WhitSTer

I noticed that you own a 460ls.Have you changed the filter and verified that the 30 ft-lbs torque spec is sufficient to keep it from leaking?I don't believe the housing is cross threaded.I watched the oil seal,and the mating surfaces on the housing and the engine and thought maybe the engine housing might be warped a hair,thereby causing the problem.i didn't have time to fully investigate the problem.By the way,I love your avatar.I hope you realize that if the obama team sees it,you will be branded a rt.wing radical,or possibly even a neo-!Removed! , and will not rexceive your stimulus check until the banks are fully satisfied and the wall street executive bonus' have been paid. Actually I haven't yet. Only because I got a 'good will gesture' from corporate Lexus that provided the scheduled maintenances through 25,000 miles. I do already have six filters and am ready to go when those freebies expire after next maintenance. I'd seen the cross-threaded thing twice before ages ago. The threads were much too fine for a circumference of that size and was easy to cross thread the cannister. Was a lousy setup from the factory in the first place. Re: obama, yeah that would just be yet another screw-up in his farcical administration...and congress. Whit

Kinda sounds like it might have been cross-threaded along the way. Whti

I live at the foot of the mountains west of Denver. I got the Michelin X-Ice tires all the way around my '08 LS. They work fine, good cornering and stopping power in the car's first winter. I mounted the snows on the OEM wheels and summer Turanzas are on the Teleios wheels. Just change them myself whenever I feel like it. (I have an extra pair of like-new OEM take-offs if anyone is interested...$600) One caveat...I got the tires from Tire Rack. At the time they offered a $50 gift card...I never got the card. Months later I called them about it and no one has used the card they purportedly sent, so I'm just out the $50 they promised and they refused to replace it...be advised. I won't be ordering from them again...ever. Whit

I know you could program two different pairs of four on an '06 GS430, but I know my '08 LS won't do it. Guess they figured they were losing too much $$ by not having you vi$it them twice a year. Whit Whit's advice is right on. You might be able to save some money by getting it done some place other than the dealer. The TPMSs were mandated for all US cars beginning in 2008. By now nearly all tire businesses are equipped to do this service. It requires some electronic tools that, (1) capture the sensor IDs from the wheels by placing the tool near the valve stem and, (2) enter the sensor IDs into the car's computer via a direct (wired) connection to the car's data bus. The LS460 system only holds five sensor IDs (four on the ground plus the spare). Jeff ATEQ is making some TPMS reprogramming software and cable for a laptop. Unfortunately they don't support the LS460 yet. The apps they do support are at: http://revolutionsupply.com/(S(sy3zobbzr4c...ion%20Chart.pdf Whit

Page 570 in your Owner's Manual shows: RR goes to RF RF goes to spare Spare goes to RR Exchange left sides, front to back and vice versa. Whit

I know you could program two different pairs of four on an '06 GS430, but I know my '08 LS won't do it. Guess they figured they were losing too much $$ by not having you vi$it them twice a year. Whit

FS: Four near-new 18" OEM takeoffs for 2007 - 2008 LS460. 18" x 7-1/2" with 5 x 120 mm bolt pattern, mint condition. Weigh 28 pounds each and will ship from 80401. $700 OBO or trade for Sig Sauer or H&K larger than 9 in equally good cdx. Thanks for looking. Whit

Didn't ebay disable any NEGATIVE feedback options a year or so ago? If all they allow a buyer to say is positive, the percentages would be pretty high alright. Whit

That's some pretty stout gauge metal in there, you might be able to bend it back out with some visegrips. If it was a dealer that's been doing this, I'd make them fix it. Just show them how their carelessness will no longer allow you to use the trunk jack as intended. Good luck. Whit

I hear you, the proper lift points, the ones in the book, aren't readily identifiable, and most garages just put the pads 'somewhere' and go from there....ain't their car. I use a rolling floor jack in the garage and made a hardwood block with a 1/4" slot to sit on the jack's pad and straddle that seam. I can see where a careless garage could bend that seam one way or the other and make using the trunk jack problematic. Whit

