douglasmiami

I just picked up an '07 ES 350 and I too hear this noise, which is driving me crazy. It sounds like a muffled diesel engine, and sounds much louder inside the cabin than outside. Odd thing is that if I open the door while parked, I don't hear it at all. But with the transmission engaged and driving at low speeds, I hear it. I would love to hear any updates to anyone who's had this explored. I'll check out the piston slap and injector posts.

I did try that repeatedly - sometimes it worked and others not. But it's been happening with much more frequency lately.

My wife's ES 300 has experienced, with more frequency lately, the ignition locking when she tries to start the car. She puts the key in and it will not turn. You then come back two hours later (or sometimes not for 2 days or more) and it will start right up. Lexus has told me that I need the entire ignition unit replaced, which they estimate at $1,000 ($500 of which is labor). I had previously complained to them about this, but they couldn't figure it out. I was hoping to have another mechanic do the work, but now I hear that it has to be done by Lexus because they have to download software for the key. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Recently (I'm having a bad month with my car) my interior dome light has gone out (door-triggered light on interior roof of car behind driver right shoulder). Is this a bulb or a fuse issue? Ib bulb, can I open dome light to replace? Thanks. Doug

Now that the weather in Miami has cooled all the way down to 80 degrees, I've been using my vent more in my '99 RX 300 as opposed to running AC unit. But I've noticed an exhaust emission smell inside the cabin when I'm idling at a stop. Since I'm venting from the outside, is this simply the car in front of me, or could it be my engine emission that is leaking inside? Thanks. Doug

I have recently discovered a subtle vibration / clicking sound coming from AC in my '99 RX 300. It speeds up and slows down as I adjust the AC fan control. I read a response to another topic and the person mentioned an AC servo control unit. Can anyone verify this, or has anyone had similar problem? What can I do to fix? Thanks. Doug

Ken - I have recently noticed a subtle clicking sound coming from AC, as you referenced. But I don't want to spend $200 if that's not the problem. Any way to verify?

What is an ECU? My wife lost the master key to her 2002 ES 300. Lexus told me that they would charge us $215.00 to replace. Our master key had the ability to lock/unlock doors and pop the trunk. Is this standard functions of master key? Should Lexus replace this master key as a one-time courtesy? We're definitely still covered under warranty. Thanks.

I installed the external transmission filter several months ago. Initially, I saw improvement in the cold morning shifting (I'm in Miami, so "cold" is relative). But after several months with the filter, I have gone back to the morning shift problem, which everyone says is "normal" for Toyota transmission. Recently, however, I've noticed that my transmission will have difficulty engaging, particularly when I accelerate after coming to rolling stop, or even from complete stop. I'll hit the gas and nothing will happen for a second or two and then the tranny will engage. Is this the beginning of the end for this tranny, or am I just being paranoid? Has anyone had any luck with Lexus providing any other answer for this AWD transmission problem other than "its performing as designed..."? Any recommendations for this slippage / hesitation? Would any additive help out such as the TransX or the TowKool? I'm really tempted to just trade it in while its still running - I should trade into Lexus and give them their own problem back.

SK - you replaced the external filter after only one month? I installed mine this weekend after reading this post on my RX 300. I was hoping that I could get at least 12 months or 15,000 miles between changes. What would you recommend? Also, do you use any transmission fluid additives, such as Towkool or TransX in your vehicles? I was considering for my RX to help keep temps low. I live in Miami and warm temps are the norm, although I don't do a lot of inner-city driving. Thanks.

What exactly is a shift kit? And why do you think one would be needed? What exactly is wrong with the transmission shifting that you would change? Thanks.

I'm not sure if any of you have read SK Performance's post on external transmission filters, but I did purchase one and installed it this weekend. As of this morning, my longstanding transmission hesitation issues had disappeared. That's not to say it will last, but it was a noticeable improvement. Also, when I took my car to local mechanic, I had them flush the system again and replace the mesh filter. Funny thing was, Lexus had just flushed the system ~3,000 miles ago, and already the mechanic said the ATF smelled burnt and was dark. That's really unbelievable. I don't think Lexus replaced the mesh filter, or even if it was recommended. I'm trying my luck on this external filter for the moment.

I think this is one of the better discussions on the Lexus transmissions, and I hate to dumb it down with less technical issues, but what exactly is the problem(s) with the Lexus transmission, particularly in the AWD? I've read many of the posts on this site concerning issues of overheating, faulty filters, slippage, etc. But what has caused all of this? Lexus, of all car builders, must have known how to properly build a transmission. How did all of this happen? And specifically for Cardona6569, you mentioned several products for slipping and overheating transmissions (e.g. TransX, Slick 50, and Towkool). Can you elaborate a little more on these products, and where could I get them? My transmission always hesitates in the morning, when the tranny is cool. It won't shift from 2nd 3rd gear until RPMs climb above 3,000. But other than that, I don't seem to have any problems with the tranny. Which product would you recommend?? Thanks.

