View Poll Results: What problems you have run into in your ES?
Burnt out instrument needles or lights
356
45.52%
Valve cover gaskets or rear main seal (causing oil leaks)
234
29.92%
Failed heated seats
90
11.51%
Peeling of B-pillar (between front & rear windows)
149
19.05%
A/C defective
91
11.64%
Yellow or hazed headlights or foglights
276
35.29%
Transmission hesitation, or lag of acceleration
272
34.78%
Antenna
214
27.37%
Window regulator
146
18.67%
Motor mounts
125
15.98%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 782. You may not vote on this poll
Problems with your ES?
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: KY
Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
2000 es300 103500 KMS
been a great car had her since 93000kms and it runs beautiful problems ive had so far are as follows
- b pillars
- front left knocks when going over bumps when its cold (im going to replace the bushings and see what happens)
-passenger turn signal has a mind of its own, works only when i use it as a turn signal but when used as a running light or with the alarm it only turns on when it feels necessary
-paint chips very easily ive got lots on my hood at the sides of the grille (i have noticed this on a lot of lexus' and toyota's and i think it sucks *****) i wonder if they make a stone gaurd for our cars..
-slight hazing on the headlights (plastic-x cleaned that up right away)
-on rare occasions while driving the sunroof will not close it will try and retract back to the open position (only happens when going through a harsh turn or some rough roads)
- dim D light on gauge cluster
- wind noise at first it was acceptable but its so annoying im going to try and stuff foam into the door seals and see what happens i love the frame less windows tho i think the fact that we have no window frames makes are cars so classy i love it
-this is a problem with all 97-01's the fact that the jdm version came with front corners that rape ours, o what i would give for a set of those beauts...
been a great car had her since 93000kms and it runs beautiful problems ive had so far are as follows
- b pillars
- front left knocks when going over bumps when its cold (im going to replace the bushings and see what happens)
-passenger turn signal has a mind of its own, works only when i use it as a turn signal but when used as a running light or with the alarm it only turns on when it feels necessary
-paint chips very easily ive got lots on my hood at the sides of the grille (i have noticed this on a lot of lexus' and toyota's and i think it sucks *****) i wonder if they make a stone gaurd for our cars..
-slight hazing on the headlights (plastic-x cleaned that up right away)
-on rare occasions while driving the sunroof will not close it will try and retract back to the open position (only happens when going through a harsh turn or some rough roads)
- dim D light on gauge cluster
- wind noise at first it was acceptable but its so annoying im going to try and stuff foam into the door seals and see what happens i love the frame less windows tho i think the fact that we have no window frames makes are cars so classy i love it
-this is a problem with all 97-01's the fact that the jdm version came with front corners that rape ours, o what i would give for a set of those beauts...
Last edited by happy_es3; Feb 10, 2008 at 03:16 PM.
Driver
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: NC
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 331
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
my stupid passenger door wont open from the outside all the sudden. It works fine from the inside, but when you go to open from the outside, if feels like its still locked when its not. I dunno...
Driver
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: Victoria
1993 ES - custom resprayed (5K) & 285Kms running strong.
when ever she shows sign of misbehaving.. she goes up on the hoist in my uncle's garage and i get to poke her belly and make sure I get rid of the problem. I think she will be with me for awhile giving that I love her sexy shape/look/luxury and mechanically she A1
problems encountered in the past ranging from:
Burn out needles / center console light bulbs/ electric window switches / head gasket replacement / cabin noise front pass door / CD skipping / cruise control not working.
Im sucking up to the wife right now for $$$ for mods. hehehe
when ever she shows sign of misbehaving.. she goes up on the hoist in my uncle's garage and i get to poke her belly and make sure I get rid of the problem. I think she will be with me for awhile giving that I love her sexy shape/look/luxury and mechanically she A1
problems encountered in the past ranging from:
Burn out needles / center console light bulbs/ electric window switches / head gasket replacement / cabin noise front pass door / CD skipping / cruise control not working.
Im sucking up to the wife right now for $$$ for mods. hehehe
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Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: TX
driver's side b-pillar is peeling - 3/4gloss, 1/4flat right now. I have a small hesitation between R and D, but it's really not that bad. Other than those two small things the car is working/looking like a million bucks!
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: tx
Mcgellicott -- My daughter just called re her es300 auto '93. Engine began running real rough, then stalled, then stopped, no overheating, billowing white/gray smoke. let sit & cool for a while. Starts & runs, eventually stalls again. less smoke.
