elacesar

Hello this is about my RX300 2001 with 115000 miles on it that runs great but all of a sudden the motor sounds louder that usual.. I changed the spark plugs at 80000 miles with the same iridiums and i have always changed the oil at 3500 miles intervals including the air filter. The car runs pretty good except for every once and a while it will seem as if the carb gets flooded and will stall for a second but then it runs fine.. Any help from you Pros will be greatly appreciated.. Thanks alo for any help..

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

Engine noise or exhaust/manifold noise?

carguy07

Louder is usually an exhaust leak. The flex pipe is a good place to start. It seems the exhaust manifolds crack around the o2 sensor a lot too.

I would clean the IAC valve and see if the stalling goes away.

elacesar

Thanks for the help I will check the exhaust area tonight but can you explain to me where the IAC valve is? I did clean the throttle intake area with carb cleaner and it is the same.. Thanks for the help

carguy07

You are in the right area. You may need to take it off to get it loosened back up.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...out-yours.html

JohnLX300

iTrader: (2)

From my experience with sudden engine being loud is, like carguy07 stating the flex pipe in the exhaust. This is the second car I have had with the flex pipe. I know from it happening to me. I was driving on expressway all of a sudden ..... loud exhaust....I thought it was some dinky car that I pulled up to. So when I tried to get away from it I couldn't. I looked under the car and I couldn't see the tear in the flexpipe. I had to stick my hand around it to feel the air coming out from the top of it blowing onto the engine. I did this, early one morning when the car was totally cooled so I could get a good feel before the exhaust heated up.

elacesar

Thanks again and i did check the exhaust pipe right under the motor and the sound is coming from looks like a wire braid material.. Is this a difficult job or can a good handyman take care of this??

salimshah

that is the flex(ible) connection. Replace or weld over. Proper fix is replace. Muffler/exhaust shops can do the job as they have the tools and equipment and lifts.

Salim

elacesar

Thanks alot..

JohnLX300

iTrader: (2)

If this front pipe(with the wire braid), has never been replaced. Things can get a little tough with the rusted bolts. I did mine myself without any issues. I went to a muffler shop after I purchased the part and they wanted $200 to install and said it could cost more becsause of the rusted bolts. And this was the least expensive out of all the places. So I put the car up on two ramps, the hardest bolts to remove are the ones on that connected the front pipe assembly to the pre-cats. You "supposed" to have a torch to heat the bolts ups. So I turned the car on for a couple of minutes to heat the bolts up......and it worked, all the bolts came out with a little elbow grease. The only part I had to buy was rachet extensions so my tools would reach the bolts. Other than that, I took my time doing this and it took about an hour. hope this helps

elacesar

Thanks alot Jone for the help and i am almost sure that i can do this but I think I will have a problem finding an exact fit.. Thanks again

thomas1

My muffler shop did the whole thing for $100 including the parts....

tiguy99

Same here!
Just had this done yesterday on my wife's RX300.

So nice to have a quiet car again 😀