GuyTelefunken

It is not recommended to replace the castle nuts with any other type. It is permissible to continue tightening the castle nut until the next slot in the nut aligns with the hole in the stud.

No such thumbwheel. If you are talking about the beep that your car makes when you lock or unlock the doors, that can be adjusted only with a Lexus diagnostic computer. The customizable function in CBEST is called "Wireless Buzzer Volume," OFF/MIN/MID1/MID2/MID3/MAX are the possible settings. See other settings here.

This thread is becoming irritating. Therefore it is now closed.

There is no way to know without visiting a mechanic.

Problems like this can only be diagnosed starting with a scantool. You need to find out what codes you have to know where to start.

P1349 indicates a problem with the VVT (Variable Valve Timing) system. It is best to diagnose this with a dealer scantool. The problem can be electrical, mechanical, and/or a blocked oil passage to the VVT actuator.

I feel the product should be outlawed.

The cause of these lights may be as simple as one wheel speed sensor. They do not indicate a ridiculously expensive repair. The only way to know what you are getting into is to put the car on a scantool and see what codes you have.

Assuming you have the correct sized tires, I would connect a scan tool and drive the vehicle. If the speed is indicated correctly on the scantool, the problem is likely the speedometer. If it is incorrectly indicated on the scan tool, I would suspect the vehicle speed sensor. It is located on the rear of the transmission.

A bad door lock sense switch in the actuator will cause this.

From www.lexus.com Most Lexus models offer the Customized Body Electronic System (CBEST) that allows a Lexus dealer to fine-tune certain functions according to a customer's personal taste. The dealer can adjust the length of headlight turnoff delay, volume of remote entry beeper, ignition key warning chime frequency, and dome light fade-out time. Yes, these functions can only be accessed with a Lexus Scantool.

Definately, I too recommend a visit to the Lexus dealer. Replacing the part in question would require a Lexus computer to program it anyway. Otherwise, it would not work in your car at all. This is a job for the pros. Something sounds fishy.

No such thumbwheel. The location of what Lexus calls the "buzzer," is in the file attached. The customizable function in CBEST is called "Wireless Buzzer Volume," OFF/MIN/MID1/MID2/MID3/MAX are the possible settings. See other settings here. This information applies to 1998-99 GSxxx models. Other model years may vary. See the red text in this post. Wireless_Buzzer.pdf

I also like Cardone products. A set of their rebuilt front calipers have been working for me for years. The national Carquest chain carries Cardone and cheap rotors. Raybestos is good as well.

Rear GS calipers are not the floating variety. There is a piston on each side of this fixed caliper. The best advice would be to replace the caliper with a remanufactured unit. They are readily available. NAPA parts should be fine. As for rotors, the only caution is to check that the clearance groove on the back side of the rotor does not rub the back pan when the rotor is installed. The pan is the round plate that the parking brake assembly is mounted on. It has a slight edge the fits into the groove on the back of the rotor. The purpose of this pan is to keep road crap out of the parking brake system inside the rotor hat. I have had trouble with several brands of aftermarket rotors not being made correctly. Consequently, when the wheel is mounted, the pan can contact the rotor and create metal to metal rubbing sound. In one case, I the groove was so shallow, I could not turn the mounted wheel at all. If you experience a problem, just return them and try another brand. Don't forget to bleed the brakes if you replace the caliper. The parking brake shoes also have to be adjusted after replacing the rotor. The service manual shows the procedures in detail.

You need a door lock actuator. The lock sense switch is sticking in the unlock position and causing the windows to roll down. The external key cylinders are designed to roll down the windows if you hold the key to the unlock position. Strangely, I find that I cannot operate the windows from the passenger side lock cylinder in my '98 GS300. According to the service data, MY1998 GSx00 should have this feature. I'd be interested to know if others with '98 GS's can do this

You need new door latch/lock actuators. You are exactly correct in that the door open/closed switch is sticking in the closed position. Therefore, the door ECU does not know the door is open.

If you have a good relationship with your dealer, or on a visit for some other service, they sometimes do it for no charge.

Any auto parts store should have rebuilt racks available. I got mine at Carquest for something in the $300.00 range. The Lexus price for a new rack is +/- $1200.00. It takes a few hours and will require wheel alignment when complete. It's a bit messy, but not too difficult. Just a side note, there are no adjustments to be made externally on the outside of the steering rack. When the rack is assembled, each piece is installed with a precise torque and position. Adjusting and or tampering with any adjustment is just plain unsafe. Of course, if you possess the correct tooling, experience, and knowledge to rebuild a steering rack, than you may disagree with the previous statement.

Sounds like you need a steering rack. I did mine at about the same mileage. It had the same symptoms. The steering wheel seemed to stay where you put it and not return to center. Keep in mind you will need a wheel alignment when it is replaced.

I'd say it's quite possible. I've done 3 out of 4 on my '98.

The strips often crack. They are replaceable. Call your favorite stealer. They come pre-matched to the color of your car.

I believe this topic was covered several times in the past. Each time it seemed to amount to thousands of dollars and hours and hours of trouble. Therefore, I would agree. It's best to trade up to the model you desire.

I found the cause of one annoying, metallic rattle in the exhaust system. There is a shield held to the exhaust under the center of the floorpan. The location of my rattle was where the two ends of the shield meet and are secured with a band clamp. The shields had deteriorated under the clamp and were not being held tightly. I pop riveted a piece of metal to both ends of each shield across where the original band clamp was located. A standard large stainless hose clamp replaced the original clamp. Have a look. Like you, I only heard the noise at idle speeds.

I had a feeling someone was going to refer to that previous article. There are two problems with this, Both of which I have seen first hand. Because of the bowden cable system, there are no rods to attach to. Therefore, you must drill the plastic button which was never meant to be drilled. This leads to the second problem. The operating torque on the cheap actuators is usually many times greater than the small force required to manually actuate the lock button. As well the travel is almost two times what is necessary to actuate the button. i.e. It takes a 10mm movement of the cable to actuate the lock yet the actuators pound the button almost 20mm in both directions. These are the actuators I'm referring to. [see interesting note in the product info. about cable operated locks.] After some time, the slamming action of the overly powerful actuator will most likely break the plastic lock button. Now you will need an interior door handle. Just recently I replaced all 4 interior door handles on a Toyota Martix. The handle on the Matrix is very similar to the one in the Lexus as well as many other Toyotas. While I was in there, I took the liberty to remove the 4 aftermarket actuators that were installed as described above. Every interior door lock button was broken. Initially I was surprised, as the vehicle had only 12K miles on it. I wondered how did these buttons break? Toyota door lock buttons don't break. Then I looked inside. Ahh. So from my side, I don't want to deal with extra headaches. Therefore, I have done 3 out of 4 of mine thus far with Lexus parts. I feel that part of owning and enjoying a great thing is also the willingness to do what it takes to maintain it. You could look for used parts as well? There seems to bee some on Ebay from time to time. However you choose to proceed, I wish you the best of luck.