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Sedans Lexus LS 400/LS 430 Lexus LS 400/LS 430
8333 messages, Last post on Nov 14, 2009 at 5:18 PM
You are in the Lexus LS 400/LS 430 Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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I just got back from my local Lexus dealer where I bought my 2001 LS 430. The service and parts managers along with everyone working there are very nice and helpful (Park Place Lexus of Grapevine, Tx.) This matter is over their heads, as the problem lies with Lexus Corporate, IMO. Here is some VERY INTERESTING NEWS! A nice new car salesman showed me the trunk mechanism on the brand new 2007 LS 460, and "lo and behold" Lexus Corporate decided to stop using struts to hold up the trunk lid, and go back to the same type of mechanism that was used in my 1990 Lexus LS 400! For lack of specific terminology, I'll call it a "swing-arm with counter balance" mechanism. That might not be accurate, but the point is that for SIX YEARS (2001 TO 2006) Lexus used struts. This tells me a lot that for their newest flagship model they went back to the same basic type of mechanism Lexus used 17 YEARS AGO! I could be wrong, but this appears to be more "circumstantial evidence" that Lexus is very aware of the problem of weak struts, and/or the problem of even stronger replacement struts (# 31's) wearing out over time. My 17 year old 1990 trunk mechanism is still working perfectly after all these years! |
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After I found out about how much less trunk space the LS 460 can have vs. the LS 430, I had to blog about that, and the fact that Lexus no longer uses trunk "struts" to hold up the trunk lid. I wonder why? http://www.brokerblogger.com/brokerblogger/2007/02/lexus_ls_460s_r.html
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Replying to: slexy1 (Feb 24, 2007 5:22 pm) Great job! Thanks, cn |
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I recently had my '01 LS 430 serviced. It has 103,000 miles on it. The timing belt service has not been done yet. They recommended that I get the following things done: 60k Timing Belt Service $1,500 Transmission Flush $190 Fuel Induction Flush $160 New front and rear brakes $700 I am wondering if I could get the same things done at a Toyota dealership for much less $$$$. Do any of you use a Toyota dealership for your Lexus LS? I had a Toyota dealer do the timing belt service on my 99 LX 470 as it is practically identical to the Toyota Land Cruiser. Regarding the brakes, would it be safe to buy the Lexus pads, shims, and fits and have a brake shop or Toyota put them on? THANKS in advance!
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Replying to: lexuslx (Mar 03, 2007 9:16 am) Fuel Induction Flush would especially be a good idea if you live in an area of the US that has 10% Ethanol at all the gas stations like mine do. Ethanol can clean the fuel lines of gunk that gets caught in your fuel filter (which may need changing too) I swear by these ceramic brake pads on TireRack by Akebono ProAct at $74 a pair (available now for front and rear). They are long lasting, don't squeak, dissapate heat for better braking under heat stress, and I think cost less than the dealer pads. I also think that Akebono does the OEM ceramic brake pads for Toyota that cost more. http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/results.jsp?autoMake=Lexus&autoModel=LS430&autoYe- ar=2001&autoModClar= I would get a second opinion from a Lexus Independent Service and Repair shop in your neck of the woods before I did anything. But, I used to use a Toyota dealership to get my 2001 LS 430 serviced, since they used to send me discount coupons for the 30K, 45K, etc. major service intervals that represented big saving over the local Lexus dealerships. Just call the Toyota Service Mgr. and ask him if he would agree that all that work needs to be done (don't say who told you that it was reccommended to be done), if he would do the work, and at what price would he do it all for. I blogged about the E-10 Ethanol situation here: http://www.brokerblogger.com/brokerblogger/2006/09/does_e10_ethano.html |
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| Lexus of Fort Wayne posts a cost of $490 for timing belt and serpentine belt service. FWIW | |
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jfz, Lexus of Fort Wayne also quoted me the $490 figure for a timing belt & serpentine belt change. I have an appointment next week for this with my '01s 75000 mile service. Amazing what some other dealerships charge. Bill Northwest IN
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Replying to: afiber2 (Mar 08, 2007 5:52 pm) |
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I have been in touch with a manager of the California Online BBB (since Lexus National Headquarters is located in Torrance, Ca.), and it appears (not so sure yet!) that "Lexus is willing to work with the customer to repair his vehicle, if desired." My request was to have those new replacement trunk strut part numbers (ending in "31") installed on my car at no charge. Here is my new blog post with more details: http://www.brokerblogger.com/brokerblogger/2007/03/has_lexus_read_.html |
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Replying to: lexuslx (Feb 22, 2007 8:32 am) "I just had my trunk struts replaced after Lexus National Headquarters told me 2 1/2 weeks ago that they were willing to work with me. My dealer said they never contacted him to give him the go ahead to do the "no charge" work, so I had to call Lexus HQ's again and complain. I now am convinced after seeing my trunk lid go up on its own, once it is past the "half way point" in opening, that the replacement trunk struts that have a part # ending in "31" are definitely improved over the old ones (ending in "30") that came on my car in 10/2000 (even though Lexus HQ's has put it in writing to me that they have not changed or improved those trunk struts). My wife agrees that they are improved, and that Lexus has done a "Quiet Fix"! The Lexus mechanic (4 + years with Lexus) who just installed my new struts said that they have been improved over time! I have my old trunk struts now, and I am willing to mail them to you, once you e-mail me back letting me know that I am not wasting my time and money. Please have your engineers evaluate these old "30's" (taking into account age usage) vs. the new "31's". I know the NHTSA is very busy, but there are a lot of 2001/2002/2003 or more LS 430 owners who are paying out of their own pockets ($469.64) for replacement struts, since there are no aftermarket ones available. Some owners may not be able to afford replacements and are leaving their trunk lids a safety problem!" I will be blogging on this eventually, but I wanted to get the word out to "lexuslx", "cneuman", and anyone else with the old (vs. new replacement ones) trunk strut safety problem. But, keep in mind that all struts wear out over time, so only time will tell how long these new stuts will be safe. My gut tells me that they will at least last longer than the ones that came on my car. For those interested in my last blog post on this (before I do an updated one), here it is: "NHTSA LS 430 Trunk Strut Investigation" http://www.brokerblogger.com/brokerblogger/2007/03/nhtsa_ls_430_tr.html |
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