jjmmd2003

My 98 ES300 has 130k miles on it. Over the last year the engine warning lite came on & the Lexus folks say its the transmission solenoid. They flushed the tranny fluid as they said that that is usually the problem but the light came back on. So they said $1500 to reapir/replace the solenoid.

the light has been on for a year and 25k miles and I've noticed no problems?

Any cheaper options to repair it? any other mecahnics folks can reccommend on west side of Los angeles?

The car also needs some replacement of the front strut towers and control arms which is a $1400 repair and so I wonder if its worth doing.

Besides these two items and a small oil leak (main seal) car runs well & would like to see it last as long as many do.

I am a newbie & did search & would appreciate all the help.
Thanks
John
Santa Monica,CA

tuan92129

The solenoid might just be bad, or there are little metal pieces in the tranny which killed the solenoid -> tranny rebuild.
If they flushed the transmission fluid and didn't find metal, you can probably get away by replacing the solenoid.
Don't go to the stealership for service though.

jjmmd2003

Do I even need to replace the solenoid or repair the tranny if the light has been on for 25k miles and no problem?

the lexus guys said that there are more than 1 solenoid in the tranny & they would recc replacing all of them. Thoughts?

any shop/mechanic reccommendatios in the west LA area?
Thanks
John

jjmmd2003

Please help me if you can please. Thanks!

tuan92129

They should tell you the solenoid # that need to be replaced though. When my tranny was rebuilt, the first one was replaced.