Pambie

I have a 97 Lexus ES300. When I started the engine today the a/c seemed rather dead. After driving half a block it felt cooler but didn't seem to be producing actual air. Then I turned on the radio and the antennae came up and the display lit but no sound! However the ac started working (somewhat sporadically). I only drove to get groceries but noticed that as long as the radio was turned on the ac was working (but the radio was not). Sounds weird to me - could it be a fuse and can I replace it myself?

This is kind of bizarre. I got into my Lexus ES300 (97) today and the AC was blowing hot air. When I turned on the radio, the display lit up and the antenna went up but no sound ... oddly enough the AC works (tho weirdly) when the radio is turned on. Could this be the fuse?

Thanks for your advice. I live in a very well to do area and am not comfortable w/ any of the local shops but there is a shop in Philadelphia where I am very comfortable and trust them so I have scheduled an appt there. It occurred to me that it might be the timing belt. Fortunately I can walk most anywhere local so I will try to keep the driving to a minimum until next week. I hear what you're saying about "telling them what's wrong with the car" - it's just hard when you're female and have been taken.

Hi all, I'm hoping that you guys can help me like you have in the past! I have a 1996 Lexus with 149,000 miles. She has been a wonderful car and been serviced regularly through a local repair shop. Had some gasket work done 2-3 years ago, at one point the engine light came on & they were unable to diagnose and cleaned the spark plugs & she seemed good as new. Since the gasket work, she has burned oil - I would say I put in a quart every month to 6 weeks. I check it twice a week/cold. At my last oil change, the service station (a new one/old one out of business) told me that there was some "hesitation" in the transmission and I should have a "transmission tune up" (is that the same thing as a flush?). I didn't schedule it at the time, but now, about 3 months later, she is definitely running rough - mostly in the first 5 minutes after start-up. She's idling pretty high and the hesitation thing is much more noticeable - have to say though, that she seems to run fairly well once she is warmed up. I decided to go ahead & make the appointment for the transmission flush & have it scheduled for tomorrow. But then I called my local Lexus dealer for another estimate. They told me that they didn't do flushes - that they would basically drain the transmission fluid & replace it (for $149) - and said a flush could cause problems. They recommended bringing it in for a diagnostics ($106). Their prices were considerably higher than the service station ($149 for the transmission fluid drain/replace vs the service station quote of $79 for a flush). Frankly I am all alone here and not terribly trusting of the local mechanics (or the dealership for that matter). I've gotten really helpful answers here from you before and am hoping you can give me some advice. Many thanks for your help! Pam

You guys are the best! Here is what I posted about 7 or 8 months ago here: 1996 Lexus ES300, one owner, bought in 2003 for $9,000 with approx. 80,000 miles. This has been the best car that I have ever owned, relatively few repairs, etc. I put on a set of new tires, and had it inspected regularly along with regular oil changes. I have had the inspection & minor repairs taken care of by a local Exxon service center. In March of 2008, the car was running sluggishly so I took it in & they removed the valve cover, cleaned old gasket material & replaced with new gaskets (cost $448.03); in January of 08 it had throttle bore service. The car now has about $143,000 miles. Since having the gasket/valve work done, it seemed to go through a lot of oil and when I started the car it would emit a lot of smoke initially but ran fine otherwise. It passed inspection fine in May of 2008. On 11/14 the car began running poorly and the check engine light came on. When I took it in, Exxon told me that the "test failed systems & sensors"; the gentleman told me that it was spraying oil into the engine and it was only a matter of time ("3 days or 3 months" ... he couldn't tell me). Said it would cost several thousand to rebuild the engine. I am presently unemployed (was recently laid off) & do not have any funds to buy a new car. Any advice? Should I get a second opinion or is the car shot? They cleaned the #2 spark plug & it is running fine right now. Thanks! I will ask my mechanic about going to the next highest heat range. I really need this car to last me at least another year and any and all suggestions are welcome!

It doesn't APPEAR to be leaking oil. How much does it run to replace the PVC valve? Thanks for your help!

