blake918

Are you being facetious? Activating the wipers or moving the seats in a nonToyota isn't complicated at all.I don't find that the 500 reminds me of the LS too much, other than their both being very fine cars! First of all, the 500 has great head and legroom, so that's your first indication that it isn't a Lexus! LOL Seriously though, I've spent 30 minutes or so behind the wheel (test drive) of a 500 LTD and loved every second. I've always liked Tauruses, so what's not to like about a larger and better Taurus built on a great chassis! I could see how the little 3.0l Duratech would be too slow for some (although 0-60 in just over 8.5 seconds is pretty good for an almost 4,000lbs car.), but if you are concerned that you are going to lose the race to the punk in the moded Cavilier next to you, you should probably look past the 500. Considering that the LTD model is just over $27k before incentives, it's a lot of car for the money. I'm certainly going to look at one when I get rid of my LS in a few years!

Wow, that really looks great! B)

Jiffy Lube..... ooops, we forgot to refill the car with oil, there goes your engine, that is if they even bother to change it in the first place! The District Rep was too funny! Anyone else notice the LS about 54 seconds in?:whistles: I hope it's not for a LOC member! LOL

Thanks for the nice words, Chris! B) That's my Garmin iQue GPS nav--it's fantastic! I think the mount that I have is called a "bean bag" type mount that came from Garmin when I got the GPS a few years ago.

The main problems you'll face are with rubber items (bushings that can't be replaced w/o buying the entire componet, oil seals, etc.). Your starter might break too, but other than that, it should be totally dependable for 250,000+ miles.

Rob, you mean this pic? :whistles: Aside from a tiny car pulling a big boat, you are seeing a much more beautiful thing happening-driving right and passing left!

Is your IACV functioning properly? Did you run the a/c check: http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/air/accodes.html ?

Me either! All I said was that ethanol burns cleaner than gas, and we can grow it here in the states (corn or sugar), both parts of that statement are true. I'm not sure where the rant came from!

That's beside the point. The main point to E85 is that we can grow it right here in the USA, and we hugely cut down our dependance on the Middle East for oil. Too, E85 burns much cleaner than gasoline. According to the DOE, we are talking about 5%-20% less fuel economy, that's not too bad for the benefits. As for gas prices elsewhere, they simply cannot be compared-different governments, different taxation, etc.

Here's what the '95 FSM has on the job: I did mine not too long ago, it's a simple, straight forward job. In addition to Ross's suggestions, I'd check the valve clearances. Has the timing belt been changed?

Wow. Looks great Josh, especially for what you paid for it! :D

Have you checked your tires, simply by running your hand over the treads to feel or any lumps or abnormalities (I know you said the tires are new, but tire defects are not exclusive to old tires.)? What condition are all of your suspension and steering componets in?

Congrats on your new car, she's a beaut! B) I thought that color was Cypress Pearl though? The only mica color that I've heard of or seen on a LS430 was Flint Mica which a grey.

Here are a few of the most common online Lexus parts stores (some of them you will have to call/email for a quote): http://www.newlexusparts.com http://www.irontoad.com http://www.lexus-parts.com http://www.lexuspartsonline.com Aftermarket: http://www.autozone.com Or if your friend wants to stop by a Chicagoland dealer: http://www.lexus.com/lexus/LexusSearchSubmit.do

Here ya go Steve:

I agree. ;) It's one thing to say the job costs $750 because that's what we can get and that's what we'll charge. It's entirely another to lie and say that it took substancially longer than it actually did to overcharge a customer. Shame on them. Changing an O2 sensor is not much different from changing a headlight bulb-you unplug it, remove it, and put the new one in. There is nothing special or challenging about it. Through the years of having an ES300, we've changed all of the O2 sensors in it, and it takes about 5 minutes/sensor if you stop for a break in the middle of the job.

Naaah, don't mention it, I'm glad to have been able to help! ;) I bet it feels like you are driving a clean, new car with all of the new upholstry, clean carpet, and gadgetry! B) Blake

Flanker, those pictures are real! ;) http://www.kia.com/sorento/index.php I wouldn't buy one because I hate intermediate sized cars. I think they are pointless except for fleet sales. I don't doubt that the Optima is a fine car, but for a few dollars more, you can get in to a Camry.

I'd try something heavier than a rubber mallet. We used a hammer and a chisel (and maybe an assortment of flat screwdrivers as well, it's been a while.) to remove the pan on my car. We had to hammer pretty hard to break the pan loose. ;)

That sure is odd. I think Jim may be on to something as far as the transciever being the culprit of you not getting a mute in the console harness since neither of our LSs have the OEM phones, but we both found the mute in the console harness. What cracks me up is that the transiever in my old ES300 was under lock and key in its trunk mounted bracket. I'd love to know the reasoning behind that one. I sure can't imagine someone wanting to steal it! LOL Congrats on the car phone! It was one of the best things that I've done to my car! I updated my system several months ago, allowing me to narrowly escape a full replacement so that I can use a newer phone with my cark 91h. :D

+1 ;) Even so, I think it's a good looking car (I'm not saying I'd buy one.). Let us not forget Kia's rendition of our beloved, tranny-eating RX300: Yuck.

Hey Bill, I used the harness on the driver's side (they should both work since one is for the flip phone and one is for a mounted, stationary phone.). Luckily, I took pictures because I couldn't remember what pin I attached my wire to. I have no idea what color the pin is in there. Jim and I both used a ground light to find the mute pin-you just probe each pin, and the radio will cut out when you find the right one. We even made a very simple test light with supplies laying around the garage....just a piece of wire stripped at both ends and a light bulb. Elementary? Certainly, but it worked great!!! LOL

It's probably the crank seal. Is the crossmember covered in oil too?

Congrats on your new car!!! Check out www.lexls.com for all of the issues you mentioned with your car. ;)

That's a very, very, very expensive.... $60 TB $115 h2o pump $140 both coils $60 caps and rotors $115 wires $12 coolant recovery tank $60 coolant sensor $40 fluids-coolant/tranny fluid total: $602 for the parts. Parts prices from Park Place Plano. Let's give your mechanic the benefit of the doubt and say that he bought the parts from the dealer for $1000 which leaves $1500 in labor which comes to more than 20 hours of labor, and if it takes him 20 hours to do those tasks, he should seek a new career path. No pulleys, tensioner, no oil seal replacements? That could be a problem in the years to come. A Lexus dealer wouldn't even charge that much! What was the breakdown on the receipt?