Phyllis

I replaced the battery on my 2001 LX470 37 months ago with a new Lexus battery that I purchased from the local Lexus dealership. This Easter morning while driving from Ohio to North Carolina, the car began to stop every 20 seconds or so but restart itself immediately. I thought continued driving in this condition could not be good, but also thought stopping might mean not being able to restart along I-77 in 30 degree weather. Long story short, by using my GPS with points-of-interest, I found an AutoZone open with the proper battery in stock (it gives phone numbers as well as locations). The GPS pointed me in the right direction, I got a new battery, and was on my way. Took the old battery to the local Lexus dealer to discuss only getting 37 months on an 84-month warranty battery. At 37 months, their warranty only provided a $50+ credit against the purchase of a new battery FROM LEXUS. That was impossible for me to do on an Easter Sunday morning. I just wanted to point out to you all how useless the Lexus battery warranty could be if a Lexus dealer is not near or not open. The battery itself might be a good battery, as I was told, although my experience does not bear this out. But be wary of the warranty. After some complaint, the dealership gave me a $50+ credit against future work done at their service department. You might need to do the same.

I own a 2001 LX 470 and a 2002 SC 430. The keys to both are remarkably similar - however, when you put the wrong key in the ignition, it locks the vehicle. I have done this 4X now: twice corrected by depressing the brake and jerking the steering wheel while turning the (correct) key in the ignition, once called for a tow to the dealership, but tow driver was stronger than I and could jerk the steering wheel, and once had to have dealership come to where I was stranded. I have also tried using the key in driver's door, turning multiple times and holding to the right for 45 -60 seconds (didn't work) and using the flat key (also didn't work). Lexus told me to look at the key more closely (duh) or put nail polish on one, but I do this so fast I never look no matter what markings are on the key (the SC key has a trunk release, the LX does not). I would hate to have to sell a vehicle to become a one-Lexus household for fear of being stranded. Since I don't seem to be trainable to keep the wrong key out of the ignition, is there a way to disable this function?