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I am changing the cam belt on a 99 RX300 (Harrier) after 178k miles. Does anyone know of the differences between the 1MZ-FE engines that are fitted to these cars? For example will parts from a MK1 fit a MKII? Will a cam belt set from an AVALON or CAMRY fit? ( US variants of the engine apparently) Has anyone else done a DIY job an an RX300 cam belt?

Its nice to see another RX300 with the LPG conversion. The spark plugs are " quite easy" well 50% are easy the ones at the front of the engine especially. The ones at the back can be a little tricky, but with small hands and a 1/4" drive they can be done. Remove the 10mm bolt holding the "ingniter" (coil) and pull this up from the plug. You may need to unplug it from the loom if it doesn't come all the way out of the rocker cover. Use a plug socket to loosen the plug and remove it. They are quite deep in the head assembly and don't drop them in when replacing them. The plug at the back left (looking at the engine) is more accessible if you remove the small pipes from the rocker cover to the manifold. There are a few threads on this forum that describe how to do it in much more detail, or maybe take a look at other automotive forums where the 1MZFE engine is discussed. It's quite a popular engine in the US range of Toyota vehicles.

Hummm The items on ebay are "caviat emptor" and I also bought a '98 Harrier off there. It was converted to LPG, no documents and above all very cheap......... The vast amounts of engine, wires and computers and the gear box can be a bit frightning at first when they go wrong and with something that complicated they do....... However on the plus side, they are just a pretty looking vehicle and with some common sense they can be fixed. Now as with servicing and fixing all vehicles it is best to use origional manufactures parts. Toyota prices are in fact very reasonable and compare very well with motorfactor copies. There is some " snobbery" in lexus franchises when specifying the Harrier chassis numbers, and there isn't much better luck when you go to toyota. Not withstanding that point out to the chap behind the counter that you have money and that's the reason he is there, they will order bits then. If the pretty thing is rust underneath, then this is expected as it is an import and the japanese models do not get any underseal... very few japanese imports have it. Don't be tempted to slap on some stone chip or whatever as this will just trap moisture etc underneath and make it rot even quicker. Do as one correspondant suggests and use the "rustoil" treatment. Now that will stop the rot. I would check to make sure the front subfarme is in line with eveything as the slightest knock will put the tracking out and scrub the edge off the front tyres. It will just need some loosening from the body and the use of a portapower to reset it - easy stuff. Now for that engine. The 1MZFE engine is a very good unit, but does suffer from not having its emission system pipes cleaned out, leading to high emission readings at the MOT. Always use a fully synthetic oil to help withthis pipe blocking problem. If we were in the US i think toyota have had to pay up for this small defect but hey we in expensive england. The individual igniters( or ignition coils) do track over giving a misfire. These can be fixed by either placing some high quality silicon tube over the full length of the body, or buying a new one. Starting problems are usually due to the IAC valve needing cleaning out. The flat battery is due to a drain on it. This I find to be the airbag detection system that doesn't switch off after the 6 seconds, always worth a check also check for those aftermarket radio converters that shift the frequency as some persons wire them to the wrong feed so there is always a load on the battery.It could just be a bad battery as well. As for the gearbox, well if it has been ignored for a while I always drop the pan, and swap the filter and ALWAYS use the correct TOYOTA fluid to refill. If you have a poor MPG and it isn't good at most times, check the rear brake cable as they have a tendancy to bind where they enter the rear brake plate ( Who in TOYOTA decided that putting steel and aluminium alloy together would be a good idea?). The parts to fix the gear box such as clutches springs and stuff are available as a kit in the US for about $390 and this kit fixes most gearbox faults. Getting to it isn't that easy, but then.......... There is a great deal of help out there for those who want to fix a RX300/HARRIER just join this and other excellent forums

