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TA in KC

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Everything posted by TA in KC

  1. Gosh, that's quite a bit of work. Which mechanic looked over your car? I would purchase the parts yourself. It is much less expensive that way. I generally like to stick with OEM Toyota parts on my car. A remanufactured steering rack (still an OEM part) would be OK to purchase from O'Reilly's, but I would get everything else from Sewell Lexus or Carson's. http://www.oreillyautoparts.com/EW3/Produc...p;currentPage=0 http://www.sewellpartsonline.com/assembly....09&year=154 http://www.sewellpartsonline.com/parts_det...63679&all=Y
  2. Why would you never trust Consumer Reports? I buy almost everything based on CR's ratings and have always been satisfied with the products they have recommended. I've found that most people who go around bashing Consumer Reports don't really know anything about how they work and where all of their data comes from. After learning more about them, it is clear to most people that Consumer Reports is one of the few places to get truly accurate information about how well a product performs initially and ages compared to its competition.
  3. If you have a power steering leak, I suggest you start by fixing that. Most likely, the leak is coming from worn-out seals in the power steering pump itself. Rebuilding or replacing the pump will eliminate the leaks, if that is in fact where they are coming from. Not fixing this problem usually leads to a failed alternator, turning it into a much more expensive problem. The alternator is located directly under the power steering pump. When the pump leaks, the alternator is the first place the fluid goes.
  4. I do. It sounds like my experiences with our 1992 LS400 and 2000 Camry have been very similar to Jim's. They are both reliable, dependable vehicles, but both parts costs and mechanics' labor charges are much less for the Camry. But, the main reason the Camry has been cheaper to own is just because it is newer. Ours has about 80,000 miles and we have never had to do anything to it besides regular maintenance. No unexpected repairs, ever. Quite different from the 92 LS400 which has required replacement of several suspension components, power steering pump, alternator, power window switches, antenna, etc, due primarily to its old age. The LS has 150,000 miles, but many of those repairs were done much closer to the 100,000 mile mark. If you are worried about unexpected and expensive repairs, I think you have answered your own question. In my local classified ads, there are several 2000-2001 Camrys with under 100,000 miles that are all priced at $6500 or less. You'd spend at least that much on a decent 90-95 LS400 with similar mileage. Don't forget that the parts for the Camry and Corolla are much less expensive. If I was in your situation, with a limited amount of money, and a limited amount of time I could be without my car while it's at the mechanic, I would choose a newer Camry or Corolla. I can tell you from experience that newer cars are much less expensive to own.
  5. Depending on the severity of the scratches and other damage, the collision center will either repaint the bumper cover, or replace the cover and paint it. $700 sounds fine to me...for that price, I am guessing they will just be repainting your existing bumper cover and not replacing it.
  6. I don't know. The first-generation LS400s are very dependable cars, but they are still old and need occasional repairs just due to age. If you don't have a problem with a $500-600 repair bill every once and a while, by all means go ahead and get one. Otherwise, a newer car that costs about the same, like a Toyota Camry or Corolla, would probably be a better choice.
  7. Use the regular OEM gasket. Last time I needed one, Superior Lexus had it in stock and I didn't have to wait for it to be ordered. The cost is around $5.00. For that price, it is much easier than using the gasket maker stuff anyway.
  8. If you don't find anyone here, call a mechanic or body shop located close to the seller's house and ask the them to drop the car off there for an inspection. I have done that more than once when helping friends purchase cars online and it seems to be a good way to get an accurate, "unbiased" description of the car. You do have to act fairly quickly...otherwise, someone else local to the seller will purchase the car before you do!
  9. The Toyota Venza and the RX are not the same car. I believe the Toyota Highlander used to be built on the RX platform until it (the Highlander) was redesigned, but I am unsure if the current model still is.
  10. Sure, the kits are all just "plug and play", but unlike the HID lights in factory-equipped Lexus vehicles, most of them are not auto-leveling and do not come with sensors to aim the lights based on the distribution of weight in the vehicle. You will be blinding everyone going the opposite direction. A set of Eagle Eyes aftermarket headlights with Sylvania Silverstar bulbs would be a much better choice. You would get a much better HID look and better performance without blinding all the other drivers on the road.
  11. I would not recommend Jim Walker. Just do a search for his name on this board. I believe Mikado Technology repairs dash lights also. I worked with them in the past, but never for that problem. My experiences with them have always been good. They have a small staff, work fast, and are good communicators.
  12. Yes, your ES300 has a non-interference engine. I would stick with OEM Toyota parts.
  13. Actually, it is in the later models. If memory serves me correctly, interference engines started with the 1999 model year. All years prior to that are non-interference.
