Jaspersilus

Hi, I had the engine and VSC lights in, these are usually caused by the O2 sensors on bank 1 and 2, I bought 2 Denso dox 0243 sensors from sparkplugs.co.uk for 75 quid each and fitted them myself, took 45 minutes and my wife could have done it! According to the Lexus Techs I spoke to they only last around 75k so if your car is around or over that its worth changing them, £150 quid for 2 is less than a third of what Lexus charge for the job, and it fixed my Engine vsc light problem

Hi, the owners manual says 198 bhp, but this doesnt explain the different quoted output on what would appear to be technically identical cars! Anyone?

Hi Chaps, just wondering what the output of my 2001 RX300 is, reason being is that I have always believed it to be 198 bhp but looking at the US owners club site they put it at 220bhp, with the 2003- model dropping to 201 bhp! Ive also just been looking on the TowCar.info site and they also put it at 220bhp, its also rated at 220 bhp on wikipedia, so chaps,which is it? I await your explanations ! cheers Jason

Hi Chaps, Just got a quote from Lexus, the price is £ 1223 inc VAT, not including fitting!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so will be getting a stainless steel system with catalyst for considerably less!

Hi Chaps, my exhaust system is quite badly corroded, I have a new stainless steel back box and the manifolds are in good condition, but the centre section is getting very bad! So any idea how much to expect from Lexus main dealer for a full centre section including the o2 sensor and catalyst fitted? Its a 2001 model Cheers Jason

Cheers Mcleish, have now purchased one on ebay and awaiting delivery, if its the 2 02 sensors that are at fault I can recommend the cheap fix at £160 for the pair, much cheaper than £600 from Lexus!

Hi, Last weekend I changed the 2 sensors for Denso dox 0243 which sorted the check engine VSC warning on the dash, its lasted just over a week and the lights are back on ( bugger ), looking at the forum my next guess was the maf sensor, so I followed the instructions and removed and cleaned it using electrical connector cleaning spray as advised, reassembled and lights still on. So I now need to read the fault codes to see what the problem is, have called a couple of local garages and the want £40 plus vat, no chance as on ebay they are advertising generic fault code readers for as little as £15, will these work? Also is it OBD OR OBD2 on a 2001 rx300? Cheers for any help Jason

Hi, I ordered the DENSO-DOX 0243 from sparkplugs.co.uk, about £160 delivered on Wednesday, they arrived on Friday, fitted them today. Top sensor was easy enough, bottom sensor was a lot harder, drove 2 front wheels of car on to pavement ( in car park at work ) , needed a second pair of hands to pull out connector from top rear of engine bay, got it turning but was incredibly hard to turn, took over one hour to get it out getting it a little way then loosening oil, little more etc. When it came out it was clear it had been put in cross threaded, possibly been removed before I owned the car and put back in by a spanner! Anyway managed to get the new one in OK, removed the fuse and disconnected the battery for 5 minutes, started the engine and.................................it works YEY! So a big £450 saved thankyou to the people who figured this out, Cheers Jason

Hi Valkirk, looking at about £600 for both sensors, think Im going to get the Denso dox-0243 from sparkplugs.co.uk and fit them myself as mentioned on the forum, should be less than £160 fitted! Cheers Jason

Hi, due to the age of your car it may be eligible for Lexus Essential Fixed price repairs for cars over 5 years old, it states a pair of front shocks at £395 fitted, give Lexus Sheffield a call and ask them about Lexus Essentials and tell them your issues. A phone call cant hurt, I never took my RX300 to Lexus until Friday and was very pleasantly surprised, well priced service, gearbox oil changed for £50, and a courtesy car. Dont forget to ask for a courtesy car! ;) cheers Jason

Hi, Report time! Dropped the RX300 at Lexus Sheffield at 8am this morning, handed over car keys and was given the keys to the courtesy car, it was a pearlescent white 12 plate IS250 sport, I considered complaining about it not being an RX but decided to let it lie! ;) Asked at the same time if when the service guys arrived they would quote me for a auto gearbox oil change. Drove home, the IS250 is a very nice car, suspension is a little harsh but it is a sports saloon! Got call at 10am, saying that they have noticed the VSC, engine light is on and have run a diagnostic to find that 2 sensors are faulty, informed them that they have been out for 3 years to no ill effect and Im happy to continue ignoring them! Also got the quote for the gearbox oil change, I was expecting £150, was a bit shocked at £50, told them to get it changed,very happy chappy! Received next call at midday to say car will be completed at 1pm, oh, while I remember no charges whatsoever for the courtesy car just put the petrol back in that is used, went to collect the car, handed over the IS200, received the service report with all the check lists in, dont know if the changed the brake fluid as the check says check and replace if necessary, same with the coolant, but still happy! Got out to the car, had been washed and valeted, checked service book IT HAS A PROPER LEXUS SERVICE STAMP! YEY Oh, the complete bill was £379 including Gearbox Oil change! ps, they also noted that I had non Toyota discs and pads fitted,these were fitted last year at a local garage for about £500 , was informed that they would have charged me little more! doh

Hi Matt, Im going to bite the bullet and take it in and see what happens, will give a full report on the outcome, the way Im looking at it now is that a minor Lexus Essentials service is £159, which is an oil and filter change and some other checks, so to my thinking, for an extra £170 they should be changing the required fluids and the receipt should give a run down of all jobs done! Anyways, the report I give may help people make up their minds as to whether Lexus Essentials is for them or not, and perhaps how much extra work Lexus gets off of the owners club with regards to servicing older vehicles! Cheers Jason

Hi Chaps, I have booked my 2001 RX300 in for its 80 000 mile major service at my local Lexus Dealer using the Lexus Essentials for vehicles over 5 years old, for the sum of £329. Now, I spoke to the nice lady at Lexus service who informed me that the service would be as the book, except for the spark plugs, this is not an issue as Ive recently had them changed. Im also not particularly bothered (maybe a little), that the service book isnt stamped as a full Lexus service. BUT, Ive been reading some comments about Lexus Essential Servicing over the course of the evening, some people saying that the brake fluid and coolant are not changed as per the service instruction, others that lower quality oil is used, even on Lexus website it says that Essential Care servicing differs from standard Lexus servicing! Does anyone know any actual facts about Essential Servicing? If lower quality oil is used and fluids not changed, why not take it to my tried and trusted local, who will only check the brake fluid and coolant, but will use the top spec oil I want, and only charge £130 for the full by the book service (excluding pollen filter and spark plugs). Granted my local wont give me a courtesy car, or a mini valet but thats not what I get my pride and joy serviced for! Its booked in for friday morning, please let me know your opinions, Cheers Jason