Nothing but trouble
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Montana
Nothing but trouble
I am writting to get an owners opinion on my 2000 lexus rx300. I purchased the vehicle last march and have since had to pay for a fair amount of repairs leaving me feeling like i was sold a lemon. Upon purchase i discovered the ac was seized which ran me $400 because i got the dealer to pay for half since his mechanics missed it. Then in august the transmission went leaving me with a couple thousand dollar bill. Now i am being advised to get my timing belt and water pump changed at 157,000 miles because the cam and crank oil seals are leaking to the tune of 800-1000. I also have the front driverside cv boot leaking and rear struts leaking to the tune of another 1000. Are these issues typical with the age? Worried this car is just going to continue to be a money pit. Can anyone share there experience with a lexus with this amount of mileage? Thanks
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 499
Likes: 71
From: FL
Is your RX AWD? Those have more issues with the transmission.
I have a 2000 FWD RX with over 160,000 mi that I purchased in 2008 and it is a good car, but when cars are that old things do wear out. I just did the timing belt service for the second time, which is a known service item and that is something you should have known about prior to purchase. Most of the time buying such an old car only makes sense if you are DIY mechanic for most of the repairs.
Suspension items also are going to be an issue at that age if they haven't been worked on yet. While you are doing the rear struts have your mechanic look at the sway bar links and bushings, and the rear lower control arms, so you have a smaller labor hit if they are bad.
I have a 2000 FWD RX with over 160,000 mi that I purchased in 2008 and it is a good car, but when cars are that old things do wear out. I just did the timing belt service for the second time, which is a known service item and that is something you should have known about prior to purchase. Most of the time buying such an old car only makes sense if you are DIY mechanic for most of the repairs.
Suspension items also are going to be an issue at that age if they haven't been worked on yet. While you are doing the rear struts have your mechanic look at the sway bar links and bushings, and the rear lower control arms, so you have a smaller labor hit if they are bad.
Last edited by Lexmus; Jan 9, 2018 at 02:12 PM.
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,533
Likes: 1,379
From: Austin, TX
What is the milage on your vehicle?
Just by model it is 18yr old vehicle. You are 3 times over the base warranty by time only.
You got a deal on AC .. typically I would say it runs around $1200.
The cam seals and water pump should last 180k miles and the 90K (and it integer multiples) can run close to $1200.
Transmission has given folks some problems. Mine was still strong at 250k miles.
Schocks and suspension issues start showing up around 150K miles, but lot of it depends upon the roads on which the vehicle is driven on.
Salim
Just by model it is 18yr old vehicle. You are 3 times over the base warranty by time only.
You got a deal on AC .. typically I would say it runs around $1200.
The cam seals and water pump should last 180k miles and the 90K (and it integer multiples) can run close to $1200.
Transmission has given folks some problems. Mine was still strong at 250k miles.
Schocks and suspension issues start showing up around 150K miles, but lot of it depends upon the roads on which the vehicle is driven on.
Salim
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Montana
What is the milage on your vehicle?
Just by model it is 18yr old vehicle. You are 3 times over the base warranty by time only.
You got a deal on AC .. typically I would say it runs around $1200.
The cam seals and water pump should last 180k miles and the 90K (and it integer multiples) can run close to $1200.
Transmission has given folks some problems. Mine was still strong at 250k miles.
Schocks and suspension issues start showing up around 150K miles, but lot of it depends upon the roads on which the vehicle is driven on.
Salim
Just by model it is 18yr old vehicle. You are 3 times over the base warranty by time only.
You got a deal on AC .. typically I would say it runs around $1200.
The cam seals and water pump should last 180k miles and the 90K (and it integer multiples) can run close to $1200.
Transmission has given folks some problems. Mine was still strong at 250k miles.
Schocks and suspension issues start showing up around 150K miles, but lot of it depends upon the roads on which the vehicle is driven on.
Salim
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