1999 Lexus RX300

ENGINE STALLS AT IDLE, DEALER CLAIMS FROM HIGH OIL VISCOSITY DESPITE OIL BEING CHANGED EVERY 5000 MILES. DEALER SAYS THAT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE ENGINE IS MOUNTED THAT IT RUNS HOT AND THAT ONLY CERTAIN OILS ARE RECCOMENDED. SAYS THAT QUAKER STATE OIL, WHICH WE USED, SHOULD BE CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES SINCE IT IS NOT "AS GOOD" AS THE OIL THEY USE AT THE DEALER. THIS IS NOT SUGGESTED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL AND I WOULD SUSPECT POOR ENGINE DESIGN THAT ALLOWS DEVELOPMENT OF EXCESSIVE HEAT. SECONDLY, THE GAS TANK SENSOR FAILED- GAS GAUGE RAN HALF WHEN THE TANK WAS EMPTY. DEALER SAYS HE HAS SEEN THIS "SEVERAL" TIMES. SUSPECT PROBLEM WITH THIS COMPONENT.

CONTACT PERSON: KEVIN EZRATTY SERVICE MANGER, BOB BAKER LEXUS EL CAJON,CA 92020 (619) 440 5398 CAR OVERHEATS AND STALLS WHEN TOWING A 2500 LB R/V TRAILER RX300 SPECS 3500LB. WHEN TOWING IN MOUNTAIN TERRAIN WITH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AROUND 100 DEGREES AND GOING UP HILL, THE CAR TEMP INDICATOR WILL APPROACH THE RED ZONE AND WILL LOSE ALL POWER AND STALL. THERE IS NO WARNING OR TIME TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, TRAFFIC MOSTLY TRUCKS MAKES IT VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR DRIVEN 1000 MILES AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN, WITH NO PLACE TO PULL OFF. I RETURNED THE CAR TO DEALER, THEY HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, THER IS NO HISTORY OF ANY LEXUS RX300 WITH THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THEIR SUGGESTIONS ARE DON'T DRIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS, DON'T DRIVE IN THE DESERT, DON'T USE THE AIR CONDITIONER, DON'T TOW THE R/V TRAILER, DON'T DRIVE WITH ANY WIND. THEY ALSO REQUESTED THAT THEY BE ALLOWED TO TAKE MY PERSONAL PROPERTY, THE R/V TRAILER AND TOW IT AROUND THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERT AND SEE IF THEY CAN MAKE IT FAIL AGAIN. I ASKED IF ANYONE IN THE FACILITY HAD EVER PULLED A TRAILER, THE ANSWER WAS NO ONE, SO I DECLINED. (I HAVE $55,000 INVESTED) I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF TOWING THIS TRAILER , NOW THEY TELL ME THAT JUST BECAUSE THE CAR IS CERTIFIED TO TOW 3500 LBS DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT CAN. AT THIS TIME WE ARE AT A STAND STILL, THEY CAN'T REPAIR THE CAR AND I TRAVEL A LOT AND DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. WITHOUT THE TRAILER IT SEEMS TO BE FINE, IT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE TRAILER TOWING PACKAGE. THE TRANSMISSION OIL TEMP INDICATOR DOES NOT LIGHT UP, SO I THINK THE ENGINE IS BECOMING HOT AND SHUTTING THE CAR DOWN, SEE PAGE 208 OWNERS MANUAL. YOUR HELP AND SUGGESTIONS ARE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.