VBdenny

I don't use the cruise unless I need to rest my leg. Usually I prefer to not use cruise as I found it gets worse gas milage. I can anticipate situations which the computer can not. For example, hills, the computer brakes all they way down the hill then accelerate all the way up the other side. I run it right up there down the hill and ease off going up. I can always beat the cruise on anything but flat terrain. My LS is a 1990 so I would never expect it to get what a new car would with technology advances and all, but I do get 23 or so on the highway and maybe 17-18 in short drive traffic. My Interstate driving is rather fast. I have never had the opportunity to check my milage at the spped limit but I'll bet I could gain at least 4mpg. These cars suck gas at a steady 90.

I checked it out too. Nice site, can't wait to see your new improvements

An acorn? I'll remember not to park under any oak trees. Yeah, that is just bad luck. During the last hurricane here, a guy up the street had a big ole pine tree fall and hit BOTH of his well waxed vehicles. He was devistated.

I bought them primarily to remove wax. I think I'm going to go wash my Frontier and see how well they dry. After the CWB, there really isn't much water left. It's 49 degrees outside, that isn't too cold for washing is it?

I saw a beautiful one owner LS400 1993 in autotrader.com The car being sold by it's original owner. 120K miles and I think around 7 grand. These cars are budget busters, no doubt. After a few years in your Chevy you'll be ready again. Meanwhile, I know you'll be looking at every LS you pass on the highway. Best of luck. Denny

yeah, I figured that, but what the hell, for $8 it beats a bath towel

I'll agree with you SWO. PDR is a very professional thing, not a DIY project. I wish I knew how to do it but who has time? I need a PDR guy in Virginia Beach. Someone with years of experience and good referrals. Now that the American population has gotten so fat, and parking spaces have grown thin, more door dings than ever appear.

Wow, it seems detailing is a lot like politics, everyone is right. I will hold fast on my position that Collinite is the best carnuba wax I have ever used. I used Maquire's Gold Classic for awhile and loved the shine, but it only lasted a month or so. Luckily for all of us, wax has improved greatly over the years. I remember that nasty old green turtle wax cleaner wax that got stuck in everything and had a shine that lasted until the second rain. Find the wax with the highest percentage of carnuba, I think Collinite is 18 which they claim is one of the highest percentages available. Nothing is better than good carnuba, whatever brand you use. I will also agree that prep is 90% and wax application is 10% of a quality detailing job. I spend between 12 and 16 hours preping and waxing a car. Then I charge them between $250 and $400 and they hug me.

I would sure give it a try. Use it with the car wash soap and spend time rubbing it well. Some people clay too fast just swiping the panels, I spend several minutes rubbing each section. It does pretty well with hard water stains if they are deposits not etching. Etching is really tough to remove but even with that the clay will minimize the effects. What I do next (after claying) is do each panel with Maquire's #1 Paint Cleaner. This really brings out the shine and preps the paint for waxing. I use Collinite Wax #845 Insulator Wax. I have tried nearly every wax made and this gives me the best results and incredible durability. I know others have other preferrences but I'll stick with the Collinite. It is a real high percentage carnuba wax so it really help to heat it in warm water before applying.

I was over at Costco the other day and picked up a package of 12 microfiber towels for about $8. They also sell a 18 pack for $12. They sure make a difference.. Now if they would restock the twin pack of Cal Water Blades.

I Spray a little WD-40 on a rag and just use that. First I use a old paintbrush and a shopvac to get any dust off. What many used car dealers do is steam clean the engine, then spray it with clear lacquer and tell you how someone babied it.