Like making the existing 'features ' work. Like fixing all the problems: My biggest complaints on my $70K 2008 LS460 are: 1. NAV LOCKOUT - On my road trips there is usually someone sitting in the passenger seat that is perfectly capable of any enroute rerouting, the stuff now denied me. I bought the damn car because I wanted the Nav features, I think I should be able to use them when I want to. Getting rid of the "I agree" button is a nice touch. Seems this same caveat could be integrated to let occupants use ther Nav whenever desired. 2. Same with some phone functions. 3. The trunk lighting is a joke...even a bat would get lost. 4. The glove box lighting doesn't exist unless the headlights are on. And then only one little enemic lamp for the lower shelf. 5. The is no underhood light. (Even though fuses lurk under there. Even the lowly Yugo had an under hood light) Maybe all the Lexus engineers and Marketing wonks carry little flashlights around in their pocket-protectors...ya think? I've resorted to carrying one of those little 9-led flashlights in the overhead pocket. 6. Defogging the windshield seems to be a bigger deal than it has to be. 7. The 'jacking points' underneath seem ill thought out. The barrier that the jack pad is supposed to engage/straddle seems quite restrictive to any other kind of lifting pad. I have my wheels off often and had to cut a channel in a hardwood block to allow a regular floor jack pad to be used. 8. Also the 'jacking points' aren't very well defined for the tire shop dropout that doesn't have the Owners Manual and/or proper adapter. 9. "ALL" of the Owner's Preferences should be configurable on the dash. 10. There should be a multi-Memory Seat Position on the passenger side door too. (My '06 GS430 had it) 11. The center rear-view mirror should respond to the Memory button too. 12. Adjustable foot pedals would be nice, like the Hyundai's and others have. 13. The option to retain the compass heading in the mirror would be nice. 14. I know the OEM tires are only to provide the smoothest ride possible for any demo rides to make the sale, but they are really short-lived for the eventual owner. 15. Decoding the TPMS signal to indicate 'which' tire is low would be helpful. Others are doing it. 16. The dual TPMS option should still be on it, my GS430 had it. 17. The voice recognition sux. One of these days someone is going to devise a chip that will allow all the things Lexus doesn't personally approve of, like rolling Nav, Phone, DVD, etc. This might even also include an internal OBD-II diagnostic reader with trouble codes and operating parameters displayed on the console. That 'someone' is going to make a mint of $$. Whit

Agreed, overall, the car is great. I like the way it runs and handles for the stratolounger that it is. BUT, I think there are a BUNCH of features they dropped the ball on. These are so obvious, I can't believe they missed them. I suspect they want to keep 'something better' for the next year's model. Whit

They must not have tried to use the Nav while rolling, or voice recognition, or didn't mind wind noise, or.... ;-> Whit

Oughta be good for a Pulitzer!! ;-> Whit

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lexus announced thru channels today that there is a campaign(recall) on 07-08 LS460 They will be replacing the Fuel Rails for the fuel injection, the Electronic steering racks, and rear brake caliper bolts. If you are in the NY area call the guys at Rallye Lexus 516-676-8686 if you need help. They always help me and are the guys that do the car show and are active on this site. Special Service Campaigns (SSC) SSC 9LA Certain 2006 2007 GS, 2006 2008 IS and 2007 2008 LS Vehicles Fuel Delivery Pipe Replacement SSC 9LB Certain 2006 2007 GS and IS Vehicles Rear Brake Caliper Inspection SSC 9LC Certain2006 2007 GS, IS and RX 400h Vehicles Electric Power Steering Link (EPS) Assembly Replacement ******URGENT****** On January 16, 2009, Toyota filed a Defect Information Report (DIR) with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding certain 2006 2007 GS 300/350, 2006 2008 IS 250/350 and 2007 2008 LS 460/460L vehicles. The involved vehicles are equipped with aluminum fuel delivery pipes (fuel rails). Lexus has determined that ethanol fuels with low moisture content will corrode the internal surface of the fuel rails. As this condition progresses the engine malfunction light (MIL) may illuminate. Over time, the corrosion will create a pinhole resulting in fuel leakage. SSC 9LA will be launched to replace the Fuel Delivery Pipes in the affected vehicles. There are approximately 43,700 GS 300 (24,500 2WD, 19,200 AWD), 23,700 GS 350 (14,000 2WD, 9,700 AWD), 85,800 IS 250 (54,000 2WD, 31,800 AWD), 24,900 IS 350, and 36,400 LS 460 (25,500 LS 460, 10,900 LS 460L) vehicles involved in the U.S. Additionally, Lexus is launching two other SSCs. 9LB Certain 2006 2007 model GS and IS vehicles to inspect rear brake calipers. On certain Lexus vehicles, the slide pin in the rear brake calipers may not operate smoothly. If the vehicle continues to be operated under these conditions, the brake pads may make noise. 9LC Certain 2007 GS 450h, 2006 2007 GS, IS and RX 400h vehicles to replace the electric power steering link (EPS) assembly. Certain vehicles may experience a noticeable gradual increase in the steering effort necessary at low speeds when turning the steering wheel to the complete left or right position. This condition may be most perceptible when parking the vehicle. A dealer package including vital information and reimbursement procedures will be sent to dealers (to the attention of the service manager) today. Lexus will inform owners of the involved vehicles with a Special Service Campaign notification letter sent via first class mail beginning in late January 2009. All customer inquires should be directed to the Lexus Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-255-3987. If you are a dealership associate and have any questions, please contact your District Service and Parts Manager. For News media inquiries only, they should be directed to Julie Alfonso (310) 468-4625 or Greg Thome (310) 468-3279, in Lexus Corporate Communications. (Please do not provide these numbers to customers or call if you are a dealer associate.) The following Q&As has been provided for your reference. Click here to see Combined Q&A for DD Message.pdf