  14. It's been about a year since I was last there, but our Lexus dealership in Kansas City charges $90 per hour.
  15. I use a microfiber towel and "Invisible Glass" cleaner on my car weekly and never have this problem. Unless you were to put your microfiber towels in the washing machine with a bunch of other lint-covered rags, I don't see how this could be an issue.
  16. I purchased the PS pump, alternator, and bulk hose from O'Reilly Auto Parts at 103rd and State Line Rd. They were both remanufactured OEM parts, came with a lifetime warranty, and are still working fine. I would not go with a used power steering pump, but a used alternator would probably be OK. They are much easier to replace! I personally like to stick with OEM Toyota parts. Unless you have some big subwoofers or something similar, a high-output alternator is probably unnecessary. I had the small hoses going to the intake manifold removed and the connections capped off. The only hose I had replaced was the return hose that connects to the back of the power steering reservoir. The reservoir is reused when the pump is replaced.
  17. It's very possible to do all the work yourself, but power steering issues are particularly messy and difficult to work with. I flushed the power steering fluid on my LS once and decided it was something I would prefer to have a mechanic do in the future. At your car's age, the seals in the pump itself are likely worn out. I'd replace the power steering pump and return hose to start with. I think it is probably just coincidental that these issues occured right after an accident. I had a small leak coming from the high pressure hose (near the oil pan) that went away after replacing the power steering pump. If you want to save money, buy the parts yourself and take them to the mechanic to install. Altogether, with a replacement PS pump, alternator, and PS return hose purchased by me, and installation performed by Exact, this repair ended up costing me around $650.
  18. I'd guess $400-500. I take my car to Exact Performance near Johnson Drive and Lamar in Mission. 913-384-4555 You could try Seafoam, just be careful how you use it. When not done correctly, the Seafoam procedure can cause some major problems! I'd recommend just adding it to the gas tank instead of through the brake booster/PCV valve. I have done it both ways and noticed no difference between either method. Bypassing the speed-sensitive steering is probably best left to a mechanic. It requires removal of the power steering pump which can be a very messy and frustrating task. Fred, one of the mechanics at Exact, is very experienced with this procedure. He is the one who did it to my car. No, that must have been someone else you saw at Hen House. I usually go to a different store on 119th St.
  19. Did the engine just start making the "ticking" sound or has it been doing it for a while? It is normal to a certain extent as the fuel injectors and other engine components age. I'd recommend just having the valve clearances adjusted by a competent mechanic and not replace the valves/springs with aftermarket ones. I don't think the idle speed can just be adjusted. Replace spark plugs, clean throttle body, and get the rest of the engine fixed up and see if the problem corrects itself. I think smoke on cold starts/during cold weather is normal for these cars. I have already bypassed the PS hoses leading to the intake manifold and mine still smokes almost as much as before. My neighbor's 1996 LS, friend's 94, and family member's 98 all do the same thing.
  20. The colors available for the 2003 GX interior were "Ivory" and "Medium Gray". It sounds like you have the Ivory interior. The part number for the Ivory headrest is 71910-60660-A0. I don't see any reason why one from another year GX would not also fit. If you don't want to purchase a new one, I suggest you try a place like Graham's Toyota Parts. But I doubt many salvage yards will want to seperate a headrest from the seat it is currently attached to. You would probably have to purchase the whole seat, meaning that in this case it would probably be cheaper just to purchase a new OEM part from a Lexus dealership. Sewell Lexus' online parts store may be cheaper than your local dealership.
  21. The ES350 is produced at the Kyushu, Japan facility. I believe the RX is still the only Lexus vehicle manufactured outside of Japan.
  22. Castrol Edge doesn't appear to be any better than the Amsoil line of synthetics, which have been around much longer, offer guaranteed extended drain intervals, and cost much less. I'm sure it is a good product, but not good enough for me to spend that kind of money. I used to frequently criticize Amsoil and people who used their products before I learned more about them and actually ended up becoming a dealer!
  23. Just take the whole door. I'm sure there is more damage to yours than just the "shell", but you could reuse your existing interior door panel, glass, window motor, etc. The parts from the 1991 should still fit, but the trim on the bottom of the doors and fenders is different and would require replacement eventually if you wanted them to match. Good luck. If you have questions when you start installing parts, remember that we live in the same city!
  24. I doubt this is a problem with the trunk wire harness. I think it is much more likely the alternator beginning to fail, probably due to a power steering leak. I and many others on this board have had the exact same symptoms before a failure. Until you know what the problem is, do not drive the car on busy streets or though busy intersections. A failing alternator will frequently cause the car to shut off randomly and lose all power steering, brakes, etc. It could lead to an accident.
  25. I suggest you install the Mikado Technology aftermarket keyless kit. It uses newer Lexus keys but will work with older models. It is much cheaper than buying keys from the dealership, the keys are $50 each and the receiver is $35. Picture attached.
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