babylexy

I found out more bad news about my car..

while it was at the mechanic shop getting the water pump & timing belt replaced, a customer reversed into it and damaged the bumper.

I have another question...how can I tell if the transmission fluid is leaking? I park my car in my garage every nite, and have never noticed any fluid on the floor...but every time I take the car to my mechanic (twice in the last 2 months), he has had to pour 1-2 bottles of fluid in bc the level is always too low.

I found out that the $700 quote includes the timing belt too. The reason I need a new water pump is because mine is leaking.

Given that I have 78,000 km on the car, is this still normal?

Okay, you have convinced me to keep the car.

Thanks soooo much for your help!

One more thing about why I'm thinking it might have been in an accident..

The rear diff plate is rusted, but the differential itself is not.

Also, the back of the car looks higher than the front, as if the back springs had been replaced.

My car is an 03, with 78,000 km on it. I paid $21,000 with taxes. When I bought it, it had 68,000 km. I owe about $14,000 on it.

The reason why I had so many transmission fluid change is bc after I had the first one done at a small mechanic shop I started having problems with the car, and it turned out that there was too much fluid. They emptied some out, and after a week when I checked, there was still too much fluid. So I did another one at Lexus bc I thought that the small shop didn't do it right. Then I noticed that the problem was almost gone, but the car wasn't perfect. So my dad took my car to his mechanic and his mechanic said that there was hardly any fluid in there, so he just filled it up.

I was thinking what you said about the previous owner having a spoiler.. but would I be able to tell if there was a spoiler which has been removed? Because there are no signs of it, the trunk looks perfect.

My dad's mechanic gave him that $700 quote about the water pump..I still have to find out if that includes the timing belt. But if it does include the timing belt, does that seem reasonable to you?

Going by what you said so far, I am thinking that it would be better to just fix it and keep it, but let me know what you think about it now.

Thanks again for your opinions, this is my first car so I don't know what should be expected.

Hi everyone,

I am very confused about what to do with my car, and would really appreciate anyone offering an opinion.

I bought my car (used) in June of this year. Since then, I have been having non-stop problems with this car.

I have done 3 transmission fluid changes, rear diff fluid change, replaced the mass air flow sensor, replaced the battery, got new brake pads, and today i found out that I need to replace my water pump, which will cost me $700.

I am also thinking that this car was probably in an accident, because I have no third brake light, and when I open the trunk with my remote, it flies open with too much force, which I don't think it is supposed to do.

I just purchased winter tires for my car, but haven't gotten them installed yet, so there is a chance that I can get my money back for them..

So my question is, should I sell the car and take my losses, or just keep on fixing it?

Hi everyone,

I need to get winter tires and new brakes for my 03 IS 300. Any suggestions on what kind of winter tires to get (I live in Canada and the snow is crazy), and good brakes that are moderately priced?

Thanks for your help

i checked my transmission fluid level today, and there was too much in there! that's what my problem was this whole time...

now my car is running great

well im happy for you that your car is fixed!! :)

thanks for all your advice, it is greatly appreciated

To answer your previous question....My CEL (Check Engine Light) comes on and throws P0171 and P0174.

I was having the same thought about changing the rear diff fluid and getting a new MAF sensor.

I would also tell you to check your transmission fluid level and maybe change it. I checked mine and it was way too much in it. So that may be one reason for the shifting problems... I just drained it and going to get some more fluid tomorrow.

I'm also going to change the rear diff fluid to Royal Purple along with all my other fluids eventually.

i was also thinking about checking my transmission fluid level. i got the fluid changed a few months ago, and this problem seems like it started around the same time.

i will probably take my car to my mechanic to get it diagnosed..bc i want to know exactly whats wrong with it.

its weird that we sound like we have the same problem, but my car isnt giving me any lights.

one more question for you...when i am idling, my gas meter (i dont know what the proper name for it is) says 20 litres/km. is that normal?

Hi guys,

so i bought a new MAF sensor and installed it. i also got the rear wheel diff done. my car seems 96% better, but it still hesitates sometimes when i am stopped and then i accelerate. i dont know what else to do to solve this problem completely.

Yes, I cleaned it and reset the light but that didnt change anything. Soon as the engine noticed the MAF problem it threw the same code again. I even tried 93 octane with some booster and still nothing. I will just buy the sensor asap and let you know.

my car doesnt have any lights that came on/come on when its having that problem. what light comes on in your car?

REPLY TO RLis300:

ya, it sounds like we have the same problem. for now i have just been pressing the gas gradually and the car reacts a lot better to that kind of driving.

did you clean it yet? if so, did you notice a difference?

im probably going to try getting the new sensor in a couple of months. let me know if you get a new one and what happens.

hey,

my car makes a clunking noise too when i turn the wheel. my mechanic told me that i just need to grease my brakes. i havent gotten around to doing it yet, but its just a suggestion.

ok, thanks a lot for your help and suggestions

Thanks for your reply..I had someone look at the throttle cable, and it seems fine.

When I press the gas pedal, there are no revs and im not goin anywhere. The rpms stay between 1-2. It lasts for several seconds, and then the car picks up and goes. My car is automatic. Do you think it could be the mass air flow sensor?

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone can help me out with a problem I have been having with my 2003 IS300. A lot of times when I press the gas, the car does not move until I press the pedal several times. Some days it is so bad that I cannot even go straight through an intersection, because the car is hardly moving when I'm pressing the gas. My mechanic told me to try cleaning the mass air flow sensor. I did that, and the car feels a little bit better, but the problem is still there. I am thinking about buying a new sensor, but before I do that, I was just wondering if anyone has experienced this same problem or if anyone knows what to do about it.