Head Gasket????? What elese could it be. I saw a neighbors do a similart thing, they never did idagnose properly.
Head Gasket????? What elese could it be. I saw a neighbors do a similart thing, they never did idagnose properly.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: IL
lol mine was to! Well actually it was a very flamboyant gay guy, so does that count? My **** is all warped in the front. I have been told you need to remove the front bumper and take off guards completely and then put it back on and it should go back to factory condition. The only thing is when you hit another curb or bump it will warp again. So basically it innevitable to happen.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
lol mine was to! Well actually it was a very flamboyant gay guy, so does that count? My **** is all warped in the front. I have been told you need to remove the front bumper and take off guards completely and then put it back on and it should go back to factory condition. The only thing is when you hit another curb or bump it will warp again. So basically it innevitable to happen.
what are you talking about?
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: NSW
geez, what a POS 
our ES250 was a mess when we got it... 168k miles, two owners, poorly treated and maintained from the looks of it. the whole engine compartment leaked, there was crap everywhere, fluids and road dirt. apparently a battery had exploded in there at some point too.
aside from having eaten a rod bearing, and the block being crap, the engine leaked all over. we just replaced it with one that had recently had:
timing belt
water pump
cam seals
crank seal
PCV
accessory belts.
did the rear main while the engine was out.
the trans was probably ok but we replaced that too.
did both axle seals and the input shaft seal, trans pan gasket, all leaked, on the replacement trans.
the rear trans mount is bad, we haven't gotten around to replacing that.
needs a park/neutral position switch... indicator on dash does not work, no reverse lights.
steering and suspension:
rack leaked like a pig- replaced
inner tie rods were crap- part of rack
consequential bad tire wear we'll have to live with for now.
outer tie rods appeared to have been replaced recently when we got it
control arm bushings were bad- replaced control arms
struts and springs, boots, etc were all bad- replaced all that.
and of course an alignment after that.
a/c converted to r134a and recharged.
condenser is starting to get old and nasty, and there may be a leak somewhere in the lines.
brake lines flushed fluid was very cloudy and the reservoir had chunks in it!
front rotors turned
front pads replaced
broken headlight adjuster mount- replaced headlight
rust on fender- treated and painted over w/touchup paint
few bulbs around the car are burnt out
auto antenna doesn't work
needs a damn clay job... i'm working on it in my limited free time.
yeah it'll be a damn long time before we buy another lexus!
psst... because this one will probably last us another 100k
our ES250 was a mess when we got it... 168k miles, two owners, poorly treated and maintained from the looks of it. the whole engine compartment leaked, there was crap everywhere, fluids and road dirt. apparently a battery had exploded in there at some point too.
aside from having eaten a rod bearing, and the block being crap, the engine leaked all over. we just replaced it with one that had recently had:
timing belt
water pump
cam seals
crank seal
PCV
accessory belts.
did the rear main while the engine was out.
the trans was probably ok but we replaced that too.
did both axle seals and the input shaft seal, trans pan gasket, all leaked, on the replacement trans.
the rear trans mount is bad, we haven't gotten around to replacing that.
needs a park/neutral position switch... indicator on dash does not work, no reverse lights.
steering and suspension:
rack leaked like a pig- replaced
inner tie rods were crap- part of rack
consequential bad tire wear we'll have to live with for now.
outer tie rods appeared to have been replaced recently when we got it
control arm bushings were bad- replaced control arms
struts and springs, boots, etc were all bad- replaced all that.
and of course an alignment after that.
a/c converted to r134a and recharged.
condenser is starting to get old and nasty, and there may be a leak somewhere in the lines.
brake lines flushed fluid was very cloudy and the reservoir had chunks in it!
front rotors turned
front pads replaced
broken headlight adjuster mount- replaced headlight
rust on fender- treated and painted over w/touchup paint
few bulbs around the car are burnt out
auto antenna doesn't work
needs a damn clay job... i'm working on it in my limited free time.
yeah it'll be a damn long time before we buy another lexus!
psst... because this one will probably last us another 100k
Amen to that!
was wondering if anyone knows why when i hit the gas, like a fast tap, the car has a slight jerk/delay changed the spark plugs and still no luck, any one have any ideas, also my left signal flashes rapidly, i checked head and taillights and all are fine?
Thanks to anyone who helps
Thanks to anyone who helps