repair right now. I was skinned $1411 for a new alternator on a 2011 Highlander at a private shop. In shock, I called the Toyota dealer to be quoted $1100. All outrageous. So what should this be costing? My brother doesn't pay attention to the rest of the conversation, like "what else have they included for $2200?" Thanks Gents. shovel99

Thanks so much for this! Will have to use for brother's 2002 ES 300 wife broke the master key. ;-)

Hi Folks, I have an '02 RX300 Navigation and the sound system sounds like turds. It is the "Lexus Premium Sound"... Feature that! There is absolutely no sound starting around 300hz... all vocals and most instruments completely gone between 300-2khz and then screaming, hissy midrange peak that hurts my ears so bad I can't listen to it. I literally bought a portable CD player and it is much better than this trash. There is voluminous puffy, distorted, boomy midbass (no real bass: nothing below 100hz that I can detect). On the radio, I have to push down the bass 3 or 4 clicks to just listen. I got great instructions on how to get the speakers out at www.carstereoremoval.com removed and tested the 6.5 inch front door woofer on my computer cad speaker design and testing system (20hz to 40,000 hz capability at + - 1/2 dB). When I pulled the tweeter out of the dash and measured it with the lab quality system, the tweeter put out nothing below 10,000 hz with its crossover (one capacitor) connected! Just one sharp nasty peak at around 14,000 hz! I disconnected it altogether and that side sounded better. Then I used carstereoremoval.com's instructions to remove the front door woofer and tested it on my test setup. It rolled off steeply at 100hz ( read: NO REAL BASS)... then the response was fairly flat up to around 2000 hz... at which point it shelfed up 6 dB (read: increased in volume by quadrupling) ... and then continued at that punishingly loud level for midrange to about 6000 hz, then dropped back the 6 dB to the previous level.. and rolled off at around 10k. The plateau from 2 k to 6 k explains the searingly screamy scratchy highs. But where is the really puffy midbass coming from in the system? Here is my question: what I have described is the response of the speaker itself, in a test box, out of the car. Where is the huge, puffy midbass coming from when it is hooked up? Has Lexus put incredibly crappy cheap speakers in this car and then EQ (equalized by adding subtracting bass, treble, mid, etc.) the terrible speakers from inside the head unit or amplifier? Preventing us from fixing cheap speakers with good cheap speakers? It sure looks that way. And worse... it is operated by a proprietary navigation system. Sucks a bunch. Hope someone has some answers. Maybe I'll buy a Ford that I can put a $200 radio and $60 speakers in and have real sound. shovel99

Go to www.carstereoremoval.com and click on Lexus, model and year and for a well spent $4.99 you can get detailed pictures and instructions. I used it for my RX300and they were spot on... saved a TON of time. Good luck. shovel99 ;) ;)

Hi Guys, I have both 2001 ES300 and 94 ES300 for my bride, and apparently have the musty cabin odor. While I found on this forum instructions to remove and clean the filter on my 2001 (and in the manual) but don't find any reference to cabin filter in the '94 manual. Does anyone know if the '94 has one? I also am suspicios that pollen collects in the water drain from in front of the windshield. Has anyone flushed that drain with a clorox mixture? Any problem with deteriorating whatever it is made of? Clorox can destroy some plastics, I understand. Thanks, Shovel Just added email notification.

HI hern, other Lexus Owners, Another member suggested elsewhere that Toyota Dealers are fully qualified to do the work, and [suprise] will do it for less. We are taking our ES 300 to Sandy Springs Toyota, who will do the cambelt replacement for $194!!!! (I believe they quoted another $200 for the water pump.) .... less than 30% of what Nally Lexus quoted : $1300... with water pump. Will report on how it comes out, but I do believe we "broke the code." SS Toyota will also shuttle you to your home/office if it is within 5 miles! :) Paul

Hi Folks, We have a 300ES with 120k miles that is dribbling oil at valve covers and probably needs a cam belt (rubber?). Can anyone recommend a (Buckhead or close) Atlanta area private shop that is good & reasonable? (! I did say that about Lexus) The Dealers seem to be quite pricey. Thanks! Shovel99 PS. This has been a great car for us!