stuartr

After searching the forum and coming up empty, I thought I'd just post a specific question. Apologies in advance if the question has already been asked and answered.

My 2004 L430 has about 60K and I'm unsure whether I should get the transmission fluid/filter changed. The manual suggests doing it only if the car was used for towing (which it hasn't). I thought I had read somewhere that this particular transmission used synthetic oil and didn't require periodic service - "The transmission is sealed (no dipstick) and fluids aren’t supposed to be touched until after 100k miles."

Does anyone know for sure or have any recommendations to make?

Regards,

Stuart.

The TSB number on my service record says "Reburn ECM PER TSIB TC006-04"

I have no idea of the accuracy of these numbers nor what they mean......only what is reflected on my service record.

I returned to the dealer for the Navigation "fix" on 12/28/04.  When setting up the appointment, I asked the service rep to check for a new "fix" for the transmission.  His reply was "we know of no fix available".  I referred him to postings on this website.

Miraculously, when I arrived the appointment a week later, the technician said "we also have a fix for your transmission."  Interesting. ;)

Results:  I have been pleased to date.  I have been one of the chronic complainers of this electronic throttle malady, and I don't wish to get prematurely enthusiastic about the fix.  So far, however, I have noted a vast improvement in the smoothness at lower speeds, and I have tried to put the vehicle in circumstances which caused the jerkiness.

The "reburn ECM" language on the service record reminded me of what was attempted six or seven months ago..........after driving my vehicle, the technician said he would "reset" the computer........whatever that meant.  I only hope that a "reburn" is not the same as a "resetting".  We'll see.  Maybe Lexus DOES indeed listen to owners and read these postings.

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That sounds like a TSB number to me (TC006-04). Thanks! I haven't received a letter about the Navigation fix yet, but when I do, I'll be sure to mention this TSIB to them as well!

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Well - it's been a while. Anyone else get the TSB for the shift lag? Is it still working ok for those who've had it installed?

Stuart.

I live a distance from my Lexus dealer so I do my own oil chages on my 2004 LS430 every 5,000 miles as prescribed. How is the service reminder light reset?

Thanks

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put the key in the off position , hit the trip/odemeter button until it reads odometer then hold in, turn car on and you should see /// in the odometer . let go and your done

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Note that you have to set the trip/odometer to the "BLANK" display.

Be sure you only turn the Ignition switch back to "ON" and not "START". If you restart the car, the service reminder light will NOT reset!

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This doesn't work for me(2004 LS430 w/NAV). If I turn off ignition, I can't see odometer. So do I push while in ON position, then OFF and back ON(all while holding TRIP) or some other magic combo?

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With the ignition ON, change the odometer display to the BLANK setting. Now hold down the odometer reset button and switch the ignition switch to OFF and back to ON (Not START). This should reset the service reminder.

I live a distance from my Lexus dealer so I do my own oil chages on my 2004 LS430 every 5,000 miles as prescribed. How is the service reminder light reset?

Thanks

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put the key in the off position , hit the trip/odemeter button until it reads odometer then hold in, turn car on and you should see /// in the odometer . let go and your done

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Note that you have to set the trip/odometer to the "BLANK" display.

Be sure you only turn the Ignition switch back to "ON" and not "START". If you restart the car, the service reminder light will NOT reset!

The TSB number on my service record says "Reburn ECM PER TSIB TC006-04"

I have no idea of the accuracy of these numbers nor what they mean......only what is reflected on my service record.

I returned to the dealer for the Navigation "fix" on 12/28/04.  When setting up the appointment, I asked the service rep to check for a new "fix" for the transmission.  His reply was "we know of no fix available".  I referred him to postings on this website.

Miraculously, when I arrived the appointment a week later, the technician said "we also have a fix for your transmission."  Interesting. ;)

Results:  I have been pleased to date.  I have been one of the chronic complainers of this electronic throttle malady, and I don't wish to get prematurely enthusiastic about the fix.  So far, however, I have noted a vast improvement in the smoothness at lower speeds, and I have tried to put the vehicle in circumstances which caused the jerkiness.

