1999 Lexus RX300 rx from North America - Comments

Lexus engine light came on while driving and drive became rough. It felt like the engine was vibrating. I was able to drive the car, but parked it and noticed a smell- a mix of gas, oil and rubber. I didn't check under the car for any leaks. Does anyone know what this might be? Also, can you recommend a good mechanic in Los Angeles? I am near a dealer if that is the best option. I just know their solution will be double the normal cost.

I have been having the same problem with my 2000 Lexus RX300. All of a sudden yesterday, the check engine light started blinking and it started running rough and giving off bad fumes. I have replaced both of th O2 sensors as well as the knock sensor. I have done a little research and all I can come up with is that it might be the mass flow sensor. Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks a bunch!

Do not drive with the check engine light blinking it will harm your car. take it to the dealer. if it stays on all the time then your fine, but if its flashing its something major.

Hi,i have a lexus rx300 (1999) once the check engine light came on first time, but I didn't feel any change in the car, so like usual I reset the check engine light by taking out the positive cable on the battery for a 3 minutes and put it back after I try the car every thing was normal and check engine light were off,2 days after I turn on my car to go work and suddenly the check engine light came on again so I decide to leave it and take it to a dealer later, when I reach the highway I notice that the transsmision doesn't wanna go to overdrive,i get feeling that there is some relation between the check engine light and the shifting I stop the car and I make reset for the light like usual after that I continue and every thing working normal, but I think the light is coming back soon before I start spending $$$$$$$ on the car somebody can help me with any solution what do you guys think its knock senser (both of them I mean) or something eles???

I purchased my 2000 RX300 In Jan 06, Within 2 days my CLE came on and would not go into overdrive. I was lucky due to the fact The dealer that sold it to me made good and replaced the knock sensor and wire harness. They told me it was about $1500 to fix.

All was well until a few days ago my CLE came on again but everything seems to work fine. I have had the MAF cleaned and the light came on again.

The error is P0171 "lean". Should I try to replace the MAF or is it something else?

I bought a used RX300, Model year 2000. Bought it with 75,000 miles. By 90,000 the check engine light came on about the Mass air flow sensor. AAA said to replace it for almost $1000. That was a scam. They could have just cleaned it.

Then, immediately the check engine light came on because of the Knock sensors. After a while the engine lost power and ran rough. Replaced knock sensors and their wiring harness for $1100.

Then, immediately the check engine light came on because of the Oxygen sensor. Now, garage wants $400 to replace the oxygen sensor.

The RX300 from 1999 & 2000 are junk in my opinion. I spent $2,500 on sensors already, and I have not even had the typical transmission problems ($5,000) yet.

Lexis does not care about bad design. They already sold the RX300's from 1999 and 2000, so the only way Lexis makes money from them is to by repairs.

I purchased a 1999 RX3000 four years ago. My main concern is that it needs another transmission. The first one was under warranty after they did 1,5000 worth of work, and that did not correct the problem. Problem after problem we have had with the car. Now the problem is (according to them) the transmission again. To fix the problem, it will cost 5,000.00. The ironic part of this is that we still owe car payments on the vechicle. We only put 20,000 miles a year on the car. My reason to put this comment on the web is to let the consumer know that once you purchase your Lexus you are married to the dearlership and if they are dishonest, you still have to deal with them. Our nearest dealer is 150 miles round trip and that is where I racked up most of miles taking it back and forth. I would not purchase another Lexus because of the problems we have had with the car and the dealership.

It seems as if the typical problem with the 99 Lexus RS300 is about the famous CEL and the Knock sensors. I am dealing with the same problem. Other than rhat the kind of vehicle is not bad.

To all lexus rx300 owner, If your check engine ligth is on

and the is knock senor, and overdrive don't work. 1st try

disconnect the battery any connector black or red, for 15 sec. To clear the code, then take it for a test drive, If the overdrive work. then replace the two knock sensor. I hope this make sense to everybody.

Fellow Lexus RX 300 Owners, I sincerely hope you guys find this helpful, we all know how much of a headache having problems with a financed vehicle can be. Now I purchased a Lexus rx 300 about a month ago and has about 70,000 miles on it. I suggest doing an oil change when service is due and most important don't jump the gun and think the worst when something goes wrong. The only time to really panic about the transmissions is when the check engine light starts blinking constantly, but if not then your concerns should be focused on the Knock sensors. Then work your way around from there, a Lexus rx 300 should easily make it to 150k plus miles. As long as it is well maintained and service is done when it is due, everything should be fine. I only drive my car on weekends but I will still maintain it as if I use it all the time. Well ladies and gents good luck, I hope this car continues to live up to its reputation.

Hello all, well we are all in the same boat I guess. I am very concerned about my 2001 Rx300. Well, I'm actually mostly concerned about my pocket book. I had the transmission replaced about 15 months ago. I guess I got the bargain price of $1400. They "good willed" the parts and I paid for labor at the bargain price of $140/hr. Anyway, now the knock sensor code has come up. I originally took the car in because the engine was revving on it's own while at a stop. Then it did it while I was driving, high rpm when I wasn't pressing the gas to accelerate. I took it in and they couldn't find anything. They said bring it back if it reoccurs. Well, the next day the check engine, VSC and Trak light came on, so I took it back. After a week all that kept coming up was knock sensor, $1100 est. I decided not to fix it yet because they said they don't think it's related to the knock sensors. From what I read here, it sounds like that might fix the problem, so I'm trying to be hopeful. What kills me is that I was trying to sell the car to get out of the payments and before something else went wrong since I had heard about more issues and now I guess I'm stuck. Doesn't that BITE!

I have a 99 RX 300 and while I was on a business trip the wife took it to a local quick lube to have the transmission flushed (1st mistake). While there they tried to get her to replace all sorts of parts, and didn't use Toyota Type IV, but that's another story. When I got back from my trip we had to take her mother home, a 3 hour trip, the trans quit working or burned up 2 hours in. Lexus dealership would not work with us, we were 100 miles over the 70,000 mile warranty. We ended up paying $5500 for a rebuilt trans. Now the CEL is on and the codes are Evaporative Fuel System, and Knock Sensor (and won't shift into OD after stopping from highway speeds). We have it in the TOYOTA Dealership to replace the knock sensor.

Just a note - Toyota can get parts for cost from Lexus and their labor rate is cheaper than Lexus. Also if you take it to a local mechanic, their Parts cost is higher than Toyota and his labor rate will be the same. Take it to Toyota Dealership instead of a Lexus Dealership - Much Cheaper.

Same sort of issue with my wife's 2000 RX300. The CEL came on for no apparent reason. A few days later it started to run very poorly. I put some fuel injector cleaner in it and took it on the freeway to get some rpm up and it wouldn't shift into overdrive. I decided it may be electrical and pulled every fuse one at a time to make sure none were bad. This cleared the CEL for a few minutes but I also have had no problems in the week or two since. It sounds like I need to replace the knock sensors?

I have an RX 300 with 145k miles on it. Last year, the transmission went out. I had a new Lexus transmission installed and Lexus agreed to pay $1k of the $5k price. Just a few weeks ago, the check engine light came on. I had the codes downloaded at Auto Zone for free. The code said Bank 01 was running lean. A few weeks later, the light went off for a week and then came back on. It drives OK, but the engine is a bit noisier than typical. Can the engine be damaged by driving it in this condition? Could be the oxygen sensor, they say.