WhitSTer

A little Armor All humor... Years ago I thought I'd try some on my vinyl motorcycle saddle. It went on fine, looked good, but I couldn't stay on it! I was sliding all over the place. I called Armor All and spoke with a nice gal in Customer Service. I told her of my plight of sliding all over the saddle and could hardly stay on the bike in the twisties. I was waiting for a response...nothing...still nothing. Finally she came back on the phone and she was giggling hysterically! She tried to ask some questions, but just couldn't get them out. She finally managed to ask for my phone number and said she'd call me back. About a half hour later she called back, with controlled laughter. She apologized profusely and while again breaking into more giggling, she managed to tell me anything with ammonia in it would remove the product. Sounded like a fun gal. Whit

Are these 18" or 17"? Pics? Whit

" Costco replaced the valve stems when they did the tires, " Oh? On the OEM wheels the TPMS attach through the valve stem hole, they are not the banded type. I don't THINK Lexus has used the banded types. If they replaced your valve stems they might have snatched your $400 worth of TPMS's. Whit

BTW, I think that this is a really good deal for the TPM sensors. Post your results for others. I bought an extra set for my IS250 winter wheels through Tirerack and paid much more but still less that what the Lexus dealer wanted to charge. Although for price comparisions, I am not 100% sure if the GS and IS use the same TPM sensor but it is reasonalbe to assume they would. Regards, A parts dude at Sewell Lexus had a Fall special on Lexus TPMS for $312 (vs. $400), so I ordered them instead. I think the Schrader's were probably OK, but for just $100 more I decided to go the Lexus sourced route. With more of the manufacturers coming on line with them I'd guess the aftermarket prices will fall even more. Whit

I just bought a set of Miglia wheels. I didn't want the tires that were on them so I took them over to WalMart to have them dismounted (@$3.50ea). While waiting I was talking to the dude at the counter and he told me they carried the Schrader TPMS sensors for $49 each. He showed me the new Schrader catalog and they listed the ones for the '06 GS430 and most other Lexus models, all supposedly direct replacement for the Lexus-sourced sensors. Anyone have any experience with these sensors? (aside from the typical 'I hate WalMart rants) ;-> WhitSTer

If your LS is anything like my '06 GS430 the reset button is way forward under the dash left of the steering wheel column. It's not even on the same panel called the under dash. The pic in the manual is very misleading. My TPMS came on a couple days ago. I checked the pressure for 35 pounds then did the reset procedure in the manual and did get a 'initial' indication, but no help. Must be a bad TPM or battery, maybe receiver. Going into dealer Thursday as it's a warrantee item. Whit Just a follow-up to my previous post... Problem turned out to be the numbers weren't registered to the car...AFTER THE TWO MONTHS I HAD IT!! They were fine then all of a sudden, overnight, they weren't. They broke down the tires, got the registration numbers, programmed them into their Game Boy to the car and, so far, everything seems fine. I really suspect a passengers foot went up in the foot well and tripped the Primary/Secondary switch over to the other setting which was probably blank, so the car didn't see any programmed TPMS's. Afterwards I asked the elite Service Manager about this and he said that wouldn't have caused it, but wasn't able to tell me why not. Sure sounded viable to me. Sure a lot of egos down there. Whit

You may well be right, but Samsung tells me, when I can understand them, that T-Mobile directs which version of software goes into their phones. Makes sense I guess, hard to get a straight answer from any of them. Whti

Finally had a chance to checkout the used Miglia Mille 17" wheels. They are really good looking polished aluminum wheels, they just wouldn't fit over my calipers...damn BBK's. Whit

I just got my new '08 GS 460 and a new LG phone from Verizon and will be trying Bluetooth in the next few days. However, on my last car and LG phone, the phone wouldn't allow phone book transfer. Try the website for the manufacturer of your phone to try to find out if your book can be transferred. Clearly, on some, it's not possible even though other Bluetooth functions work fine. Al I've run into quite a few imcompatibility problems. Lexus says it's Samsung's fault. Samsung says it's T-Mobiles fault. T-Mobile says it's Lexus fault. One damn turnstile after another...always someone elses fault. Lexus does have a website of phones that are known to work better than others. http://lexusbluetooth.letstalk.com/product...=1&model=GS Whit