The "reburn ECM" language on the service record reminded me of what was attempted six or seven months ago..........after driving my vehicle, the technician said he would "reset" the computer........whatever that meant.  I only hope that a "reburn" is not the same as a "resetting".  We'll see.  Maybe Lexus DOES indeed listen to owners and read these postings.

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That sounds like a TSB number to me (TC006-04). Thanks! I haven't received a letter about the Navigation fix yet, but when I do, I'll be sure to mention this TSIB to them as well!

UPDATE:

I have put 100 miles on the car since the software update and the good news is that the car is noticably smoother than before across the entire speed range.

Low speed driving around town is now a pleasure - slow speed corners now seem effortless with no sense of being in too low a gear - cruising around parking lots looking for a space are no longer a feather-the-throttle balancing act.

10mph pick up is easier - I wouldn't say it's perfect but it is significantly easier to coast and go than before.

As others have pointed out resetting the ECU can have a positive (temporary) effect and so I need to drive it another week before being 100% convinced this has resolved the problem, but so far so good.

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Ok, so far we only have results from one owner. Anyone else? Can you please provide the TSB number?

Regards...

mine says that I have til Dec 2005 and not 2004.  This makes sense since they should give us enough time to take our car in.

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Well, I've got a 2004 LS and haven't received any letter about a DVD upgrade. Mine is V3.1 also.

Does the letter indicate why they are updating it?

I have a 2004 LS-430 that I purchased in February 2004.  The car came with Navigation DVD version 3.1.

Does anyone know if there is a newer version available?

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Not yet (as far as I've been told).

Did the dealer give you any time frame for the gen 4 2004 update?

Just got off the phone with the local Lexus dealer who has researched the NAV update issue. Your supposition was correct, BTW. The current 4.1 DVD update is only for the generation III Nav systems (pre-2004 vehicles I think). There isn't an update for the generation IV Nav systems as of yet, although they are working on one. Most of the update information in the 4.1 DVD is already present in the gen. IV Nav systems. According to the dealer, this means that the current DVD won't work in 2004 ES, LS or RX vehicles. (That would explain why neither of the copies they sent me loaded!). I guess this will teach me to be "first in line".

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Nope...sorry. All they told me was that "they were working on one".

I got a letter from Lexus a few days ago which stated that the 2004 models of the Nav system can get a one-time upgrade... Offer good through Dec 2005..

It says the dealer will need about an hour to do the upgrade... I thought it was just a matter of inserting a new DVD.. why would it require a dealer at all?

This raises 2 questions for me:

1.  Will the upgrade be more than just the map info itself?? Will it also upgrade the hardware to the same as the newer versions which have the voice recognition?

2.  Would it be better to wait until late-2005 to do this, since the offer is valid through then?  Maybe to get the latest-and-greatest software version?

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Whoa... wait a second. The existing DVD's are for pre-2004 Navigation systems only. As far as I've been told, there aren't any updates yet available for 2004 or later Nav-equipped vehicles. And yes, if and when one becomes available, it should only require inserting a new DVD. Keep in mind not all Lexus owners have the skills to locate the DVD player (in the trunk, etc), unscrew the mounting screws, tilt the player up, unlock and eject the existing DVD, insert the updated DVD, watch the LCD screen for instructions, replace the screws and trunk mats, etc.

I own a 2004 LS and haven't gotten any letter from Lexus about an available update! What model and year of Lexus do you have?

Weird. This has me wondering if there are two sets of DVDs, one for previous models (01-03) and one for the new updated nav system (04+). If thats the case then you may have the wrong update disk and thats why it won't read.

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I wondered that as well. I'm going to call my dealer (again) and let him know that the second 4.1 DVD he sent me failed to load on a NAV system running 3.1

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Just got off the phone with the local Lexus dealer who has researched the NAV update issue. Your supposition was correct, BTW. The current 4.1 DVD update is only for the generation III Nav systems (pre-2004 vehicles I think). There isn't an update for the generation IV Nav systems as of yet, although they are working on one. Most of the update information in the 4.1 DVD is already present in the gen. IV Nav systems. According to the dealer, this means that the current DVD won't work in 2004 ES, LS or RX vehicles. (That would explain why neither of the copies they sent me loaded!). I guess this will teach me to be "first in line".

