tgcLS430

Just replaced the brake pads at all four corners on my 2004 LS430 with 58k miles. The rotors showed no perceptable wear and do not show any signs of warping, so I did not replace them. The pad replacement was very easy, due in large part to the non-floating caliper design Lexus uses. One thing I noticed with the OEM replacement pads is they are tapered, such that the pad material area that contacts the rotor is less when they are new and increases over time as the pads wear. That is odd, as it seems like braking performance would be less when the pads are new due to decreased pad contact area with the rotor as compared with later in pad life when the pads are worn down and more pad area is exposed to the rotor. I did not notice any reduced braking effectiveness after installing the new pads compared with the old pads which were worn about 80%. Just seemed strange - anybody know why the OEM pads are tapered? I've replaced brakes on many of my vehicles in the past and never noticed the pads being tapered.

Thanks for the reply, I checked the manual but missed where the instructions were. Replaced the battery and all back to normal - thanks again-

Hello all, I am getting a maintenance message that the battery in my smart key is getting low and I want to replace it. I cannot figure out how to get the smart key open to get to the battery. I see a seam along the side but no screws holding it together and no apparent place to pry it apart. Can anyone provide instructions? I tried searching this website and google without success. Thanks-

Sounds like Lexus is standing by their product - no surprise there. What was the "groaning" noise you were hearing on cold starts? Was it like a gear whine? My '04 LS430 with ~45k miles has been making a whining noise on real cold days when first started, lasting for about 5 minutes until things warm up. Sounds like the power steering pump to me, but I suppose it could be the gear pump inn the tranny. Was thinking about taking it in for a check. How long had your car been groaning?

21 city/ 25-27 highway, 2004 LS430 with 17" wheels

Just a guess, but did you just wash the car before you noticed the inaccurate reading? If the temperature sensor is wet it may read a lower than actual temperature due to the moisture evaporating off the sensor until the sensor is dry again. Other than that, I can't think of anything that would cause it to read low unless the sensor has failed and the 73F reading is a default reading.

The owner's manual says push the button for 3 seconds and the "initializing" message will come up on the dashboard. The message never comes up. Any suggestions? Thanks! I don't want to sound like a smart alek but make sure you are pressing the right button. There are two buttons under there and it is hard to see which one to push to reinitialize the tire pressure monitor. The other button cancels the "smart key" functions if your var has the smart key option. I just reinstalled my summer tires yesterday and the "tire pressure low" light came on after about 15 miles. Had to reinitialize it to get it to go off. I think you have to have the engine off, ignition switched on to do the reinitialization procedure, I don't think it will reinitialize if the engine is running. Also make sure the tires all have the exact same pressure, for my 2004 that is 32 psi cold. Good luck-

It had 24,500 miles on it when I bought it, just over 29k now. It was not a certified car from a Lexus dealer, but had the remainder of the factory warranty left on it. The 4 year bumper to bumper warranty just expired in February, so now the drivetrain warranty is all that is left. So far, so good and from the posts I have seen on this board it is possible to achieve relatively trouble free high mileage with regular maintenance. I do my own basic maintenance and regular oil changes with synthetic oil and replacement of brakes, tires, shocks, water pumps, etc before they are completely worn out has served me well over the years, especially with Toyota products. We have a road trip from Mass to Norfolk VA planned next weekend for a Navy reunion and I am looking forward to making the trip in the Lexus.

Thanks for the reply. I will try the "power" switch to see if there is any change. I have a dealer appointment next week for an alignment so I will ask them to check if the recalls were done on this car. This is by far the best road car I have ever owned. The quality is very evident and I believe a Lexus is worth the premium price, especially over the long haul. I usually keep a car to 200k or ten years - I think I'll be keeping this one longer.

Thanks for the reply. I will try the "power" switch to see if there is any change. I have a dealer appointment next week for an alignment so I will ask them to check if the recalls were done on this car. This is by far the best road car I have ever owned. The quality is very evident and I believe a Lexus is worth the premium price, especially over the long haul. I usually keep a car to 200k or ten years - I think I'll be keeping this one longer.

Hello all, I am fairly new to the board, having just bought a 2004 LS430 last fall. Great road car and the around town gas mileage is better than I expected. I was reading the recent Consumer Reports annual auto issue used car reliability ratings and noticed the 2004 LS has a less than top rating for the 2004 models under the "trans. minor" category, while all other years have a top rating in this category. I understand 2004 was the first year the six speed automatic was used so I was wondering if anyone knows what "minor" problems have been reported with the 2004 model year transmissions. The only thing I have noticed about the transmission in my car is that occasionally when slowing down to around 5 mph, as when turning into a parking lot, the transmission drops down into first gear and the engine speeds up to about 2500 rpm before shifting into second gear when I accelerate after turning. I notice this because when starting from a complete stop the transmission shifts very quickly out of first gear, usually around 1500 rpm. Could this be a symptom of a "minor" transmission problem? I tried checking the fluid level but there is no dipstick for the transmission. Any info is appreciated.

Make sure when you reset the monitor you "initialize" it as described in the Owner's Manual and don't just reset the monitor. I had a similar problem and after reading the Owner's Manual carefully and following the instructions to reinitialize the monitor the problem has not come back.

I have a 2004 LS430 that I bought last September with OEM 17" tires. I bought 4 mounted snow tires from Tire Rack for winter use because I live in New England. The tires are 215/65R16 Blizzak WS-60 (the new tread design, replaces the WS-50) and they are mounted on 16" alloy wheels. I am completely satisfied with the tires, they are great in the snow. In my opinion the 16" snows ride and drive the same as the 17" summer tires, with only a little bit of tread hum at highway speeds. The whole package was just over $800 delivered to my door. I would recommend the Blizzak WS-60 snow tires.

Follow up to my original posting : I spoke with a dealership service person and it turns out that during the 2004 model year the LS430 was switched to a new "lifetime fill" ATF fluid, meaning it is supposed to be good to at least 100k miles. At the time they switched to the lifetime fluid they also eliminated the dipstick to prevent owners from topping off the trans with conventional ATF fluid. There is a way to check the fluid level without the use of a dipstick but it requires access to the car from underneath while the car is on a lift. This dealer said they will change the "lifetime" fluid at 100k if the owner requests, but it is more expensive due to the special fluid and the procedure involves pumping the new fluid in from beneath and takes more labor. I'm not a big fan of the new "lifetime" or "extended life" fluids such as coolant and now trans fluid.

they dont want you find it , on my 2001 its beside the valve cover on the drivers side about 4-5 inches down if i remember correctly , put on gloves or use a pair of pliers if your engine is hot, its a tight fit . i think it was a green colored end. i ges lexus doesnt think its owners should check tranny fluid cause its a pain to get to Thanks for the reply. I checked where you described and no dipstick. None on the other side or anywhere to be seen. The owner's manual is silent on checking trans fluid level (numerous pages of radio features, though), so I am afraid this is a dealer check item, if in fact they even check it. Why that is, I can't imagine. I don't think it is the $10 they saved by not including a trans dipstick on a $60k car. I know BMW does not have an engine oil dipstick on the new 3 Series, only an electronic level sensor that alerts you when a quart low. This is not a good trend when the manufacturers start eliminating features that allow owners to check the condition of their cars. I'll give the dealer service dept a call tomorrow to ask how the fluid level is checked. I've always done my own basic maintenance but this is my first Lexus and I may not fit the demographic for a typical owner. End of rant...thanks for listening!