I took my car into the Goodyear shop yesterday after running a diagnostic test on my car. The diagnostic test told me I had was experiencing an oil control valve problem on my 1999 Lexus ES300. I had the bank 1 oil control valve replaced a few years ago so I figured it might need to be cleaned. I ended up taking the car into the Goodyear and explained to the mechanic the issue I was having. The mechanic basically told me that they do not do ANY kind of job related to the oil control valve. And he referred me to a Lexus dealership. Which I thought was BULL**** . Rather than take it to a Lexus dealership and possibly be over charged I figured I would try and fix the problem myself. If anyone has experienced issues with the oil control valve on a similar Lexus your advice would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

I would first make sure that you are having oil control valve problems.
Your car has 2, bank 1 and bank 2.
Take your car to an AutoZone or another shop that should check your check engine light codes for free.

P0300, P0301, P0303, P0305
Generally means oil control valve bank 1

P0300, P0302, P0304, P0306
Generally means oil control valve bank 2.

You should also have another code that points to your oil control valve almost directly. (P1354 I think?)

If you think it is your oil control valve, check out this post. It is very easy to do this your self.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-1st-to-4th-gen-1990-2006/815044-same-problem.html#post9390814

 

Thank you very much. Yeah it is the 1354 code that I have,

 

So they were totally honest and admitted they had no expertise there, which is both a year-range AND brand-specific issue, refused to charge you for work they could not honestly do and referred you to the right place, and you are MAD? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?

Good advice above; Read that over, thing about it and check back when you get your head de-rectumized.

 

Im sorry did I insult you? I didn't insult the mechanic when he told me that. I moved on about my business in a respectful manner.....I didn't think cleaning a oil control valve was that big of a deal for a mechanic so yes I was a little pissed off considering the day I was having.

 

Someone's a little heated. I mean you can clean it, but the work it takes to get to it, you might as well replace it. When my oil control valve needed to be replaced, I paid the dealer $500 to fix it, most of it was labor if I remember correctly. A month later, the other control valve acted up and they replaced it goodwill (2 for the price of 1). Since you are determined to not go to the dealer over a few hundred bucks, find a good independent (not chain such as Goodyear or Midas) and I'm sure they'll be able to help you as this engine is so common and so is the issue.

 

And I don't know if this was for the knock sensor or oil control valve, but replace it with an OEM part. People have issues with aftermarket ones not fixing the issue, but I think that could be knock sensors, can't remember

 

How long do the OCV's typically last? The nearest dealership is about an hour - hour and a half away.......and thank you for your insight

 

The oil control valves on the year 99 (I have this year) is very easy to replace. If it's your first time it might take you an hour. But really they can be replaced within 10, 20 minutes.
I think mine went out around 160k. 170k miles. They both went out about 10k miles apart.

I would just replace them, if you do the research on cleaning them, it doesn't seem to help.
Oh yea also, always go oem parts.

 

awwwww ok thanks man I really appreciate it.

 

Simple Youtube search yielded this:


$500 for this work, wow

 

P1354 references Bank 2. So if you replaced bank 1, bank 2 is probably due. Bank 2 is very easy.

check out these links on how to replace.
post number 5 for pictures
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...e-problem.html

post two for pictures
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...151-p1349.html

 

Thanks man......yeah I havent gone under the hood yet.....im glad I saw this before I did thanks once again

 

Is the bank 2 OCV considered the Left or Right one?

 

bank 2 is the left