steviej

go play customer and find a dealership that has a new or used GS with back up camera in your area. Nothing like doing a little "see it for yourself" investigative work. steviej

Lexus brand wiper blade inserts: $7.74 for the right one. here $5.92 for the left one. here $4.54 for the rear one. here these don't come with the metal inserts either. I buy my inserts here and order 4 for each side at a time. I think there is even a 10% discount on top of that price for LOC members. steviej

I'm not taking that bet. I already know the answer, just look at the cars that have "stuff" on them and the ones that don't. I actually notice/look for this stuff every time I drive. Lexus, Audi, MB, BMW, Infinity....the majority all ride clean. steviej

Here are some pictures from an online dealership. click here The OEM wheels are: 17x7.5 aluminum alloy 10 spoke wheel 18x8 aluminum alloy 5 spoke wheel 18x8 G-Spider wheel 18x8 Tourmaline wheel There are plenty of other OEM wheels offered by Lexus, however, these are the four pictured in the 2006 GS brochure. steviej

I believe Akebono makes the pads for Toyota. steviej

on my 02 ES, i got over 50k on the front pads and 75k on the rear pads. This of course is dependent on the type of braking you do. steviej

Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S. nice all round tire for the ES. go to www.tirerack.com and use their decision tree to help find a tire that might suit your specific needs. steviej

I have noticed that on only a few occasions in my 06 but have never really paid attention to it other than just pass it off as possible a change in pressure in the booster. I am a responsive/tactile driver and find myself very aware of vibrations, sounds and sensations such as this. I can say that braking was not effected in the least. I just found my self pressing ever so slightly more (but not much). I didn't see if as a problem. I also cannot recreate it at will. The best I can surmise that it occurs when trhe tranny is downshifting and simultaneously braking lightly. steviej

added?: not necessarily so. Depends on what the fluid level is after the the calipers have been expanded to accomodate the new pads. If the system was not opened to air (meaning the calipers were not removed or the brake line was not detached) then there may not be a need for a flush or fluid addition. You would like to think new fluid is addded with a new brake job, but it doesn't always happen. steviej

I beg to differ (at least in my case). I specifically requested a power flush on my brake fluid service at 30k miles. I saw them put the big funnel thing on top of the resevoir and full it with new fluid. I watched them open the bleeders and let if flow through. I can't say what other placed do, but from what I saw, I have to trust my dealership. steviej

Were the wheels balanced and ran true at 80mph before the work was done? If so, then you need to have them redo it. Or better yet, find a reputable shop that has a Hunter Road Force Balancing machine and a tech that knows how to use it properly. Have the tire rebalanced on this type of machine. Also have the alignment redone. Get printouts of the before and after specifications. If any of the before settings are "out of spec." then take them and the bill to Firestone and ask to be reimbursed for the service that corrected the Firstone induced problem. Threaten small claims court if you have to. Don't drive 80mph is a poor excuse for a solution. This just goes to show you why I don't take my car to Firestone. steviej

moved to GX section.

as do I. Will the abrasive do anything to the touch screen sensitivity or ability? steviej

If it is the bulb, don't buy it from the dealer as it will cost an arm and a leg. You can get Philips D4S bulbs online for cheaper. Just google them. The fun part is puttin' em in. steviej

Take it to another shop, a shop that has a Hunter Road Force balance machine. Have the tire rebalanced under force and have the car realigned. Get a printout of the before and after specs. If the before specs are incorrect or out of spec, then take the information to Firestone and ask for your money back on at least the service(s) that are incorrect. Threaten smail claims court if you have to. If the services are done correctly, there should be no shimmy. Just out of curiousity, was there shimmy before the whole service work. steviej

Lexus gets allocated a minimum of one hour for each fluid flush. At $120 per hour, there is $240 right there in time alone for two fluid flushes that will actually take less than an hour. Luckily, this procedure can be done by any qualified ACE shop and most likely for alot less. A third option would be to have it done at a Toyota dealership where at least the hourly rate will be less. I traditionally have those fluid flushed and replaced every 30k miles. steviej

if you got less than 50k miles on it, then just take it in. The warranty is still in effect. It may be the balast or ground. steviej

it's so us old fogey's can play our 80's disco tapes. we don't throw away nuttin' !!! steviej

your CEL light issue in this case may be related to your gas cap and overfilling the tank. Technically you should fill up to the first stop and then not force anymore in. I wonder if the rubber seal around you cap is dry and cracked, it is 10 years old. steviej

Do you have a garage? If so, push the car in there and remove the battery or the main ECU fuse. This is assuming that you can access the inside of the car. If not, call Lexus Roadside Assistance and have them tow the car to your lexus dealership, you should be covered. Then see if you can't work out an agreeable deal with them. If you have two dealerships within the area, play one against the other to get the best price. Have you talked to your insurance company? They may cover the cost of the key placement/reprograming, it is cheaper for them to do that than to cover the cost of the stolen vehicle if that happens. Unfortunately, insurance companies don't buy into that "ounce of prevention" bologna. steviej

I picked up an 06 GS AWD from my aunt last May. Best car I have ever driven. The AWD is fabulous in the New England snow (been challenged many times this winter). I have never had any rattles, but the windshield pins were removed as per a TSB, so I can't say that I have ever heard what this annoying rattle actually sounds like. I loved my 02 ES, and I like the GS even more. steviej

I had the same question since the manaul says the plugs are iridium. Iridium plugs should last to close to 90k. My dealership has a service brochure that states the GS has platinum plugs and suggests replacement at 60k. I asked for clarification since one document says one thing and the manual says another. The lead mechanic for my service writer's team said the plugs are definately iridium and should not have to be replaced until 90k. Now, my 02 ES had iridium plugs and I opted to replace them at 60k. They were pristine. I could have waited until 90k and I will wait until 90k on my GS. steviej PS, the dealership said they will look into why their brochure states contradictory information.

Not suggested. If you put on a 245/45-18 tire instead of the stock 245/40-18, the car will travel 3.7% faster than what is displayed on the speedo. Most tire shops won't mount a set up that changes the speedo more than 2%. steviej

It happens to me too. It is not the radio, it is in fact loss of signal. I know exactly where it will happen on the roads I travel because it always does. Oddly enough, it is the same places my cell phone has the poorest reception too. I also lose signal briefly when I go under a bridge. steviej

correct. I think at one point the shark fin was for Sirus and the black square was for XM. That may all have been consolidated into the fin. I do know I have XM, an 06 and a small black square on my trunk lid. :( steviej