Bought 2 Winter Vehicles...What to watch for?

[TOY2G]

I just moved to Ohio from TX. In TX we do not worry about rust on our cars, however in Ohio (Columbus) I am seeing cars with giant holes in them everywhere. I had gotten on here and asked for advise; it ranged from don't worry about it, wash your car often, to there is nothing you can do..

I even asked about Ziebart, but since i did not trust the quality of the work doen at my local dealer i took option #3.

I bought two new (to me) cars for us to drive during the winter up here and our current vehicles are parked safely inside my warehouse for the season.

Vehicle 1 I shared last week. It is a 1998 T4R SR5 4x4 Auto.
It has 199k on the clock and 3 trouble CEL codes0171, P0125, P0141 seams to run pretty good, tranny shifts slow when its cold.

I pulled the running boards, Ran Seafoam, changed oil, check ALL fluids including diffs and transfer case.

Any recommendations on maint items. Its been a while since i owned a 3rd gen.





Second car is 100% new to me. 1999 Lexus RX300 AWD Auto. Has 260k on it, one CEL code for insufficient catalyst. I have also done seafoam in this one, but i have not changed the oil or checked the fluids.

I hear these things loose the tranny around 150k miles especially the AWD models, but this one seams to run and drive perfectly. I know other people on here have these, so again I just need to know what you would do.

Also the RX has an exhaust leak at the manifold, not sure if that is worth even messing with...?

 

[KidVermicious]

Do you rob banks for a living or something?

 

[Millerad1651]

For the 3rd gen I'd say you're good with what you've done...not sure what the codes are off the top of my head. I'd add a tranny cooler if you have the time. That will help the tranny warm up faster and help the tranny shift faster. Also helps prevent the pink milkshake.

If its running well I wouldn't worry about anything. Maybe change the plugs and wires if you don't know when they were changed last.

Don't know much about the Lexus, so I'm no help there.

 

[TOY2G]

Do you rob banks for a living or something?

I don't do that anymore....I have been thinking about taking up something respectable like selling meth...

For the 3rd gen I'd say you're good with what you've done...not sure what the codes are off the top of my head. I'd add a tranny cooler if you have the time. That will help the tranny warm up faster and help the tranny shift faster. Also helps prevent the pink milkshake.

If its running well I wouldn't worry about anything. Maybe change the plugs and wires if you don't know when they were changed last.

Don't know much about the Lexus, so I'm no help there.

I do think i need to do plugs. The 171 code is coolant temp closed loop. I have read about it a little and it may cause reduced fuel Mileage. I have started checking possible causes (coolant level, dirty MAF) but so far even when i clear it with my scan tool (Genisys EVO) it comes back after about 10 miles. I run data stream and I get 0 misfires ate any RPM range, and above 1900 RPM my B1S1 reads 0 volts. This one has me confused, but i will tinker with it. I am more concerned with general good practice for maintenance.

 

[Dous]

Wow I am surprised that Lexus has that many miles. I am a huge Lexus fan, but that gen RX was a freaking pile of junk...transmissions rarely surpassed 100k

 

[V8Man]

Toyota had a BIG oil sludge problem on the 3.0 liter in the Lexus. The RX300 was included from 1999 to 2002 but my friends 2003 engine smoked going down the highway on a cold Oklahma day. He bought the car used; it was brought up from Florida by a VERY respected dealer here. After searching the history it was turned in knowing it had a oil sludge problem. Anyway he always maintained it, but his wife’s short around town trips did it in.

 

[TOY2G]

Wow I am surprised that Lexus has that many miles. I am a huge Lexus fan, but that gen RX was a freaking pile of junk...transmissions rarely surpassed 100k

It is a lot of miles and according to Lexus it has never had the timing belt replaced. Wow.

Toyota had a BIG oil sludge problem on the 3.0 liter in the Lexus. The RX300 was included from 1999 to 2002 but my friends 2003 engine smoked going down the highway on a cold Oklahma day. He bought the car used; it was brought up from Florida by a VERY respected dealer here. After searching the history it was turned in knowing it had a oil sludge problem. Anyway he always maintained it, but his wife’s short around town trips did it in.

I am afraid of that myself, it is going to Toyota this next wee to be updated on the service and with any luck se will last a few more years.