natman

My mother has recently stopped driving and I'm going to get her 2002 GS300. This is literally the car driven by a little old lady on Sundays. She bought it new and in the 11 years since she's racked up a whopping 31,000 miles.

It's been maintained by the dealer and runs great. So aside from changing fluids, what should I check / adjust / lubricate on one of these?

Revive

iTrader: (1)

Front lower ***** joints. And probably check if your camera is working by posting some pictures :P

1sWt2GS

iTrader: (6)

damn that thing has low mileage.

natman

I'd post pics, but right now it's in another state and I won't be picking it up until mid October.

What is the designation (name) for the engine? I found that the valve clearances are listed as a range, so I'm going to assume that it uses some sort of shim and bucket system.

JeiceLexus

That engine has been sleeping all these years ... 31,000 miles on a 11 year old Lexus, that's nothing!!!
Make sure you chase all the rats and spiders off and then you basically don't have to do much, just change your oil on time.

The 2002 GS300 comes with the 2JZ-GE VVTi engine. It is an interference engine.

2k4CamkilA

That's awesome man! Welcome to the forum!
Wouldn't the tires have dry rot?

natman

Bear in mind you're referring to my mother. I don't recall the term "bad ***" being associated with her on any previous occasion.

natman

I had considered that and will give the tires a close inspection. It has been garaged since it left the dealership.

natman

One more question: The car has the NAV system and Mark Levinson stereo. Would it automatically have the CD changer? If so where is it?

Regarding the NAV system: When the car was new, the dealership tested the NAV system by programming their location into it. So when my mom first brought it home, every time she drove the car it gave her directions back to the dealership.

"Take me home! I want to go back! I miss all my friends!"

I figured out how to make it stop doing that and I doubt she ever used it again.

tmf2004

iTrader: (15)

Congrats on the GS and the low miles... Not even sure i would mod it honestly...

SaiyanGS3

iTrader: (8)

tires are shot. I know this for a fact. Tires have a 6 year age limit (max). I typically use the 4 year and trash rule. Look at the 4 digit number code on the side wall. If you still have no idea what I'm talking about, Google how to check born on date on tires.

natman

I doubt I'll be doing many mods. I have a Miata for that. This is going to be the "change the oil and otherwise leave it alone" car, not the one jacked up in the driveway because I'm fiddling with it.

As far as the tires go, I plan on changing them if they are original or even very old. There's a chance that they have been changed recently, because the car had a major service 2 years ago. We'll see when I pick it up.

SaiyanGS3

iTrader: (8)

OP DON'T LISTEN TO THIS ADVICE AT ALL!!! Old tires can look "brand new",but if they are old, the thread will peel right off! If those tires are over 5 years old, replace and put on a new set ASAP. They will blow on you and could cause serious injury or death. I know this first hand....plus plenty of information to back my clain online.

tmf2004

iTrader: (15)

I agree with Goku, there is a set a numbers on tire to determine what month and year the tire was made etc... There was a few threads about it some time ago..

natman

Relax, guys. There are only two probable scenarios:

1) The tires are still original, in which case they would be at least 12 years old by the time I pick up the car. If this is the case I'll change them as soon as I can.

2) The tires have been changed since the car was new. If this is the case, it would have been done in the last couple of years. If so, I'll drive them until they wear out. I don't plan to put a lot of miles on this car, but I'll certainly put more on than my mother did.