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I'll get something together and post it.
There's this post but the link to the instructions is "temporarily unavailable".
You can use the "Advanced Search" on the right sidebar. Plus, a search like "la4mead external cooler site:edmunds.com" will work on Bing or Google.
2) My key will sometimes unlock/lock the driver's door (dealer quoted an exhorbitant amount to fix - I think $300 part + labor). Right rear door does not unlock/lock with the key.
3) No noise in my dash fan.
Ever since dealer replaced the lights at the top of the tailgate window, if it rains just right, water comes inside on the driver's side - often on my left foot - sometimes a very wet floormat. They fixed it once, but still happens.
Not what I expected of a Lexus.
I've had my 01 for 5 yrs and have been really happy with it... a few things I thought were off for a lexus were the cheap cup holders... flimsy and broke within a year after getting the car. The cheap plated plastic on the inside door handles... they are starting to show wear. Just little things like that. I have 165,000 on my 01 and all I've ever done to it is scheduled oil/filter etc changes every 3,000 miles. Up until last weekend (transmission) I've never had any mechanical problems with it. I will definately buy another one. I read somewhere today that the RX 300 is practical luxury and for me I think that's true. It doesn't have all the frills... ie heated seats, navi, dual A/C control... those are extras that I really don't mind not having. I just want a car that I can rely on and with what I've experienced... it is.
I just hope that the transmission is an easy fix and not a complete overhaul. Wish me luck! :sick:
Be Bozo!
My Lincoln Aviator's engine was a lemon and went at 52K miles ..2K over the warranty. After fighting with Ford, they picked up 2/3rd the tab.. not 100% and I not only walked from Ford and bought a Lexus.. but I tell everyone I know about Ford dumping a long standing customer.
But buying a used car at 127K miles and calling it a lemon! Come on! Buying a used car without a warranty means you self-insure!
Caveat Emptor!!
*By the way, my mechanic said the planetary gears exploded making it impossible to open the transmission. I will definately need either a used or rebuilt one.
So now, I can go ahead and have my local mechanic put in a rebuilt transmission with a 3yr warranty for a Grand total of ~$5,000.
*Lexus said IF there is a recall, they'll "most likely" reimburse my expense.
OR
I can pay my mechanic for what he's done already (basically removing and re-inserting my transmission), then tow it 20 miles away where I may or may not have to pay for the diagnostics and/or repair ALL depending on IF Lexus deems it is their responsibility due to a defect.
BAsically, pay an extra ~$400 for a slim CHANCE at saving a few thousand.
...?
So what did that mean ? Did they just want me to take it to the Lexus Dealer for the transmission service. Lexus finally told me it could cost between $4500-5300. I figured at best ,Lexus may comp 25% as it is a 10 year old car. If that was the case I assumed it would be $5300 and they may take it down to $4000. I had it done for $4300. If I had my car regularly serviced at the Lexus Dealership I think I would have gone to Lexus and as a regular customer my chances of a goodwill gesture would have increased. Instead I had it service at a Toyota dealership near where I work.
"..impossible to open the transmission.."
BS, blowing SMOKE...!!
Rebuilts run $2500 to $3000 out the door.
I inquired as to whether Lexus, knowing they had a transmission problem with these years, if they would discount or assist? The answer was "No".
Frustrating to buy a vehicle you think will last and knowing that the company knows is has a mechanical problem with a particular part, and they are not willing to cut some kind of deal. What a bummer!!! :mad:
I spent $750 yesterday to repair the A/C. In the past six months I have spent more to repair than the car is worth.
FWIW, Lexus replaced my '99's transmission in 2004 (when the original warrantee was about to expire) with a new one with all "updates", and it doesn't beat or burn the fluid like the original did. It's been perfect (nothing on the magnets or in the fluid, unlike original) but now I don't go more than about 15,000 before I either have the transmission serviced with type IV fluid at the trans shop with inspection of the filter and magnets or DIY drain the pan and differential, refill, and drain the rest through the cooler return line myself. It's messy but cheap insurance for any bulky FWD based platform (and my car's 13 years old). The difference between the original and the replacement transmission has made huge difference to me.
That being said, you do want to be aware of any potential weakness when looking at a used car of the age of first-gen RX's. Low-mileage models may be more prone to needing a transmission, perhaps because of the type of usage (short trips, etc.) or perhaps because impending failure was not noticed during the origninal warantee period. Check the transmission fluid condition yourself (you should do this on any car), check for transmission service history (tranny service is not a recommended service on dealer's overpriced packaged service), and if you find one in good shape, make sure there's enough room in the price for you to be happy with it even if you need a repair.
Since I am fully aware of the details of the design flaw it makes it easier to accept the failure when it comes.
I would look first for an RX330 that has DBW to prevent these premature transaxle failures.
Enjoy!
So for all those who think RXs trannys are good and only a small percentage fail. I have 2 RX300 and am working on Tranny #7. We don't tow anything with them or carrry heavy loads. Just typical family stuff.
