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Bob GX

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  • Lexus Model
    GX470, RX300

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  1. I'm looking for inputs on what I should do about a repair that I paid for but should have been covered by warranty. My 02 RX always had problems with front brake vibration - 9,000 miles (rotors turned), 18,000 miles (rotors replaced) and 28,000 miles (rotors turned, new brake pads installed). The dealer covered the first two, but charged $310 for the last. When I got the invoice it said repairs had been made 'per TSIB', which the service advisor never mentioned. Earlier this week I found a site where I could see the actual TSIB, and it indicates this repair should have been covered by the Lexus warranty, and my car was still within the warranty period, but I was charged anyway. I wrote a letter to the service advisor with a copy of the invoice and the TSIB, requesting my $310 be refunded and that the dealer get paid by Lexus (the repair was made a year ago at this point). But I'm afraid to mail it for fear of irritating the service deparment, and making future dealings with them uncomfortable (since it looks like they were trying to cheat me on this repair and I caught them at it). I have an RX and a GX and there is only this one dealer within a reasonable distance, so I need to go here to get service. This will keep me from ever buying another Lexus - I really like the cars and the sales department, but getting repairs on a Lexus is expensive. It really upsets me to have this kind of irritation, I expected a better experience when I decided to buy Lexus. What would you do in this situation? Thanks for any advice
  2. I live in Utah on a steep road along the bench of the Wasatch mountains. I bought an RX (02), and later a GX (04), especially for the all-wheel drive & VSC systems. They both perform very well in winter driving conditions. On the RX I run Michelin Arctic snow tires for added braking performance. It helps to drive carefully too - you already know this if you've wintered in MT. I don't think roll-over is a particular concern with the RX over any other SUV with a higher center of gravity. Even on the steep hill I drive on every day, I've never had a problem either going or stopping with either SUV.
  3. Ditto the comment on checking the vacuum hose behind the air filter box. I had the same problem on mine (2002 RX), right after I checked the air filter. Use a flashlight and look carefully, it's a little hard to see, and it was a bit of a tight fit to reach behnd the box and put the hose back on the fitting. Only thing I would add, if I remember correctly, I had to disconnect the battery for a few minutes, and then reconnect, to get the Check Engine and VSC lights to go out. My car always ran just fine. Drove it that way for a week because the Lexus dealer is 50 miles away and a special trip to get down there. I had an appointment to get it checked, and the service writer said it was not going to harm the engine to drive it that way. Then I found out about this hose problem causing those lights, and fixed it myself.
  4. I had a 2000 RX that had a screen, but Nav was not available that year. I now have a 2002 RX that does have Nav. The screens are not the same between these years. I don't think Nav was an option yet in 2001 - is your screen the blue one that displays info about the radio, heater & a/c, trip info, etc? It might be a bigger mod than you anticipate if I'm correct that Nav was not available in 2001. Before I bought the 2002 I asked the dealer if Nav from the 2002 could go into the 2000 model, and they said no. But maybe there are after market mods that could be installed to make it work?
  5. At least on the right side you can get to the light assembly from the bottom, but it's a long reach when you're lying on your back (dealers would have a lift, that should make it easier for them). I found it was easier for me to just remove the trim from around the engine compartment, and then the light assembly is right where you can get at it. A few extra minutes to R&R all those fasteners. Shouldn't require a dealer service visit just to change a light bulb - Lexus cars do have a lot of technology, but a light bulb is a light bulb!
  6. I mounted a Prodigy on the lower part of the dash cover, just in front of my right knee - that way it's easy to find the manual control lever without having to look down. It's easy to drill through the plastic, and use the screws to sefl-thread. Drill carefully and check behind (you can't see, but it's easy to reach behind and feel) so you don't hit anyhing. It has been plenty strong enough to mount just through the plastic. This location does coverr up the switch for the tire pressue monitor, but I don't need to use that switch so it's not a problem for me. Also, the Prodigy comes with a mount where you can remove the controller, and then the switch is accessible. The plug in the wiring harness behind the dash was hard to find, but it's there. It was taped to the harness and took a while to discover, but it's an easy hook up wih the supplied pig tail. Works great, and the Prodigy is not sensitive to leveling.
  7. My right front turn signal stopped working, and I found that the owner's maunaul doesn't have any instructions for bulb replacement (it does identify the bulb numbers). Here's what I learned: - You can get to the back of the light assembly from either below, or above - from below, it's a long reach to get to the light assembly, and hard to get a grip on the connectors. - from above, you have to remove the black plastic trim that goes around the engine compartment. There are a lot of fasteners, but it's not hard. A small screwdriver to pry up the little button in the middle (it does not come all the way out), then take the entire fastener out. To replace, make sure the little button part is pulled up, put the fastener back in the hole, and push the button part back down. Really slick after you figure out the 1st one. Don't use force - if doing it right, it comes out pretty easily. Not all the fasteners are identical, but they are very similar. I took care to get the right type fastener back in each hole. One of them used a little screw in place of the button in the center. - The local Toyota dealer carried the same bulb (the Lexus dealer is 50 miles from where I live) - After checking to see that I could get to the assembly, and R&R the bulb, I put it back together to drive to the dealer to buy the replacement. bulb This made the turn signal start working again, so there must have been a loose connection in the back of the assembly - did not have to get the new bulb. - The bulb was going to cost about $5 at Toyota - the local Checker Auto did not carry this type of bulb Jst info in case someone is looking for info on how to get to the front light assembly.
  8. I have a 2004 GX which has been almost trouble free - the only problem was a latch on the rear door that failed and had to be replaced. Otherwise my experience with this car has been very good. I can imagine your feelings about the problems you mentioned. I looked at the LX, too, when I was looking at the GX. It ended up being a cost decision - the new price between the models was significant to me. The things I liked better about the LX are: 1) The 2-piece rear door, with a liftagte/tailgate (instead of the single large door on the GX) 2) There is more storage room behind the 3rd row seat on the LX. Not a huge difference, but enough to stow a few duffels. On the GX I have to put 1/2 the 3rd seat up, which reduces the room for teen-agers sitting back there 3) I think there is a little more 3rd row leg room? The things I liked worse on the LX: 1) It seems to have more things that require maintenance, and more often, than the GX. The fewer trips to the dealer, it seems the happier I am 2) A more complex AWD system than the GX, since I don't do any extreme off-road driving anyway A couple of other things to think about: 1) Was your problem with the GX related more to the car, or to the dealer's ability to fix a problem? I know several people with GXs, and none of us have had the problems with driveline that are described here. There's nothing worse, car-wise, than the expectation that comes from owning a Lexus, and having a dealer that is unable to get a problem corrected. Be careful you don't just trade cars if the problem is really the dealer.. 2) Make sure the LX has the options you want. My 04 GX has the Nav system and backup camera, which is a major deal for me because I have a neck injury, and it's a lot easier to back up with the camera. I REALLY like the audio system in the GX as well - make sure you're happy with the LX options, there may be some differences between the 03 & 04. 3) make sure the maintenance on the LX is up to date. You don't want to have a hidden cost to do a lot of maintenance, and the LX seems to have a few more items on the list. Good luck with the change Bob
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