JBDUFFY1

1999 rx300 has 98K. Went for 90K timing belt/water pump. Got a call stating cam seals shot and rear main seal shot...have to drop tranny. Flex pipe has hole in it .

Does all 1999 rx300 need seals like this? Lexus states this will allow car to run 200K.

Should I have expected this when buying 1999 RX300 with 78K ? Did I get a lemon? I was told this was one car owner.

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

My 99 RX300 had the timing belt replaced earlier this year at 110,000 mile. I asked them about the seals and the water pump; they said they'd look but if there was no obvious problem, not to do them. I had the flexpipe replaced last year - $200 at the dealer.

So, you've had a little more repairs than mine but you have peace-of-mind which has to be worth something!

habeeb89

iTrader: (3)

$3,300 sounds a bit too much, did they show you where the leaks were?

JBDUFFY1

I posted this with the impression that people with high milage cars woul dcomment on their maintenance costs. I was told that both cam shaft seals were leaking and the main engine seal between the transmission and engine was leaking. This was dripping onthe exhaust and was a major cost. I was told the transmission had to come out to replace it. $800 in parts and the rest was labor. I paid 15K for the car and looked up another 1999 rx300 to see what they were worth. THe car interior and body is in perfect shape and they still go for 12K. I had to fix the car ......I wanted to know if anyone else had similar repair bills at 98K . Why would the seals go? Does driving hard make them leak?

Lexmex

All oil can shear, depending on type, mileage and driving habits, and eventually if sheared enough can lead to a leak.

AlexusAnja

All I can say is, not every car is going to give you the same reliability as another. All cars are put together in pieces, and held together with bolts and seals. Seals are variable and will just "leak" when they fell like it. My '99 has 120K+ on it and thus far, besides the timing and drive belts, and maintenance, have only had following go on me "prematurely." Price are at dealer with labor:

1. coil packs (thus far 2 of them), $470 each. One at 90K, the other 110K.
2. rear driver suspension went bad, and dealer "recommended" to do the other three as they would give me deal. Dumb me accepted and oh what a deal $1100 for all four.

Other than this, no leaks or whatsoever. Not even a need for topping off oil between changes (4000 miles).

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

Actually, $1100 for replacing all four shocks (did they replace mounts and bushings also?) doesn't sound too bad at the dealer. It's probably not a good idea to replace a shock on one side only, so both rears should be replaced if one fails. You might have been able to get away without replacing the fronts, though (although it's usually the fronts that go out first so they may have been on their last legs also). There's little or no overlapping labor on replacing shocks, so I don't think you did too badly.

carguy07

I guess the big question is did you know that the rear main was leaking (drips on the ground, etc) or are they just telling you that they can see a little bit of oil passing? Lots of seals "leak" but if you are not losing anything significant it really does not matter.

The timing belt and cam seals are just routine maintenance. Flex pipe can be fixed for a few hundred dollars.