I'm hoping someone could shed some light with this weird problem. I posted it when it was random about a year ago and no responses, now it occurs about 90% of the time.

So here is the scenario, '01 RX300, AWD, 123k miles, no cels or codes. When accelerating from zero, something kicks in, not sure exactly what it coudl be, but it locks the car from moving, really strange feeling, it lasts about 1 second, and once it gets rolling, it's normal, no lights come up when it happens. It almost sounds like it's the VSC, you hear a loud "greeemmm" some wheels being locked, and then it goes.

Any help? pleeease. -TIA

 

I would guess the ABS is kicking in due to a dirty/broken sensor or broken ruluctor ring.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...tone-ring.html

Disconnect the plug for the ABS and see if it goes away.

 

That seems to be exactly it. I will try disconnecting ABS. Now, if it's a reluctor ring, how will I know which one?
Thank you very much for the quick and informative response, a beer to you sir!

 

Just clean your wheel hub sensor`s real good. That solved the problem on my 01.

 

Thank you. Is this the procedure you followed?
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...when-rain.html

-TIA

 

Just had this problem in '02 RX w/ 105K miles...sensor was bent (new install after previous sensor disintigrated while driving). What occurs is that, while moving slowly, the sensor fails to read a particular area of the hub/reluctor ring, and reads "0" or "not moving" and then the ABS kicks in elsewhere attempting to compensate - once moving, it is going too fast to read "0" for a significant amount of time necessary to kick in ABS. Anyway, a sensor or ring. Mine was a sensor. The shop that solved the issue had a particular tool used to read ABS readings.

 

Yep,that`s it. Btw, I couldnt get the rear ones out,so rather than risk breaking them, I only ended up cleaning the front ones. And that solved the problem for me.

 

Thank you. I've disconnected the ABS plug, the one next to the coolant reservoir and for now the problem seems to have gone away. I will try to get to clean the sensors soon, but for now, I rather drive without ABS, like I always did :-) than driving with this problem. It has gotten very scary a couple of times already when trying to make left turns on uncoming traffic, and all the sudden, your car locks in the middle of the other lane

 

So cleaning the sensors and the metal ring around the ones in the front has not fixed the problem, but it seems to be less severe now, perhaps just in my head. Of note, it never does it when turning right, always when turning left or going straight. Does that mean that the problem is on the right side sensors? -TIA

 

Well, if you cleaned them,and it`s still going on,did you wipe them off real good? Did you get the rear ones out? You may have a bad sensor then.Just for the heck of it,clear the ecm.

 

I have exactly the same problem with my 2002 RX 2ith 155K. Only happens accelerating from a stop or turning left (low speed <10mph then disappears) When I had a check engine light and the VSC was disabled...no noise, no problem. (Although I had to replace one catalytic converter which was disappointing and expensive and may have to replace the other in near futue). Emissions fine for now..but now have this to deal with this problem!

An independent mechanic said Lexus had a service bulletin 007 issued in 2001on certain RXs suggesting sensor and dust cover replacements up to 70K.
Does this mean anything?

 

I don't know if the sensor and dust cover need replacing, maybe cleaning and inspecting...the dust cover is metal and protects, I think, the reluctor ring. I saw mine on a rack and the dust cover was bent (poor installation), but the sensor was not flush and therefore caused engagement of the ABS from stop, on occasion (not every time).

Turning left would make me think it's on the left side, b/c those wheel are turning slower = greater chance that the sensor is reading "0" when it shouldn't be, thereby kicking in ABS on the other wheels.

 

Thanks. Sounds like first step is to get it up on a rack and inspected. I hate to take it to the dealer because I know I'll come out with an empty wallet. Did you have to replace both the sensor and dust cover? Do all sensors have to be replaced if one is bad?
Problem only happens occasionally as well (not every time) but seems to be getting more frequent.

 

When I had my issue only the sensor was cleaned and the hole that it read through cleaned...the bent dust cover was left on and hasn't created any problems yet (2 months). The sensor was relatively new, however, therefore, you may need a new sensor (mine self-destructed, disintigrated and wrapped its wiring in the rear axle).