Mike W

I do all the non-electronic work on my cars. The design of the engine air filter for a Lexus is as poor as that on my Chevy S-10. In fact the removal process on both is the same. There is no reason not to be able to design an air filter housing that has enough clearance to easily remove the air filter. I have found that by removing the rubber air connection between the air filter housing and the engine allows the filter to be removed more easily. The difficulty is then getting the rubber back around the filter housing.

I have owned a '07 ES350 since May '06. The transmission once in a while exhibits what is called here flare. I have researched all past posts on this forum. I also went on Lexus and pulled up their three versions of their TSIB's. The flare as it is called is really the clucth packs slipping slightly on shifting. Having been a mechanic for a very long time I'm looking any specific knowledge anyone has as to the true cause of the problem. I have read the assumptions and conclusions but am interested if anyone really knows the problem and solution. My dealer has been most cooperative and although the times they have driven it they have not been able to duplicate the problem they went ahead and reflashed the software. On the way home from the dealer it occurred again. 2000 RPM light throttle at 40 MPH. 200 RPM increase just before shift. I can correct the occurrence but not the probelm by driving it (wife's car) like I drive my BMW but shouldn't have to.

Although I never got a response from wwest, I did get one from Lexus. They sent the district manager and a field engineer out. After riding in the car, they also concluded there was a problem and they fixed it. The fix was not changing the height of the window or pressure when closed. It was fixed by tightening the belt molding inside the door which is part of the window channel at the bottom of the window opening.

There is a solution for the wind noise in the drivers window it it caused by the height of the window. By that I mean if by SLIGHTLY lowering the window the noise is reduced, that is fixable and Lexus now knows it. The people at the toll free number are not the ones to talk with. Have the service advisor have the district rep contact them with a field engineer and come to your dealer and they can and will solve the problem. I had a wind noise problem beyond normal air flow that was not noticeable before I bought the car because the dealer is in town wihere outside noise from traffic as well as limiting speed below 45 did not reveal the noise. The solution is for them to tighten the belt molding that straddles the window channel at the bottom of the window opening. If anyone gives you BS about that not being available call Lexus of Tucson @ the automall and talk with the service manager Ann.

I'm sorry but jkrutch is right and you are wrong. Here is why: I did test drove my car like much of the owners and everything was OK. The noise came for my car around the 1,000 miles. I see that you have a Ls400, and they were very well built. If Lexus were doing test drive of their new cars for over 100,000 miles before putting them on the market, as you think, then they should be noise free...maybe this was the case when they started with the Ls400. Problems can show up later on, when driving the car on a daily basis, this is the case.

It wasn't a demand, only a statement to bump the item back to the top.

I'm still looking for an answer from WWWEST on my last post

wwwest Can you tell me exact sequence of actions? If I disconnect the battery how do I get the window up to reset it?

I don't like the Es350 styling both inside and out. My wife likes the outside styling and is OK with the inside. I don't like the brake pedal feel or the numb steering. My wife likes it. I don't like the wind noise although Lexus is working on it without admitting anything is wrong. My wife doesn't like but will accept it. Both of us like the rear seat legroom. And neither of us like the dim trunk lights. I preferred my '01 330i, she didn't. Guess which one we now have.

You can "normalize" the window full up stopping point by disconnecting the battery, insert a small object to keep the window from going full up and then hold the window up button depreesed for ~10 seconds after it stops against the object. I probably did this wrong but just today read wwest response. Two questions By normalize do you mean a new set point os created for the window in its full up postion? And second is the new postion where it stops againist the object?

Bought an 07 350 in May/06. OK car but lots of little and some big design problems. Major one still with me is the wind noise at 50+ coming from drivers door area. The entire top of the door deflects when the window is put all the way up. Had a similar problem in 03 Buick but don't expect same problem in car twice as much ($40K compared to $20K) By just touching the window control and lowering the window just abit noise decreases. Talked with shop foreman at two dealers. It is a known Lexus design problem and to date neither dealer has solved it. The level to which the window rises is not adjustable and by "clocking" the gear to the regulator in the door creates other problems they claim. Same problem I understand on RX models. Drove other 350's same problem, More prononced on drivers side. Anybody else have experienced problem and if so any positive solutions beyond turning up radio?

I meant to ask for a source for clear covers not the orange bulbs.

I am looking for a source to replace the orange covers for turn signals and side marker lights with clear covers. I recognize I need to have orange colored bulbs behind the clear covers for DOT requirements. Knew where to get them for my BMW but not for the Lexus. Is there a source for these type of items?

Since there is a marked difference in the Es350 from the ES330 have you considered splitting the two and establishing one just for the ES350?