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TexLexus

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Posts posted by TexLexus

  1. As a former Beemer 5 series owner, I can tell you that they're two different animals. There are really positive things aout the BMW's. However, the best way to buy them is brand new, or with an extended warranty, the parts are so pricey and you have to stay on top of it. Mine seemed to love the shop, I'm very picky though. still, it's a wonderful handling vehicle.

    Now, as a 4 time Lexus owner after the Beemer, currently with a GS300, I find it an absolute charm to drive, very comfortable, I'm 6'5" at 205 lbs and it's got what I want. Very reliable and I support the claims by Toyota that Lexus vehicles are built to perfection. The quality and craftmanship are unbelievable.

    I once had a 95 LS400 that I sold when it had 289,000 miles, no oil drips and everything worked, windows, stereo, transmission, suspension, etc. Spent maybe 4,000 bucks for replacements/preventive repairs after warranty had expired (This of course, by doing some of the preventative stuff myself and on big items like timing belts, etc. by using a 3rd party shop, not dealership)

    My beemer had 173,000 miles when I sold it, It had gone through 4 water pumps, timing chain broke at 110,000 miles, all new suspension at 130,000 miles and a complete electrical failure at around 150,000 miles. Spend a lot of jack on that car once warranty had expired, maybe around 10,000 bucks total (also at a third party shop).

    Good luck!

    Tex

  2. Hi there - I have a problem my mechanic cannot figure out. At lower speeds, while turning I hear a clunking noise from the left front around the wheel area. Especially when I turn into the garage which has a 1 inch ledge I hear this popping sound. When I drive on a parking lot going left and right I tend to hear the sound frequently.

    First take of the mechanic was to replace my ball joints which I did. This did not solve the problem. As soon as I left the shop I heard the popping sound. :censored: I went back and they could not figure it out. They don't see anything suspicious ............ but suspect the lower bushings, bar chuckles?, strutts.

    Did anyone encounter this? Any recommendations are very much appreciated!

    Well Witz04? Can you give us an update? I got the same problem with my 00 GS300. Identical scenario.

    Tex

    2000 Cristal White GS300

  3. I am going to look into this Lexus Golden Opportunity thing, interested in the GS300, don't really know what kind of savings I can find. Regular GS300's in the North Texas area average at $45K.

    That's about the same for a 07 GS330, they advertise 300+ HP on these 330's Vs 290HP on the 430's (Strange, maybe I read wrong)

    All I want is to see if they will chop a good chunk of the 06 GS300.

    If you have recently purchased one on this "Golden Opportunity event" what were your real savings from MSRP?

    Thanks,

    Tex

  4. ArmyOfOne:

    Wonderful,

    I have heard about Jason, will definetly start using him. Good news about Non-Interference through 97, I guess the Service Reps are not as knowledgeable as one would think, it's a shame, there are so many other shops that can work on a variety of cars and know all like the back of their hand, yet Lexus can't keep up with their own in-house models.

    A special thanks to you and Wandawoods for keeping up with me!

    Tex

  5. i've been thru timing belt chages for 94 LS4 (Gen I) I used to own and 97 LS4 (Gen II)/96 SC4 I currently own, all the timing belt job related components (including water pump, pulleys...etc) and precedure are basically identical and interchangeable. if 1UZFE in 94 was a non-interference engine, then 97LS/96SC couldn't magically become "interference" type!

    of course, when the VVTi version of 1UZFE started to appear from 98 model, it definately became 'interterence" type.

    was it the same service rep told you to put 'type T' fluid in your PS pump?

    Wanda,

    Good to hear from you once again, could you confirm, if it's not much to ask for, what 1UZFE means? :huh: I would guess it's the engine model? 4.0 V8? I guess it gets tougher to understand the more I seem to ask. I'm still where I was before.

    Some of us that are not that smart :chairshot: deeply rely in such expertise that we can find through the Lexus Owners Club site, however, there is sometimes conflicting information that I see between some (not all) discussions that may be applicable to my vehicle, and therefore I have to revert to the "go ask the Dealer" mode, and it stinks, since it's pricey.

    However, I service my car there for things that I don't understand or can't reach. Plus I go get a car wash once a week, so it is easy to mingle with the Reps at Lexus and ask these silly but legitimate questions. I understand that taking it to the dealership for service is the most expensive way, but sometimes you have to play it safe.

    was it the same service rep told you to put 'type T' fluid in your PS pump?

    To answer your question on the type "T" fluid (Not ATF type "T") which is the Approved Power Steering Fluid according to both Toyota and Lexus, no, it is not the same person, this was the parts dept. at Park Place Lexus in Grapevine TX.

    1-888-354-7182

    In respect to the Service Rep that told me the timing belt being critical due to interference, it was 2 of them, also with Park Place Lexus in Grapevine.

    Who do you suppose could probably confirm this info?

    Regards!

    Tex O'DeLuxe

  6. 90~97 LS400: non-interference

    98+ LS400: VVTi interference

    You are correct.

    as for the ES300:

    1990-1991 ES250, Non interference

    1992-94 ES300, Non interference,

    95-up ES series, Interference.

    OK, I am very confused now, I have read through the Forums and have heard directly from Service Representatives at the dealership that beggining with the 1995 LS' the car had an interference engine, that if the timing belt broke, you are out of luck, bend valves and possibly whack the pistons goodbye.

