1995ES300

I'm not very familiar with Toyotas. It's a '95 ES300. The lady who owns it is asking $900 (I'm hoping to get it for $500-$600 since it's pretty worn out, but it does run). It has alot of small problems and 1 big problem which I want to ask about...

The heat & gauges go out at random. They both go out at the same time, the entire HVAC unit (although the display still works) and all of the guages (speedo, tach, gas & temp) and background lighting for the gauges. It did this while I test drove it, a few seconds after I turned the heat on (it did work). No warning lights are on except the airbag light. Any ideas??? The lady said a mechanic told her it was because of the alternator???

Other than this problem, it's pretty beat up, the seats are ripped to shreads and the body has dents and the gold-ish colored paint looks almost silver on top and faded in spots. It's basically a hooptie, but I just need a winter car. Any help about the electrical problem would be appreciated, that's the only thing that makes me nervous. Thanks.

Bankos66

If you can get it cheap you could part it out for more but if you are looking for a reliable car then these Toyotas last forever just do the maintenance. Save this Lexus

hypervish

Welcome to Club Lexus!

How's the battery? It could be having those weird problems due to a weak battery.

dmight

Leave it sit and look for something else - Potential money pit!

1995ES300

Anybody know what this problem could be? To the person who asked about the battery... The battery is new, the seller showed me the receipt. To the person who said to leave it... It may be a "money pit" for someone else who plans to throw money at it, but I don't plan to invest anything more than fluids and gas into this car, aside from repairing this electrical issue that causes the heat & dashboard gauges to come and go, and possibly other small wear/tear items such as tires, brakes, etc. I'm only looking at it for a winter beater (My 300C is rwd and horrible in snow)... I'd likely send the ES300 to the junkyard come April/May of next year, unless it still runs well and I feel it's worth the trouble of re-selling by then. But "any" help on what the problem might be would be appreciated... I'm stumped on this.

yeldogt

This could be anything from low volts - bad connections - something shorting out?

You should have turned on the headlights while all this was going on -- would have given you an idea of the volts.

Without a full inspection............. buying a car like this is a mistake -- could possibly be getting something that will require a coupel of k to fix and you still have a $500.00 car that you spent $2500 for.

hypervish

It doesn't sound good. I'd let this one go too, there's many fish in the sea.

Lexanna

I have found several times on different vehicles that the fuse can give you the same weird symptons you are describing I do not mean the fuse is blown but that the contacts are corroded or oxidized... I have an electric eraser that I use to clean fuses. I call this 'shine time'... The low voltage will not always go thru the contact point if it is fouled... I just recovered the AC/heating module in a 2004 Silverado It was originally from Fla and the pins were oxidized I used a dremel and a round toothpick to get into the female connections... lots more if anyone is interested