I drive a '98 HARRIER-RX300 on LPG and cannot fault it. The reason for the flash lube is to lubricate the valve seats/stems as some more advance engine designs do not like being run on LPG and it is reported that the Lexus range is one of these. They can suffer with valve seat regression, which means the valve seats wear out giving reduced performance and other associated engine problems. Another problem with LPG is the different burn characteristics between it and petrol. The LEXUS has a variable valve timing and since LPG burns slower it can leak past the valves at high engine speeds when the valves are being timed open. OK so the flash lube may protect against all these problems and prolong the engine life, but burning oil in an engine will block up the cat and shorten its life. Me, worry, I just drive it :D

I have some comments on the RX300 O2 sensors.... Only fit those available from TOYOTA/LEXUS. Why you may ask.... Well there's a lot of "useful" helper information on the 'net about how to test a sensor ( Ok you can read the OBD11 outputs, but that means you are spending money at a facility that has the instruments that can read this so it defeats the "money saving?) So NOT having access to the reader I read everything about how to test a sensor etc etc, and there is so much variation in the systems +1volt,+5 volt, inverted, don't do this do that, Oh and by the way none of it applies to a Toyota fitted with a TITANIA sensor, as they use 3.3V on both sensor legs and monitor the current flow, so of course a technician not in the know would condem the sensor anyway!!! The sensors from Toyota are about £150 each, but you only need replace them once in a lifetime (if you are doing it more than that then something is seriously wrong anyway) The replacement of the correct item more than pays for itself in fuel savings, so whats the issue? As for fitting non Toyota parts I would seriously say NO WAY!!!. They aren't too expensive and copies do not always work in the same manner. My RX had a set of NKT copy sensors, which did not work the way the ECU wanted them to (Fitted by the previous owner who couldn't get the engine to run correctly, so I got it real cheap as a non-runner ha ha) Fit the correct sensors, clean out the IAC and EGR valves ( after you get the full set of gaskets from Totota) and enjoy another 100K on a correctly set up engine. You have a BIG MANS CAR so PAY BIG MAN PRICES

My apology for delay in reply. My system is a ROMANO which i think is the system installed by Prinz. Just been driving an INFINITY 4x4 they are better than our Toymotors pity the wheel is on the wrong side! :)

Auto boxes can be expensive did you have the correct fluid in there? I am sure it would be but its worth noting. These Toyotas are no more reliable than any other vehicle and failures will occur. If this were an enterprising club we would have some contacts in Japan who would be able to surce parts such as gear boxes and get them shipped over here. But then why was the gear box available as a spare part? Would it be faulty as well?

:D Mine is a Harrier on LPG using Vapour Phase injection. Its worth looking around for a good installer that can not only put in the conversion and take your money, but can also sort out those small problems that go wrong for free after a gas conversion. I am not saying there will be but...... Many installers just leave customers with a system that nearly works as they cannot map it correctly to the engine. You should also look at the quality of workmanship on the tank installation, as frankly a lot of them leave a lot to be desired. Insufficient bolts holding the tanks down, missing trim, and worst of all the gas solenoid facing backwards in the tyre well ( back left as you stand looking at the rear) Ok it will work but..... When you receive a back end shunt the valve is sheered off and the gas escapes.... The valves should face forward left, which does mean extra work for the installer, but safer for the user. Just something to notice There are a few systems on the market mostly Italian or Dutch.

:winky: So I just got my RX300, or is it? It's got all the right badges, door handles and all that stuff, but No I have to admit it's one of those Harrier things. Silver paint and steering wheel gear changes...... Am I allowed in here, or do I just have to sit very quietly in a corner? It was born in Japan in early 1998 according to the VIN calculator and arrived here in a foreign country in 2000. Converted to Dual Fuel, Vapour Phase LPG in 2003. And now I own it. So actually is mine more exclusive than an RX300 as there are less of these type of vehicles about? It certainly feels like it whan I try to buy spares for it. Are the suspension systems interchangeable between the Harrier and MK1 RX, or do I just buy factored parts as I am not allowed to use real LEXUS BITS? (or at least this is the way dealerships come over to me when I try to buy parts) Still its a nice vehicle, any anyway it cannot be too bad as Jeremy Clarkson doesn't like them.....