1990LS400

That sounds like an ominous question - was your engine low on oil? Since there is no longer a separate oil pressure / low oil warning light, my assumption is that the "master warning light" will flash, the warning buzzer will sound and an appropriate message will be displayed in the instrument cluster's "Multi-information display". It would be nice if all possible warning and information displays would be documented in the owners manuals but that hasn't been the case. It often easier to search owners manuals in the owners section of www.lexus.com The section that discusses warning messages is at http://drivers.lexus.com/t3Portal/document/om/OM50C39U/pdf/sec_05_02.pdf

I've always used the blunt end of a wooden hammer handle to pop out the wheel centers of Toyota and Lexus vehicles and I've never broken one. The tabs are probably getting broken when the wheel centers are put back in since they have to be removed to spin balance a wheel. Tire monkeys are often the least skilled of anybody at repair shops, tire stores and dealerships. Yes, I've always had to remove a wheel in order to pop out a wheel center.

Denny, it may not be as bad as it looks ... appears to be a glancing blow that may not have "racked" the underlying unibody structure. I would be curious to know if the left rear door still opens and shuts freely. If it does then that is an indication that the damage does not involve the underlying structure. If the door does not open/shut freely, the back window will likely have to come out while the body is pulled back into place in order to avoid cracking the glass. I had a VW Rabbit hit and severely damaged while parked in 1976. The driver of the car that hit my Rabbit was so drunk that he could not walk ... he tried to crawl away and hide in some bushes. I was talking to my girl friend (now wife) on the phone while looking out the appartment window at my car when the crash occurred at around 9:00 AM on a Saturday morning. It was surreal. I should get a prize for having cars hit while parked or while I have been stopped in traffic. At least the last crash happened while I was stopped at a traffic light in front of the Lexus dealer's body shop - very convenient.

It's just a "flesh wound". You won't know it ever happened after a competent body shop repairs it. I had worse when a car hit my first Lexus LS in 1999 while I was stopped in traffic. I drove that car another four years and then a friend drove it an additional seven or eight years.

There are plenty of photos of this problem - especially on the IS300 and ISX50 - that can be found by searching for phrases like "Lexus melting dashboard": https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Lexus+melting+dashboard The dashboard becomes very sticky to the touch and literally oozes fluid. I'm a little surprised that Toyota has finally admitted that the problem exists and is going to supposedly fix dashboards back to the 2006 model year ISX50. Whether they fix the dashboards on the earlier IS300 is another matter.

The contract you signed, and which you indicate that you have a copy of, documents the terms of the warranty including any pro-rated refunds that might be issued if the warranty is cancelled during the warranty period. There is nothing to "fight" for unless this full refund is documented in the contract. A service warranty that provides a full refund if no claims are filed would certainly be wonderful. I retired from an underwriter of vehicle service warranties and I've never heard of such a thing.

Remove the plastic vent cover to expose the back of the amp where all the connectors plug into it.

This is extremely common problem. Google something like "Lexus melting dash recall" and you will get lots of hits such as http://www.wptv.com/money/consumer/toyota-and-lexus-to-fix-45-million-cars-if-dashboard-is-melting-some-drivers-waiting-for-letter Make sure that you are the owner of record if you are not the original owner.

Amp is under the front passenger seat. Several companies make adapter harnesses with the one from Beatsonic generally regarded as the best due to it working with the subwoofer.

The only other "speed sensor" listed is the ABS speed sensor at each wheel position - and those are not going to cause a problem like you are having.

The attached diagram seems to indicate that is on the top of the transmission housing. Edit: I just did a Google search for "ES300 vehicle speed sensor" and found a bunch of photographs and diagrams showing where it is.

Hmmm, a 10 year old RX330 (sold as a Toyota Harrier in Japan) with a $1,000 power steering leak (and who knows what other problems are looming) and with dated technology or a 2 year old Avalon with no issues and modern technology. Hmmm, the 2013 Avalon has a maintenance free timing chain and the 2005 RX330 has a timing belt that is to be replaced (including a number of other parts) every six years or 90,000 miles whichever comes first. Hmmm ... Avalon more fun to drive. Hmmm ... Avalon probably has Entune with built-in Pandora and Slacker music streaming over Bluetooth but who needs that? Hmmm ... status. I don't think I've seen a Toyota or Lexus with status .... maybe a Mercedes S600 V12 Maybach Pullman might have some. I'll think about this a few weeks and get back to you with my decision on which vehicle is best.

I thought side bags in the front seat backs were standard equipment on the 1998 ES300 - maybe the labels got torn off your current seats. Our 1998 Camry had them but they were an extra cost option on the Camry.

I just saw three sets on eBay and all were tan.

