New owner 2007 es350 needs service
01-05-21, 07:27 PM
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
New owner 2007 es350 needs service
2007 Es 350 124k
Just picked this up for my wife have a couple of things I have found so far.
I have to push the brake pedal hard when pushing the start button, is there and adjustment for the switch?
The rear valve cover gasket is leaking.
Transmission Fluid change.
Brake fluid change.
Any advice, links what to replace while in there or advise while doing these repairs?
Thanks
Just picked this up for my wife have a couple of things I have found so far.
I have to push the brake pedal hard when pushing the start button, is there and adjustment for the switch?
The rear valve cover gasket is leaking.
Transmission Fluid change.
Brake fluid change.
Any advice, links what to replace while in there or advise while doing these repairs?
Thanks
The following users liked this post:
Sfnort (01-12-21)
01-06-21, 12:04 PM
#2
I drive my wife's Lexus in and out of the garage to wash it..... that's it. In the 10 years we have had it, it still takes me two tries pushing on the brake pedal to start it. She does it in one try everytime?
Good call changing those fluids.
Knock on wood in 90K miles I've only changed fluids and pads.... and of course tires.
Good call changing those fluids.
Knock on wood in 90K miles I've only changed fluids and pads.... and of course tires.
01-06-21, 12:43 PM
#3
2007 Es 350 124k
Just picked this up for my wife have a couple of things I have found so far.
I have to push the brake pedal hard when pushing the start button, is there and adjustment for the switch?
The rear valve cover gasket is leaking.
Transmission Fluid change.
Brake fluid change.
Any advice, links what to replace while in there or advise while doing these repairs?
Thanks
Just picked this up for my wife have a couple of things I have found so far.
I have to push the brake pedal hard when pushing the start button, is there and adjustment for the switch?
The rear valve cover gasket is leaking.
Transmission Fluid change.
Brake fluid change.
Any advice, links what to replace while in there or advise while doing these repairs?
Thanks
Is the brake pedal hard to press when you want to turn on the engine?
It doesnt have the cover gasket. It is siliconed. Maybe it is the timing chain cover.
There are a lot of things you would havento replace if they’re not replaced: water pump/thermostat/coolant...
01-06-21, 02:55 PM
#4
Moderator
Welcome to CL and your new used Lexus.
It may be that you just have to get used to the feel of the brake pedal in this new to you vehicle. Having said that, getting the brakes serviced, including lubrication of the caliper slide pins and flushing the brake fluid may make the brake pedal easier to push when starting the car and will certainly improve braking performance.
The oil leak is probably from the timing chain cover and this leak is so expensive to repair it is best left alone, or if you do some repairs yourself you can attempt to do it yourself as I will explain. The timing chain cover leak is never large enough to cause low oil, it only makes a mess of things. You can see it if you remove the passenger side front tire then look in the wheel well at the side of the engine. The timing chain cover on the rear side may be leaking. If you clean it off with brake cleaner and try tightening the bolts ( some have found loose bolts) then use some high heat tolerant RTV silicone make a gasket or spray gasket on the area you may reduce the leak. The official repair involves removing the engine and costs over $3000. See this http://carspecmn.com/toyota-and-lexu...nd-highlander/
You should get the transmission fluid changed. Also the power steering fluid.
You are also due to the spark plugs to be changed soon if they have not been done. This is takes several hours and costs several hundred dollars as they must remove the intake manifold to get to the rear bank of plugs. You may also want to replace the coils at that time as the rear ones are so hard to reach.
However, at that time they could also inspect your rear valve cover and take care of any leak.
The coolant should also be changed if it is the original coolant. Toyota/Lexus specs it for 10 years or 100,000 miles.
I would get quotes from good independent shops familiar with the Toyota 3.5 V6, which is almost every shop as they have sold millions of these engines in various vehicles for over 10 years. Many Toyota dealers will work on Lexus as it is just a Camry with better luxury options and sound proofing.
You can go to the Lexus drivers site, join for free and enter your VIN - vehicle identification number to see the complete record of service performed by Lexus dealers. This will help you figure out what has been done if they used a dealer for service. https://drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/
Finally check your cabin air filter, it is reached through the glove box. There are lots of youtube videos explaining this 3 minute job.
It may be that you just have to get used to the feel of the brake pedal in this new to you vehicle. Having said that, getting the brakes serviced, including lubrication of the caliper slide pins and flushing the brake fluid may make the brake pedal easier to push when starting the car and will certainly improve braking performance.
