- #5366 of 5432
-
Re: 98 ES300 Towing question [edwinmccainrox]
by curt2005
-
Aug 18, 2007 (7:46 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: edwinmccainrox (Jun 21, 2007 1:15 am)
I remember finding the info in the owner's manual for my 2005 ES 330. It will be in the owner's manual somewhere.
The manual on my 330 was not that enthusiastic about adding a hitch because it compromises the crash performance of the bumper. I decided not to.
|
- #5367 of 5432
-
Re: Clunking sound when backing up [sean300]
by larry1
-
Aug 19, 2007 (2:11 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: sean300 (Aug 17, 2007 3:16 pm)
Yes, the problem could certainly be an engine mount. You could take it to another shop, without telling them you were told the problem is an engine mount. Assuming that there is at least one broken engine mount, I do not see the need to replace the other engine mounts that are not broken.
Your friend's Camry has no bearing on your car. Any two cars will have different problems over the life of the car.
Don't wait too long. If it IS an engine mount, you don't want to have another engine mount break while another one or more are broken.
|
- #5368 of 5432
-
Re: Clunking sound when backing up [larry1]
by sean300
-
Aug 20, 2007 (12:33 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: larry1 (Aug 19, 2007 2:11 pm)
I took the car to another shop that I use for oil changes and light repairs on Saturday. I described the problem and the mechanics looked at the car. In about ten minutes they called me back into the bays and was shown that the front mount (also known as the torque strut or "dog bone") was bad. They also checked all of the other mounts with the car on the lift right in front of me and said that they were ok (they used a pry bar to check - no movement from the other mounts). The mount was replaced within an hour (had to wait for the Carquest guy to bring the part). I was then taken for a final test ride by one of the mechanics and again there was the hard shift but no clunk when the car was in reverse. He said that the shift was probably an internal transmission thing but seemed to go away after driving for awhile. It was suggested that I let the car warm up for about ten minutes each time before driving and that I don't worry about the clunk/hard shift; he said that it was a small issue that would drive me crazy if I tried to resolve it. So, at least the mount issue was resolved and I'm ok with the small shift/clunk issue - I'll just keep an eye on it. Thanks for your advice and help.
|
- #5369 of 5432
-
Re: Clunking sound when backing up [sean300]
by larry1
-
Aug 25, 2007 (3:44 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: sean300 (Aug 20, 2007 12:33 am)
There is always going to be a hard shift when you first start up the car and put it into gear immediately. A cold engine will run at a faster speed (revolutions per minute) than a warmed-up idling engine does. This is because the whole system is trying to quickly heat up the emissions system to keep pollution levels down. My 2000 ES300 does that when I start up a cold engine.
I am glad you got the engine mount fixed and that they demonstrated the problem for you.
|
- #5370 of 5432
-
Re: Clunking sound when backing up [larry1]
by sean300
-
Aug 25, 2007 (7:35 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: larry1 (Aug 25, 2007 3:44 pm)
Thanks for your reply. I am still just a little concerned about the engine movement. I was provided with a sound, reasonable explanation by the mechanic who said that there will be a little movement when shifting throughout the various gears due to the mounts being made out of rubber. Is this the way that ES300 was designed? Also, should I flush the transmission. The car has 152k and I am not the original owner - did a tranny tune-up when first purchased (105k) and dropped the fluid twice since.
|
- #5371 of 5432
-
ES300
by larry1
-
Aug 26, 2007 (12:50 pm)
-
|
I am not sure what you are referring to when you say "engine movement", but after replacing the engine mount, everything should be fine.
If you have done three trans fluid changes in the last 47,000 miles, I don't think you need any trans flush in the near future.
|
- #5372 of 5432
-
Re: ES300 [larry1]
by sean300
-
Aug 30, 2007 (8:01 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: larry1 (Aug 26, 2007 12:50 pm)
What I mean is that there is still an unusual amount of movement. When the car is shifted into reverse or drive (with someone holding the brake) I can see the engine lifting a little and moving back and forth. I went back to my original mechanic and addressed this and told him that the torque strut was replaced; I was also honest with him and told him that another shop checked the other mounts and said that they were ok. He still maintains that the other mounts are still bad and said that you can not tell condition of mounts by just trying to move them with a pry bar because the mounts are hydrolic. I told him that I would reconsider but probably get parts on my own (ebay, etc.). What would happen if I do not change the mounts? Will the engine and transmission drop out of the car? I mean, they lasted 150k miles.
|
- #5373 of 5432
-
No problem
by larry1
-
Aug 30, 2007 (7:08 pm)
-
|
|
I think your car is fine. Look at ANY car's running engine while someone puts the trans in and out of gear, and the engine will move. Enjoy your Lexus.
|
- #5374 of 5432
-
Re: No problem [larry1]
by sean300
-
Aug 31, 2007 (11:22 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: larry1 (Aug 30, 2007 7:08 pm)
Thanks for your advice. Are you a mechanic? I am just concerned because I need the car to last at least another two years and I drive long distance with my daughter and do not wish to have any problems, especially with the drive train. I know the car is reliable but want to make sure no problems.
|
- #5375 of 5432
-
No
by larry1
-
Sep 01, 2007 (1:42 pm)
-
|
|
No, I am not a mechanic, but I have owned my 2000 ES300 for two years and a 1992 ES300 for 5 years before that. (And other cars for 23 years before that). The 1992 ES300 was still running with the original engine and transmission when I traded it in on the 2000. The 1992 had 255,000 miles on it. I think that your ES could join the quarter million mike club eventually. Lexus=reliability, although it is still a man made product.
|
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Sedans 
