VBdenny

K9 I don't know if there is an elctronic throttle or not. Did you look around the accelerator pedal to see what kind of hardware it looked like? Maybe something like a gum wrapper or something got stuck under there. I agree that something is wrong because my car always seems very easy to modulate. Hopefully, it's just a sticky throttle cable (if it's not fly-by-the-wire). What I would do is take it to the dealer and tell them the symptoms. Pay them to do the analysis and at that point make a determination if you want to do it yourself or say what the hell and pay them to do the repair. Sometimes time is more valuable then money. Good luck dog

I have never seen another car with the starter in this location. I use to drive GM cars (well I still have two) and they are always outside the block. Starters are better than they were in the good old days.

Although I don't routinely run my Lexus to redline, I have on many occasions. The first time I floored it I was getting onto an Interstate. Well, it surprized me! the engine downshifted into what I believe to be first gear and went directly to 6200 before kicking into second. I held it until I was up to about 90. As promised by others, the Lexus has a sweet sounding engine at high RPMs. Set me back in the seat. Since I didn't want to feed the bears, I let off. Since then I guess I haven't been able to resist. I also have heard about breaking engines in at high RPM's. Since my engine only has 133000 miles on it I figure that is what I'm doing. All I can say is make sure there aren't any cops around.

I noticed a vibration in my car but it went away as soon as I got out of Pennsylvania

David, I have been looking at your ebook. As a fellow car detailer probably about your age judging from the Schwinn Orange Crate report, I am very impressed by the straight forward quality. My compliments on an outstanding book. If you wish to publish this in the future, my friend owns a small publishing company (Lone Tree Publishing). You could put out books very reasonably and he has the connections to market them. Whether you pubish it on your own, or with someone, you should as you could easily sell your product. Interstingly enough, I have been working on a book on Interstate driving which I plan to publish in about a year. Denny

and synthetics were available long before 1993. Amsoil has been making it for years, even Mobil 1 was out before 93

AFter reading Matthews very long post on oil, I feel very fortunate that the previous (original) owner of my car used synthetic oil since it was new. While it took me quite awhile to read and comprehend, it makes it blantently obvious that synthetics are superior in every respect. As to the condensation emitted upon startup, I think it looks good on a cold day to see wiffs of steam coming out of the duel exhausts.

I suspect that your overdrive isn't locking and releasing properly which causes a shutter to occur. SInce these are elctronically controlled transmissions, it may be electrical. With only 250,000 you shouldn't be having transmission problems unless the car was always driven in Chicago traffic without ever changing the fluid. It seems logical that if there was a major problem, you would get a service light.There is probably some code stored, check with VMF and see if he knows. He seems to have a good handle on such things.

sounds like it may possessed to me

Outstanding information Matthew, Sure makes me glad that I have always used synthetic oil. Why you'd have to be a fool not to after reading this report!

Ha! My wife does the same thing. She will be talking to me and I'm looking at the car (or other cars) and I "uh huh" her. This annoys her because she thinks I'm not listening. I can't help it! It's a guy thing I guess.

Not sure what year. My daughter will need a car this summer. She is in college and living on campus right now so she doesn't need one right now. If I don't get her something, she will be driving my truck all the time. I'll probably end up getting her a Sentra as she wants a stick. I can get a nice SER for around 8 or 9 grand, but I am considering another Leuxs. I like my 400 so much that I might try to talk her into one. From what I've seen, only the SC models ever came with a stick.

I was just looking around on this forum and saw the issue with the ES300 weatherstrippin. I'm kind of looking for a car for my daughter and of course favor a Lexus. What year did they change the design so that the wind noise problem is eliminated? The other thing that surpized me was that you can run regular in the 300 and not have it make all kinds of bad noises. I know you can never put regular in the 400. Denny

David, Is the stuff you spray and let dry like lacquer? I also use WD-40, and sometimes a rag with light machine oil. I don't leave it on because it attracts dirt. Last, I think anyone who intentionally sprays water on their engine is quite brave. I'd rather have it dirty then wet (although my engine is spotless). Way too many electrical wires and connection to take a chance. 99% of the time it's no problem, but you just heard from the other 1% and their report,

WF What is the plastic baggie on the hand test? I've never heard of that. Denny

David, Welcome to the forum, it's great to have you. I especially like the part about having a passion for keeping cars perfect as I share the same. Great suggestion regarding wiping the blade after each pass, I never thought of that. I already found out about the not hitting the same spot twice as it makes a terrible noise. Denny

I had the same thing in mine. It turned out to be a bad bulb which eventually stopped working. When the light is on, check all your lights including brake lights and turn signals.

I think everyone has a warn (0%), but only you can see it. Check in the website forum, Matthew put a post in there regarding this. As far a warming the car, I guess I'll let it warm up less but I hate driving in a cold car. I froze as a teenager driving in the winter with inadequate heaters.

An old post comes alive! Ah the CWB is just great. I start on the roof and work my way down. I have no idea what a Wal-Mart dry blade is but I suspect it's a knockoff. Probably just as good as it is just a squeege. I think it's the patented "T" hooks on the top that make it work so well. I enjoyed the comment about having a great looking car now. Isn't it awesome to have your car looking better than everyone elses. For the life of me, I can't imagine how people can stand to drive around in their filthy, nasty, dirty cars. Volvo owners are the worst. I think there must be some kind of rule that Volvos are never to be washed! Any vehicle I own has to be clean. When my daughter has a new boyfriend, I always check out his rig. I don't want her going out with someone who doesn't take care of his car. Her current interest goes to Virginia Tech with her and has a spotless Sentra SER Spec-V (black). He is on the "A" list with me. Sorry to ramble on so long but it is to cold to do anything outside. I was going to wash my truck today but my hose was frozen solid. 17F outside right now in VB. I love this forum by the way.

I appreciate the responses. I just found a very good reason for letting the car warm up before driving. It is COLD outside here, perhaps close to the coldest I've ever seen it. I never have seen the need for things like heated seats here in Virginia Beach, but when it is about 17F outside, I see whay they are important. I also garage my car all the time. Letting a car sit outside is really rough on everything. I know many people don't have the option of a garage, but they definitely make a difference. Although everyone near me has garages, I only know one other person who puts their car inside. Most people have they filled with junk. I'm going to still go with the warm up the car. first plan. Sometimes if I'm late or something I will go after a minute or two, but I am not a key to shift lever person. Regarding the hard third gear shift, I don't think it all that unusual. While you certainly don't want to high rev a cold engine, you don't want to lug it either as that can damage parts just as easily.

Whenever I start my 400, I usually let it idle until the RPM's drop to 600. Last night while enjoying some refreshing adut beverages with my neighbor he made an interesting comment. Last wek he bought a new Toyota SUV, and when he read the owners manual it said to drive right away and let the car warm up under way. Since a Lexus is a Toyota, does this apply? What do you all think?

I agree that it is normal to have a little smoke on start-up. Actually the smoke is condensation burning off and it smells a little like varnish to me. Obviously, this is much more noticeable when it is cold outside, and baby it ISS cold outside!

I looked at the MSN site. I have not heard anyone mention about the transmission speed sensor. I might have replaced the strut cushions but I'm not sure what they are. I think they are referring to the rubber bushing that attach them. I also haven't seen labor at $65/hr. Interesting site though.

I had to laugh as I read your post. I always find myself turning and looking at my car when I am walking into a store or something. Guess I'm not the only one who does that!

Good idea Matthew. I still don't care much for the new colors. It was one thing I never liked about the UK board. Also, why are the avatar pictures all weird now? Maybe you could put an automatic scale format in or something. Denny