1990LS400

Yes, large, almost completely deserted, nearly new California housing developments where people have paid far more than the actual value of real estate have become legendary. I've even heard that Californians -- CHILDREN, COVER YOUR EARS! -- are even willing to pay RETAIL!

A car is not real estate. A car is a depreciating movable asset. "Location, location, location" does not apply to a car like it does to real estate. There is a minor variation of values depending on the part of the country but the differences are usually no more than the transportation costs of moving vehicles from one location to another.

Post a photo when you find them and I'll post a photo of my pet unicorn. :whistles:

Where are these parking brake or emergency brake pads located on your LS430.

According to http://www.toyodiy.com there are three different versions of the switch assemblies for the 2007 ES350 depending on how the car is equipped. And ... the switches on the left side and right side of the steering wheel are linked and not available separately. Sewell in Texas doesn't show prices for either the 07 or 11 ES steering wheel switches -- attached is the diagram from the Sewell website ( http://lexus.sewellparts.com ) for the 2011 ES steering wheel. If your 07 ES is still under warranty and the switches are wearing badly, maybe the warranty would recover replacement. I'd bet the the 2011 switches would fit your 2007 ES but suspect you will be stunned at the price. Based on my experience with buying a just one Lexus steering switch, I'll guess US$600 for the part. After you check the price with your Ontario dealer, please tell me how close my guess is! Edit: My guess on price may be high since I found a similar steering wheel switch set for the ISF for retail US$290 and a forum member price of about $215 on Sewell's website.

Sorry, I can't help you. The only car I ever removed a catalytic converter from and replaced it with a straight pipe was in over 32 years ago when I did it on a 1978 Volvo 242 which had the sensor in the exhaust upstream of the cat. On that car, replacing the cat with a straight pipe didn't change the way the engine ran but modern engine management systems could be very different. I removed the cat only to prevent damaging it due to a shortage of unleaded gasoline that one summer and would have reinstalled it if I hadn't dumped the Volvo due to generally hating it. I gave the cat to the car's new owner but doubt if it was ever reinstalled since the new owner obviously didn't take care of the car which I saw parked on the street over the next few years. I'm doubting the dealer who told you cats can be legally removed in Florida -- read this --> http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20Statutes&SubMenu=1&App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=catalytic&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.2935.html

Register at http://lexus.sewellparts.com with your forum member name and the timing belt kit (retail $469.34) for a 98 GS300 is $267.48. The kit includes: * Coolant * Timing Belt * Water Pump * Idler * 3 O-Rings The kit apparently does not include the tensioner which I've always had replaced with the timing belt on my Lexus V8 cars.

Are the steering wheel audio controls in your 07 ES350 broken? Or did the Canadian spec 07 ES350 not come with steering like audio controls like the U.S. version did? I just compared photos of the U.S. specification 2011 and 2007 ES350 steering wheels and their audio controls look identical to me.

All the threads on this forum and on Clublexus forum I've found on how to retrieve a card or coin that has fallen behind the ashtray cover say that removing the ashtray requires first removing the console wood and gear shift surround. This thread on Clublexus is on a another topic but others have followed the procedure illustrated in the first 10 photos to remove the ashtray and retrieve a lost object: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-second-generation/501465-dice-electronics-ipod-kit-with-install-pics.html One person who followed the procedure in the photos said it took him about 10 minutes to remove the ashtray, retrieve the lost object and reinstall everything. For someone comfortable with removing interior trim, 10 minutes sounds about right.

If your battery isn't one of the supposedly maintenance free ones, make sure the water level is correct -- top it up only with distilled water. Are the battery terminals and cable clamps shiny and clean? I thought the battery in my LS was about shot a few months ago when it wouldn't start after sitting more than a couple of days. All it took was cleaning the battery terminals and cable clamps with a cute little tool made for the purpose - less than $5 at Autozone. Then I used a little baking soda, water, an old tooth brush and some elbow grease to remove the gunk the cleaning tool didn't get. Be sure to use non-staining elbow grease. :whistles: After reattaching the battery cable clamps, I applied a thin coat of petroleum jelly to the battery terminals and clamps to !Removed! corrosion. All of this must have worked since the battery has made it through most of an unusually cold winter.

Bad bulb filament, corroded socket or bulb base, bad ground ... Start with the cheapest item and focus on the bulbs. Maybe just replace the brake light bulbs if they have never been replaced. I replaced the combination tail/brake light bulbs on our 98 Camry only yesterday (brake filament in one bulb was broken) and even the working bulb looked downright nasty -- the glass bulb globes were very blackened and there was a bit of corrosion on the bulb bases.