I posted here recently about a squeaking steering wheel. I've taken to Lexus three times and they keep lubricating the steering wheel, but that apparently isn't the problem. Has anyone ever removed the steering wheel before? If I try this, is there anything to look out for, such as airbag deployment, etc. I assume that I would have to take off airbag cover / unit to access bolts that hold steering wheel on? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

I just happened to look at your post and I was interested in what you were doing with the external filter and the transmission cooling device. I too have the '99 RX 300 and am concerned about all of the transmission issues with this year / model. Can you explain briefly what your original concerns were with the filter and the cooling device? What led you to do all of this? I read another post recently that talked about a cooling device, but it didn't make sense to me because my hesitation problems with the transmission occur when the tranny is cold (first drive in the morning). After the car warms up, I have no tranny issues. Thanks.

I have a '99 RX 300. I've had the car for about a year and for the last six months the steering wheel squeaks when I make significant turn, or at least turn 90 degrees. I took it to Lexus and they said something about it needing lubrication, but that didn't fix the problem. Recently my wife bought an '02 ES 300, and her steering wheel squeaks in same manner. And my friend at work has the same ES and he said his squeaked as well. But Lexus told him that it was wiring that was rubbing together. Anyone else have this issue? I haven't seen any posts on this site about it. DS

Guys - thanks for the information. This belt spray - I assume I can get this at Pep Boys. What exactly does it do? Or what would it prove?

Thanks for the replies. I'm wondering if the problem is loose belts or bad belts? How long do belts usually last? I had one response from a guy who said he changed his belts at 90k miles. I have only 60k on my belts now, and honestly, they don't look bad, not that I would really know what bad belts look like, but they're not cracked. Where can you find belt dressing and what exactly does it do?

Dgorrie - thanks for the response. With that Porsche alternator, how did you know it was the bearings that were bad in the first place? Do you remember it making this high-pitched chirp? Funny thing is, it doesn't happen everyday, like this morning, I started the car and had no sounds - quiet as ever. But tomorrow, I'll probably hear it. And it rarely makes noise when I start in afternoon on my way home. Only in the morning.

I am having problem noises with my '99 RX 300. In the morning, with the AC off, I almost always have 15 minutes of high-pitched chirping/whirring sound coming from engine. I asked my dad if he though it was the belts, which I had read about here in these forums, but he thought it sound like bearings in the alternator. He didn't think that the belts, as they are made today (with the grooves), had as much slippage potential. Obviously at ~$250 for a rebuilt alternator, I don't want to replace if I don't have to. Any suggestions?

I realize that this is an old message string, but if anyone's still out there, I am having similar problem with my '99 RX 300. In the morning, with the AC off, I almost always have 15 minutes of high-pitched chirping/whirring sound coming from engine. I asked my dad about the belts, which I had read about here, but he thought it sound like bearings in the alternator. He didn't think that the belts, as they are made today with the grooves, had as much slippage potential. Obviously at ~$250 for a rebuilt alternator, I don't want to replace if I don't have to. Any suggestions?

I have leather on my RX 300 and I dislike it. The problem with leather on the steering wheel and on the gearshift is, like someone already pointed out, sweat, body oils and sun will eat the leather alive. Unless you really take care of it and clean and condition the leather, it will almost certainly degrade and crack with time. The wood, on the other hand, will look good indefinitely and help with resale value, aesthetics, etc. I'm actually looking for a wood steering wheel to replace the leather one on my '99 RX 300, but they seem to be quite expensive. If anyone knows of a good deal on one, I would love to hear back.

Hey SKPerformance, what would you suggest for repaint / body repair for a car I do want to keep? Someone just hit my car recently and I'm concerned about having it repainted and getting a poor job done on it. In addition, I've had some strange oxidation on my hood that I can't seem to get rid of and was considering having the hood repainted. Any suggestions either in paint quality, finding a good shop, what to look for, etc. Thanks

I'm curious to hear what you decide. Someone just hit my RX 300 this morning, and I'm wondering about the paint issue now too. In addition, I was considering having the hood estimated for repaint because I have some strange oxidation that's driving me crazy. I have no idea what to look for in a paint/body shop or how to assess a good paint job. I did find this website with some interesting articles, but I'd love to hear other's experience or advice. http://www.abrn.com