Just introducing myself (a new user)
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 3
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From: Tennessee
Just introducing myself (a new user)
So, my name is Daniel, but you guys can call me "KRSNA".
I've been lurking around this forum (as a non-registered guest) for nearly a year, but just now registered. Probably because I've read -- and made use of -- (nearly) every post pertaining to my RX. I began browsing the "RX - First Generation" section of Club Lexus back when I had to replace a headlight. Before that, I had never done anything with a car besides drive it and pump gas into the tank. I wasn't opposed to learning or doing work: I just had the means to take my previous car (a 2003 Infiniti G35) in to the dealership (or an independent shop) for maintenance and whatnot. But this was back when my (previous) line of work provided me with a relatively large amount of untaxed income. Anyway, my father totaled that G35 back in December of 2011... and a month later I bought this 2001 RX 300 (it had 140,000 or so miles on it, and was neglected by me and the previous owner), found lower-income work at a club, and moved to Nashville. But that's enough of that.
Back to the headlight (Spring of 2012): the replacement was simple enough, but I did some exploring while the hood was up. This is when I noticed the air filters were brown, the oil was (to put it mildly) worn out, and the transmission fluid was no longer the color of transmission fluid lol.
I changed out the filters on my own, but went to get the oil changed at a business we're all familiar with (no need to mention it's name). I figured the price for the oil change was good, because I was ignorant, but thankfully I remembered something I saw on here about coolant, so when they went to top off my -- slightly discolored -- red coolant with their neon-green stuff, I interrupted them and asked if that was "okay" to mix the two (knowing it wasn't). The guy insisted it was perfectly alright to mix (even without a flush) because it was "universal". To make a long story short: I said something along the lines of "thanks, but no thanks".
This prompted me to return to these forums, and since then I've learned to change my oil, transmission fluid (drained, dropped the pan, replaced the filter and gasket, then refilled), coolant (drained and refilled, rather than "flush" it), and gear oil. There were a few other things (like rotating tires and cleaning under the hood), but that's the majority of it. I was also able to clear five of the seven OBD II PIDs, and am working on the remaining two (P0330 and P1155). I'll also be changing out the spark plugs soon (probably as I do the knock sensors). But first I'll need the money for the sensors, plugs, and a few tools / extensions lol.
But I couldn't have done any of this without the help of my fellow RX 300 owners and "DIYers". Of course special thanks go out to SalimShah, TunedRX300, and LexMex. The last of the three's posts have actually contributed to some interesting (we'll call them) verbal exchanges with some of the more obnoxious and overly-opinionated (usually teen-aged) employees at various auto parts places. But the suggestions (usually regarding synthetic fluids and whatnot) made in those posts have always been beneficial to me and my RX. So thanks again!
I've been lurking around this forum (as a non-registered guest) for nearly a year, but just now registered. Probably because I've read -- and made use of -- (nearly) every post pertaining to my RX. I began browsing the "RX - First Generation" section of Club Lexus back when I had to replace a headlight. Before that, I had never done anything with a car besides drive it and pump gas into the tank. I wasn't opposed to learning or doing work: I just had the means to take my previous car (a 2003 Infiniti G35) in to the dealership (or an independent shop) for maintenance and whatnot. But this was back when my (previous) line of work provided me with a relatively large amount of untaxed income. Anyway, my father totaled that G35 back in December of 2011... and a month later I bought this 2001 RX 300 (it had 140,000 or so miles on it, and was neglected by me and the previous owner), found lower-income work at a club, and moved to Nashville. But that's enough of that.
Back to the headlight (Spring of 2012): the replacement was simple enough, but I did some exploring while the hood was up. This is when I noticed the air filters were brown, the oil was (to put it mildly) worn out, and the transmission fluid was no longer the color of transmission fluid lol.
I changed out the filters on my own, but went to get the oil changed at a business we're all familiar with (no need to mention it's name). I figured the price for the oil change was good, because I was ignorant, but thankfully I remembered something I saw on here about coolant, so when they went to top off my -- slightly discolored -- red coolant with their neon-green stuff, I interrupted them and asked if that was "okay" to mix the two (knowing it wasn't). The guy insisted it was perfectly alright to mix (even without a flush) because it was "universal". To make a long story short: I said something along the lines of "thanks, but no thanks".
This prompted me to return to these forums, and since then I've learned to change my oil, transmission fluid (drained, dropped the pan, replaced the filter and gasket, then refilled), coolant (drained and refilled, rather than "flush" it), and gear oil. There were a few other things (like rotating tires and cleaning under the hood), but that's the majority of it. I was also able to clear five of the seven OBD II PIDs, and am working on the remaining two (P0330 and P1155). I'll also be changing out the spark plugs soon (probably as I do the knock sensors). But first I'll need the money for the sensors, plugs, and a few tools / extensions lol.
But I couldn't have done any of this without the help of my fellow RX 300 owners and "DIYers". Of course special thanks go out to SalimShah, TunedRX300, and LexMex. The last of the three's posts have actually contributed to some interesting (we'll call them) verbal exchanges with some of the more obnoxious and overly-opinionated (usually teen-aged) employees at various auto parts places. But the suggestions (usually regarding synthetic fluids and whatnot) made in those posts have always been beneficial to me and my RX. So thanks again!
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Driver
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 66
Likes: 7
From: WA
Welcome Aboard. Any issue I check here first with the masters you mentioned!
155k on 2002 rx300 coach edition ( never could figure why the original owner would pay extra for the word Coach!)
Have a great mechanic In Seattle for the bigger stuff, but have fixed the antenna (twice), replaces filters, fixed error
codes, New lift gate shocks myself. Wanted to get a higher Gas mileage car, but my wife threaten bodily harm if I sold it.!
Congrats! Feels good to fix things yourself!
155k on 2002 rx300 coach edition ( never could figure why the original owner would pay extra for the word Coach!)
Have a great mechanic In Seattle for the bigger stuff, but have fixed the antenna (twice), replaces filters, fixed error
codes, New lift gate shocks myself. Wanted to get a higher Gas mileage car, but my wife threaten bodily harm if I sold it.!
Congrats! Feels good to fix things yourself!
Last edited by ski2days; Dec 23, 2013 at 06:04 AM.
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