Hi. I have an '01 RX300 with ~194k on the clock. Car has been basically flawless since buying it at 131k miles.

Over the last 6 months I've noticed that at times the car has really poor low end torque (especially when first starting out in colder weather). Basically I would accelerate, it would shift into 2nd gear and have poor acceleration until it hit more than 4k RPMS or I would have to mash the gas pedal and have it downshift to accelerate. At this point there was no CEL but I suspected there was some issue with the VVTI system.

Fast forward a little bit and the car has been driven only twice since February 3rd (I've been home on leave... and am driving other vehicles mainly). About 4 weeks ago I went to start it and discovered the battery was dead so I got a new battery (this may or may not be related... just a point of interest).

Today I took about a 5 minute trip into town just to make sure the car is getting driven a little. On the way back home I looked down and for the first time saw the CEL light on as well as the VSC. I plugged in my OBD2 tool and got P1346 code.

Most of the other threads I read state that this usually happens when the timing belt slips a tooth. I do know that the belt was replaced around 85k miles so it is technically due for a belt; however, I do know that it's not uncommon for the original belts to go way past 150k miles. I guess the belt could be on it's way out but I find that doubtful.

Any ideas what this could be? Maybe my camshaft position sensor is going faulty? I kind of feel that it's an electrical issue or that the VVTI isn't adjusting correctly (hence the poor low end torque I was experiencing). Anyway, I appreciate any past experiences any of you may have had. It could also be a result of me not driving the car but a couple times over the last 2 months.

 

Hi jjoel,
Might have to check timing marks.
Maybe get a lucky break you can swap the rear cam
sensor with the front and see if problem follows.
Anyone seen this??? Ideas???

 

To close this one out. I finally got around to pulling off the top cover. I found a dead mouse under one of the timing belt pulleys. I think Mickey took a ride after building his home in there and caused the belt to slip a tooth. I'm not the first to experience this. The belt (as expected) looks to be in pretty good shape. I need to go get a harbor freight to get a puller for the pulley. Hopefully I can just line it up real quick without removing much and have it back up and running like normal.

Only other weird issue is that the new battery went flat on me again. I'm thinking Mickey may have chewed through a wire somewhere.

Other mouse examples...

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...elt-and-tranny

https://www.tundrasolutions.com/thre...d-mice.163241/

 

My 2c .. If you are going to spend time and effort to realign the timing belt, might as well throw in a new belt and then forget about it for 100K miles. The belt is around $40. While in there, examine the train and see what else may need replacement.

How did the mouse get in there?

Salim

 

If I were keeping it I would. I already have a replacement vehicle for it and it's just sitting and I'm paying insurance on it still. I'm about to the point of just driving it to CarMax. If I thought someone would pay me extra for doing the timing belt then I would go ahead and do the whole thing however the clientele that have hit me up so far on it don't really care about maintenance records.