Hey guys,

im in the market for a commuter and came across to an 2000 es300 with 199k miles in the Odo.

the asking price is $2k.

how are these? Any issues with tranmission? Any problematic areas I should look or for?

my commute will be 50 miles round trip.

thanks

 

The IAC valve can be problematic, the engine can have sludge if not maintained properly, and the timing belt should have been replaced twice at that milage. Spark plugs, if original are nearing the end of their life. Knock sensors can also act up. Check engine mounts for rips and excessive play of the engine. Look at the power steering pump, as those are prone to seep, and make sure it has atf in the reservoir. At only 200k the transmission shouldn't have problems, just check fluid color and make sure it doesn't whine or jerk. Be sure it has highway mileage signs. Also check for normal suspension wear and tear. There really aren't major problems with these cars. Mine has 300k without any major issues.

Hope I helped.

 

Hello,

Here is an older post about a similar topic.
The price is right, if the transmission is good and the body has no rust, it is worth a 50 miles trip for a test drive.

Hope this helps and best of luck!

 

how many time should the timing belt change @ that mileage?

thanks

 

Ideally it should be changed every 90k with an aisin kit and waterpump. Make sure it's aisin. I've have bad luck with aftermarket replacement belts and pumps. The engine is non interference, so the belt isn't a big deal. It's the pump that you need to worry about. That can leak and blow your engine really quickly.

 

Hi new member here. I acquired a 2000 ES300 Platinum w 142,000 miles, nice ride. I'm fairly sure this car has never had the timing belt water pump service!! I know, pushing it. My question is where to get the best quality parts without going to the dealer? I found the cam and crank holder tools and a seal tool mentioned on another thread on amazon for about 100. Is it better to order individual parts (bearings, belt, pump, seals, tensioner) or one of the kits. I saw ads for OEM stuff on eBay but I'm super skeptical.
I've really enjoyed reading through these forums. The knowledge and expertise shared here is greatly appreciated.

Thanks, D

 

Get the crank and cam seals from a dealer. Timing belt kit, same as OEM.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...=16088&jsn=848
5% off discount codes in this thread
https://www.toyotanation.com/threads...360084/page-23

After the timing belt is replaced you may run into "timing belt flutter" it's a noise that sounds similar to metal on metal. Only solution is 100% clean the cam gears (nearly impossible) or simply replace them.