cduluk

Oh my god :o Don't use magic eraser on leather! lol The magic eraser is just an abrasive. Lexus leather is coated with a very thin layer of "dye", either tan, black, gray or whatever which gives it it's color and smooth texture. Over time, this layer's surface takes abuse such as UV radiation, water, stains, heat, cold, stress etc. which over time leads to fading and cracking revealing the brown hide beneath. Most of the time people mistake this 'dark' and shiny look as being dirty, when it's just because it's aged. Using the magic eraser on the leather's surface will make the leather look almost brand new because it's removing the aged surface of this thin dyed layer, revealing some of the fresh color. But, what you're doing is making the surface even more susceptible to fading and cracking. Now that the dye layer is even thinner, there is less protection. Some may mistake this 'fresh' look as being cleaner, but you're making it worse. Materials from your clothing will begin to stick more rapidly, the dye will fade more rapidly, and it will crack easier as well. When leather gets to the point where it gets darker and begins to crack (appear dirtier) take it to Lexus. They have a leather guy they hire to do their cars before selling them as CPO's. They ADD dye to the leather, giving it a nice fresh look while ADDING protection. Regular maintanence is all you can do on your own. Once or twice a year using cleaners and adding conditioners like Lexol is all you should do. Excessive use can decay the stitches and make the dye MORE fragile. Conditioners are used to add oils back into the "hide" to keep the leather soft and pliable. When the layer of dye cracks, the oils evaporate from the hide and make the hide stiff, which causes MORE cracking. It's a vicious cycle. Bottom line is, keep the layer of dye in tact. It's purpose (besides adding color) is to lock in moisture in the hide, sort of like a sealant. As soon as it begins to crack, the hide will dry out. Conditioners just add the oils back in. Please don't use magic eraser on leather :( most of the time, there's nothing to clean- it's just the surface of the dye getting darker due to UV, friction and just age.

Well you're doing the right thing. Let Lexus deal with it. If 99% have them, that means 1% doesn't, which means the issue can and should be fixed.

It's nice to prank call people with, using the computer speaking robot

It's supposed to be like a corolla hybrid. I wish they'd make an ES hybrid...

I have nooo idea, but i'd assume so. I don't have my car back yet from the shop, when i get it back i will be able to compare. I want to have these seats re-finished a bit. The thigh supports are cracking a little bit from normal use. I want to have them professionally repaired, but i'm not sure who i can take them to. Would lexus give me the name of the company they hire to do their leather before selling them as CPO's? I know they'd have a lot of experience.

You need to get the factory HID headlights for the 01-03 Rx300's. If you were to install a "kit" into your present headlights, you'd have tremendous amounts of glare and not much light on the road. Xenon bulbs are designed differently than halogen bulbs, and the focal points will be different.

Ugh! I learned that today. I tried giving these seats a good cleaning and conditioning (looks like it's never been done) and the conditioner and everything just goes down the holes! I guess i'll have to be careful. The guy agreed to send me the rear COACH seats for $150. So now i'll have both front and rear coach seats for $450 total <_< So i have my factory set and a coach set. If one day i feel like going coach, i'll install the coach. If one day i want to go regular, i'll go regular. :) I still don't know how i feel about the coach seats. The holes do look 'odd' but i mean, they're more expensive so who cares :D Can anyone with experience with both tell me if one is more comfortable than the other? My car's been at the shop for a month i forgot how the regular seats feel... Also, do you think the heated seats will work better with the holes?

Hey guys, I have a 2003 Rx300 with the tan interior, regular leather. I recently spilled something on the rear seats which ruined them pretty badly. My options were to buy new rear seat covers from Lexus for ~$1000 or buy a used set of seats- i opted to buy a used set... I found someone on ebay selling a set of used rear seats from an 02 with the tan interior, looked in good shape. Payed $300 shipped. The package arrived today, but when i opened it up, i found two FRONT seats!! But they weren't just any regular set, they were COACH edition, with the holes. After looking at them for a while, i think i like the coach seats better than the regular seats... I contacted the seller and told him that he had sent me the wrong seats. He told me someone in Texas purchased the whole set of coach seats, fronts and rears. He accidentally sent me the coach fronts, and sent him one rear coach and one rear regular (the one i had originally purchased). I told him to ask the guy in TX if he would keep the regular rear and send the coach rear to me, and the seller would send him a pair of front regulars. Which seats do you think i should get- the COACH seats or the regular leather seats? Any input appreciated!

Watch what shells you get, there are many aftermarket shells that look 'similar' to the stock ones, but are cheap. The blade itself can be cut out of the plastic shell and re glued into a new shell.

Another thing- those statistics were based on the # of reports/year, not percentage per vehicles sold. They sold more 99's and 00's than 02's and 03's. More cars on the road would yield a higher number of failures. After the Rx came out, a lot of competitors came out with SUV's similar to the RX which took some customers away. This meant less Rx's were sold after maybe 01 or so. Just think about it, how many 02 and 03's do you see on the road today?- not many. In 03, 6 years after the 99's were in production, how many 99's and 00's did you see on the road? A LOT. Bottom line is that there were more 99's and 00's on the road, traveling more miles, experiencing more hot summers and cold winters, which lead to more complaints than the 02's and 03's which there were very few of. It's common sense.