Does a bear $#!+ in the woods? Yes, the speedometers in the 1998-2000 LS400 usually start sticking after ten years or so. The one in the 2000 LS400 I sold last year occasionally stuck in hot weather in the last couple of years I owned it. You need this guy who I have read fixes these speedometers for $99 plus shipping: Jason Tanin - Owner Tanin Auto Electronix Racine, WI Office - 262-456-4147 www.TaninAutoElectronix.com

I recommend that you register in the Owners section of the Lexus website and check the online maintenance records of your car before speaking again with anybody at the Lexus dealership.

Did this high rate of oil consumption come on suddenly? Did you buy the car new? Did you buy the car and then found out that it had this problem? The reason I ask is that I am wondering if the high rate of oil consumption was the reason a previous owner sold the car. If you did buy the car used, has the dealer looked to see if oil consumption issues were recorded under a previous owner? It would certainly be interesting to know what is causing the consumption. The cause could be a defective oil control ring on a piston, worn cylinders, or any of a number of other defects. Unfortunately, an engine tear-down might be the only way to determine the cause. Expectations sure have changed over the years. A few decades ago, adding a quart of oil every 500 to 1000 miles was considered a normal gas station ritual even on fairly low mileage cars. Mercedes made it easier on some engines by designing them so that it took two or more quarts of oil to bring the level from the "Add" to the "Full" mark on the dipstick. The dry sump Mercedes V8 of the 1970's had a 12 quart oil capacity and could operate with only six or seven quarts if I remember correctly. These cars used oil at a pretty high rate but at least adding oil frequently was not necessary.

We don't have a CT200h but we do have a 2012 Prius v with the same engine and transmission. The Lexus CT and Toyota Prius isn't any different than any other vehicle when it comes to winter tires. There are areas around Seattle that get LOTS of snow during the winter - do you plan to drive only in Seattle? Do you ever drive on ice? Winter tires are at least as important on ice as on snow. Here is a great video from Tire Rack that compares performance of tire types on ice: The CT200h should do better in snow than the Prius. After the first few model years, a "TRAC OFF" button was put on the CT but the Prius still doesn't have it. Turning traction control off allows spinning the drive wheels which is sometimes the only way to get moving in deep snow. Our Prius has rarely been driven in winter. We went without winter tires on it until my wife got stuck at the end of the second winter and then we bought Bridgestone Blizzak tires, steel wheels and TPM sensors from Tire Rack.

The Costco Auto Program worked great for me last yesr. Prices are prenegotiated and you should be shown the invoice prices for the vehicle and for all options and accessories. You must be a Costco member. After you enroll in the program, Costco will have a participating auto dealer contact you.

Depending on model and engine, timing chains were introduced beginning with the 2006 model year - IIRC.

Sorry, I was typing on a phone earlier. My assumption is that your engine failure is related to improper work or defective parts used in the recall. Toyota/Lexus engines don't normally crap out like yours did although I remember a thread on a Sienna forum about the 3.5 liter engine in a new 2014 or 2015 Sienna locking up within a day or two after the purchase. I assume that you have contacted a Lexus dealer.

Was your GS 350 one of the 2007-2008 that was subject of the recall to replace engine valve springs?

It's your call on how much of an issue the valve cover gaskets are and how much the car is worth. When a car is 16 model years like this one, its value largely depends on its condition and local demand. If the owner isn't selling it at the current asking price, then obviously the price is too high. Is the maintenance up-to-date and can the owner provide documentation? When was the timing belt last replaced? Has it ever been replaced? Timing belts are supposed to be replaced every 6 years or 90,000 miles - whichever comes first. Replacing the timing belt and associated parts (water pump, idlers, tensioner, etc.) will likely cost $1,000 to $1,500 if you have a professional do it - maybe more at a Lexus dealer. The GS400 engine is of the interference type which means that significant damage is caused if the timing belt "breaks" - it usually doesn't itself break but is taken out by an associated part failing ... usually an idler or tensioner. I don't see any interior photos on the link you posted. I recommend that you avoid this car if it has the OEM navigation system or the Nakamichi audio system. No updates for the nav have been available since 2004 and if it breaks you lose control of the HVAC. Nakamichi went out of business long ago and Nak units can't be fixed due to no replacement parts.

All valve cover gaskets leak after a variable number of years and should be replaced unless you want to live with the leak. It's normal maintenance and trivial. At least modern valve cover gaskets last incredibly longer than they used to.

The Pioneer without navigation was the standard audio system in the 98-00 GS. The e-shift is kind of fun. The last car I drove that had steering wheel paddle shifters was a Smart Fortwo that I rented for a month in 2012 - they made the little bugger fun to drive. As much fun as e-shift might be over on twisty coastal Highway 1, I think I would prefer the latest Gen 2 GS possible - either a 2005 GS430 or GS300.