The oil leak is probably from the timing chain cover and this leak is so expensive to repair it is best left alone, or if you do some repairs yourself you can attempt to do it yourself as I will explain. The timing chain cover leak is never large enough to cause low oil, it only makes a mess of things. You can see it if you remove the passenger side front tire then look in the wheel well at the side of the engine. The timing chain cover on the rear side may be leaking. If you clean it off with brake cleaner and try tightening the bolts ( some have found loose bolts) then use some high heat tolerant RTV silicone make a gasket or spray gasket on the area you may reduce the leak. The official repair involves removing the engine and costs over $3000. See this http://carspecmn.com/toyota-and-lexu...nd-highlander/
You should get the transmission fluid changed. Also the power steering fluid.
You are also due to the spark plugs to be changed soon if they have not been done. This is takes several hours and costs several hundred dollars as they must remove the intake manifold to get to the rear bank of plugs. You may also want to replace the coils at that time as the rear ones are so hard to reach.
However, at that time they could also inspect your rear valve cover and take care of any leak.
The coolant should also be changed if it is the original coolant. Toyota/Lexus specs it for 10 years or 100,000 miles.
I would get quotes from good independent shops familiar with the Toyota 3.5 V6, which is almost every shop as they have sold millions of these engines in various vehicles for over 10 years. Many Toyota dealers will work on Lexus as it is just a Camry with better luxury options and sound proofing.
You can go to the Lexus drivers site, join for free and enter your VIN - vehicle identification number to see the complete record of service performed by Lexus dealers. This will help you figure out what has been done if they used a dealer for service. https://drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/
Finally check your cabin air filter, it is reached through the glove box. There are lots of youtube videos explaining this 3 minute job.
Last edited by Clutchless; 01-06-21 at 03:01 PM.
01-08-21, 02:28 AM
#5
Welcome to CL and your new used Lexus.
It may be that you just have to get used to the feel of the brake pedal in this new to you vehicle. Having said that, getting the brakes serviced, including lubrication of the caliper slide pins and flushing the brake fluid may make the brake pedal easier to push when starting the car and will certainly improve braking performance.
The oil leak is probably from the timing chain cover and this leak is so expensive to repair it is best left alone, or if you do some repairs yourself you can attempt to do it yourself as I will explain. The timing chain cover leak is never large enough to cause low oil, it only makes a mess of things. You can see it if you remove the passenger side front tire then look in the wheel well at the side of the engine. The timing chain cover on the rear side may be leaking. If you clean it off with brake cleaner and try tightening the bolts ( some have found loose bolts) then use some high heat tolerant RTV silicone make a gasket or spray gasket on the area you may reduce the leak. The official repair involves removing the engine and costs over $3000. See this http://carspecmn.com/toyota-and-lexu...nd-highlander/
You should get the transmission fluid changed. Also the power steering fluid.
You are also due to the spark plugs to be changed soon if they have not been done. This is takes several hours and costs several hundred dollars as they must remove the intake manifold to get to the rear bank of plugs. You may also want to replace the coils at that time as the rear ones are so hard to reach.
However, at that time they could also inspect your rear valve cover and take care of any leak.
The coolant should also be changed if it is the original coolant. Toyota/Lexus specs it for 10 years or 100,000 miles.
I would get quotes from good independent shops familiar with the Toyota 3.5 V6, which is almost every shop as they have sold millions of these engines in various vehicles for over 10 years. Many Toyota dealers will work on Lexus as it is just a Camry with better luxury options and sound proofing.
You can go to the Lexus drivers site, join for free and enter your VIN - vehicle identification number to see the complete record of service performed by Lexus dealers. This will help you figure out what has been done if they used a dealer for service. https://drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/
Finally check your cabin air filter, it is reached through the glove box. There are lots of youtube videos explaining this 3 minute job.
It may be that you just have to get used to the feel of the brake pedal in this new to you vehicle. Having said that, getting the brakes serviced, including lubrication of the caliper slide pins and flushing the brake fluid may make the brake pedal easier to push when starting the car and will certainly improve braking performance.
The oil leak is probably from the timing chain cover and this leak is so expensive to repair it is best left alone, or if you do some repairs yourself you can attempt to do it yourself as I will explain. The timing chain cover leak is never large enough to cause low oil, it only makes a mess of things. You can see it if you remove the passenger side front tire then look in the wheel well at the side of the engine. The timing chain cover on the rear side may be leaking. If you clean it off with brake cleaner and try tightening the bolts ( some have found loose bolts) then use some high heat tolerant RTV silicone make a gasket or spray gasket on the area you may reduce the leak. The official repair involves removing the engine and costs over $3000. See this http://carspecmn.com/toyota-and-lexu...nd-highlander/
You should get the transmission fluid changed. Also the power steering fluid.