I just recieved the nee updated DVD for the navigation. I can't find the DVD player in the trunk area. Does anyone know exactly where it is, or do I have to take it to the dealer to be installed?

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Let us know if you get it to load. I've tried two copies of the 4.1 DVD in my 04 LS430 and neither would load! What is the version you currently have installed in your RX?

Weird. This has me wondering if there are two sets of DVDs, one for previous models (01-03) and one for the new updated nav system (04+). If thats the case then you may have the wrong update disk and thats why it won't read.

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I wondered that as well. I'm going to call my dealer (again) and let him know that the second 4.1 DVD he sent me failed to load on a NAV system running 3.1

It should work fine on all years with the DVD nav. Its very easy to change, simply access the drive door by pulling off the cover in the trunk and eject the old disc.

I apparently ordered the update just as they were posting it to their site. Right after I ordered it the price went up to 288.00 (which was the price of the previous version).

As far as changing the disc goes, I noticed that on the 04 LS, the NAV DVD player is under a cover on the right side of the trunk. It appears you have to remove two screws that hold the unit in place so you can raise it enough so the DVD tray will clear the edge of the compartment when it ejects. Anyone else perform this apparently simple operation on an 04 yet?

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Do you know if the navigation system can read a copied DVD-R or DVD+R disk? If it can, I would like to buy a copy version from you, assuming you have a dvd copier. Mine is 01 LS430. :-).

Thanks.

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The DVD's are dual-layered and contain almost 8 GB of data. It would take a very expensive (and relatively new) DVD copier just to make a copy. And this is assuming they are not copy-protected. It wouldn't be legal, either.

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Got it. If you've bought 04 DVD, do you want to sell your 03 DVD? I'm interested. Thanks.

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I'm sure I'll sell the 03 DVD if I ever get the 04 one to load! They've sent me a second copy and I'll try again tonight or tomorrow to install it. I have a sinking feeling that my nav DVD reader has a calibration skew issue which will require dealer intervention. Oh well - it's under warranty :(

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Just tried a second 4.1 DVD and the nav system couldn't read it either. I'm now assuming that the DVD's are bad. I can put the 3.1 DVD back in and it reads it just fine. Anyone else try it?

Has anyone gotten the 2004 Navigation update to work?

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I got mine last week and it wouldn't load. The screen reported that it couldn't read the DVD. Have you had similar results?

It should work fine on all years with the DVD nav. Its very easy to change, simply access the drive door by pulling off the cover in the trunk and eject the old disc.

I apparently ordered the update just as they were posting it to their site. Right after I ordered it the price went up to 288.00 (which was the price of the previous version).

As far as changing the disc goes, I noticed that on the 04 LS, the NAV DVD player is under a cover on the right side of the trunk. It appears you have to remove two screws that hold the unit in place so you can raise it enough so the DVD tray will clear the edge of the compartment when it ejects. Anyone else perform this apparently simple operation on an 04 yet?

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Do you know if the navigation system can read a copied DVD-R or DVD+R disk? If it can, I would like to buy a copy version from you, assuming you have a dvd copier. Mine is 01 LS430. :-).

Thanks.

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The DVD's are dual-layered and contain almost 8 GB of data. It would take a very expensive (and relatively new) DVD copier just to make a copy. And this is assuming they are not copy-protected. It wouldn't be legal, either.

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Got it. If you've bought 04 DVD, do you want to sell your 03 DVD? I'm interested. Thanks.

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I'm sure I'll sell the 03 DVD if I ever get the 04 one to load! They've sent me a second copy and I'll try again tonight or tomorrow to install it. I have a sinking feeling that my nav DVD reader has a calibration skew issue which will require dealer intervention. Oh well - it's under warranty :(

It should work fine on all years with the DVD nav. Its very easy to change, simply access the drive door by pulling off the cover in the trunk and eject the old disc.

I apparently ordered the update just as they were posting it to their site. Right after I ordered it the price went up to 288.00 (which was the price of the previous version).

