u/Mairqre

I've owned my gen 1 IS300 since the 6th of January 2026. When I bought it, it ran but has hardly even started since after buying it. The original owners said they have done a lot to the car being "Machined block, new full metal head gasket, new valve cover gaskets, new spark plugs, new injectors, new coil packs, new oil and filter, new fuel pump, coolant flushed, new radiator, many new hoses, etc etc. almost everything except serpentine belt". They said they didn't do the serpentine belt so I did it. I also replaced the air intake hose with a cheap amazon one(since that's what the guy I bought it from told me was the issue of a throttle hesitation it had). I also replaced the battery with a Optima battery, and installed Denso spark plugs and NGK coil packs. Lastly I cleaned the maf with maf cleaner. After that I tried to start the car to give it a test drive and nothing. 

I've replaced and fiddled with everything I can think of, OEM maf, new throttle body, OEM fuel pump, cleaned fuel lines, replaced wires and connectors, checked fuses and relays, used the code scanner probably hundreds of times, smoke tested for vacuum leaks, cleaned fuel lines. The only thing that ever seemed to work was when I adjusted the TPS sensor. 

I have gotten the car to run, most notably when I either adjusted the TPS or took off the air hose and just had a open throttle body. When I did get it to run, with any throttle input it shut itself off. I should add, they're is not a single engine code, all I have is codes for the AC and it's only two of 'em. 

What I've noted is since doing the smoke test is I have a leak on the maf reasons being bad welds and the maf not sitting correctly. I have a leak coming out of the ECTI-S and the little plate next to it. I tightened the screws on it but they aren't going in anymore than it was already. There is another leak from the EVAP things next to the intake manifold. I don't know anything about what the EVAP system even does so I have no idea if it's normal. I only know one leak was coming out of a hose with a missing clamp so I'll replace that tomorrow. 

I was thinking I'll try to reverse everything I did at the start. I did notice the spark plugs that were on the car before had a really really small gap but I just went with what the web said to use. I got three Amazon special parts that day being, the Air hose, the serpentine belt and tensioner pulley. Maybe I'll just try going OEM on all three and try that. I did try using the air hose the car had on before and nothing changed. 

I'm looking for any insight on this issue. I've poured so much money in this car and have tried seemingly everything that would 'cause a crank no start. I've seemingly tried everything that could also 'cause the car to kill its self under load. 

I refuse to sell the car but I might take it to a mechanic if everyone seems to be as lost as both me and my father are. Thanks for reading!

2004 Is300, 3.0 liter, AUTO

I've owned my gen 1 IS300 since the 6th of January 2026. When I bought it, it ran but has hardly even started since after buying it. The original owners said they have done a lot to the car being "Machined block, new full metal head gasket, new valve cover gaskets, new spark plugs, new injectors, new coil packs, new oil and filter, new fuel pump, coolant flushed, new radiator, many new hoses, etc etc. almost everything except serpentine belt". They said they didn't do the serpentine belt so I did it. I also replaced the air intake hose with a cheap amazon one(since that's what the guy I bought it from told me was the issue of a throttle hesitation it had). I also replaced the battery with a Optima battery, and installed Denso spark plugs and NGK coil packs. Lastly I cleaned the maf with maf cleaner. After that I tried to start the car to give it a test drive and nothing. 

I've replaced and fiddled with everything I can think of, OEM maf, new throttle body, OEM fuel pump, cleaned fuel lines, replaced wires and connectors, checked fuses and relays, used the code scanner probably hundreds of times, smoke tested for vacuum leaks, cleaned fuel lines. The only thing that ever seemed to work was when I adjusted the TPS sensor. 

I have gotten the car to run, most notably when I either adjusted the TPS or took off the air hose and just had a open throttle body. When I did get it to run, with any throttle input it shut itself off. I should add, they're is not a single engine code, all I have is codes for the AC and it's only two of 'em. 

