1999 Lexus ES300 oddities

[t***@yahoo.com]

Hello,

I just sold my 1997 Camry V6 (180K miles), and bought a
1999 Lexus ES300 (74k miles). They are supposed to
be very much the same car.

I'm finding some odd things, and wanted to ask other
owners' opinions.


1)
The shocks seem really soft and worn out. Is this
normal? Do you think I need to replace them with
so few miles on them? On the Camry, I never did
change the shocks, and they seemed fine.


2)
When I stop and get out of the car, I feel a LOT of heat
coming from the engine compartment. A literal wave
of heat. I've never felt this much heat before, even
from old American cars with big 6 and 8 cylinder engines.
Is this normal? Do you also feel this?


3)
I keep hearing rattles. They seem to come from in
front of the passenger seat. Any ideas?


4)
What is your typical gas mileage, in the city,
and on the highway? This ES300 seems to be sucking
the gas big time. Although I've yet to do much
driving. (With my V6 Camry, when driving
cross country, I used to get about 400 miles to a
15 gallon tank of gas. About 26.6 MPG. )


Any other experiences that you have noticed about
1999 ES300s that you think I should know about?

Thanks a lot!

[j***@hotmail.com]

The Camry and ES share many of the same parts. Sounds like you bought
a clunker:

1. Unless the prior owner has failed air suspension or swapped them
out for softer struts then they're probably worn out. Camry and the
ES, IIRC, use the same part numbers for traditional struts. If so try
going over bumps or railroad crossings. They'll be rather
uncomfortable and bouncy, even bottoming.

2. This can be a bad sign. Post 1997 Toyota engines are susceptible to
engine sludge because of increased engine temperature needed to meet
LEV emissions. In 2004 Toyota lowered all their oil change intervals
down to 5000 miles from 7500 (normal service) because of sludge
concerns. This applies to all model years of Scion, Toyota, and Lexus.
A 99 is out of sludge warranty.

3. Rattles in the console mean somethings are loose inside. Rattles
can also come from defective strut mounts. These years are known for
that.

4. You should be able to get similar mileage. Maybe a little less
because the ES engine generates slightly more power than the Camry V6.
This points to engine related problems if you're getting low mileage.

Any chance the dealer will let you exchange for another car? Or get
your 97 back while you look for another car? Your 97 Camry sounds like
a better car, at least engine, mileage and struts.

Post by t***@yahoo.com
Hello,
I just sold my 1997 Camry V6 (180K miles), and bought a
1999 Lexus ES300 (74k miles).  They are supposed to
be very much the same car.
I'm finding some odd things, and wanted to ask other
owners' opinions.
1)
The shocks seem really soft and worn out.  Is this
normal?  Do you think I need to replace them with
so few miles on them?  On the Camry, I never did
change the shocks, and they seemed fine.
2)
When I stop and get out of the car, I feel a LOT of heat
coming from the engine compartment.  A literal wave
of heat.  I've never felt this much heat before, even
from old American cars with big 6 and 8 cylinder engines.
Is this normal?  Do you also feel this?
3)
I keep hearing rattles.  They seem to come from in
front of the passenger seat.  Any ideas?
4)
What is your typical gas mileage, in the city,
and on the highway?  This ES300 seems to be sucking
the gas big time.  Although I've yet to do much
driving.  (With my V6 Camry, when driving
cross country, I used to get about 400 miles to a
15 gallon tank of gas.  About 26.6 MPG. )
Any other experiences that you have noticed about
1999 ES300s that you think I should know about?
Thanks a lot!

[ransley]

Post by t***@yahoo.com
Hello,
I just sold my 1997 Camry V6 (180K miles), and bought a
1999 Lexus ES300 (74k miles).  They are supposed to
be very much the same car.
I'm finding some odd things, and wanted to ask other
owners' opinions.
1)
The shocks seem really soft and worn out.  Is this
normal?  Do you think I need to replace them with
so few miles on them?  On the Camry, I never did
change the shocks, and they seemed fine.
2)
When I stop and get out of the car, I feel a LOT of heat
coming from the engine compartment.  A literal wave
of heat.  I've never felt this much heat before, even
from old American cars with big 6 and 8 cylinder engines.
Is this normal?  Do you also feel this?
3)
I keep hearing rattles.  They seem to come from in
front of the passenger seat.  Any ideas?
4)
What is your typical gas mileage, in the city,
and on the highway?  This ES300 seems to be sucking
the gas big time.  Although I've yet to do much
driving.  (With my V6 Camry, when driving
cross country, I used to get about 400 miles to a
15 gallon tank of gas.  About 26.6 MPG. )
Any other experiences that you have noticed about
1999 ES300s that you think I should know about?
Thanks a lot!

You were lucky with the camry, ive had several cars struts go bad at
near 50000, are the cooling fans kicking in, is there an insulation
blanket under the hood that will keep in heat. Poor milage can be a
stretched timing belt, if your car has one, that retards timing, I
lost 3-4 mpg on a camry with retarded timing. A mechanic needs to put
it on a scope to see if its tuned up right as many things will reduce
milage, but buying a used car it can be many unknowns. I would think
26.6 was low for the 6 on hwy miles, I get 35-36 on a 4 camry when
tuned up with all synthetics. Tune ups are as much a factor of age as
miles, your car is old.