As far as changing the disc goes, I noticed that on the 04 LS, the NAV DVD player is under a cover on the right side of the trunk. It appears you have to remove two screws that hold the unit in place so you can raise it enough so the DVD tray will clear the edge of the compartment when it ejects. Anyone else perform this apparently simple operation on an 04 yet?

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Do you know if the navigation system can read a copied DVD-R or DVD+R disk? If it can, I would like to buy a copy version from you, assuming you have a dvd copier. Mine is 01 LS430. :-).

Thanks.

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The DVD's are dual-layered and contain almost 8 GB of data. It would take a very expensive (and relatively new) DVD copier just to make a copy. And this is assuming they are not copy-protected. It wouldn't be legal, either.

Previous updates had seperate versions for '01 and the rest.  Are you sure this isn't true for this one?  That would surprise me, considering they are apparently different CPUs?

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Previous versions of the system were hard drive based, not DVD. The two new systems are almost identical in every way, its just a different manufacturer. The discs are just data and I would think they would work.

What year is yours Stuart? Maybe I'm wrong... I'll call my dealer and ask.

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I've got a 2004 LS430. It came with V3.1 and I tried to install 4.1. The dealer that sold me the DVD said he'd sent out 40 copies this week and would let me know if others had the same problem.

In regards to one of the previous versions being bad, someone on this site said they worked for a dealership and got a bad batch of the 3.1 DVD's a while back (as I remember).

I agree they should just "work". I was able to read both the 3.1 and 4.1 DVD on my Windows XP PC (they each contain over 7 GB of data) but there may be a DVD calibration issue with the DVD player in the LS.

Direct link to LEXUS 2004 DVD-Based Navigation System Update DATA 2004 ver.1

The retail price is supposed to be $350, so $288 isn't so bad.

Direct link to list of changes

P.S.  My attempt to order online failed, so I ordered the part from Sewell Lexus by calling 214-352-8100 and asking for Darryl in parts.

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Mine just arrived today so I'll install tonight and report the results.

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Well .. bad news... the new DVD update couldn't be read by the system. The original one worked (and continues to work) just fine. I seem to remember someone on this forum talking about a bad batch of these DVDs. Guess I'll get another one and if it doesn't read, I'll have to let the dealer worry about it ($$$).

Direct link to LEXUS 2004 DVD-Based Navigation System Update DATA 2004 ver.1

The retail price is supposed to be $350, so $288 isn't so bad.

Direct link to list of changes

P.S.  My attempt to order online failed, so I ordered the part from Sewell Lexus by calling 214-352-8100 and asking for Darryl in parts.

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Mine just arrived today so I'll install tonight and report the results.

It should work fine on all years with the DVD nav. Its very easy to change, simply access the drive door by pulling off the cover in the trunk and eject the old disc.

I apparently ordered the update just as they were posting it to their site. Right after I ordered it the price went up to 288.00 (which was the price of the previous version).

As far as changing the disc goes, I noticed that on the 04 LS, the NAV DVD player is under a cover on the right side of the trunk. It appears you have to remove two screws that hold the unit in place so you can raise it enough so the DVD tray will clear the edge of the compartment when it ejects. Anyone else perform this apparently simple operation on an 04 yet?

I have Sony Ericsson T610 cellphone. Everything works fine with the LS430 bluetooth. But when someone calls me, the ringing tone comes from the telephone in my pocket, not from the car speakers. Is it suppose to be like this, or can I change it somehow? My dealer says it is suppose to be like this!

I've noticed this same behavior (similar phone as yours - CDMA T608) so you're not alone. I'd prefer the ringing come from the car speaker but not sure if it's part of the Bluetooth hands-free profile.

Perhaps others with different brands of BT-phones can comment.

now available at lexus-parts.com:

00230-DVD04-CY - LEXUS 2004 DVD-Based Navigation System Update

$250.00

Here's another short but interesting look at the car...

http://www.ponchatoula.com/ptimes/auto/

2004 LS430 on display in showroom.

Columbus, Ohio

Body looks the same to me. A few trim changes.

No price sticker. End of month for price.

Here's hoping the MSRP base price doesn't increase (much) :o