Christian8

Hey guys, a couple of days ago, I changed the water pump, and the timing belt and did a couple of other maintenance jobs to the rx300. While driving around, the CEL came on and I headed to Autozone. The meanings for codes 1346 and 1351 indicate "VVT sensor range/performance problem (bank 1/bank2), camshaft position sensor" The probable cause being Timing belt jumped. As far as the swap goes, I marked everything and used new OEM parts. Any clues as to what could be causing the CEL to activate? Anything I might have missed?

Lexmex

For those codes, it's really the skipping teeth on timing belt, stretched belt, again have to adjust the timing. Ther'e not any real trick I can tell you there. I think when others have gotten this in the past, they go back and recheck everything, some have gone to the point of reinstalling. Not with the RX300 per se, but with other vehicles, even the engine heat can affect the timing belt slightly after installation.

Have you attempt to clear the code and it still returns?

Christian8

no, not yet, I did clean out the battery terminals and the code went away, but after a few miles, it came back. What's the actual procedure to reset everything?

hypervish

You have to disconnect the negative terminal. Or you can remove the 20a fuse labeled efi for a minute or two.

salimshah

It seems the error code was erased. Once you reconnected the battery and drove a bit, enough error conditions were accumulated to trigger the CEL.

Salim

Christian8

That's what I figured. I'm going to double check everything again, and if it goes off again, I'm uninstalling and reinstalling everything again.

Christian8

so after rechecking everything, the CEL came on again. I even erased the code by pulling out the EFI fuse. Any other ideas? It's beginning to get irritating. There's also another member here that's having the same issue. The RX300 is driving fine, but that light is annoying me.

thomas1

read this thread, maybe it will give insight.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...ew-engine.html

Barryst

After installing a new OEM timing belt in my RX, and before installing the covers, I rotated the crankshaft 2 turns and checked my timing marks again. (I think it helps displace the slack in the belt to give you a more acurate reading) My rear camshaft was off 1 tooth. I had to take the belt off, and start over... Second time I got it right.

Christian8

Hmm, I'll definitely do that, if I can get a chance to do it this weekend. I'm moving, so we'll see. The engine runs fine. Like someone said on that other thread, it runs like a clock.

ExPatBrit

Not sure why everyone thinks disconnecting the battery to clear ODBII codes is a good idea.

It used to work on OBDI vehicles , so I guess that's where this habit comes from.

But on every recent Domestic, Asian or European car I have ever worked on this is considered "last resort" as all the learned parameters are trashed and it rarely fixes the problem.

In some cases the car will run really poorly until it relearns all of it setup info.

Part of the OBDII spec is to stop people doing that before getting a smog test so that's why it doesn't work.

Reset your car with a scantool they can cost less than $50. Or go to your local friendly auto parts store and borrow theirs.

jiciong

Hi Christian,
Is ur problem solve??
my case same as you, still have the irritating CEL..

jaadep

We recently replaced the timing belt on my moms 2000 RX 300.

The first time when it was started and put in reverse, the check engine light came on. But it ran like a champ.

The guy came back and checked and the belt was off by one tooth. So he took it apart and put it back on. We drove it back to her house. The light came back on. We brought it back here and he took it apart and put it back together again. This time the timing jumped several teeth.

He said the tensioner was bad. We got another one and he came back to do it again. While in there he saw a rod that was not extending due to a burr. He fixed that and put it back together without the new tensioner.

She drove it approximately 30 miles and the light came back on. She parked it and I went over and drove it. After I got on the road in it I did not want to drive it at all. It has NO power at all and sitting at a stop if you are not all the way in the brake the car will surge forward. It will go up to about 1500 RPM then back down but it does it continuously back to back.

I did get to Auto Zone and had the codes read. It was (2) P1351 and P1346. I took the car back home, parked it and told her not to drive it at all.

Being that it has now been taken apart 3 times and put back together with the belts marked any ideas?

salimshah

Who is your mechanic?

Has he worked on RX or other VVTi engines?

Why did he replace the new tensioner?

What bur is he trying to smooth down?

I am lost in your usage of here there and we.

Discuss with the shop the option of taking the vehicle to Lexus. If you are willing to admit that you drive a Toyota then taking it to Toyota dealership should be fine as well.

Salim