[m6onz5a]

Post by t***@yahoo.com
Hello,
I just sold my 1997 Camry V6 (180K miles), and bought a
1999 Lexus ES300 (74k miles).  They are supposed to
be very much the same car.
I'm finding some odd things, and wanted to ask other
owners' opinions.
1)
The shocks seem really soft and worn out.  Is this
normal?  Do you think I need to replace them with
so few miles on them?  On the Camry, I never did
change the shocks, and they seemed fine.
2)
When I stop and get out of the car, I feel a LOT of heat
coming from the engine compartment.  A literal wave
of heat.  I've never felt this much heat before, even
from old American cars with big 6 and 8 cylinder engines.
Is this normal?  Do you also feel this?
3)
I keep hearing rattles.  They seem to come from in
front of the passenger seat.  Any ideas?
4)
What is your typical gas mileage, in the city,
and on the highway?  This ES300 seems to be sucking
the gas big time.  Although I've yet to do much
driving.  (With my V6 Camry, when driving
cross country, I used to get about 400 miles to a
15 gallon tank of gas.  About 26.6 MPG. )
Any other experiences that you have noticed about
1999 ES300s that you think I should know about?
Thanks a lot!

just wanted to let you know the front struts are different, but the
rears are the same.

Is the car bouncing more than once when you give it the bounce test?

[j***@hotmail.com]

Well, if the Toyota ES (basically a Camry) doesn't have the "Adaptive
Variable Suspension" (AVS) then regular struts will be the same.
Right, cheaper AVS on the ES have no air.

But the traction control system may not function if the AVS struts
were swapped out. So it's more involved in disabling the AVS than
swapping in regular struts on AVS-equipped ones.

Regular strut example for Toyota Camry and ES (same for SXV20, VCV20,
MCV20 Chassis):
http://info.rockauto.com/Monroe/71678.html

Post by m6onz5a
just wanted to let you know the front struts are different, but the
rears are the same.

[Ray O]

Post by t***@yahoo.com
Hello,
I just sold my 1997 Camry V6 (180K miles), and bought a
1999 Lexus ES300 (74k miles). They are supposed to
be very much the same car.
I'm finding some odd things, and wanted to ask other
owners' opinions.
1)
The shocks seem really soft and worn out. Is this
normal? Do you think I need to replace them with
so few miles on them? On the Camry, I never did
change the shocks, and they seemed fine.

Like your Camry, the 1999 ES 300 has front and rear strut suspension and
uses struts instead of shock absorbers. It does not have an air suspension
as someone else has suggested.

I belive that the ES suspension is set up so that it has a softer ride than
the Camry. Check the struts to see if there is any fluid leaking, and do
the bounce test on the front and rear bumpers. After you give it a good
bounce, it should stop moving after 1 or 2 bounces. If the car keeps moving
or if there is fluid leaking downn the outside of the struts, they need
replacement.

Also check to make sure that the tires are properly inflated. You will get
longer tire life if you inflate them about 5 PSI over the inflation figures
listed on the door jamb or glove box door.

Post by t***@yahoo.com
2)
When I stop and get out of the car, I feel a LOT of heat
coming from the engine compartment. A literal wave
of heat. I've never felt this much heat before, even
from old American cars with big 6 and 8 cylinder engines.
Is this normal? Do you also feel this?

With the car idling, take a look at the exhaust manifold and catalytic
converter, preferably in the dark. If they are glowing cherry red, you have
an exhaust leak or a restriction in the exhaust system. If you see any
exhaust part glowing, have the car looked at ASAP because of the risk of
fire.

Also take a look at the engine coolant temperature gauge to see if it is in
the normal operating range.

Post by t***@yahoo.com
3)
I keep hearing rattles. They seem to come from in
front of the passenger seat. Any ideas?

My LS has a drawer under each of the front seats. If your ES has a small
drawer, make sure nothing is rattling in them. Check the seat assembly to
see if there is any play in the seat track. Look under the front seat to
make sure nothing is loose under there.

Post by t***@yahoo.com
4)
What is your typical gas mileage, in the city,
and on the highway? This ES300 seems to be sucking
the gas big time. Although I've yet to do much
driving. (With my V6 Camry, when driving
cross country, I used to get about 400 miles to a
15 gallon tank of gas. About 26.6 MPG. )

Rather than trying to estimate fuel consumption by how far you go on a tank
of gas, start keeping track of miles per gallon. Also check the condition
of the automatic transmission fluid - it should be translucent red in color.
If it is black and smells burnt, the transmission may be slipping. A
restriction in the exhaust system can also reduce fuel economy.

Post by t***@yahoo.com
Any other experiences that you have noticed about
1999 ES300s that you think I should know about?
Thanks a lot!

Check the stuff I mentioned and let us know what you find.

[greg]

Post by t***@yahoo.com
4)
What is your typical gas mileage, in the city,
and on the highway?  This ES300 seems to be sucking
the gas big time.  Although I've yet to do much
driving.  (With my V6 Camry, when driving
cross country, I used to get about 400 miles to a
15 gallon tank of gas.  About 26.6 MPG. )

The ES300 has a VVTi engine (variable valve timing with intelligence)
designed for best performance AND fuel economy on premium fuel. When
you put regular in (which I am guessing you've been using), you are
esentially detuning the engine. Try several tankfuls of premium and
see if with your driving habits and conditions you get enough of an
increase in MPG to justify the higher cost.