Any opinions on Miglia wheels, good...bad? TIA, Whitster

Good luck. I, too, own an '06 GS430. What info there is begins on page 220. I find it to be the most inconsistant, backasswards instructions in the Manual, especially loading the phone book, one-touch dial, etc. I'm having trouble with my Samsung SGH-t329 cell phone maintaining connectivity. It works for two or three times then see "Check Mogile Phone" on the display. Sure underwhelming. Whit

If your LS is anything like my '06 GS430 the reset button is way forward under the dash left of the steering wheel column. It's not even on the same panel called the under dash. The pic in the manual is very misleading. My TPMS came on a couple days ago. I checked the pressure for 35 pounds then did the reset procedure in the manual and did get a 'initial' indication, but no help. Must be a bad TPM or battery, maybe receiver. Going into dealer Thursday as it's a warrantee item. Whit

Just stumbled on a site that lists which wheels fit which cars. Dunno how accurate it is but seems to be somewhat current. If you can get past the pic of the owner's trophy wife on the Home page, checkout. ;-> http://www.wheelcollision.com/lexus.htm Whit

Very few dealers actually change the glass themselves, they usually send it out to an auto glass shop but more often they have the shop's van come out and do it at the dealership in a back lot. These are the same elves that add pinstriping, ScotchGuard the fabric, repair little glass dings, minor detailing, etc. If you have an Elite Auto Glass shop in your area, they are consistantly cheaper than the rest and do a good job. Whit

I just did this yesterday when installing a Sears door opener that uses HomeLink...like the Lexus. Just press the Learn button on the door opener in the garage. You have 30 seconds to press whichever button position you want to program twice. The light under the mirror body will begin flashing, then press the button again. It should be programmed and garage door should open/close. Whit

I drive an '06 GS430. The original Dunlop run flats were replaced at 15,000 miles because three of the four would not hold air (the dealer remounted them several times which only made them leak air more quickly :cries: ). Yes they had a rough ride but that is a characteristic of the very stiff sidewalls that run flats must have that makes them run flats in the first place. I didn't particularly like the rough ride but I was OK with it. But when I had to replace the Dunlops, I switched to Michelin Pilot Sport A/S, a non run flat tire, based in part to what other LOC posters have said about run flats in general. I am glad I did because the difference in the ride is like night and day. Very smooth, very quiet, and still have a lot of grip for spirited driving. And a bit less expensive too. The stock GS430 wheels are the 18" ones. I assume that's what you're still running. The GS430 isn't the Stratolounger the LS series is. The GS (Gran Sport) has a compromising suspension to offer better handling at the cost of cushy ride. The stock Dunlop run-flats also have very stiff sidewalls, resulting in a rougher ride. This is why many GS430 owners (myself included) have opted for the 17" wheels. This allows for more 'cushioned' tires by benefitting from the greater aspect ratio providing more 'air' between the road and rims. This also allows a better chance of surviving a pot-hole ding than the low profile 18" If you do go to a smaller wheel/larger tire combo just remember to keep the overall diameter within 3% of stock so the speedo and skid compensating systems will still behave. It can be easily calculated, but these are easier: http://www.dakota-truck.net/TIRECALC/tirecalc.html or http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculato...p?action=submit Whit Whit

Stardate 11-26-07 If it's not too late for you, Pep Boys has a sale going, by one get one free, they're $15 up to around $25 each. Made by Sachs Stabilus Whit

I like the 5-spoke chromes. These are the Azev wheels but the stock 5-spoke wheels that have been chromed look good too.

My '06 GS430 came with a 17" donut in the trunk pod. Never been on the ground. WhitSTer

On my '06 GS430 it's on page 38 of the Owner's Manual 1. Close all doors and switch to IG-ON 2. Shift selecetor lever from "P" to "N" 3. Within 10 seconds of putting engine switch to "IG-ON" mode, press and hold driver's side power door lock switch in the lock position for 5 seconds then release. The doors will be locked and unlocked to indicate the function is set. To cancel the function, do the above operation again. WhitSTer

I know it's been a year since you posted this...did you find any sources? I have an '06 GS430 and think the front grill is gawdy as hell. TIA WhitSTer