nc211

When you say "new belts", I assume that includes the timing belt? It should if you're doing the water pump as well. If not, you're getting ripped off big time.

Is it a clunking noise? If so, it sounds like control arm bushings going bad. Clunking noise when hitting the brakes is a classic symptom. Ever had your strut rods replaced? They're the big arms that attach to the lower control arm from the front. They're usually the 1st to go. Then the lower control arm, then the upper control arm.

RF: There is a tsb out about the differential mounting cushions "bushings" that deals with that drooning and vibration noise from the rear. That might be it. Easy way to see is have someone keep the brakes on, and put the car in gear while you look under there from the back. When I did this, I saw the driver's side mount was torn to pieces.

But I think steve might be right, if anything it's a cheaper place to start looking. When I did all those control arms and crap and had my wheel off the car, I took a pressure washer to the inside of the rims. I blew off so much dirt and grime that now my car vibrates like a Bourbon Street beauty queen, if you know what I mean. They're just that sensitive. A few tiny grams of dirt threw off the whole balance.

blake, the miles rack up because you're the LS in your crowd of friends! Nicest car = the one who drives the most! Hahahaha. Have a 1992 Chevy Cavalier, and you'd probably put 1/3rd the miles on it. Charge 'em gas money!

I'm not sure about the 98 model, but I know the 89-94 models have a glitch with the instrument lights and if someone replaced the cluster with a new one, the actual mileage counter is reset to zero if done incorrectly. That might be the cause for the 94'. I would have the dealership run the vin's and check if the report indicated anything about the cluster panel being serviced. If not, I would ask the seller if they had it replaced, and by who. I don't know how you could tamper with the odometer in these cars, since they're digital in nature and not the standard tumbler/roller style.

But, I also don't understand the whole tom cruise/katie holmes thing either...so to each is his own!

I also heard something about these hybrids posing a huge risk of electrical shock when involved in an accident. I'm not sold on this technology just yet. I saw a ford mini-suv hybrid the other day on TV bragging about 27 mpg on the highway. Big deal if you ask me. My 10 year old V8 get's that now. Not to mention the Ford cost $32,000! If you ask me, I think the next generation of alternative energy should come from magnet technology. Ever taken two magnets, put them together at the same charge points "+ to +" and seen how they push eachother apart? I would think a gadget could be designed on a sliding pole where a throttle cable would pull them closer, pull them apart to generate more force. A spinner of sorts...the closer the magnets, the faster they chase eachother around, spinning the bracket. Get strong enough magnets, add in some physics, slap on a tranny, and bam. I have magnets called earth magnets, they're the size of a quarter, and can pick up 45 pounds!

I did a project in business school pertaining to this idea many years ago. It actually attracked the attention of some investors. But, further research showed it went against Newton's first 3 laws of thermo-dynamics. But, I still think it would work.

JPI,

Please franchise out to Raleigh, NC!! Sure could use you out here.

Free Carolina BB-Q for ya'! Mmmmmmmmmmmm.... BB-Q ;)

Crap!

Yep, that's the sound, but it's been doing it for about a year. I read somewhere about replacing just the clutch pads in it? Well, we'll know for sure in a couple weeks. Heading down to southern florida for 10 days. If that doesn't break it, then I'm not gonna worry about it too much.

A couple of days? Really? Hmmm... interesting. Keep us posted on what they say if you don't mind. I'm really curious why they need it for that long. Yeah, I agree on what a difference you notice when you ride in anything other than a lexus! I take my fiance's honda civic for drives every now and then to remind myself what an awesome car a Lexus is.

Blake, I'm curious, does your a/c unit whine at all? mine whines as i rev up to speed. it quiets down once i'm out of 2nd gear and moving on along. just curious if this is normal or not. it doesn't sound like it's going to blow up or anything, just has that compressor whine, but don't know if it's normal or not.

Doc, my 95 LS is doing the exact same thing. I recently replaced all the control arms, struts and outer tie rods. But I have not had it aligned yet by the dealer ship. My money is that you need a 4 wheel alignment from the dealer. Get the tires balanced as well while you're there. I would also like to bet your rotors might be a little warped....maybe. But you need an alignment for sure. My dealer here aligned mine a few months ago when I still had all the old, worn out parts on the car, and it was perfect. So I can only image how much better it will be now. I'm betting your toe setting is off a little, causing the tire to grab more of the pavement when it shifts in angle. That's what mine is doing, and it takes constant attention to keep her straight on the highway.

Glen, how do you like the 300CE? That is one of my favorite MB cars of all time! I want one so badly.

Mine is the same way. Radio seems brighter too. It is a bit odd.

I was thinking over the weekend about this for some odd reason. I remember on my Maxima, around 40k miles, the transmission would give off a squeek noise when shifting from 1-2 and 2-3. It was that prolong stuff. It sounded exactly like a fan belt squeek, but was the transmission. If you do decide to put that stuff in there, make sure you compensate the total volume of fluid you're putting in there...i.e., if prolong is 12 oz, then withhold 12oz of toyota fluid. You never want to over-fill tranny fluid. It can burn out the bands by putting too much pressure in the gear box.

I think there is a TSB on this, but just curious if any quick fixes. It's the rainy season down here now, and hurricane season too. Yesterday I had my wipers on max, and I really noticed a loud thump when the wipers hit thier down position, like they're smaking the dashboard. Any suggestions on why this is?