You are also due to the spark plugs to be changed soon if they have not been done. This is takes several hours and costs several hundred dollars as they must remove the intake manifold to get to the rear bank of plugs. You may also want to replace the coils at that time as the rear ones are so hard to reach.
However, at that time they could also inspect your rear valve cover and take care of any leak.
The coolant should also be changed if it is the original coolant. Toyota/Lexus specs it for 10 years or 100,000 miles.
I would get quotes from good independent shops familiar with the Toyota 3.5 V6, which is almost every shop as they have sold millions of these engines in various vehicles for over 10 years. Many Toyota dealers will work on Lexus as it is just a Camry with better luxury options and sound proofing.
You can go to the Lexus drivers site, join for free and enter your VIN - vehicle identification number to see the complete record of service performed by Lexus dealers. This will help you figure out what has been done if they used a dealer for service. https://drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/
Finally check your cabin air filter, it is reached through the glove box. There are lots of youtube videos explaining this 3 minute job.
My service history does not indicate the water pump having been replaced or any repair/replacement related to timing chain. I understand the water pump is a common failure point and it is generally changed at 100k miles(or KMs?) As a maintenance item.
I always measure the oil drained from the engine, and it is always as expected; taking into account the outside temperature that may impact oil viscosity and flow and so I may not be able to drain 100% of the oil. I have also undercoated my car with lanolin based oil and so potential oil leaks may not be immediately evident.
Spark plugs, serpentine belt, ATF, Power steering fluid, engine coolant, brake fluid, engine air filter, cabin air filter have all been replaced and regular changes with oil filter.
The next maintenance (or preventative maintenance) that comes to mind is fuel filter. Any wheel bearing and control arms that may need attention soon. The alternator and possibly the battery.
Would you recommend anything else that I can get done in order to avoid the dreaded timing chain cover leak or timing chain failure?
01-08-21, 05:55 AM
#6
Moderator
Toyota does not consider the fuel filter to be a maintenance item. It is inside the gas tank and will last the lifetime of the car. Usually only replaced if the fuel pump is replaced.
I would also leave the alternator alone as long as it is working properly. Why spend money you don't need to repairing something that is not broken. Just save it for that unexpected repair.
There is no reason to replace the water pump unless it is leaking or making bad bearing noises. It is expensive. They only fail in a very small percentage of cars. Sometimes you will see a bit of dried red/pink coolant residue outside the water pump. This may not necessarily mean you need to replace it right away, but that it should be monitored for further leaking. However, some dealers will point to this and tell scary stories to get you to replace it right away so they can meet their sales quota.
Realize all of this generation ES vehicles are getting old enough to require more maintenance and repair as stuff does wear out even on a Toyota/Lexus especially when you have over 100,000 miles.
When the water pump is done you should consider replacing the serpentine belt and idler pulleys.
The timing cover oil leak also only occurs in a very small percentage of cars. You will not have engine failure due to oil loss from a timing cover leak, just a dirty engine. There are no issues with the timing chain. You will not have timing chain failure and they almost always last the life of the vehicle if you change your oil regularly. The timing chain cover leak is not related to the timing chain function. It is a metal cover on the side of the engine that sometimes has failed sealant due to crap design by Toyota. See the link to Carspecmn above. You cannot prevent it from leaking, but you can clean it yourself, try to tighten the bolts and add sealant to the cover and engine block joint as mentioned above.
I would also leave the alternator alone as long as it is working properly. Why spend money you don't need to repairing something that is not broken. Just save it for that unexpected repair.
There is no reason to replace the water pump unless it is leaking or making bad bearing noises. It is expensive. They only fail in a very small percentage of cars. Sometimes you will see a bit of dried red/pink coolant residue outside the water pump. This may not necessarily mean you need to replace it right away, but that it should be monitored for further leaking. However, some dealers will point to this and tell scary stories to get you to replace it right away so they can meet their sales quota.
Realize all of this generation ES vehicles are getting old enough to require more maintenance and repair as stuff does wear out even on a Toyota/Lexus especially when you have over 100,000 miles.
When the water pump is done you should consider replacing the serpentine belt and idler pulleys.
The timing cover oil leak also only occurs in a very small percentage of cars. You will not have engine failure due to oil loss from a timing cover leak, just a dirty engine. There are no issues with the timing chain. You will not have timing chain failure and they almost always last the life of the vehicle if you change your oil regularly. The timing chain cover leak is not related to the timing chain function. It is a metal cover on the side of the engine that sometimes has failed sealant due to crap design by Toyota. See the link to Carspecmn above. You cannot prevent it from leaking, but you can clean it yourself, try to tighten the bolts and add sealant to the cover and engine block joint as mentioned above.
