moliuchick

This just happened today when I drove my car back home from work.
I got this 1999 ES 300 for about 4 years , it has been running with no problems. And today when I drove home, my car started jumping up and down. It felt like I was riding a horse. And the engine light was on and off non-stop while I was driving.
I wonder what is wrong with my engine. I was able to drive home safely though but the experience was sure scary.
Anyone had the same problem that I have before? How much did it take you to fix your car? I don't want to be rip off by the Firestone people.
(in which I had in the past, they charged me almost $150 to just get my battery changed).
Please give me some tips of what I should do. Do you think I should take the car back to the Lexus dealer and see if they will be honest enough to fix my car in a reasonable price? How much do you think it will take to fix the car?
Any info. will help. Thanks!

AdvanSC300

If your engine was running rough,you may have a misfire problem,I recommend to take it in to the Lexus or Toyota Dealer so they can hook up the Scan Tool to check what DTC you have!!!

DonJuan45i

we used to have a 7 series that ran really rough similar to that when one of the catalytic converters went bad.

another time I saw something similar to that is when a land rover was having its engine cleaned with a power washer, and water somehow got in, ran really rough.

moliuchick

I think you might be right about the water. We had a big thunderstorm Today down in TExas and My car just started acting up.

I am wondering who I should take my car to. Do you think the Lexus dealer will charge me an arm and a leg just to get a diagnose?

DonJuan45i

I would take your car to any reputable car repair shop, or better yet take it to toyota which should save you some cash, they should be familiar with it since the es is very similar to the camry

LexFather

Take your car to the Lexus dealer or mechanic ASAP.
Might be a transmission solenoid....

moliuchick

Saturday, I finally got my car to the Dealer. I had a couple of their bagels and deluxe coffee and they told me an hour later that they found out that my engine had problems with Misfiring!
I was like "What the heck?". I had no clue what it was all about. The nice guy at the dealership told me to wait for another 2 hours so that he could get it fixed. And they charged me $569.78. He replaced two coil packs.
And everything is okay now.
He also recommended me to replace my spark plugs. He said he will charge me around $200 for that. I told him that I would ask around and see if other places can do it cheaper. I asked Firestone, I think they said they can do it for $30 cheaper than my dealer.
It is worth it to get that done at the dealer too?

Limen

If it is giving a code you can take it to autozone and the will give you a free diagnostic test so that you KNOW whats wrong.

calichris

iTrader: (2)

i think the same thing happened to me today, run the car and pop the hood see if the exhaust pipe starts to like glow orange, beacuse my car is running like its studdering and very rough on low rpms.

lexusk8

For spark plugs, you can purchase 6 new ones at any Autozone, Advance Auto Parts or http://www.sparkplugs.com for less than $80, and with a socket wrench set and a flexible extension, you can replace the spark plugs yourself in less than an hour. Do a search in this forum for the procedure in spark plugs replacement, but just so you know where the plugs are located in your car, there are 3 under the engine cover, and 3 between the back of the engine and the firewall. The ones near the firewall are the toughest to get to but can be done with plenty of patience

calichris

iTrader: (2)

its probably a cylinder misfire

PBLexusES

I had the exact same issue about a month ago on my 99 ES 300. Same problem: bad coil. Cost me about the same as you at Pep Boys.