When everything starts breaking and it costs a fortune to maintain, you are probably at a good point to bail. It is unfortunate that corporate Lexus doesn't back owners of their older cars. Even a website where you could ask a Lexus tech a question or two. But alas, that is corporate philosophy at it's best. Make more money. I have had several GM products over the years and they are pretty dependable cars. Better yet, when they do break, parts are very reasonable and so is labor. I wouldn't mind finding a forum like this for chevyownersclub.com Good luck

Go to a junkyard and get one off a Camry. I think they are exactly the same and you can probably get one the same color

I guess it is the chimille one? I'm not sure, iI guess it could be sheepskin. As for the feel, you still have it, and regarding how well it does? GREAT! You can actually massage an area. I do sections until the soap gets thin, the rinse and reposition the clay. This worked so well, I realized that I can clay a car nearly twice as good in half the time. The first time I used clay, I followed the directions with the detailing spray. Just fine if you happen to have about 10 extra hours. The only thing you really have to be careful with using clay is not to drop it. Dropping you clay WILL destroy it and possibly encourage the use of bad language.

I think white looks great. I really like black, but it soaks up too much sun and is harder to keep clean. I threw out my Maquire's Gold Classic. Sure it gives a beautiful shine, but it doesn't last long. I am sticking with what I know works great and lasts up to a year and still looks like you just waxed it. Clay is good. Put a piece in a fuzzy wash mitt, dip in soapy water and polish until you have glass.

Nope, it didn't. I used the attachement file, browse, and attach and it didn't??

Attached is a PDF file (you need Adobe Acrobat Reader - free from Adobe.com) to view. I made this when I relaced a tailight bulb in the body portion. Very simple job once you know what to do, and now you do! Denny IF it works

Lexis, Tell us where you would like to send the tutorials we have made. I know how long it takes to make them, but then again they are well worth doing. Is this on LOC or something else? Denny

Replacing wheel bearing may seem simple, at least the mechanics of it, but it requires very careful and proper adjustment of the tension. Too much (called pre-loading) and you will burn up the bearing quickly. It will also burn up the spindle. I've had that happen twice. Or if they are too loose, they will also be damaged but not as quickly. Unless you have some specific reason why you think you need to replace them, I would leave them alone.

I need to do that as well. Perfect!

92Lex. Thanks for taking the time to do this. I saw Matthew is getting ready to set up something on this. I wasn't sure what the "over here" part was? I think he is in England? If everytime someone did a job, took digital pictures it would be great. Save a us a lot of time. I even saved myself when I had to do tailight bulbs agin. I had forgotten. I suggest that they all be done on PowerPoint to PDF. I realise that not everyone has the computer stuff to do that but there are many of us here to help. I learn a lot here, and it is much better that the rest of the stuff out there. Cool people here (in my humble opinion). Denny

Hey all you clayheads, this worked out great. I detail cars on the side and charge people a fortune. I use a lot of clay in the process. Whta I usually use to wash cars is a big wash pad that is furry? not a spongue, but more like sheepfur or something. Anyway, I put the clay ine the middle and the fur kind of sticks to it an dholds it from slipping. Of course I never bring it off the surface, but if you accidently slip a little you are covered because you have about 4 or 5 seconds hang time before the furry things break loose. Now you can really polish the paint. The absolutel mirror surface I can achieve has gotten me big checks, hugs and kisses from half of my last customers. Saved me a lot of time as well. I can superclay a car in about an hour now. Then Maquires #1 twice. Then Maguire's #2 once Then.... Collinite 845 Insulator Wax until it won't take anymore. Oh yeah............ Finish up with Mother's Quick Detailers and you get hugs and money. I like both.

Okay, that is it.... I am going to buy one and try it out. Everyone I have talked to says how great they work. Since my side job is detailing cars, that is a must have. Thanks for the report! Denny

The throttle body is clogging up. Clean it up using O'Bergs tutorial. I have it on file.

Sometimes I feel that when I go to the dealer that they stick a vacuum cleaner hose into my back pocket. I paid them for the alignment, but let me tell you, the car is like glass, even at a buck. Worth my money after having almost everyone screw up alignments on just about every vehicle I have owned. Once they are right NEVER touch them.