My turn with the Lexus! (RX300)

[Gman88667733]

So the 2003 RX300 I purchased on here was delivered on Sunday (in pouring rain). 

Going to document bits and pieces on here to keep track of spending/issues. 

So far, I know it definitely needs front discs as it feels like trying to stop on an egg currently.

My main concern is the strut mounts at the rear. They look a bit rotten. Is this something that is fixable? (Pics to follow when it's light..!) 

The MOT is due in Jan, so it's whether they'll even notice, or if realistically I need to get it sorted as I like it more than I expected to!

 

Can confirm;

Hilariously bad on fuel, but at 200ish miles a week, I don't mind.

The heated seats are lovely (never had that before)

The V6 sounds great too, much nicer than the 2.0 ivtec in my CRV.

[Gman88667733]

Pics of the strut mounting points underneath.

Question is... Can I get away with ignoring and spraying some Lanoguard up there for now and hoping it is okay for the MOT. Or.... Does it need sorting? (If it can?)

Not a huge fan of rust. My CRV has a large hole in the wheel arch that has somehow never been mentioned on a few MOTs.

 

[Schaefft]

Very hard to tell but I think it'll be alright if cleaned up and properly sealed. Only the screwdriver test would tell!

[Gman88667733]

17 minutes ago, Schaefft said:

Very hard to tell but I think it'll be alright if cleaned up and properly sealed. Only the screwdriver test would tell!

Just to be sure, I've asked my garage if I can stick it up on the lift for a bit and have a proper look.

It'd be such a shame for something like that to kill the car already! 😂

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Looks like a prime candidate for a generous application of structural mud. 

[Gman88667733]

4 minutes ago, Dick Cheeseburger said:

Looks like a prime candidate for a generous application of structural mud. 

If it wasn't a safety issue, I would be happy to hide it... But it isn't just me that drives it! 

It has had 0 advisories for the past 4 years and that level of rust is clearly more than a year in the making. It's just whether it NEEDS to be sorted or not. Hmm

[Gman88667733]

Just to update this. I've investigated the rusty areas with a large screwdriver and it appears to only be the outer skin that is rotten. I have found solid metal on both sides. (Major sigh of relief)

Next job will be to clean it up, treat it and coat it to protect it for a while!

First proper job will be the front brakes as they are in pretty dire need.

 

[Heidel_Kakao]

I must admit I was very tempted by this myself as I have had good experiences with Lexi of this age having had two IS200 Sportcross and an LS430. Maybe the cards will align next time it's up for sale and I can try one out.

 

[Gman88667733]

4 hours ago, Heidel_Kakao said:

I must admit I was very tempted by this myself as I have had good experiences with Lexi of this age having had two IS200 Sportcross and an LS430. Maybe the cards will align next time it's up for sale and I can try one out.

 

It is so wafty. It makes a lovely sound as well. Certainly isn't quick by any means, but it isn't a slouch for its size + old auto box. 

[Gman88667733]

Treated the car to front discs and pads yesterday. Thankfully, this stopped the awful wobble when coming to a stop!

Struggling for time this side of Christmas, so got a mobile mechanic to come and do them whilst I was at work.

Parts done at cost price and £55 labour, not too bad.

So far...

Total cost - £1380 (including purchase price)

I think it's in dire need of a gearbox service. Most of the shifts are fine, but I think from 1-2 there is a hesitation and then a lurch into gear. This isn't all the time, but I can almost always predict when it will.

There is no record of one being done before, so at 102k I think it'll be well overdue (although, the fluid doesn't smell burnt)

I found a similar issue on the Lexus forums and someone had cured it by cleaning the MAF. So given how easy that is, I'll give that a go later today as well. 

 

[Gman88667733]

I meant to add. I have also noticed that the car rarely ever gets up to proper operating temperature and often sits between halfway and cold and seems to fluctuate up and down in that range (never come across that before). 

I'm guessing the thermostat may be stuck open, so I may try sticking a new one in too.

[DodgeRover]

Depending on what you are doing mpg should be in the 21 to 35 mpg range our current one normally does 24 if it's mainly my OH driving or 27 if I do. Oddly mpg on a run is better if not using cruise.

Previous one would do around 18-24 on LPG never ran that on petrol far enough to find out what it was like on that.

Gearboxes want regular fluid changes - from memory there is also a filter to change, they want 80-100k changes despite allegedly not requiring changing, other owners persuaded me to only use a specific oil as others allegedly cause problems. You shouldn't be able to feel the shifts in normal driving.

Rear bank of plugs never normally get changed as they are a bugger to get at,  expect changing them to improve drive and mpg.

 

[Gman88667733]

9 hours ago, DodgeRover said:

Depending on what you are doing mpg should be in the 21 to 35 mpg range our current one normally does 24 if it's mainly my OH driving or 27 if I do. Oddly mpg on a run is better if not using cruise.

Previous one would do around 18-24 on LPG never ran that on petrol far enough to find out what it was like on that.

Current dash readout is showing 19mpg. 

I've got some contact cleaner to clean the MAF today as that may help.

Most of the shifts are fine, but there are certain situations where it panics a bit. E.g. slowing to a roundabout and then accelerating again. It tends to jerk forwards when it decides what gear to use. Every now and then it'll shift harder into gear too. As it mostly drives fine, I don't think it's anything major, so hopefully various servicing bits will help.

With any new car purchase, I'd always expect to need to do various bits to get it right. I'm making a list and I'll just work through it!

[Gman88667733]

Cleaned the MAF. Performance is probably about the same, maybe a tiny bit improved.

Since getting the car, I've had an intermittent EML and VSC light. It'll come on for a journey or two and then disappear. It seems to be permanently on now though! 

Annoyingly, I can't find my code scanner as I haven't needed it for a good while, so a new one is coming on Monday. My guess is an O2 sensor as they seem to be a common thing on the RX300.

It still has the slight hesitation/hard shift in some situations, which is quite annoying as the rest of the time it is very smooth.

[Gman88667733]

Code scanner arrived and code read..

P0660. 

A quick google suggests it is either the MAF, or it's a bugger of a job if it's actually the part the code states.

 

[Gman88667733]

Slightly frustrated today. 

Thought I'd try to get an easy win and get the EML sorted this side of Christmas. Booked into a garage close to my work, told them the code beforehand and they said they'd phone before I drop it off if that is going to be an issue for them.

Dropped off today and asked them to adjust the handbrake too as it isn't holding..

They've just phoned to tell me what the code is and that they can't do anything about it and that the handbrake looks fine, but they've fiddled a bit with it (it still doesn't hold). That'll be £120 please sir.

Excellent