Code P1354 Help Please

Croc · 09-13-09, 05:34 PM

Hello everybody, I am new here, but have seen there is a lot of knowledge on this site. I have a question and need some help or advise. I have a 99 RX300, 125,000 miles, 3.0 2WD. It is showing a code of 1354 and just recently the brakes are now giving me trouble. I have been trying to clean out the OCV's and that actually cleared the code. While i went for a test ride, everything went back to the way it used to be, normal. Went for about 30 miles or so, went back out to town and about 10 miles or so the CEL went off. Everything was like normal until I wnet to apply the brakes and then I noticed the pedal was hard. Got to the house and pulled the codes and got the same 1354 again. Nothing for the brakes though. They would stop like normal and then the pedal would get real hard like manual brakes. Is there anybody here that could advise/help me with this? Also I never noticed a difference in my timing until I stoped at the house and I could tell the timing was off. The truck had a surging effect in Park and the RPM's was around 700. I cut the truck off and back on the RPM's were around 1000 and not surging like before but still had the 1354 code. Would it be alright to drive like normal since the only time it is acting up is at a stop but not while under a load or will I tear something else up? Thank you in advance for any help and advice from anybody out there who can help me.

Lexmex · 09-14-09, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Croc

Hello everybody, I am new here, but have seen there is a lot of knowledge on this site. I have a question and need some help or advise. I have a 99 RX300, 125,000 miles, 3.0 2WD. It is showing a code of 1354 and just recently the brakes are now giving me trouble. I have been trying to clean out the OCV's and that actually cleared the code. While i went for a test ride, everything went back to the way it used to be, normal. Went for about 30 miles or so, went back out to town and about 10 miles or so the CEL went off. Everything was like normal until I wnet to apply the brakes and then I noticed the pedal was hard. Got to the house and pulled the codes and got the same 1354 again. Nothing for the brakes though. They would stop like normal and then the pedal would get real hard like manual brakes. Is there anybody here that could advise/help me with this? Also I never noticed a difference in my timing until I stoped at the house and I could tell the timing was off. The truck had a surging effect in Park and the RPM's was around 700. I cut the truck off and back on the RPM's were around 1000 and not surging like before but still had the 1354 code. Would it be alright to drive like normal since the only time it is acting up is at a stop but not while under a load or will I tear something else up? Thank you in advance for any help and advice from anybody out there who can help me.

Welcome to the Club.

I'll get to that code last, and I've added it to our running total of codes reported.

With regard to the surging RPMs, take a look here http://clublexus.com/forums/rx300-fo...-write-up.html and clean out that part as shown. I too get a surging RPM from time to time and know this is usually the culprit.

Now, the vehicle still may have surging itself, even if the RPMs don't show it. For that you want to take a look at your transmission fluid level and also the color and consistency. Low or even old transmission fluid can cause a surging sensation (or noticeably delay) before switching gears, though I do think your issue is related to the previous paragraph.

Sometimes with the brakes (especially when I lived in Mexico), I would get the feeling you described. I would check your brake fluid level and consistency, but there is also a chance they need bleeding as you may have air in the lines. One other possibility, and I 'd verify after you clean the IACV valve out, is the brake booster line may be having some issues, but it might clear itself out after cleaning the IACV valve, as any issue with that may be creating some pressure problems. My problems gradually decreased with my brakes after this.

On the P1354, the OCV or oil control valve is one possibility. Take a look here, http://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-f...ease-help.html

In your case, being bank 2, focus on this post, http://www.clublexus.com/forums/4768156-post3.html

Cleaning the oil control valve is just one possibility there, but one also needs to clean or replace the oil control valve filter. Notice the white circle in the last photo on the previous link. In addition, what is the condition of the oil, type and mileage?

Another possibility is the valve timing is off. There could be a stretched timing belt or possibly a broken tooth, or the timing is just clearly off a bit.

pabs324 · 10-29-09, 01:40 PM

I was having the same P1354 code on my ES300. I bought it to one place and he couldn't figure it out. I then found a Lexus specialist which had the car for 3 days before he could figure it out. No sludge no timing problems. I told him about the oil control valve and he said he didn't know if that would be it, that he would need one more day. The next day he called telling me it was the vvt control valve. Got the car back today and so far so good but we will see and btw it cost me 400. The part itself only 100 the rest in labor. I'm guessing the three days of not finding anything bumped that up, even though I diagnosed it for him

thomas1 · 10-29-09, 02:02 PM

The oil control valve is easy to replace. Tops 20 minutes. My concern is hopefully you have no sludge. My neighbor has the same engine in the Highlander and what happened is the VVTI gear on the end of the Camshaft seized up and wore. Ended up replacing the Gear, and that fixed the problem. The OCV feeds oil to that gear and provides advance or retard to the camshaft timing....