VBdenny

Only in the past decade have manufacturers put decent sized wheels and tires on vehicles. Quite pathetic to consider the 1990 LS400 came with 215/65-VR-15 tires. Why those are barely adequate for a Corolla now. Finally the boys in Detroit (and Tokyo) figured out people like fat sneakers.

I've found that the driver's window switch is often the problem, especially if remote buttons operate the windows. Before I replaced the module, I'd try spraying some contact cleaner or even clean air blast as sometimes lint, dirt or even cookie crumbs can get stuck between the contacts. I like to try the easy things first. Welcome to the Lexus Owners Club. A great place to share knowledge and information. Denny

Costco sells 6 packs of Techron. I use that on a regular basis along with an alcohol killer.

The POWER of the FOOT Sometimes I wonder if podiatrists upon examinations notice issues with their patient’s right feet as many of them do not seem to function properly. Perhaps the diagnosis is a lack of flexibility caused by atrophy induced by high gasoline prices where people used the “egg between the foot and pedal” plan. From road observations I have to note that many drivers must experience this malady and appear seriously unable to flex that right foot. Along with the foot thing, I watch in amazement as the horsepower ratings on cars continues to climb with every new model year. To think that in 1974, a Corvette with a 350 CID V-8 engine had as little as 160hp when now even the smallest econobox milks that much from tiny 3 and 4 cylinder engines. Even some motorcycles have more now. Nevertheless, the horsepower race is on passing through the 300, 400, 500, 600, 700 and now even the 800hp mark with the introduction of the 2016 Shelby Cobra claiming 850hp. The electric Tesla comes with available 694hp and the Dodge Hellcat provides 707hp. With oodles of power ala carte in new vehicles to temp the perspective buyer, horsepower is a temptation which is difficult to resist and many don’t. Maybe sometime in the past, a car with over 300hp seemed impressive but impressing any of the car people, you’ll find that even 400hp will hardly even get you a glance. Specialty exotics such as the Bugatti Veyron claim well in excess of 1,000hp and top speeds over 200 mph which seems useful if you happen to have an Autobahn around. On I-90? Naw. With all that in mind I have noticed that is spite of being surrounded by higher powered vehicle, my IS250AWD is about the fastest car on the road. For whatever reason, I have to notice that many of the highest horsepower cars on the road are also the slowest. I seriously ask why someone would dish out 100 bucks for a new Z06 or Viper and idle around? Every time I drive my Lexus, I am thankful I only have 207hp because 7 grand comes pretty quickly off a light and I can easily take even the highest horsepower cars because my right foot still flexes fine and theirs do not. I say while gasoline is this cheap, let’s burn as much as we can. Use that right foot. Denny 100220150930

Just watch the tutorials online. I finally did that and much better.

Virginia Beach, VA 02OCT2015 9:30AM The weather here on the Virginia-Carolina coast is best described as downright nasty. Wind driven rain has intensified and street flooding was apparent in many areas. Predictions for the hurricane are certainly looking more positive as it appears to be trending more to the east, over the Atlantic. I did observe significant beach erosion due to high surf and higher than normal tides. For those of you who do not live on a beach, let me just say that sand is expensive to replace. Every year Virginia Beach spends millions to pump sand from the shipping channels, onto the beach. I also might add that those of us who own property on the beach pay about 1/2 again as much in property taxes to the "sand tax." Of course without the sand, we probably wouldn't have beach property, rather a good fishing spot. I drove around a little this morning in my Corolla, 5 speed. Decided I needed new tires when I the car broke traction in both 1st and 2nd gear. A Corolla engine should not be able to break loose in second, even in rain. My Frontier's inspection expired yesterday and I didn't want to get my race car wet. At least I'm not going to work. Enjoy your weekend, at least those of you elsewhere. Denny

Easiest way is to put your music which you keep on your iPhone also in the iCloud. Only costs $3 a month for 200 GB's of storage. I buy iStuff with more memory as 16 and even 32 GB's really isn't enough anymore.

Oh yeah, certainly many things it could be. Usually something very minor. With so few miles I'll take a wild guess. Many people to save money use economy gasoline that they save a few dollars on since Gas'n'Go gasoline is cheaper than say Sunoco or Shell. Not Top Tier fuels in other words. Cheap gasoline burns just fine and people smile about the money they are saving as they cruise around. Happiness can go on for years but eventually the lack to detergents in the fuel eventually cause injectors to clog and throttle bodies to accumulate gunk at which point the car begins to run poorly. People with cars that never get over 3,000 RPM's and run inferior gasoline tend to gunk them up. As kids we would do what we called a "690 Tune Up" where we went on 690 and dropped the hammer. You can actually see a brownish cloud from the exhaust if the engine is mega-gunked. A (cheap) suggestions which has worked for me in the past. Buy 2 bottles of a top quality Complete Fuel System Cleaner at an auto parts store. Don't opt for the cheaper stuff, the stuff you want runs about $10 a bottle. Add both to your fuel tank upon next fill up and then use the accelerator rather heavily (when there are no cops around of course) and over a few days you will notice an improvement. Had a friend with a Cadillac who had similar issues to the point the Cadillac replaced the computer which of course did not correct the problem. I did a 2 bottle add on his Caddy and a few days later it was smooth. Not saying this is your problem since I am here and you are there but it is a cheap way to maybe help. Either way, it will clean your system and not cost you over 20 bucks. Denny

I can't how that is normal. My 2004 ES330 with 120,000 miles idles perfectly smooth. Can't even tell it is running. MY IS250 idles high for a few minutes then is also very smooth. A Lexus should not vibrate. I'd contact Lexus corporate even though it is fruitless. I contacted them and never heard back. Look at the RPM's when it does this. Shouldn't be over 600 or so.

ios 9

A bad day at the beach IS better than a good day at the office. Went down yesterday and had lunch on the boardwalk at Mahi Mahi. Looks like ole VB is in for some real weather the next few days.

