satman99

I have a 2001 RX300 (FWD) with 215k miles on it and now the planetary has failed. The local trans shop (that I trust) has said 3500 bucks for a complete rebuild with a 3 year warranty. I have installed new struts and new tires in the last 10k mile and the car drove like new before the failure. I bought the car new and have serviced it religiously - has had 2 cam belts and 2 trans fluid replacements and coolant flushes, brake fluid changes etc. Car had no CEL's showing and burns maybe a quart of oil in 7000 miles. A/C works great etc. I am inclined to keep it and have the trans fixed. Am I crazy??? Don't really want to spend 50K on a new one when I have 90 percent of the experience now for $3500. What say you in Club Lexus land?

lexus114

In my opinion, it`s definitely worth fixing. But only 2 trans fluid drain/fills in 215,000 miles??

hypervish

X2, fix it!

But, yeah I agree with Lexus114, only 2 trans. fluid changes? I think your lucky it lasted that long!

lserlohn

Before fixing, call Lexus headquarter, and ask for any financial help. Tell them how you love the car and the brand.

satman99

Talked to the trans shop today and gave them the go-ahead. They said if I would accept a local 3 year warranty that they would do the job for $2950. I think that I will accept the local warranty instead of the national one - I have done business with this shop before (Chevy van - shot trans - 130K miles) and their work is good. I have been using Wolfs Head synthetic atf - guess I'll step up the change frequency to 60K per change on the rebuild. I can't thank Club Lexus forums enough - I put struts on it myself and saved about $400. I did my own brake pad replacement in about 1 & 1/2 hours start to finish. I change oil every 7500 using Mobil One 0w30 full synthetic.

carguy07

I would do the tranny fluid at 30k max, 60k is way to long on this car. Synthetic is still going to get contaminated with junk.

hypervish

Yeah, 60k miles per change is way too much.

I personally do 15k miles, which is about every 6 months at the rate I'm driving. I'm currently in the middle of a road trip on my way to Michigan. From April 2012 to today, I've driven 8k miles just on the RX itself (excluding the other cars), and tack on another 1800 miles once I return home on Monday. lol

satman99

I stand corrected - I will increase change interval - I want this car to go 300K at least.
The only thing I am concerned about - Do these RX's rust out ? In central Ohio they salt the hell out of the roads in the winter. Anybody have body panels with holes in them from rust ? I had an old Toyota pickup that rusted to pieces way before the mechanicals were tired. Rust is about the only thing that make me sell this car.

code58

For reasons I won't go into here, the older Toyota P.U.'s were probably the worst case in recent history of something that was destined to rust no matter what you did (short of keeping it in a locked, humidity controlled vault). Your Lexus is much better protected from rusting. Having said that, they CAN rust (I was born and raised in the rust belt) but if you actually want to drive it another 85K mi. it's up to you to keep the salt washed off of it (and especially underneath the fender wells). Most cars now are protected from rust (in many ways) vastly better than they were even 20 years ago. A lot of people in rust country have a "beater" for the winter months and avoid the "rust country ventilation" in that way.