I have an 03 Rx300 with AWD. When it's cold the computer prevents upshifting so more revs in the lower gears heat the engine up to driving temp faster. I'd say this would be true for the first few minutes or so, but not 10. You're driving a 99 Rx with AWD, a car known for transmission failure. Check the fluid, for correct level and color. Low levels of fluid could prevent gear slipping and god only knows what. If the fluid is dirty this could also cause the issue and be a sin the internal gears are shaved down. The fluid should be a nice red/maroon color and shouldn't smell burned. I would do a drain and fill of the fluid. Hopefully you've caught it in time before you need a total transmission replacement.

This VSC system was added for the 01 models, which STILL have an inordinate amt of tranny problems according to all the reports! The VSC system wouldn't cause/prevent the failure that happens to so many rx300 transmissions. It's like adding chrome handles and claiming it makes the air conditioning blow hot air. I want pictures of the differences between the 99 + 00 tranny and the 02 + 03 tranny that would prevent the failure. <_<

oh you cleared the headlight? You probably could have avoided the polishing step all together, the clear would have filled the little scratches from the sandpaper. Let me know how the clear sealant stuff holds up, i might get some for my headlights <_< Did you spray it on with a spraycan?

Take it back to the dealer and ask them why it won't come off. It looks like a paint problem. Paint should be able to resist gasoline. If gas is etching into paint, it's either some alien gas or the paint isn't cured. If you rub your nail over the stain, is it smooth like the stain's under the clearcoat? Or can you feel the stain as if it's caked over the paint? You could dry wet-sanding with 2000grit and polishing with 3m scratch remover, but i would take it to the dealer first.

it's not the highest of quality car's, that's for sure...

Don't forget, it's not just about mileage, it's about time. The number of complaints for the 02 & 03 transmission failures are lower than that of 99 and 00's because the 03's haven't gone through as much stress as the older models have. Time alone can aid in the aging process, not just mileage. Temperature changes also can cause this effect. Winter stress as well. According to your theory, the reason 02's and 03's have less reports is because their transmissions were changed. Why don't you look up the complaint numbers for another car all together, who's issues weren't changed in later model years. Try looking up issues reported for... i don't know, maybe the 02 to 06 Ford Explorers. The 02 and 06 Explorer share the same engine, same transmission. I'd be willing to bet you that the 02's have more complaints than the 06's! This is my theory. 1. The 99's actually came out in early1998, i think April?. So when you say 99, it really means it's been on the road since early 98. 2. More 99's were sold than 00's 01's and 02's and 03's due to more time on market. 3. There weren't many 03's sold. Production for the 03's was between August of 02 till Jan of 03. While the other model years got full 12 months. 4. The tranny problem was mostly caused by poorly maintained fluids etc. When probs with the 99's arose, owners knew to start taking better care of their 02's and 03's. 5. Every year that passes brings on new stresses the 02's and 03's have had less of. Every winter a car is on the road, temperature changes can degrade the fluids. For southern owners, every hot summer can be even worse for tranny fluid. Time is a huge killer. Someone look up the complaints for another car series. I bet you the results will be similar. Time = stress. It's the only common denominator. Unless someone takes apart a 99 tranny and an 03 tranny and shows me the difference, i won't believe it. Just doesn't make sense to me that Lexus would change it.

There is usually water built up on the inside of the exhaust lines from exhaust condensation etc. If you see water at the tip, it could be coming from a long ways in. It's probably rusting further in, leaking out as rust water.

what year? AWD or 2wd? My guess is 99 or 00 with AWD? :(

I know my friend's Jetta's transmission is one of those 'sealed' for life types... weird.

Take it to the body shop and ask them.

You could put the strobes in the 'fake' fog light slits in the front bumper too, might be very hidden B)

Well, i have a remote radar detector wired from the front grill to the inside cabin, and i drilled a hole in the firewall right above the gas pedal. Went straight through to the engine compartment. Used just an ordinary 1/2inch bit. Not sure if it's the 'best' spot but it worked for me!

Lexus didn't change the transmissions between the 00 and 01 model years. I don't know this for a "fact" but i'd be willing to put some money on it... The only reason you don't have many reports of transmission issues coming from the 01 02 and 03 model years is because those models haven't gotten old enough yet. Lexus probably wasn't even aware of the inordinate amt of failures until the rx300 was out of production in Jan of 03! Just my two cents.

did you use an orbital/machine or do it all by hand? The outcome looks pretty damn nice! I usually just wet-sand with 800 to 1000 to 1500grit sandpaper and machine polish with 3M scratch remover and it does the trick. I could never imagine doing it all by hand, that would take forever!

I only don't suggest doing the flush since some have reported the flush loosens debris (that's been settled not bothering anyone...) and makes things worse. The 04's and up don't have the tranny problem... I'd say do a drain and fill if it's bothering you and keep your eye on it- IF anything. Most car's don't need the tranny fluid replaced at all. Your fluid looks fine as it is, why touch it? Keep an eye on it, if it becomes darker than do a drain and fill. That's what i would do...