I believe the 90,000 mile service involves changing the timing belt, water pump (hopefully), rotating the tires. checking fluids (which should be changed), washing the car and relieving you of over a thousand dollars. Not that I recommend doing so but I know of Lexus timing belts with over 200,000 miles still going. With my vehicles, every 50,000 miles I change all the fluids oil, transmission, brake, power steering, differential, and coolant. Good idea to look at brakes but at 50,000 if you are a true car person, I often change the front brake pads (I use factory Toyota brake pads only) because by that point they are half worn which means they are beginning to harden and glaze especially if your urban. While this isn't dangerous in any manner, I have found my rotors last forever if I do that. Back brakes easily last 100,000 miles unless you race the thing. An alternative source for excellent service is a Toyota dealership NOT associated with the Lexus dealership. They are often much less expensive and I mean much. I'd probably call around a ask. Not sure I would let any side guys touch my car. Not that I don't trust them but well, I don't. Firestone put 3 of my 4 directional tires on backwards but their TV ads are good.

Guess that makes me a moderate moderator. I did read the entire manual albeit after the fact. I drive the car so little that I never bothered to try the stuff. Upon reading the manual I decided that many upper level graduate university courses are easier to understand. While I'm sure the intentions are to make for safer travel, I found that many of the new features are rather distracting and take focus from what I'm there to do which is drive. Most of the places I travel I know so well that navigation is pointless although the few times I did use the Lexus navigation, it steered me off a main route, around through a neighborhood and back to the original route a block later? I have also had it tell me to get off an Interstate at an exit I know had nothing to do with the route. That leaves me feeling a certainly uncomfortable trusting feeling. I do have all avoidances off of course AND the location services on my phone are generally off. Raining harder here in good old Virginia Beach. Went down to the ocean this afternoon for lunch with my cousin and her husband who are visiting. Waves are up and probably 50 surfers out. Looks like it may be a tough weekend here on the seaboard. Denny

Guess it does a lot of stuff. Never knew my car had it until I got an expiration notice. Seems they wanted $264.90 to renew for a year so seeing as how I had never used it, I figured I didn't need it as much as I needed $264.90 and gave a big negative. I did call them and asked them to extend it since the dealership never told me about the feature but I received a SOL message on that one. Turned the satellite radio off as well since I don't drive the car much and have plenty of other tunes. Also I'm not exactly sure I want Lexus monitoring my travel and locations. Next thing the info will be in China.

Try this http://www.lexus.com/enform/

nothing there? AOL login?

Ha What a riot. My iphone pictures work perfectly on everything else. For iStuff, best to power to completely then power up Usually fixes everything. Even works for my mom who nothing on computers works for.

The smell I got with the PS was a solvent or really old gasoline type smell. I never smelled it in the boot (watched Mike & Edd) but all over outside. Some of the smell did drift into the car. Of course start by looking under the car for obvious wet spots. If you see a lot of white smoke on cold start up, that could be the problem. It doesn't always do it but it becomes more frequent with time. See if your power steering fluid is low as a start. If not, move on to fuel. I would think a gasoline leak would smell like fresh gasoline.

Sounds like the idle is high which causes the transmission to strain against the brakes. Look at your tachometer as the car is idling in Park. Should be around 800. Of course when the engine is cold, it will idle high until reaching temperature. In the past with carburetors, that was done to keep the engines running. Now the high idle is most likely for emissions reasons. Since you just bought the car, I'd take it right back to the dealer and find out why. If you told me it had 130,000 miles and it did it I'd question why. Put a lemon in your coat pocket in case you have to set it on a desk or something.

Forgot to mention that the brakes on the 1990 cars are inadequate in almost all regards. When you upgrade the wheels and tires, it adds a lot of rolling weight which eats brakes due to the small calipers doing their best to squeeze those small rotors. Heat and eat. The bigger the wheel, the more accelerated the wear. I often see people with big wheels on a vehicle on the side of the road with broken suspension parts as well as the larger wheel certainly increase the strain on older parts. Expect to need an alignment as the wider tread will magnify and issues. Select carefully, especially if you depend on the car for transportation. Denny

18's are too big for that car. I would upgrade to 17" rims. I'd look on tire rack and you can determine the size accurately plus read up on different tires. Guessing a 225/50-17 but that IS a guess.

Make sure they tightened the lug nuts well.

Oh no. Flipped my race car

At the Norfolk airport. Waiting on a flight which is typical.

Might be the valve on the power steering pump which is controlled by vacuum, and allows totally disabled people the ability to turn the wheel when stopped, has developed a leak. When this happens you will notice a strong solvent smell. Not gasoline but rather like type wash or some kind of industrial cleaner. Eventually, the car will belch large amounts of white smoke on start up. You can replace it or just plug each end of the vacuum lines and good to go. Did this on my LS ten years ago and still good. Just a possibility