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Well, a week and a half ago I decided, against my best judgement, to buy a local GS300 that ran and lot drove for $650. I knew this would be a mess but I am bored out here in CA and need something to stress about (not kidding)
The Bad:
ECU has some burned resistors - Sent it out for repair and find out that it can not be repaired - need to get a replacement and then have it flashed somewhere to match the key
Wiring Harness falling apart - Ordered a replacement while I was away, had it sent to a friends house for guaranteed delivery - FedEx has temporarily lost the package
Needs to to pass CA smog to get a title even though I’m a Florida resident ��
Why do I already have a bad feeling about this project?
The Good:
New Rotors / Pads
New Struts all around (KYB)
Timing belt and Water pump etc done zero miles ago
Runs fine (intermittently)
148k miles
Almost everything works
Came with two sets of matching wheels and one set of OK tires
Seller was asking $1,000, but it didnt have a title, and in CA the title will be withheld if it can't pass smog. Came with the proper paperwork from the last THREE owners who couldnt get it to pass. If I get it to pass, i will get a title. Nobody went as deep as the ECU or entire wiring harness which has so many bad wires... no wonder they couldnt get it going. I saw the harness problems before I bought it. ECU was just a bonus.
I will continue to update this as more things go wrong (or right)
What are the measurables, that it's not passing smog? Broken parts, engine codes, visual inspection, tailpipe test, etc?
I haven’t reviewed the paperwork but the guy I bought it from says it’s throwing misfire cylinder 3 code. It’s definitely not running on all cylinders and the coil pack harnesses have been sorta replaced / glued back together.
The ecu company who is sending mine back broken said the damage on the board is in some vvt circuitry as well.
I know know nothing about smog, I live in a non emissions state but I come to CA for work on and off
2nd on searching the junkyards -- spoke with a longtime Lex tech on this vehicle (still my favorite Lexus) and he said the wiring harness is usually the thing that breaks the GS and is not fun to fix
get a ecu from a bone yard for 50$ and reflash for 50$
stuffs gonna add up and won’t be surprised if your in her 3-4000$, from the pics you sure did get 2 sets of wheels🤪
Sort of where I was at... either fix it for a few hundred $, or it's part-out time. With two sets of wheels, and anything resembling a clean interior/exterior, Just the doors will part-out to help recovers costs.
Originally Posted by werewolf
Admire the bravery -- good luck to you!
2nd on searching the junkyards -- spoke with a longtime Lex tech on this vehicle (still my favorite Lexus) and he said the wiring harness is usually the thing that breaks the GS and is not fun to fix
GS3 or GS4? Our GS4's harness issues are past mechanics breaking things. The biggest weakness for us is the sensor/actuator connectors getting old/dry, and the retainers breaking off clips, from previous impatient wrenchers. We've replaced one of the OCV connectors, and the TPS cable is next (just to get the connector "clipping" again).
Wiring harness is still MIA , old ecu is installed so I can lot drive.
SIA noted VVT circuitry burned on old ecu.
replacement ECU ordered for $70
NEW FLOOR MATS INSTALLED!!!!
thats all for a while, I’m leaving CA for a month and a half or so.
A disabled VVTi system isn't that bad of a a thing... you just loose high-rpm power increases, when the VVTi isn't kicking in. Have to wonder if anyone has ever dynoed a VVTi engine with the OCVs disabled. Anyway, if the VVT system is broken at the ECU, not really the end of the world.
05-16-19, 03:00 PM
Tales of my $650 1999 GS300
. Lol mine was the same way. Paid $900 for it. Needed a mess of repairs. Enjoy the fun!