What I've noted is since doing the smoke test is I have a leak on the maf reasons being bad welds and the maf not sitting correctly. I have a leak coming out of the ECTI-S and the little plate next to it. I tightened the screws on it but they aren't going in anymore than it was already. There is another leak from the EVAP things next to the intake manifold. I don't know anything about what the EVAP system even does so I have no idea if it's normal. I only know one leak was coming out of a hose with a missing clamp so I'll replace that tomorrow. 

I was thinking I'll try to reverse everything I did at the start. I did notice the spark plugs that were on the car before had a really really small gap but I just went with what the web said to use. I got three Amazon special parts that day being, the Air hose, the serpentine belt and tensioner pulley. Maybe I'll just try going OEM on all three and try that. I did try using the air hose the car had on before and nothing changed. 

I'm looking for any insight on this issue. I've poured so much money in this car and have tried seemingly everything that would 'cause a crank no start. I've seemingly tried everything that could also 'cause the car to kill its self under load. 

I refuse to sell the car but I might take it to a mechanic if everyone seems to be as lost as both me and my father are. Thanks for reading!

Old post https://www.reddit.com/r/IS300/s/UcuZuRcdg1

I tore apart my interior on my IS since the car had a sunroof drain leak that was leaking water all in my car when it rained. When I was tearing apart the interior I noticed the whole car felt really weird. I've heard about sticky dashboards but it feels like my whole interior is sticky. To me it feels dirty. The doors, seats, the dashboard, everything. I suspect the previous owners smoked a lot since there is a lot of weed crap and what I know as roaches (Little pieces of weed). I don't know if smoking will 'cause this or if it's just the same as the sticky dash. Has anyone else had this happen to their cars? Almost forgot to mention the sticky feeling is constant to even the other sides of the interior parts.

Btw make sure to clean your sun roof drains. My cars floor boards have rusted and I need to get new carpet jute.

First question, can I install a Radium fuel rail without installing a fuel return system and on a stock ecu. I'd also want to add a fuel pressure gauge.

Second question, how do I check my pressure before buying the fuel rail? I know about the banjo bolt under the car but I don't know the correct size to adapt a pressure gauge on it.

First question, can I install a Radium fuel rail without installing a fuel return system and on a stock ecu. I'd also want to add a fuel pressure gauge.

Second question, how do I check my pressure before buying the fuel rail? I know about the banjo bolt under the car but I don't know the correct size to adapt a pressure gauge on it.

For starters I'm 19, unemployed, I have little to no overhead, no kids, no rent since I live with my father, as well as no phone bill. Really the only thing that has eaten away at my money is taxes and my misuse of money. My main sort of goal is to get a car I like. I can admit it's a juvenile goal, cars typically deprecate in value, and a lot of people say buying a nice car is to show faux status or to be flashy. To me it's more than that but I can admit it will deprecate and is an overall is a misuse of money.

I have about 4000 grand sitting in my bank account and 300$ in stocks, I'll be buying 200$ monthly using the auto buy feature on Robinhood and just leaving till I'm around 50-60 possibly longer. As for work I'm going to be putting myself through a trade school for HVAC. I was taken out of school the start of middle school so I don't get any extra credits or anything, in short I'll be paying out of pocket, about 5400$ total. With these 9 months of studying I'll be working part time. Once I start working again I will be paying rent as well as my phone bill and car insurance, I do not know the numbers for sure but I will talk to my father about it.

I understand investing in index funds is a long term money building strategy I'm not really in a rush. Though, I wont mind any ideas that could help me accelerate my wealth.

I am new to investing so I've been learning a lot from Youtube videos and books. My main sources for now is Humphrey Yang**,** Zoidzilla, and The plain bagel. For literature The psychology or money by Morgan housel, Rich dad Poor dad by Robert Kiyosaki, and Fooled by randomness by Nassim Taleb. I choose these 'cause they were shorter and I just wanted to dip my toes in the water. For the most part all these sources seem reputable but I would like to expand where I get my info.

My real main question and the answer I'm trying to find is simply what can I do better to expand my wealth, learn as much as I can, and overall be financially free.