I would get rid of both cars if the economy was better but I think the economy has a Lexus transmission as well! :lemon:
I'm thinking of selling the car next year, before the warranty is up.
By reading through these posts, I thought sure that my experience would have been different when checking the fluid.
Maybe my tranny fails eventually, maybe it doesn't. It seems that everyone here has come to the conclusion that the all 99's (in my case specifically) are just simply destined to fail. I guess I'll believe that when it happens. In the meantime, I am enjoying this 12 year old car that still looks and rides like it's brand new.
JBL
I suspect that it was more the '99-'00 RX300 F/awd models that experienced the majority of the premature transaxle failure as those F/awd systems were substantially more robust, functional, vs '01 - '09 models.
In '01 the VC's fluid formulation was revised to be mostly non-functional, the optional mechanical LSD was discontinued, and VSC/Trac was made standard as a "backup" for the loss of F/awd functionality. With the RX330 Lexus stopped the pretense and dropped the VC entirely.
According to Lexus, there were 90,338 1999's made that year. I have brought this to light before, and it was a couple of years ago, I think in late 2009, that there were 86 such complaints.
Sure there are more than 110 cases of where the transmissions may have failed, but I still maintain that this is not as widespread as many would like to believe. People go out of their way to complain, but they don't go out of their way to report the good. If they did, and there was a real problem, I strongly believe there would be more than 110 complaints on a govt. sponsored website.
Check out more at ClubLexus or Lexusownersclub about the same issue. Some models had trannys that were clearly bad right out of the box, but none were very stout, and needed service that was not recommended in the dealer's profit-padded recommended service "specials". Many car enthusiasts have been getting hundreds of thousands of miles before failure by changing fluid often.
When they fail unexpectedly, it's easy to think "I'll never buy an 'X' again" but it's still not statistically relevant that they all are lemons. I feel really bad for folks who have had more than one failure. There's something going on there, perhaps rebuilding any trans takes a bit of care, and there's a lot to go wrong.
I still think it's good advice: Keep your eye on the tranny dipstick for wear indicated in the fluid yourself. Don't rely on the dealer to have your best interests in mind, and change the fluid often regardless of the fact it's not recommended by the dealer or mfr. But when something internal fails, the whole tranny still fails.
That resulted in not being able to accomplished a second shift quickly with the engine (ATF pump "drive") being at idle or closely thereby.
The "fix", introduced with the RX330, was to use DBW to delay the arrival of rising engine torque for 1-2 seconds until enough pressure could be built up to accomplish a re-acceleration downshift.
Quick re-acceleration sequence, on-throttle, off-throttle (upshift), ON throttle (downshift/delay).
New firmware version as of about '08 "watched" the rate at which the "off-throttle, gas pedal lift, occurred and attempted to judge the driver's intent.
"Slow" (relatively) lift of the gas pedal was deemed to mean the driver simply wished to enter cruise mode and the transaxle would upshift appropriately.
"Fast" lift was deemed to mean, most likely, that the driver wished to remain in the lower gear for engine compression coastdown.
3 of the instances wherein one might expect to encounter this 1-2 second downshift delay/hesitation are well defined in a TSB issued for the Camry in the spring of '03.
Accelerating down an on-ramp, look over your shoulder for a merge opening. lift the throttle (upshift, engine goes to idle), spot an opening, accelerate to match/merge....WHAT, no engine....!!!??
*** A form of ABS for engine compression braking.
At ~40,000 miles, and again at 80,000 miles, the ATF in my '01 appeared quite dirty and had a definite burned odor. At the initial event I was to soon learn that the factory recommended life of the ATF was now 15,000 miles. That was later changed to inspect the ATF at each oil/filter change and address the issue accordingly.
So, yes, I doubt that you will find very many reports of transaxle failures for the '01 RX series. But would'nt you agree that the entire lot was shipped from the factory with an apparently unforeseeable design flaw...?
Knowing and understanding the design change made in favor of FE during the design of the '99-'00 RX300 I personally have no doubt that these, too, also come from the factory with a design flaw that the engineers had not foreseen, forecast.
There were several changes made for the '01 series to help alleviate the failure issue. I suspect some "adjustments" were made between the '99 model and the '00 model as the number of complaints of the '99 vs the '00 seem to be substantually greater.
The RX330 "fix" was to use DBW to delay the onset of raising engine torque for a "re-acceleration" event until the transaxle could complete the required downshift. In about '08 the transaxle shift pattern control firmware was revised such that it attempts to detect an upcoming re-acceleration event. You will still encounter the 1-2 downshift delay/hesitation just more rarely.
Additionally the 2010 and after RX's have a more functional F/awd system should you have need of such utility.
Not pushing RX's, just saying they should remain on your shopping list, possibly along with the to big/bulky Acura MDX is you do have need of F/awd.
I will be checking the ATF when I get home. Fingers and toes crossed. Wish I could afford a new one.
Thanks!
Opps, that means your second post was #666. You're toast. :shades:
Again, It's terrible you are having trouble. I hope you get it fixed.