1999 LEXUS RX300 Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

I HAVE READ AS MANY OF THE OWNERS OF 1999 LEXUS RX300 SUV , I AM NOT SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT I AM NOW A PROUD OWNER OF A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION THAT FAILED ON MY WIFE WHILE RETURNING FROM GREENVILLE TO COLUMBIA SC. THE TRANSMISSION WAS INDICATING PROBLEMS BY SHIFTING SLOW AS MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED . WHEN THESE TRANSMISSIONS START TO FAIL YOU EXPERIENCE SLOW SHIFTING WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING , EVEN IF YOU LET THE CAR WARM UP FIRST BEFORE MOVING INTO ANY GEAR DRIVE OR REVERSE. WHEN YOU TRY TO BACK UP IN REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR, THEN JUMPS INTO GEAR HARD. I HAVE BEEN IN THE MECHANICAL FIELD FOR 35 YEARS WORKING FOR BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE IAS A MANAGING PARTNER OF RETAIL LOCATIONS AND KNOW THIS IS THE SIGNS OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ONLY...

I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 1999 LEXUS RX300. I HAVE NOTICE VIA THE INTERNET THAT THESE ARE WIDE SPREAD PROBLEMS BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN OCCURRING. THESE ARE THE INCIDENCES THAT I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH: * DEBRIS CAN GET INTO THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE THAT ALLOWS AIR INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO HAVE A LOW IDLE SPEED, OR STALL WHEN IT IS COLD. (THIS OCCURRED IN THE PAST, PERHAPS 2004. LEXUS EVENTUALLY REPLACED MY ENGINE IN 2005.) * SLUDGE CAN BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE. I ROUTINELY HAVE TO HAVE THE SLUDGE CLEANED OUT TO AVOID ENGINE PROBLEMS. * THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT COMES ON BECAUSE THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR SENDS INCORRECT INFORMATION TO THE ENGINE'S COMPUTER. THIS CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF POWER ON ACCELERATION. (THIS STARTED OCCURRING ON DECEMBER 11, 2008.) * THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT COMES ON BECAUSE A COMPONENT OF...

I CHANGE MOTOR OIL EVERY 5,000 MILES, AS PER MANUFACTURER'S SCHEDULE. ALSO PERFORMED A 'LARGE' ($1,400) MAINTENANCE AT LEXUS DEALER. CAR ('99 RX300 AWD) HAD REAR ENGINE SEAL LEAK AT 68,000 MILES. IT SEEMS A LARGE NUMBER OF THE RX300S EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM, DUE TO HARDENING (DEFECTIVE) SEAL MATERIAL ABUTTING A HOT CRANKCASE. *TR

OUR VEHICLE'S OIL CONSUMPTION BEGAN TO INCREASE AT APPROXIMATELY 90K MILES. IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST A QUART OF OIL EVERY 700 MILES OR SO. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED AROUND 100K MILES. FINALLY BROUGHT IT TO OUR LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THAT WE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BLOCK AND TOP END OVERHAUL. THE REASON GIVEN WAS "OIL SLUDGE" DUE TO LACK OF PROPER SERVICE. THE SERVICE DEPT QUOTED US 8,000 DOLLARS TO DO THE REPAIRS. UNFORTUNATELY WE DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY SO WE ARE GOING TO TRY AND FIND A NEW ENGINE ON OUR OWN.

HAD MY 60,000 MILE SERVICE DONE ON MY 1999 RX300. THE WIFE DROVE IT WHEN I GOT HOME AND TOLD ME THE CAR WAS RUNNING SLUGGISH, DIDN'T ACCELERATE LIKE IT DID BEFORE I BROUGHT IT IN. I TOOK THE CAR OUT TO DRIVE IT AND FEEL WHAT SHE WAS TELLING ME AND NOTICED THAT WHEN I WOULD LET OFF THE GAS AND COAST THEM GIVE IT GAS THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THE MECHANIC HEARD THE NOISE AND SAID HE WASN'T SURE WHAT IT WAS. THE SERVICE PERSON SAID THAT I SHOULD JUST DRIVE IT NORMAL AND NOT TRY TO MAKE IT CLUNK AND IT SHOULD BE OK. IF IT KEPT DOING IT TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING IT BACK. CAR WILL BE OUT OF WARRANTY! IN 4 MONTHS. *LA