bvvelden

Hello,

This is my first time ever posting in a forum so please bear with me. I have a 99 Lexus RX300 and just recently I have what may be a big issue. The car does not idle correctly when it is warm (seems to be missing), but I have in the past had to replace individual cylinder coils and it is not acting the same way. I went to an auto parts store and the diagnostic stated code P1354 which then I selected Toyota because the code was make specific and it gave VVT system malfunction. I have been driving it like this and now when going about 30-35 MPH it shifts down and up on its own and today when driving on the highway it will not shift into fourth or OD and going about 65 mph I am running at about 4000 rpms. Any suggestions are appreciated, I am handy enough to handle some repairs and I am hoping I can tackle this one on my own. Thank you for reading.

hypervish

Welcome to Club Lexus!

Sounds like it's the OCV Valve, try cleaning it, or just replace it. Do a search, it should help out on figuring out how to do it.
Also, take a look at this thread it should help: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...tem-fault.html

bvvelden

Thank you very much for the advice, since I was replacing one I decided to replace both. I paid 193 total at the dealership (autopart stores in the area didn't have them, nor did they sound like they had heard of them), overall a pretty easy fix considering how poorly it was running. Thanks again!

thomas1

So it fixed the problem? Also note make sure you keep the oil changes fresh. Contaminants in the oil and a tendency for sludge in our engines can cause these kind of failures. I use synthetic which seems to keep everything very clean and have not experienced these problems. (knock on wood)...Welcome aboard to our forum, it is a great place to save money and time.

bvvelden

Yes after a few days it is still running well. I have a few other minor issue with it, I am the second owner and have owned it for 7 years now. I have to replace the o2
sensor(s), the ABS light is on which I think may be a relay???), shocks all the way around, transmission fluid change and I would like to put a nicer flow exhaust on maybe some performance updagrades. Just a small list of projects. This forum is great it has helped out quite a bit already!

Carver

Have you checked the brake fluid level? Brake fluid absorbs moisture which can cause corrosion in very expensive parts. It should be changed every two years. If you haven't done that lately you probably should.

You haven't said how many miles are on your car...

bvvelden

I will definitely look into changing the brake fluid, thank you for the tip. My RX has 250,000 miles on it, the engine was rebuilt about 92,000 miles ago by Lexus due to the oil sludge problem. It was actually a pretty sweet deal, all I had to pay for was a new water pump and timing chain. Transmission is original, and I bought the filter kit and tranny fluid today. That will get changed this weekend.