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smokey0066

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  • Lexus Model
    98 ls 400

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  1. well we were all ready to purchase the 450h. The day before we were planning to go into the dealership someone snatched it up from us so we're on the hunt again for another white 450h. Its too bad they're so hard to find on the pre-owned market. It really was a nice automobile.
  2. Alright guys/gals. My wife and I are shopping for a "new" gently used car. We went shopping today and came back with a few options. 2010 RX450H - pretty much loaded to the gills ~40k 2010 RX350 cpo - not many options, no nav but we don't care about nav ~36k The 450H is a fixed non-negotiable price whereas the 36k probably has some room to work with since it is from a lexus dealership. I'm leaning towards the 450H right now. I'm thinking even if I can get the difference between the two vehicles up to 6k it would take around 5yrs to recoup the premium for the 450H based on fuel savings calculators online. We keep our cars for a long time so we might get a ROI on the 450H? We did notice the 450H drives way different. It feels like there is a lag in it but we think we can live with it. We really enjoy the dead quiet idle during stop lights and are looking forward to a fuel savings. What do you think? Anything else we should consider? The Lexus market is pretty tight here, Only 2 dealerships owned by the same company so the prices are somewhat higher than other regions.
  3. Just curious if the 3rd gen has a switch for selecting between summer/winter wheel sets. I think the 2nd gen had it if I remember correctly. thanks
  4. Okay After digging I think I found it.. Is this the link I should refer toO? http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...topic=12024&hl= It looks like something I could tackel if only it wasn't 20F outside.. looks like it'll be going to the shop regardless. Does the 98 have this same solenoid? It looks like everyone who does this has the previous gen of ls400.. SO what exactly does this solenoid/filter do? when the filter is blocked what happens? I know I've asked alota stupid questions but I'm worried about my car.. No one seems to know what is going on. I read on here the diagnosis should take 2hrs per lexus manual but I dont think the dealer did a thorough job diagnosing this.. I def did not get charged for 2hrs.
  5. So you're thinking the detergents have loosened up crap and now its clogging the filter? Do you guys have a diagram of where this screen/filter is?? I'm just gonna take it to a local garage but I'm not sure they'll know where this screen/filter is located.. It'd be nice to have a diagram to take with me...
  6. It doesn't gurgle anymore; that was about 2 months ago when the fluid was low. Now it just whines when i try to turn. I think I will take it to a local shop tomorrow someon recomended me to last time and see what they say. Last time they offered to rebuild the rack over the phone when I told them what was happening but I declined.. Belt is good, no slipping, although it is old and has small spider cracks on it. electrical and ac is running fine...
  7. Well.. Hate to bring this topic back up but today it happened again. Power steering gave out.. This time the fluid was full.. So I take back what I said; Maybe they (Lexus) were right that there is an issue with the steering rack. I Just got an allignment and was about to get tires put on this wednesday. Now I'm having doubts on whether to keep the car... Do you guys think its worth it to throw 2.5k into a car thats maybe worth 13k.. I should have traded it in when it was running well. Now its back to this game of trying to get it fixed without getting ripped. Is there anyway i can check to see if the power steering pump is working? I'm wondering if this is due to the damage from last time when it ran low on fluid. The fluid in the thing was warm but not hot. Do you guys have a print of this filter/screen; I'm gonna try to find shop around here that will clean that filter out for me. There is no unusual noises from the car until i try to turn.. then it just whines like the wheel is at full lock; just like way back when i first posted this. But i can muscle it to turn...
  8. Sorry for no update. Actually the problem is ok as of now. After my last post I took it to a buddy who wrenches in his garage and he helped me flush the system somewhat. He said it was low/empty. We filled it and then it looked really dark so we sorta flushed it best we could. Its been working fine since and it has held the fluid level. I honestly think the dealer took fluid out of the system and tried to pull one over me. Like i said the fluid was full when I brought it in and it was working intermitently. I'm going to write a letter of complaint to lexus and see if they care to say anything. I bet some damage was done to the pump so I'll keep an eye on that pump from now on but so far its running well. Thanks guys for your advice. I saved 2k on this BS issue. I hope i never have to go back there again. I don't understand how they do business. They just lost a customer, probably for life.