    This thread does not seem to think the 95 is an interference engine. Could you confirm?

    Thanks,

    Tex

  7. There are relays for the seat heaters and are located under the front passenger seat. You should hear a clicking sound when you press the buttons. Do you?

    I've had my car for about a year and at first they didn't work even though I heard the clicking sound. And now as it's gotten cold, I tried them and the work, yeah. I can't explain why they started working all of a sudden though.

    No Clicking sound at all, looks like we'll spend some money for the heaters to work.

    Tex

  8. A stupid question, If I may? I assume your cabin heat was "on" when you tested. If it was, then check for voltage ,at the heater connectors, under the seat. NC211 is correct on the TSB's.

    RFeldes,

    I can't remember if it was on or off, I'll check that tonight when I leave the office.

    Good Catch!

    Tex

  9. Thanks for the advice, I have no clue what Type "T" ATF is, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

    I got Power Steering Fluid at a Toyota Dealership, the Bottle does say:

    "Power Steering Fluid"

    According to Park Place Lexus in Grapevine, TX, the Parts manager told me to ask for Power Steering Fluid type T, since I couldn't go to the Lexus dealership due to being 25+ miles away I decided to go to a Toyota Dealership, where I can find many things for my Lexus'. Even the parts guy at Toyota rolled his eyes when I had to make the phone call over to Lexus to verify that what I was given was correct. Could Toyota and Lexus have their own jargon?

    Also, it stopped leaking! so the system did get rid of the excess, somehow, without blowing up hoses and fittings, etc. Maybe there is indeed some kind of relief valve on this car, cool.

  10. Please make sure you check to see if you need a special kind of power steering fluid.  My sister messed up her power steering in her Honda buy putting in the wrong kind.  I know the coolant has to be a specific kind, I think Toyota red, although that probably has nothing to do with your wife's whining, uh, I'm mean your car.

    Bought it at a Toyota dealership, consulted with my Lexus Dealership (24 miles away from home) via phone and they told me type "t".

    Wife is always whining though, seems that some users experience this quite often too... :wacko:

  11. nc211,

    Put in some Belt Dressing and the whining is gone, so you were right, lubricate and the whining will stop. Hell, It may even work with the sister in law!

    I got a question though, I think I put in excess Steering fluid, will the system just dump it? Lots of pressure-controlled systems have what is called "pressure relief valve" I really hope this one does too. If not then I just busted a gasket or a hose somewhere in the system, since I saw a leak in the rear engine on the driver side, and it definetly was steering fluid.

    Tex

  12. I did this to mine today.. replaced the bearing on the tensioner... price.. $3.84 and 20 mins of work :).

    Where is the tensioner? I got big hands and it all seems like a tight fit just to do anything with the belt itself.

    I did get some belt dressing this afternoon at NAPA, and will see tomorrow if it does it again, will spray some to the belt.

    Thanks for the great advice.

    Tex

  13. I'm working on the car today, since I took the morning off, so pardon all my posts through the day so far. I stumbled across my seat heating buttons in the panel, to test the seat warmers, and they are not working.

    I can't warm them up, fuse is OK, both buttons on the panel illuminate, but no warm feelings down there :angry: . Checked under the seats, everything is plugged.

    What could it possibly be?

    Tex

  14. Tex, I have a 95' also. Mine did this too "a little birdie chirp" when warming up. Mine was the belt itself. I put a little belt dressing on it, and it stopped, and hasn't returned.

    Would it go and come back momentarily? This one is more than a chirp though, but will take your advise.

    I'm guessing Autozone may have it? All I have is Ranch and Thousand Island here.

    Man I hope I can nail this chirp, thanks for the info.

    Tex

  15. This may be what I have too. http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...showtopic=26170

    Does it go away momentarily and comes back a little later until the engine warms up?

    I noticed this also after leaving my car at the airport for 4 days and it got really clod here in DFW. 7 degrees F. to be exact.

    I checked for leaks, nothing. Added a little PS fluid but I think the engine was too warm already to make that noise.

    I guess it could also be the alternator?

    Tex

  16. nc211,

    Looks like a job that's easier to do. Smart about the upper plug getting it out first, very smart. Great advice!

    LexusLooker,

    I have been putting gas at QT QuickTrip in 121 at Lewisville, they claim their gas is "Guaranteed" for what that's worth. I noticed that if I fill up at Costco the sputter is gone. It would't surprise me that some gas stations mixed their fuel a bit to get some winnings at the end of Katrina and Rita.

    I service the cars at Park Place Lexus in Grapevine. Nice folks out there, plus it's 5 minutes from work, so I really take advantage at least 3 times a week of the free ole' car wash, or so they claim.

    Tex

  17. Lexus Dealer says the Differential Fluid is to be changed every 15K miles along with the Tranny fluid too.

    Just did a semi 90K service, they wanted 1100 bucks, I chose for them to do the hard work, Plugs and Tranny Flush along with an oil change for my free car washes. Total price of 350. I'll be doing the PCV, Air filter but the Differential fluid I may not be able to do myself.

    The manual says to "inspect" according to schedule B.

    Also, anyone in Texas getting bad gas? my car sputters every now and then when at idle. It may be the old PCV not helping.

    They mentioned on their "inspection report on the invoice that the engine mounts and tranny mounts were "collapsed" Anyone experienced this? My car has 94K miles.

    Tex

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