Step Hen

If you handy with repairs, you may want to apply brake quiet onto the back of the pads. I think it's just the luck of the draw as there will always be a case of brake noise with pad/rotor combinations.

People should really take more care when hacking the firmware on the navigation units! If done incorrectly, it can turn your unit into an expesive brick! I would only do so with confirmation from others that it was done successfully. Did the dealer cover the repair under warranty?

Well if you want sporty gear changes, I could see doing 60mph in 4th gear. I'm sure the transmission can handle it. Though you should check your manual to see if their is a max speed limit to when you can change the transmission from D to S.

You don't HAVE to change the PIN, but it's so easy to do and adds a layer of protection to the Bluetooth system, why not? Change it to something easily remembered.

After a battery disconnect, you should also just turn the key and not start the ignition and leave it there to allow the throttle body to adapt again.

Looks like that user has an '08 model from his user's profile. I have access to a '06 ML Nav from a GS300 with the newest software 7.1. I'll try and take a look to see if that menu appears.

LOL! So true! Do not take your LUXURY car to a Jiffy Lube! They have no idea when it comes to specialized, sealed cars. You really need to do some reading and training before tackling the repairs yourself. Do you think the average tech at those places will have had any of your experience/readings let alone a Lexus tech's training?

LOL, they replaced your nav after you messed around with it? Wow. Does the override work now? I believe it's disabled in 7.1 from what I've read. You can't lower the software setting simply by rebooting. Once it's upgraded to 7.1, you probably need to enable some setting to allow it to downgrade to 5.1.

Just upgraded my father's generation 4 navigation unit form 5.1 to 7.1. I can't really give a comparison as I drive my own car, but with the 7.1 disc, there is a software update that occurs in addition to the updated map data. As soon as you enter the new disc, there is a progress bar showing that the software is being updated, and a warning not to turn off the power. Message me if you want me to test any specific feature or for info on how to get a new nav disc.

Armor All is thought of to be an inferior product to what's available on the market. If you have a shiny dash, you've used too much product and have not wiped enough of it off. It will only attract dust. Try a Mothers or Meguiar's product, or even a simple microfiber cloth dusting weekly should take care of any problems.

There is an override sequence that can be performed to allow navigation input while driving, but you must do it each time you restart the engine. From what I hear, it will only work with gen4 navigations version 5.1 and has been cancelled in the 7.1version. Again, try google and you should find it easily.

All I've found on the web is a physical hack to allow dvd's to be played while driving, as well as bluetooth phone dial pad to be used while driving. It involves cutting a few wires that go into the navigation and connection two of the cut wires together (capping the others) and ground the parking brake sensor. However, even this does not allow inputting navigation while driving. That involves a more serious mod but putting in a rocker switch to cut of vehicle speed sense to the navigation. Google for the dvd hack and you should find it fairly easily.

Wow I am surprised that Lexus would make it so easy to overcome the seatbelt warning chime in such a litigious country as the US! On VAG cars, you need to use computer software and an obdII cable to disable the seatbelt warning chimes.

Looks like you're still under warranty. Take it in and have them take a look at it. Don't think it's something that you can fix yourself as a part sounds faulty (assembly, harness, wiring, etc).

Sorry but doubt that you will get a lemon law case because of a headlight fault. Usually the recurring problem has to be more serious and endanger the owner through its continued usage (though you could argue headlights are important!). Good luck. It sounds more like a harness problem or a wiring problem. Have you replaced the fuse with a higher amp one by any chance?

x2 on the microfiber cloths. Simple wiping should clean off all the dust and fingerprints. If you run into a stubborn stain, use some water. Let the fibers of the cloth do the work and pull the dust/dirt into the cloth. Try not to use any harsh chemicals as they may damage the anti-glare/special coatings on the screen!

Many manufacturers do not follow the bluetooth protocol properly or do not support all the bluetooth profiles. So if you can't really do something over bluetooth, it can only be solved with a software update of your phone. Check to see if you are running the latest software on your phone (check with your phone manufacturer) and if you aren't, update it to the newest one. That will give you the best chance of getting full compatibility with the Lexus navigation (since you can't really update the bluetooth module in the car). See you phone dealer (ie Verizon Wireless) as they will probably update your phone for free if you're still under contract.

I agree that the touch screen is absolutely without par, but the menu navigation can be a bit improved. It isn't as intuitive as I thought it would be, and had to refer numerous times to the manual to figure out how to input points to memory, turn off guidance, add stopovers, etc. Definitely give the manual a good once through and then refer to it when trying to do a specific task.

Wow now that is customer service! ;)

The municipality should cover the repair if you have pictures of the pothole and receipts/estimates for repairs. Not sure how it goes in NJ, but in NYC there are forms you can download over the web and submit. People I know have been reimbursed but it does take a bit of time for the money to appear.

Korean manufacturers seem to be taking the Japanese playbook and following it up to the T. Make quality imitations for less. True the can't match the engineering aspects of performance vehicles, but they are getting better with each generation. All new Kia's and Hyundai's are suprisingly good looking, inside and out. Haven't had a chance to test drive any of them, but my dad is looking forward to seeing the Genesis when it comes out. He's a little annoyed with the Lexus dash rattle and said why does a Luxury vehicle has a rattle when many cheaper cars don't! I've tried to explain quality and finish is hands down one of the finest in a Lexus, but he's still really put off by the rattle! The plan has worked well for the Japanese. Toyota is the #1 dealer!

That's what I hear many mechanics tell enthusiasts who are interested in becoming mechanics. Fun to work on your car in your spare time, but once you do it for a living, it becomes a grind!

Didn't like how my father gave so much money to his mechanic without really knowing what was going on and not really getting the problem solved. This was a person my dad thought he could trust. In the end, he was overcharging for shoddy work, even with my dad taking him out to eat for all the work we gave to him.... In the end, found a better mechanic and good person to handle his car. So the lesson I took away, learn to do maintenance and repairs, and leave the big jobs to a good indy or dealership!

Nice I was part of the majority reason for finding this forum! My dash had started making a rattling sound that was present going over bumps. Seems like there was a TSB released for this very issue for almost all model lines. Took it into the dealer on Queens, NY. They seemed to have improved the issue, but there is still a rattle present. Hesitant to bring it in again however.... Well, guess I'll have to make a call and see if they can try something else this time around!