  9. So to add to the story. This morning I drove it to work again; and it was making some new noises. Sorta a gurgling sound. So i get to work at check the fluid level and there wasn't anything registering on the dipstick but it was wet so I assume there was some fluid in there. During my lunch break I went and grabbed some dexron 3 fluid and filled it up to cold level. I started the car and went lock to lock and i was able to steer semi normal. I opened the resivoir and it was foamy.. I went back to check it about 1hr later and it was no long foamy. The thing is now my pump makes some bad noises. Whenever I turn it makes bad noises. Do you guys think that maybe it was initially low? I swear it had fluid in it before I brought it in but maybe my eyes were decieving me. Would a low fluid level cause the intermitent operation of the power steering? I called a few shops and they all said the pump would either be on or off. It is never "sorta" running. They said the idea of it running in the morning but then giving out later in the day means theres a problem with the valving in the rack. They also said the noises I'm hearing mean my pump is gonna go. I called the dealer and they are not returning my calls. I left a message with my service advisor stating that when i brought my car in the fluid was full and now its not. I asked him what they did and why my fluid level was almost empty. I told him i refilled the resivoir and now it makes a horrible noise. I'm heading home now. I hope the steering works.. I'm wondering if maybe all I needed was a new pump and a fluid flush now. I bet its too good to be true but I'm somewhat hopeful. I'm taking it to toyota tomorrow for another "diagnostic." I'm wondering if lexus even checked it out or if they just decided to charge me for the most expensive part.
  10. So i just drove the car home. They were going to order the whole assembly blocked out in the box. He said that the part comes with the inner tie rods and has a 2yrs unlimited miles warranty. The part number is 44250-50150 off the estimate sheet (i asked the nice cashier to copy me all the paper work). He showed me that same picture. Basically he said rings 17/18 that divert the presurized fluid are stuck in there and not function properly. So when i turn my wheel its not turning the ring or somethign like that. He mentioned that gm used to have this problem with their power steering "morning sickness" where the power steering wouldn't work until the car was warmmed up. I might have the opposite where the steering wont work once its warmed up. He said hes only seen a couple of these and hes been there for 17yrs. He told me it was harmless to drive it as it is now but on the drive home it was making some noises. Maybe I was paying too much attention to it but I know my fluid is due for a change. I asked him about flushing it and he said no guarantees but IT might help. I called the toyota dealer DCFish refered to and they are going to call me back with a quote because they need to check on the parts. Thanks for all this help. At least if I have to drop 2k+ i'll feel comfortable knowing it wasn't being messed with.
  11. I just got off the phone with the head service guy. He was actually pretty friendly and i'm going to leave work early and meet him to get a better explaination. Basically what he told me is that the valve in there that contorls the fluid for variable assist is going out so its not allow the pressure to help in the steering. he said the housing is al and the valve is steel so the valve is wearing into the al and sticks. He seemed honest and i guess most of the cost is the steering rack which is 1500 bucks. He was honest with me and said i could drive it like this for awhile and be okay. I'm gonna try to find a part online cheaper and then take it to that toyota dealership and get it replaced. I'll keep you guys updated. DCFish the number you posted is disconnected. If you could call me and give me a hand.. i emailed you my contact info at dabaysidejill01@worldnet.att.net
  12. DC FISH I would like to talk to you but I can't PM for some reason. can you email me. chuckers@gmail.com and I can give you my number. I'm going to pick up the car tonight and bring it up back to blaine. I'll swing by carlson tomorrow morning.
  13. Okay They just called back. They said the steering rack is shot and the worm gear is damaged. I'm not sure what all is in there but they said its semi drivable still but it could go at any time and i'd be in trouble when it went. they want a little over 2k for a new rack and flush of the system. I'm taking the car out of there tonight and getting a second opinion.
  14. So I just dropped off the car. The car drove fine this morning. I spoke with the service advisor and he said they since the problem isnt there they may not find anything wrong. They also pushed the 60k service which was 720 out the door. +100 for tranny flush. I was just thinking about getting the fluids flushed brakes, coolant, tranny and steering.. but when they broke the price down it was something close to 500 for just those. So for 200 more it would include alot of other things such as allignment; diff fluid, rotation of tires, check over all the hoses/belts, air filters for the motor and cabin.. Depending on the issue with the power steering, if its not too big, I'll probably have this service done as well. Do you guys think its worth it. I'm sure if i sourced it independantly it'd be cheaper but Since its already in the shop and I'm more confident that they know what they're doing vs some shop down the street. I dont know of a good independent lexus service in the twin cities and there are only 2 dealers in this city.
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