These forums have been invaluable to me - thank you very much! About a year ago my car began riding rough - kind of loud & like it was going to stall out at stops & the engine light came on. I took it into my regular repair shop (not dealership) and was informed that the engine was going (spraying oil into the engine). They cleaned it up and changed the spark plugs and told me it could last 3 days or 3 months. It lasted about 7 months and then did the same thing. I took it to another place, got the same verdict, they, too cleaned out the spark plugs & it's been running fine ever since. When I took it in for inspection, I found a highly regarded Philadelphia mechanic who worked more w/ engines than my two previous guys. He actually couldn't find anything wrong with the car and it did pass emissions. Now the car is acting the same way it has the previous two times. The engine light hasn't come on but I just went ahead and made an appt to get the spark plugs cleaned. Not to run a pity party here but do ya'all have any idea what is wrong w/ my car? I am unemployed and cannot afford a new car right now. Do you have any suggestions or know what this problem could be? MANY MANY THANKS!!!!

Hi all. I have had great success with these wonderful forums. I own a 97 Lexus w/ 145,000 miles. In the past year or so, since having gasket work done, the car began burning a lot of oil (say a quart every 2-6 weeks). Then, about 5 months ago, it began running very rough and when I took it into my regular repair shop they informed me that oil was spewing into the engine and "it was only a matter of time" before the engine died. It has driven well since then and has only required one quart of oil in 5 months. However late yesterday it again began running rough (particularly at stops) and the engine light came on again. I took it in and this shop told me that to fully repair it would require a valve job, costing $1500-2000. I can drive it now but PA inspection is next month and it will not pass. Do you have any suggestions? I am, like many, unemployed and really need my car!

1996 Lexus ES300, one owner, bought in 2003 for $9,000 with approx. 80,000 miles. This has been the best car that I have ever owned, relatively few repairs, etc. I put on a set of new tires, and had it inspected regularly along with regular oil changes. I have had the inspection & minor repairs taken care of by a local Exxon service center. In March of 2008, the car was running sluggishly so I took it in & they removed the valve cover, cleaned old gasket material & replaced with new gaskets (cost $448.03); in January of 08 it had throttle bore service. The car now has about $143,000 miles. Since having the gasket/valve work done, it seemed to go through a lot of oil and when I started the car it would emit a lot of smoke initially but ran fine otherwise. It passed inspection fine in May of 2008. On 11/14 the car began running poorly and the check engine light came on. When I took it in, Exxon told me that the "test failed systems & sensors"; the gentleman told me that it was spraying oil into the engine and it was only a matter of time ("3 days or 3 months" ... he couldn't tell me). Said it would cost several thousand to rebuild the engine. I am presently unemployed (was recently laid off) & do not have any funds to buy a new car. Any advice? Should I get a second opinion or is the car shot? They cleaned the #2 spark plug & it is running fine right now. Thanks!

PS: No, I did not see oil leaks.

Ummm, I am a female and a lot of this is Greek to me. I should tell you that when I would get the oil changed, there was always a problem with sludge prior to the valve cover job. Should I take it to a dealership?

1996 Lexus ES300, one owner, bought in 2003 for $9,000 with approx. 80,000 miles. This has been the best car that I have ever owned, relatively few repairs, etc. I put on a set of new tires, and had it inspected regularly along with regular oil changes. I have had the inspection & minor repairs taken care of by a local Exxon service center. In March of 2008, the car was running sluggishly so I took it in & they removed the valve cover, cleaned old gasket material & replaced with new gaskets (cost $448.03); in January of 08 it had throttle bore service. The car now has about $143,000 miles. Since having the gasket/valve work done, it seemed to go through a lot of oil and when I started the car it would emit a lot of smoke initially but ran fine otherwise. It passed inspection fine in May of 2008. On 11/14 the car began running poorly and the check engine light came on. When I took it in, Exxon told me that the "test failed systems & sensors"; the gentleman told me that it was spraying oil into the engine and it was only a matter of time ("3 days or 3 months" ... he couldn't tell me). Said it would cost several thousand to rebuild the engine. I am presently unemployed (was recently laid off) & do not have any funds to buy a new car. Any advice? Should I get a second opinion or is the car shot? They cleaned the #2 spark plug & it is running fine right now. Thanks!