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Lexus LS 400/LS 430

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What is this discussion about? Lexus LS 400, Lexus LS 430, Sedan

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#8064 of 8333 Re: Lexus Maintenance @ Toyota Dealership... is this a good idea? 2001 LS 430 [lexuslx] by slexy1 Mar 03, 2007 (11:30 am)
Replying to: lexuslx (Mar 03, 2007 9:16 am) I hope that $1,500 Timing Belt Service incudes an new water pump! 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
#8065 of 8333 Timing Belt Service by jfz Mar 03, 2007 (6:30 pm)
Lexus of Fort Wayne posts a cost of $490 for timing belt and serpentine belt service. FWIW
#8066 of 8333 Timing Belt Service by afiber2 Mar 08, 2007 (5:52 pm)
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 Replies to this message: slexy1 (Mar 13, 2007 12:31 pm)
#8067 of 8333 Re: Timing Belt Service [afiber2] by slexy1 Mar 13, 2007 (12:31 pm)
Replying to: afiber2 (Mar 08, 2007 5:52 pm) You are soo right about the differences in what different dealers charge. I've noticed from my experience with dealers in Ca., N.Y., and Texas that it definitely has something to do with the amount of "other dealer owners" competition within a short drive of where that dealer is located. The more the competition, even from good Independent Lexus Service & Repair shops, the lower the prices tend to be, IMO.
#8068 of 8333 Update on "2001/2002 LEXUS LS 430 TRUNK SAFETY PROBLEM" by slexy1 Mar 13, 2007 (12:52 pm)
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
#8069 of 8333 Re: 2001 LS 430 Trunk Lid Safety Problem & Parchment Paint Touch Up Problem [lexuslx] by slexy1 Mar 20, 2007 (6:54 am)
Replying to: lexuslx (Feb 22, 2007 8:32 am) Here is what I just sent the NHTSA: "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
#8070 of 8333 1993 lexus ls 400 by steeldale58 Mar 21, 2007 (10:13 am)
ok guys here is my situation and i am in dire need of some help, I totally understand that lexus is an expensive car peroid. I just got a 93 ls 400 and it needed inspected, well I take it to my shop i usually go to and they fix everything for inspection but it fails the emissions test, now my shop cant fix that since they dont have teh software to plug into it, so I take it to a Dealer to have them work on it and so far they have changed my spark plugs, wires, pulled the exhaust and im at $670, and now they want to do a compression test on the engine, I am new to owning a lexus so any help would be great, well the car like i said wont pass emission and feels like there is very little power when you step on the gas, I am just lost here, what could be causing this and why does it seem like they are just takin my money for this car, I mean cant they find out whats wrong with it so they dont have to keep guessing on whats wrong, please help!!!! Replies to this message: wwest (Mar 21, 2007 2:53 pm) slexy1 (Mar 22, 2007 2:58 am)
#8071 of 8333 Re: 1993 lexus ls 400 [steeldale58] by wwest Mar 21, 2007 (2:53 pm)
Replying to: steeldale58 (Mar 21, 2007 10:13 am) Insofar as rate of acceleration the early LSes at 248HP were not stellar performers. Put on a lot of miles, say 150,000, and the torque converter is getting a little tired.   I think you're being "jacked" around on the emissions fix but I don't have any answer otherwise.
#8072 of 8333 LS 430 Trunk Strut Replacement - Persistence Pays! by slexy1 Mar 22, 2007 (2:30 am)
The Los Angeles, Ca. online BBB: http://www.labbb.org/BBBWeb/Forms/Complaint/ComplaintInformationPage.aspx?sm= was a big help. I recommend them to anyone who is not getting satisfaction through the dealers or the Lexus Customer Satisfaction 800#. But, to be fair with Lexus HQ's, make sure you have a legitimate situation (as I believed).   While Lexus Corporate denies improvement of the engineering of the LS 430 trunk struts (more "gas force pressure"), my wife and I both agree that the old struts never lifted the trunk lid on its own, once past the half way point of being 100% raised. In fact, my wife said that she always had to lift the heavy (for her) trunk lid all the way up right from the beginning with the old struts (ANYONE HERE THAT HAS A 2001/2 LS 430 REMEMBER IF THEIR ORIGINAL "TRUNK LID LIFT" EXPERIENCE WAS SIMILAR TO OURS?) I must admit, that I did find it interesting that the seasoned Lexus mechanic who installed the replacement trunk struts said that they (the sturts) have improved over time.   While I am appreciative of my free replacement struts, I told the NHTSA: "There are a lot of 2001/2002/2003 or more LS 430 owners who are paying out of their own pockets ($469.64 Dealer Price) 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'm hoping that if the NHTSA investigation doesn't warrant a "recall", then at the very least Lexus will do a "SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN" with letters sent to all Lexus car owners that have trunk (and hood) struts like the ones originally put on my 2001 LS 430.   For more details, see "Lexus Customer Satisfaction - A Vehicle For Brand Building?" http://www.brokerblogger.com/brokerblogger/2007/03/lexus_customer_.html
#8073 of 8333 Re: 1993 lexus ls 400 [steeldale58] by slexy1 Mar 22, 2007 (2:58 am)
Replying to: steeldale58 (Mar 21, 2007 10:13 am) I agree with "wwest": "I think you're being "jacked" around on the emissions." But, I wanted to add that your local "shop" does not represent all Independent Lexus Service & Repair shops. Many do have all the equipment needed to figure out why your car is failing the emissions test. These reputable independents owned and/or operated by former "Lexus Certified Master Mechanics" would probably charge you less money, overall, than dealers would.   One suggestion: Before you buy any previously owned vehicle, take it to a reputable independent shop, or a dealer and have it thoroughly checked out. While you would have to pay for this, it might save you a lot of money in the long run.

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