How much of a job is it to change the plugs on a '00 RX 300? Do you really have to remove the intake manifold?

 

You don't have to remove the intake, but it's a pain in the neck if you never done one before. Some special designed rachets( 2" long 3/8 drive rachet) and extensions are require.

 

As you might tell by my user name I'm a technician at a Chevy dealer and a Dale Earnhardt fan. I've come to realize that GM isn't the only manufacturer to employ designers who come up with automotive designs that they will NEVER have to work on. Maybe Toyota/Lexus has those kind of people too and the plug change on a RX 300 is an example of this. My wife's '00 RX 300 has about 40,000 miles on it and the owner's manual says to change the plugs at 100,000 miles. It is my opinion that spark plugs left in an aluminum head for 100,000 miles may NEVER come put. You may be looking at replacing one or both cylinder heads due to the seizing of the plugs in the threaded holes. I thought it a good idea to remove the plugs at 40,000 miles, check them, and replace or re-install them using ANTI-SEIZE on the threads. What do the members of this forum think? Also I guess I'm going to have to allow the Lexus dealer to extort $100.00 each from me for a 2-volume set of repair manuals. After all this I still think that my wife's RX 300 is a far better vehicle than my '01 Silverado extra-cab and she doesn't have to deal with the GM intellect!

 

We change the spark plugs on the RX at 90K and never have any problem of the plugs siezed. I'm talking about all Lexus models. If you want to change them at 40K, I think it's too early.
Cool, we have GM tech on CL and welcome.