Pat (76.205.170.63) - Sun Aug 24 11:12:19 2008

I have a 1994 Lexus ES 300 140K mile on it and the check engine light came on a few days ago and the O/D over drive light also was flashing. The O/D light comes and goes but the check engine lite stays on. I saw earlier on line that it cold be the solenoid and perhaps it needed to be cleaned out an external filter. Could some one help me with this? I am not sure what the problem is or what is required to fix it. Thank you.

Reply #1 gary therrien (72.231.151.249) - Tue Sep 23 20:39:33 2008

I have the exact same problem. Did you ever find any solutions?

Reply #2 gary therrien (72.231.151.249) - Tue Sep 23 20:43:41 2008

Pat, I should have mentioned that I've been driving my car this way for about 18mos. and 15k miles. The only problem that I've experenced is a little less mpgs and a little harder shifting from 1st to 2nd gear.

Reply #3 Susanne (24.253.16.236) - Mon Oct 6 08:45:27 2008

I just starting having the same problem yesterday. My check engine light came on and the O/D light flashes on and off. I have a 94 Lexus ES300 as well. Did you ever find out what the problem is? My car sounds find and doesn't feel different to drive.

Reply #4 Damien (68.162.126.127) - Fri Nov 14 17:50:01 2008

I have a simular problem my over drive light flashes after i drive a certain distance.

did any one find the problem

Reply #5 Happy (12.163.39.254) - Fri Jan 2 15:08:09 2009

I also have same problem started recently with my 98 ES300 automatic. Overdrive light is flashing occassionally. Could it be because of severe cold weather?

I don't have any other noticeable problems with the car except low mpgs.

Please let me know if anyone could find the solution.

Reply #6 worried (67.8.134.121) - Sat Jan 24 11:41:20 2009

i have dat same prob but my check engine light doesnt come on

Reply #7 Ike (75.131.247.87) - Wed Mar 25 11:52:34 2009

Yeah i have the same problem my check engine light is on after driving a certain distance i have a 1995 lexus and the o/d light flashes after a certain distance so if someone out there found out the problem could you please write me!!!!!!!!!

Reply #8 Dana (71.115.3.50) - Fri Mar 27 18:18:06 2009

i have a 94 lexus es300 with the exact same problem! Mine has 280000 miles and runs great besides the o/d light flashing along with the check engine light and it has a lil trouble shifting from 1st to 2nd

Reply #9 Bridgette elmore (32.150.36.61) - Sun Apr 26 20:43:16 2009

I have a 1995 ES300 with 198000 and my OD light does the same thing. The car gets 24.5 miles/gal and runs and drives fine. Of the few times the lights flashed I've noticed a smell when at a stoplight. Dosebt smell like oil or antifreeze so I am going to change my tranny fluid and filter and see if that fixes it.

Reply #10 Steve (151.196.41.30) - Mon Jun 1 17:36:59 2009

Similar but different problems. 1998 es300 with 75, 000 miles that's good and she runs great most of the time. It coughs and misfires at off times then ck eng lite flashes and then stays on. I bought a code reader and it shows 171 300 301 303 305 during the misfiring until I remove them. This usually after being driven for two hours on open road 60+. Then the next morning trying to drive under 35, she bucks like a mad mare into the upper two gear changes as I leave the slower mph zones. Mechanics have tuned her new plugs wires etc, changed all O sensors. The computer bank indicates the misfire is confined but noone can find an actual solution short of a new computer, new engine, or worse, another car. I know its not good but if I get real frustrated I rev her up to 5K for a short time and after clearing the codes, she doesn't act up for a while??? Gas mileage probably stinks and the misfire is now happening more often than I have nerves for. Anyone out there have any suggestions. Wits end

Reply #11 Tony (98.185.22.127) - Mon Jun 15 23:54:03 2009

i have 94 lexus es300 with 138, 000 miles and i had the same problem with the check engine and o/d light. it happen when i drove for two hours on open road 60 miles+ on highway. i got home and it still was flashing. so the car sat from 3 in the afternoon til my wife went to work 9 that morning. all day it was still flashing then we went to store there was no check engine or o/d light flashing. i dont know what happen but no flashing lights and i have 1st gear again and at stop light it takes off like it did b4. but from hear on out no more family trips in my lexus.

so maybe drive the car around town around 20-35 mph then let the car rest thats what i did ans it runs just as the way i bought it

Reply #12 Carol (69.112.215.66) - Thu Jul 2 22:51:10 2009

Hi, I have a 1995 Lexus ES 300, 101, 000 miles. The Chk Eng light started flashing in 2001. Mid 2002, the OD light starting coming on - randomly - although mostly in the summer. I have taken this workhorse car into more mechanics to find a solution.

And while the black electrical tape would have worked for the past 8 years, the problem is you can't tell if there is truly something wrong. Thus, today, I missed the engine overheating (never had a problem in 13 years, so I never looked at the temp gauge until I saw smoke/steam) - and have to put my car in the shop tomorrow.

Drivewire.com says not to put OTC antifreeze in the ES 300. I need to drive it 2.5 miles to my mechanic. If I put phosphate-containing antifreeze in - assuming that the fluids stay in for 2.5 miles, do you think it will damage the car even more than it is already? Would it be better to use plain water? Or should I have it towed? Thanks very much for your advice.

Thanks - and good luck with the lights.

Reply #13 travis (24.99.37.183) - Mon Aug 3 19:50:49 2009

I have a 94 ls400 with the same problem please

Reply #14 Keifer (70.185.243.128) - Fri Aug 7 00:13:28 2009

I've got a '98 es 300 w/155, 000 miles and the check engine light used to just be on all the time. Today the light started flashing, along with the trac off light as well. The car started acting up as well, I heard my belts squeaking at around 40mph, and when its idling, its vibrating a hell of alot more than it used to. Let me know if you guys figure out the problem.

Reply #15 John (205.188.116.198) - Sun Aug 16 14:15:11 2009

I have an RX 300 that just came back from the dealership about 2, 500 miles ago. At 52 MPH it has suddenly started to buck fairly hard. If I let up on the gas and let it slow down she stops right away. I should also mention the check engine light was on prior to this as well. Any information would be great.

Reply #16 John (205.188.116.198) - Sun Aug 16 14:15:26 2009

I have an RX 300 that just came back from the dealership about 2, 500 miles ago. At 52 MPH it has suddenly started to buck fairly hard. If I let up on the gas and let it slow down she stops right away. I should also mention the check engine light was on prior to this as well. Any information would be great.

Reply #17 John W. (75.168.199.215) - Mon Aug 17 14:36:04 2009

My 2000 ES300 has 2 problems. The VSC and check engine lights stay on and occasionally, the car will not shift into OD. The VSC problem may be related to oxygen sensors as noted by others. The not shifting to OD is am intermittent problem, but becoming more frequent. Mainly this occurs when starting from an intersection. If I stop, shut of the car for a minute it will shift into OD normally.

Anyone else in this boat??

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