jadeaudio

OK my dad has a 2001 RX300. Has 90K on it. When the CEL comes on the car stumbles and has loss of power. Also the brakes feel funny. If I clear the codes the car will drive fine for a while then it'll come back on. I get the following:

P1354-VVT System Malfunction Bank 2
P0302-Cylinder 2 Misfire
P0304 Cylinder 4 Misfire
P0306-Cylinder 6 misfire

So with my basic car knowledge I swapped the spark plugs out even though the old ones looked fine. I figure it took me so long to get the rear ones out that I would replace them. Now I would think the coils, but really all 3 going bad at the same time? Highly unlikely. And if I reset the codes it drives fine for a little while. I'm decent with cars, but I do not want to just buy expensive dealer parts just guessing at the problem, so any help would be appreciated. The dealer wanted to charge my Dad $330 to change out spark plugs. So I don't want my dad to waste thousands to figure out the issue. Last year I wasted a lot of time replacing a MAF sensor because that is what the code said and found on this forum that it was the primary o2 sensor.

salimshah

Your problems are all related to bank2 ... the accessible side ... near the front.

Was T belt changed recently ... which if assembled wrong can be off a tooth or two?

I would try to get to the bottom of the variable valve error and hopefully that would fix the misfire issues.

Salim

thomas1

Oh man, Oil Control Valve may have failed. Or the Dreaded sludge problem....

thomas1

oil control valve location possible sludge problem.

jadeaudio

I'm gonna try the oil control valve. I read that might be the issue. It better not be sludge. Car had new bottom end changed from the dealer at 70K due to burning oil. He always had all the work done at the dealer, so for some reason they were cool enough to contact Lexus to see what they would do. They covered the bottom end, but charged for some dumb things that made the bill $700. Not bad though considering, but no excuse for a vehicle that had all the maintenance done on time at the dealer to have oil burning issues at 70K miles. Tranny took a crap at 65K. Totally seized. He is the original owner. Bought it brand new in 2001. Pretty disappointing considering Lexus is supposed to be so reliable.

Nad1370

As thomas1 suggested.
It's the OCV bank 2.
My brother had the similar codes but for Bank 1. Changed the part and was running smooth again.
Cost him $90 part from the dealer. Tech said it's pretty common esp during cold weather.
Pretty easy to get considering yours is in Bank 2.
Only held by 1 10mm bolt.

jadeaudio

Yeah I picked up the part today. Gonna give it a try. I had a tax id number through work so I had wholesale price on the part. Only $60. They had it in stock so I bet it's a common part that goes bad for them to stock it.

TennLexus1

Jade, did that resolve the issue? I'm having the excact same codes and issues you are.

I've had this car for a few years, and have had IACV replaced, O2 sensors, and worst of all had to have tranny replaced. This is seriously the worst Toyota product that I've ever owned. I had a 1993 Toyota Previa and that thing was virtually trouble free for over 150,000 miles. I've also owned an Avalon with 200,000 and a Corona, and almost no issues there either. Getting a little bit freaked by all the issues on this one. The headlines of all the Toyota recalls doesn't help with the confidence factor either.

Anyway, rant over, just wanted to see if this resolved your issue. Thanks!

phil128605

ive had this same issue on both banks. one bank i was able to clean the OCV, the other bank i had to replace it, but all is good, for now anyway.

bluebug

I have the same error codes P1354, P0302, P0304, P0306 on a 99 RX300 with 130k miles.

In addition the transmission is not stumbling/not shifting at 40mph. After searching the forum, I thought this might be the knock sensors but I didnt get those error codes.

The oxygen senors, idle control valve and spark plugs were all recently changed.

Now do I start with the oil control valve, ignition coils (all 6??) or knock sensors (both)?

Lexmex

Welcome to the Club.

Technically with P1354 it would be valve timing being checked first, but I'd ask when you last had the timing belt replaced. The next thing would be the OCV.

Are you getting any kind of hesitation whatsoever?

Also, how many miles ago were the plugs changed out?

bluebug

I believe the timing belt and OCV are original. The plugs were just changed about a month ago. When I disconnect the battery and restart the car it seems to run fine for 5-10 minutes until the Check Engine Light comes on and the hesitation, shifting issues start. I also have code P1150.

Thanks for your help.

Lexmex

At 130K, I'd strongly suggest you get the timing belt changed along with the water pump (unless in the latter case you are going to get rid of the vehicle in the not too distant future). 90K was the point it should have been done, though I will say it can run longer.

P1150 is Bank 2 Sensor 1 A/F sensor easily seen in the engine bay on the exhaust manifold coming off the front of the engine.

Since you're getting misfires on all of the front cylinders and the code for bank 2, it really should come down to timing or the OCV. Since the timing belt should be done at this point that would eliminate the possibility (once changed) down to the OCV.

Unless there is a bad tooth somewhere, or a problem with the timing belt, OCV would be the likely culprit here.

bluebug

Just an update- I replaced the oil control valve, unplugged the battery and the check engine light went away. Car now runs like it should but I definitely need to replace the timing belt. Any recommendations for a mechanic in NYC area?

Thanks for all your help.

lvaldez

Does the rx and es have the same engine layout? I found one ocv valve under the intake but is that bank 1 or 2?