Not to go against the grain, but I would really think about that prolong stuff in there. I put it in my 99 suby outback, and my 01' maxima se, it messed them both up. Smoothed out the shifts for a while, but then it made them really smack into gears later on, almost made it too smooth, like it killed the needed resistance. Just my 2 cents worth amigo. I won't use that stuff anymore.

I have heard of several of these complaints. A friend has a 98 as well, took it to dealer a few times, still does it. My 95 does it as well. I think it's a characteristic of the car to be honest. The tranny FLUSH might help. Their is a difference between a flush and a drain/refill. Flush get's all fluids out, drain and fill only gets like 2 quarts out. I think it's just the nature of the tranny in these cars.

It's all good, I don't really care, just felt the need to defend myself. I've popped off a couple of these in the past myself. No biggie.

Kewl, I checked out your website man....AWESOME pictures of the boat! Man, it looks COOOOOLLLLDDDD up there! I'd die, I gotta have my southern humidity and heat. NC is as far north as I go, "from Birmingham, Alabama originally."

I'm hungry now for some seafood after checking out those receipts.

"NC211, good post idea. I'm 46, male, and in IT. Did the UT computer degree via the business school instead of the computer department. A bright new idea in the early 80s. Funny how many of us are Bus Goobs and/or IT Geeks."

Hahaha!! When I went back to get my finance degree "98-00", I worked for the computer department of the business school as an assistant. I had all of my professor's tapped into Napster. When the market was down you could hear Ray Charles "Busted" playing from the offices of the department. When markets were up, it was James Brown "Get on a good foot". I learned just as much valuable information doing that job than as my finance degree. I'm known as "the geek" in my office, and have actually gotten free rounds of golf, dinners, cash and "on the side" vacation time for spending my weekends at some of the VP's homes fixing their home computers. Amazing what some side knowledge can do!

Nice to get a better idea of who we all are in here. Kewl, I sent you a PM to your question. Just let me know if you want my help on the side. I'm a flounder fisherman myself down here in NC. Been know to spend all night flounder gigging in the ICW. My flat bottom creek boat is named "Flounder Pounder". I LOVE some breaded, crab stuffed, fresh Carolina flounder! And I might have a shrimper or two bribed pretty good for some fresh catch in the summer, but I'll never confess.

Ed, I've got one of those Brissell home steam cleaners "lowe's $190" deals. It's got an attachment wand with a spinner brush that I've used in the past on my cars. It seemed to really do the trick after using pretreatment spray first. But my stains weren't soda based, just normal foot dirt wear and tear. I've used it quite a bit in the house "white carpet " and it's amazing!

What about taking it to a professional cleaner?? Probably cost you $75?? I'm not sure. I like Blake's idea too, but knowing me, I'd have about a half a dozen spare screws in my hand after reinstalling everything! Hahaha.

To each is his own I guess. I just don't like being walked on time and time and time again by the same person. I did not send him to a service center I knew would do a bad job, or someone who would fraud him, I simply withheld my knowledge base, that is outside of his scope of control and understanding for that matter. I did not offer him the knowledge of online vendors, or offer to share my tools and my time fixing his car "same kind of car mind you that he jumped to conclusions against me for having in the first place", and I won't, at least not for free. I'd be more than happy to fix his car for him. I charge $100 an hour. After a while, you've got to say "you've never listened to me before, so why waste my time trying to teach you something new. Go do what the vast majority of specialized luxury car owners do...go to the dealership." Which was a sense of satifaction and relief to me. But, like I said before....to each is his own. Agree to disagree. Back to topic.

Debits and credits huh? More power to ya' Pachocco! Accounting is something of a a science of it's own. I always remembered "ROL the credits and debit the DEA. I can't remember what they meant these days, something like Retained earings = credit & depreciation = debit and so forth. I think, can't rememeber. Accounting was never my strong point, just financial models and valuation techniques.

I think you could get that no problem.

Yeah, I agree, that's a great feeling getting back in, firing her back up and taking her for a drive after a big upgrade. I was smiling ear to ear after the control arms and such. Let me ask you this, since our cars are so similar, how is your windshield? Do you have little pits in it that make it hard to see with the sun in your face? Mine does, badly. Looks like someone took a sand blaster to it and put a million tiny little pits in it. I haven't a clue as to why either.

Little tough to decode. In summary, in PA, the NADA values I see are:

Trade in = $32,825

Loan = $29,850

RETAIL = $37,650

It gave you $1,500 for low mileage.

N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide

Vehicle Summary N.A.D.A. Values

6/7/2005

Region: Eastern June, 2005 Stock #:

Vehicle Description: 2001 LEXUS VIN:

LS-V8

Sedan 4D LS430

MSRP: $54,550 Weight: 3,955

Mileage: 45,000

Retail Trade-In Loan

Base Value $34,375 $29,775 $26,800

Optional Equipment

Levinson/Nakamichi Stereo $350 $300 $300

Navigation System $675 $600 $600

Power Sunroof $675 $600 $600

Theft Recovery Sys $75 $50 $50

Option Total $1,775 $1,550 $1,550

Mileage Adjustment $1,500 $1,500 $1,500

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide Values $37,650 $32,825 $29,850