Larry M

Hi I have not had a Lexus antenna apart but I have fixed two Toyota antennas and I think they are similar. There is a flexible plastic piece inside the steel outer shell. This plastic piece is about 3/16 or 1/4 inch in diameter. It has gear teeth on one side. The flexible plastic piece is driven by a gear down at the bottom of the antenna mechanism. As the antenna is driven down the plastic piece is wound around a drum in the bottom of the antenna. Probably the plastic piece is broken, at least that has been my experience. If this is the case it can be repaired by replacing the plastic piece along with a new antenna rod ( It all comes together). On a Toyota the part is about $100 (robbery!), but a whole new antenna was about $250. The antenna come apart by unscrewing and removing the retaing cap and pulling it out. You will probably be able to tell if it is broken. If you are lucky the part can be replaced without taking the mechanism apart, but don't count on it. Good Luck Larry

Hi again Tom A little more info. On the ES250 the Amp is located below the radio in the center console. Go the www.carstereohelp.com and follow the links to car stereo removal, lexus. The ES 250 was a different car. I think it was essentially a Toyota Cressida. You might email the carstereohelp web site for help. Larry

Hi Tom On the 2002 GS300 the audio amp is located behind and to the right of the glove compartment. To access it first remove the panel above the passenger foot compartment, it is held in with clips. Then remove the glove compartment. I is held in by: 1) three screws along the upper lip of of the compartment, 2) Two bolts at the lower left and right of the compartment and 3) three clips behind the top of the compartment. I have no idea if the ES is similiar, but I would not be suprised if it was. Larry

I just finished installing a Jensen Sirius Satellite radio in my 2002 GS300. I did not use either a FM modulator or a cassette adapter which are the usual ways of adding a sat radio to an existing (non-sat ready) audio system. Instead, I broke into the wiring harness at the audio amplifier input and installed a new sat radio input. The audio amp input is now switched between AM/FM and sat radio by a relay. The relay is actvated whenever the sat radio is switched on. All the audio controls (treble, bass, balance, etc.) work just as in the AM/FM mode. I used blocking capacitors in the sat radio radio output because the factory AM/FM output is differential but the sat radio output is low side ground. Is a that worth it? Probably not but I am a nitpicker and the sound is better than the cassette adaptor I used temporarily. I don't recommend this approach unless you have some facility for electronics. I live in the remote mountains of west, were there is only one daytime radio station available, and it play country or religon. The Sirius is great, a good selection of music and no commercials. If any one is interested in the details. Just ask. Larry

For what it may be worth let me tell you what a service manager told me. We were talking about the steering and suspension on my 2002 GS300 and he volunteered that earlier GS300s had a steering vibration or shake problem. He said the problem was worse with the 17 inch wheels. He said that Lexus changed the design of the steering pinion in 2001 which fixed the problem. The new design stopped the transmission of vibration from the wheels to the steering wheel. Thats all I know. Larry

Hi Some time back I was complaining about occasional hard 2-3 shifts under light throttle in my 2002 GS 300. I was particularly irritated that Lexus seemed aware of the problem, but unwilling to do anything. Well, I should have had more faith. There is a new technical service bulletin that addresses the problem. Lexus has a revised control unit program. It was downloaded to my car a few days ago and seems to have fixed the problem. I was told that the fix was for the 2002 model only because earlier units can not be remotely reprogrammed. Larry

Hi Thanks for the tip. I would have never, ever figured that out. I am considering installing a satellite radio and looking for a place to put it. Larry

Hi Sorry I didn't respond to your post sooner. I have a 2002 GS 300 and don't normally read this section. My guess is your O2 sensors are OK or you would not have passed inspection, but who knows, these cars are so complex. One thing to check. Make sure the check engine light was reset. If they are not reset they will stay on even if the problem was fixed. If you want to do your own work, you need a service manual. They are very expensive through the dealer (hundreds of dollars). I got my CD manual on ebay. Not as easy to use as a paper manual but OK. My manual is in two volumes. I don't know about yours. I got Volume one for $30. Just go to ebay and search for you model manual. you probably don't need you exact year. For instance, all the GS 300s are about the same from 1998 to 2002. By the way, my model seems to have four O2 sensors. Good luck and try not to let the dealers screw you. Larry

Hi You can find the codes and some instructions at www.batauto.com. Look for the pull down menu "Technical Trouble Codes". The hardest part of this is finding the terminals to jump. It can be done by a novice. Good Luck. I hope it is nothing serious. Larry

Hi Thanks again for your inputs. I am researching the (really rather) minor problem. I adjusted the steering rack and pinion preload. It was a little loose, so the play in the steering wheel is a little less. To my surprise the rack and pinion is the same unit as I had on my Toyota Cressida, which is OK, it was as good car. I think I will play with the alignment before I spend a lot of money on parts. Larry

Hi Thanks for the quick reply. Are there any particular bars or braces that you recommend? I was a little suprised to see chassis stiffeners on the market, the car feels pretty taut. Larry

Hi I am new to Lexus and this forum. I have already learned a lot by just lurking. Thanks I would like to improve the straight ahead stability of my 2002 GS300. When I cruise I-5 (which I am often forced to do) the car has a tendency to wander. When I drive curvy mountain roads (which is a lot more fun) I have no complaints. Is re-aligning the wheels with a bit more caster or toe in worth considering? I see there are aftermarket chassis mods such as tower bars and lower body braces availabe. Are any of these worth considering? I would rather not increase the spring rates. I am old enough that I appreciate the comfy ride. How about tires? The car came with Bridgestone Turanzas. Thanks Larry

Hi I just returned from a 1900 mile trip in the GS300 and it only hard shifted once. Of course most of the trip was on the highway. I am very dissappointed in Lexus' attitude about this. I bounght the Lexus instead of a BMW because of the Lexus reputation for quality and reliability. I discovered a couple of other things about the car on my trip, some good some bad. On the bad side I already have three rock chips, so the complaints I have seen on the euro Lexus club site may be true. Another characteristic I not fond of is the car has very low straight ahead stability. This is OK on curvy roads but a nusaince on straight freeways. I think the car could use more postive caster or toe in. On the good side: really comfortable seats, very quiet, very good sound system, fine controls(although I miss audio volume cotrol on the wheel), plenty of power and good gear selection. All in all a very fine traveling car. Larry

My new GS 300 occasionally makes very hard shifts between 2nd and 3rd (I think). This only occurs under light throttle at low speed (20 -30 mph). A magazine article said this also occurs in the IS 300 and is due to some digital miscommunication in the control electronics. Anyone know if this can be fixed. Lexus dealer acknowledges the problem but says they can't do any thing about it Larry