maybe someone can help me
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: nj
maybe someone can help me
hello everyone im looking to buy a 96 lexus es300 it has about 140,000 miles on it and really good shape i was what should i look for and maybe is there any problems that the 96 have olso is $500 a good price ? any help would be great thanks
steven
steven
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 1
From: CA
The good: Great Price
The bad: Seems too cheap (a lotta problems)
The ES is known for a lot of problems (compared to other lexus models). It's kinda like a "pawn" in shining armor. You should look for a LOT of things. I'd look at the basics and then the "rough stuff." Here's a list that I'd look at:
The A/C. Not only if the A/C works, but is the compressor fine also? If the compressor is bad, the car usually makes a humming noise.
The belts. Both the pulley belts and the timing belts should be looked at. (Well of course the timing can't be seen without taking the cover off, but it's gonna need to be replaced if haven't done so.)
The alternator. Sometimes the alternator squeaks.
The shocks. Just test drive the car, and you'll know if they're good or not.
The radiator. I heard of many radiator problems from the ES experiences.
Over heating problems (radiator)
Power steering problems. Same common problem.
Brakes. Are the brakes good when applied? Is there a spongy feeling when the brake pedal is applied. If so, there's air in the master cylinder.
Tire wear, tire life. (not really important unless you live far from the seller)
Lights, see if they work, etc.
Power windows, door locks, Cruise control.
Overdrive button (test to see if tranny responds when car is in motion).
Tranny, is there smooth shifting?
Axels. When you stop, then go, is there a "clank" noise.
And the rest are the more basic such as seat condition, paint, etc.
The bad: Seems too cheap (a lotta problems)
The ES is known for a lot of problems (compared to other lexus models). It's kinda like a "pawn" in shining armor. You should look for a LOT of things. I'd look at the basics and then the "rough stuff." Here's a list that I'd look at:
The A/C. Not only if the A/C works, but is the compressor fine also? If the compressor is bad, the car usually makes a humming noise.
The belts. Both the pulley belts and the timing belts should be looked at. (Well of course the timing can't be seen without taking the cover off, but it's gonna need to be replaced if haven't done so.)
The alternator. Sometimes the alternator squeaks.
The shocks. Just test drive the car, and you'll know if they're good or not.
The radiator. I heard of many radiator problems from the ES experiences.
Over heating problems (radiator)
Power steering problems. Same common problem.
Brakes. Are the brakes good when applied? Is there a spongy feeling when the brake pedal is applied. If so, there's air in the master cylinder.
Tire wear, tire life. (not really important unless you live far from the seller)
Lights, see if they work, etc.
Power windows, door locks, Cruise control.
Overdrive button (test to see if tranny responds when car is in motion).
Tranny, is there smooth shifting?
Axels. When you stop, then go, is there a "clank" noise.
And the rest are the more basic such as seat condition, paint, etc.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 1
From: CA
I'm guessing that if the car was driven with no abuse (hard reving), it would possibly make it to 150K and over. It's just that the ES engine (3VZ-FE and 1MZ-FE) both has a lot of head problems. I talked to this asian (I think he was Mien) tow truck guy when I blew my motor, and he said that ES motors are not as good as LS motors. His friend had an LS400 and it was going on 257K. It sounded umbelievable but he said that the motor was built better than the ES's.
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