IMO, the first thing to do is have your tires/wheels balanced on a road force balancing machine. If the tires are older than 6 to 8 years consider replacing them -- opinions vary on the number of years after which tires become unsafe. If you can't remember when an alignment was done, a four wheel alignment might be in order. If there is a suspension component problem, it might show up during an alignment.

The following website has great tutorials on how to remove the door panels, how to install an aftermarket radio, install aftermarket speakers, and on and on: http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/ If you want OEM speakers, register your forum member name at http://lexus.sewellparts.com for deep discounts.

Also no offense meant but as someone who spent 31 years around the auto industry, I can assure you that it is impossible to insult an auto salesman or dealer owner with a low-ball offer. That doesn't mean they aren't going to put on an act of being offended to try to hook you in. Dealer salesman play lots of games, I know them all and I love that a friend calls me "a salesman's nightmare". Actually, if the dealer bought the car at auction or took it in on trade he may have no more than $20,000 in it. The broker who bought my still beautiful 2000 LS400 (retail $61,000+) at auction when it came off a 3 year/36,000 mile lease back in 2003 paid barely $25,000 for it. The broker did me a favor and I gave him a nice profit ... but I didn't make him rich.

A Toyota dealer who doesn't think maintenance schedules should be followed? :chairshot: Run, run as fast as you can to get away from him! Take your car somewhere else. Follow the maintenance schedule for your car. Doesn't your maintenance manual say to change your brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 24 months? That is the interval for my 2000 LS400 and it was the same for the 1990 LS400 I owned for many years.

I'd be awfully suspicious of a 2007 car that has already had 2 owners and which has a big hole in its maintenance history. Gosh, this car would bring soooo much less here in the midwest. Yes, an iPod interface can be added for $300 or less -- prices on eBay for the lowest function/price VAIS iPod interface seem to run from $225 to $250. It's probably something you could do yourself if you don't want to take the chance of a dealer !Removed! something up during the installation. Attached are the Lexus iPod interface install instructions for the European RX400h but it's likely about or exactly the same for U.S. models. Offer $28,000? Hell, write a check for $20,000, show it to the dealer and see what he says. That's a quick way to get a car salesman's attention and fun too. 2006 RX Europe iPod install manual.pdf

And who "promised" you that? So ... you are now trying to remove the rear parcel shelf. Anything else? What are you trying to accomplish? I don't have instructions for your GS430 but I suspect the instructions for my 2000 LS400 are similar -- see attached. I'm guessing that you have to remove the plastic "CRS TETHER ANCHOR COVERS" as stated in the instructions and that you will see bolt heads underneath them. bo-97.pdf

Have you had a four wheel alignment done? That would likely tell you what's wrong.

This is your first post. What account? Your bank account?

Wiring harnesses are usually manufactured specifically for the way a vehicle is equipped -- no extra connectors just lurking to be connected to a missing switch. It's likely that the cable/connector that leads to the Traction Off switch on newer ES350's is buried deep in the rest of the wiring harness and essentially visually untraceable. If you really want to find out you could somehow get hold of the electrical manual for a newer ES350 and trace the connection on the diagram. Oddly our 13 year old Toyota Camry V6 has a Traction Off switch -- just to the right of the mirror control.

If you are in Belarus your best bet might be a Lexus dealer there. U.S. and Canadian cars are often equipped very differently that those sold outside North America. In the U.S., options cannot be determined from the VIN. A Lexus dealer, however, should be able to get the information for you if you provide him with the VIN.

If you hit an animal and have comprehensive coverage the repairs should be covered by your auto insurance company at little or no cost to you. Also, if your insurance covers this, they can likely get the bumper cover for less than you can. I am having a new front bumper installed on my 2000 LS400 next week under comprehensive coverage after hitting debris that was thrown into my lane by a semi and which then bounced around for other vehicles to hit. Bumper covers do not come painted.

Are there any hidden bolts behind little velcro attached flaps behind the headrests and center arm rest like on my 00 LS? The rear seat backs on most Toyota/Lexus sedans "hang" from a "lip" at the top of the seat back ... usually only need to forcefully lift the seat back up to remove.

From what I'm reading, the turn signals don't flash on a 96 SC when the car is locked and unlocked - only a beeping sound - and that the light flashing feature wasn't added on the SC until the 1998 model year. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Odd ... I don't see it on the diagrams at http://www.toyodiy.com/ On my 00 LS it is behind the lower front grill below the bumper on the passenger side and is pretty easy to see when kneeling down. Maybe look in that area on your ES.