MikeLS403

You (as I) have to understand that the service center at my dealership is "very busy" and should not expect them to get back to me on this right away. I had the car in for an oil change two weeks ago and told them about the problem and they still have not gotten back to me with an answer. So I have no idea what they are going to do about it. I am taking the car on a 1,000 mile trip this weekend so hopefully the stereo will not act up. I know that they really don't want to believe me on this and just let it slide. I really expected better from Lexus service. Hopefully the car itself (other than the stereo) will live up to its reputation, the service department has certainly been a disappointment.

Thanks for the responses. I was told my the dealership that they have heard of run away increasing volume level problems with the Levinson stereo but having it get stuck was a new one for them.

Has anyone else had this problem, and if so, how was it fixed? I have a 2003 LS430 with the Levinson stereo without navigation. So far, on four separate occasions, the volume level will stick and I cannot adjust it up or down using the control on the dash or on the steering wheel. It's not too lound when this happens. If I turn off the stereo and turn it back on the volume is still frozen. If I turn off and back on the car, it is fine again. The last time this happened I noticed that the ASL indicator went off while the volume was stuck and came back on after I had turned off/on the car. Then the TRAF indicator came on for a few minutes and went off. I talked to the dealer about this a week ago and my service representative said that he will have to have his best diagnosit technician call me but it's been a week and still no word. I called yesterday and was told that they were really busy and I would just have to wait. I honestly expected better service from Lexus.

So the Lexus V8 is really a Toyota V8 or the Toyota V8 is really the Lexus V8. I guess just due to the difference in price I am surprised that both the Toyota and Lexus engines are built to exactly the same standards. It seems to either add real value to the Toyota or cheapen the Lexus. Still, a very fine motor.

Is the V8 in the Toyota truck the same engine as in my 2003 LS430 except for a change in displacement? Even if the basic architecture is the same, is the Toyota engine built in the same factory under the same tolerences?