# 2000 Lexus ES300 Rough Idle, Blinking Engine Light **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** es300, lexus\ **Created:** [August 19, 2018, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-lexus-es300-rough-idle-blinking-engine-light/123252 "2018-08-19T20:10:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nfrishbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c67d28/32.png) [@nfrishbe](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nfrishbe)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2018, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-lexus-es300-rough-idle-blinking-engine-light/123252/1 "2018-08-19T20:10:27Z")
Hi folks, I’m looking for help diagnosing a problem in my 2000 Lexus ES300. The situation is that this car is likely to be “retired” in approximately 2 weeks regardless of what the nature of this issue is, so I really don’t want to put any significant money into it, but I do need it to last me those two weeks, including being loaded up with stuff and driven 2-3 hours for a move. After that, it’s pretty much fine if it bursts into flames. Some relevant background info: Recently the check engine and TRAC Off lights came on. I took it in for diagnosis and the computer codes were for two bad catalytic converters. I didn’t have anything done about it because it wasn’t worth putting the money in knowing that I was going to junk it soon. Current symptoms: It’s possible some of these issues were already starting before, but when I noticed a clear problem was today a little bit after filling it up with gas. It seems like it’s misfiring. It idles rough, particularly when it’s in drive. Smooths out quite a bit when in park, although not always 100%. It also smooths out when I’m actually driving it. Basically I get up to 10-15 mph and it starts to feel okay. But then, the engine check light starts blinking. Usually when I’m idling the light is solid, although that’s not a perfect 1-to-1 correlation; sometimes it continues blinking. I also think I’m noticing a sort of sulfur-like, rubbery smell. And when I took it on the highway, around 60-65mph, the tach was reading about 3500 and it didn’t seem to shift into its highest gear. Lastly, although I know effectively nothing that would help me diagnose the issue, I popped the hood to see if there was anything obviously wrong. I noticed that the outer plastic case of the engine had a crack in it (see picture). I have literally no idea if this is a problem or whether or not it is even a new development, but I figured I’d mention it in case it’s relevant. ![IMG_0515](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/f/fb7548e1114b06eddd6380c243640bb5d98d9f85.jpeg) Car Talk Community, you’ve helped me several times before. Anyone know what’s going on and whether I risk blowing myself up or anything by continuing to drive this dying machine? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2018, 8:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-lexus-es300-rough-idle-blinking-engine-light/123252/2 "2018-08-19T20:23:16Z")
A blinking Check Engine light indicates a major misfire is occurring. This can damage the engine and/or the cats. It’s hard to say if the engine will last a 2-3 hour road trip with a blinking Check Engine light. Don’t worry about the crack. That’s just the decorative plastic engine cover. Tester ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 12:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-lexus-es300-rough-idle-blinking-engine-light/123252/3 "2018-08-20T12:02:57Z")
> [@Tester](#): > > It’s hard to say if the engine will last a 2-3 hour road trip with a blinking Check Engine light. I agree with this. If it dies on the way, a tow, an emergency repair at an unknown garage, and maybe a hotel room will add up to a lot more than fixing it at home now, for what that’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![wentwest](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wentwest/32/6073_2.png) [@wentwest](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wentwest)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 4:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-lexus-es300-rough-idle-blinking-engine-light/123252/4 "2018-08-20T16:14:02Z")
How about if you just give up on it now and rent a car for the drive? ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 4:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-lexus-es300-rough-idle-blinking-engine-light/123252/5 "2018-08-20T16:41:16Z")
Do the 2-3 hour drive. Have the Enterprise Rental and/or Uber app on your phone. If it quits, rent a car or summon Uber. Toss the keys and the signed title in the glovebox and call a junkyard when you get to your destination. ---
**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 6:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-lexus-es300-rough-idle-blinking-engine-light/123252/6 "2018-08-20T18:33:23Z")
I also vote for scrap it now and rent a u-haul. Any money you put into it now will just be flushed when you scrap it in 2 weeks. ---
**Author:** ![nfrishbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c67d28/32.png) [@nfrishbe](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nfrishbe)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2018, 1:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-lexus-es300-rough-idle-blinking-engine-light/123252/7 "2018-08-28T01:30:12Z")
Hey folks, Thanks for all your feedback and advice! I had it looked at because I was concerned about loading it up with stuff and trying to take it on the highway. The diagnosis was a faulty ignition coil. I went ahead and had it fixed because the cost wasn’t all that much more than figuring out some way to get by for the next two weeks and then renting a car or Uhaul for the journey, and was way more convenient. I suppose I could have rolled the dice, but once my early-20s became relegated to the rear view, I became a bit more risk averse.