Have you ever taken a close look at those earthlings back in the wash bay? ;-> Whit

I can save you a bunch on the wheels. Snow tires with their own wheels is a good move. I have a mint condition set of OEM takeoff wheels off a 2008 LS460. These are the 18" with the 5 x 120mm bolt pattern. These fit the 2007 or 2008 Ls460's. How about $600 plus shipping from 80401, Golden, CO. Whit

The distance between the two posts on mine is 5 - 7/16" Whit

I've heard of differing degrees of success using a hot air blower to allow the stickers to be slowly peeled away, then using Goo Gone to remove any residual adhesive gunk. Whit

I just received four Michelin X-Ice tires from Tire Rack. Even with $60 shipping from IN to CO they were still considerably cheaper than any local outfits who didn't even carry the 235/50-18 sizes. They also had a special of a $50 AmerExpress gift card if you bought four. Anyway Tire Rack provides a listing of installers in your area by zip code. After a quick scan I noticed there was a Planet Honda dealer a couple miles from me and only charged $12 per wheel/tire change. This includes all mounting/dismounting, balancing AND TPMS REPROGRAMMING, which surprised me. I had them remove the Teleios wheels with tires and mount the new X-Ice snow tires on the OEM wheels, balance and install them. They did all this AND reprogrammed the TPMS sensors for $59.27. Lexus wanted $90+ just to do the wheel/tire swapping then an additional $60+ just to reprogram the TPMS...BS! I get the impression from Lexus and their Service people that they EXPECT loyalty from their customers. What they don't seem to understand is that loyalty should work BOTH WAYS. We've already given them a bunch on the car we bought from them. We don't need to be fleeced on the service too. Whit

If you only notice the heat when the seats are being cooled it could well be the seats. I think they use Peltier cooling panels which are indeed capable of cooling, but while in the cooling conversion process the heat has to be extracted and vented away somewhere. Whit

Hi, my name is Francois, I work for Lexus at stevinson, I foud a link that could get you some informations about the causes of wind noise. I hope that this link would be usefull for you. http://209.103.220.182/class_schedules/FMP...n.htm&-find If you work at the Stevinson West, in Golden/Lakewood, CO, I can show you the mod Jeff came up with. I live nearby. It worked for my LS460. I gave a copy of it to salesman Doug Miner. Whit whitbaby@comcast.net

The September issue of Car and Driver says no changes for 2009 for: ES350 GS350/GS450h/GS460 GX470 LS460/LS460L/LS600hL (Did hear they're finally adding a memory seat position switch for passenger side) LX570 RX350/RX400h The IS F/IS250/IS350 will undergo minor restyling and interior/instrument panel... SC430 - Only 300 to be made, minor changes on Pebble Beach Special Edition, spoiler, interior trim and 'unique' 18-inch wheels. Whit

September issue of Car and Driver said no significant changes for the LS460 Whit

So anyone that disagrees with you is a 'whiner'? Whit