Last edited by Clutchless; 01-08-21 at 06:05 AM.
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Zereldo (01-08-21)
01-09-21, 11:51 AM
#7
Good stuff there Clutch. I was under the car a few days back, trying to remember what you had said about sometimes tightening a few bolts solves a leak problem. knew I had read that somewhere before. saw a spot of oil somewhere and thought oh no! don't like leaks. could be just dirty tranny fluid.
BTW - I replaced spark plugs recently w/o pulling plenum. It was a major pain tho. probably not a time saver if you are paying a mechanic. if I was to do it all over again, I'd probably pull the plenum and give it a good cleaning while out if there are not electronics in there to damage.
BTW - I replaced spark plugs recently w/o pulling plenum. It was a major pain tho. probably not a time saver if you are paying a mechanic. if I was to do it all over again, I'd probably pull the plenum and give it a good cleaning while out if there are not electronics in there to damage.
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01-12-21, 07:56 AM
#8
Clutchless, Ty for taking the time to explain this. My 07 ES350 was recently involved in a hit and run. The impact was on the driver door. The next day my wife broke down losing all power to the front wheels. It was towed to a shop that replaced both left and right axels. Since it has returned from the shop it is making a loud sound coming from the pulley area on the passenger side. I am guessing it is the water pump. Also, when I picked up the car after the damage was fixed, the car would not start, they jump started it and my wife drove the car 50 miles to work. After work, it would not start immediately but slowly wound up to starting. I charged the battery to a full charge and it changed nothing. I push on the break and no lights on the dash, then 20 sec later the instruments come on and it slowly turns over to start.
I don't know if any of these new problems are related to the axels being replaced or the work done at the body shop but neither existed before the repairs.
Please advise.
I don't know if any of these new problems are related to the axels being replaced or the work done at the body shop but neither existed before the repairs.
Please advise.
01-12-21, 03:33 PM
#9
Pole Position
I think the recent work is related, but not the cause. I can think of two possibilities for your continued starting problems. One, the impact of the collision, may have knocked some scale lose in the battery cells and ruined the battery. Two, while sitting in the shop, your battery went bad, which is not uncommon. Replace the battery and fully charge it.
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Sfnort (01-13-21)
01-13-21, 05:34 AM
#10
Moderator
I agree that you should first replace the battery.
Then the shop that installed the axles should inspect your vehicle's electrical system and the serpentine belt, water pump, idler pulleys, alternator etc to see if maybe something was damaged in the impact or axle installation.
Also check transmission fluid level as some may have leaked out during the axle installation.
Then the shop that installed the axles should inspect your vehicle's electrical system and the serpentine belt, water pump, idler pulleys, alternator etc to see if maybe something was damaged in the impact or axle installation.
Also check transmission fluid level as some may have leaked out during the axle installation.
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Sfnort (01-13-21)
01-13-21, 06:04 AM
#12
I agree that you should first replace the battery.
Then the shop that installed the axles should inspect your vehicle's electrical system and the serpentine belt, water pump, idler pulleys, alternator etc to see if maybe something was damaged in the impact or axle installation.
Also check transmission fluid level as some may have leaked out during the axle installation.
Then the shop that installed the axles should inspect your vehicle's electrical system and the serpentine belt, water pump, idler pulleys, alternator etc to see if maybe something was damaged in the impact or axle installation.
Also check transmission fluid level as some may have leaked out during the axle installation.
I have decided to take it to a Japanese car specialist and eat whatever it costs for peace of mind. Thank you again for your help. I will check back in to update.
01-14-21, 07:17 AM
#13
Moderator
The timing chain should last the life of the vehicle. He is full of &%$# telling you it needs to be replaced. 122K is nothing for that engine's timing chain. That comment leads me to suspect he may have sabotoged something that is leading to your starting issue. A good Japanese car specialist should sort this problem out.
FYI Advance Auto or Auto Zone will check your battery for free and install a new battery for free as part of the purchase price.
FYI Advance Auto or Auto Zone will check your battery for free and install a new battery for free as part of the purchase price.
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Sfnort (01-18-21)
01-18-21, 10:56 AM
#14
I took your and Wilson2000 advice and changed out the Battery. . . started right up. I have an appointment with the Japanese Car specialist.
Btw, I checked the cost of the parts at Auto Zone to replace the axels and the shop that did the work had a mark up of 110%. I don't mind spending $75/hr for a skilled mechanic but marking up the parts that much did not sit well with me.
Btw, I checked the cost of the parts at Auto Zone to replace the axels and the shop that did the work had a mark up of 110%. I don't mind spending $75/hr for a skilled mechanic but marking up the parts that much did not sit well with me.
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