steviej

SWEET!!

when the 1MZ-FE became VVTi it also became "interference". That means when the timing belt goes things get messed up. I think VVTi came in in 1999. 1MZ-FEs pre-VVTi are "non-interference", meaning when the timing belt goes, the motor just dies and you are dead in the water. steviej

lextek said it!! AQUANET does wonders on ink pen marks. sj (don't ask how I know this particular brand works best) :whistles:

many reasons, I think cause they were not consistent in brightness form corner to corner (easily fixed by repainting). They did not look bright enough to see during the day and I felt I maybe settin my self for a collision and the other person says "I didn't see his blinker". It may be nice to look at (silvered out bulbs) but I need the piece of mind that I am being seen the other way too. I don't know, I kinda like the reflection and star pattern of the bright amber bulb out the back when it flashes. Maybe if silvervisions ever come out, they will be consistent and brighter. As for K-Mart, maybe he meant Wal-Mart. Didn't K-Mart go out of business. I never shopped there. Overall, maybe Philips is planning a major invasion into the automotive lighting market in the US this fall. Don't rightly know. sj

thanks blake, that's the place. sj

Tornado is not worth it, save the money for dinner and a movie. If it was, don't you think everyone would make it their first engine mod. I can safely say, I know no one that has one, nor have I ever read anything positive about it. Other than what is thrown at you on the infomercial sj

OK, so I didn't like my attempt at psuedo-silvervision. Steve, I hope you have better luck with the alternative paint. I tried to remove the silver paint with laquer thinner and wouldn't you know the bulb is not amber glass. So now I got a clear bulb. With Chillaxin in mind, I popped the cleared bulb in the back light socket and hit the lock button. Jesus Christ......it lit up the neighborhood. I'm calling it Ultra White Plus. So that's out. This would get me pulled over quicker than an off color bulb. I put the ambers back in. I did contact Philips and see what their intentions where about marketing a Silvervision bulb in the 7440 wedge application. Here is there responce: Philips Lighting answer: Mr. Johnson, I've researched your request and right now we are in the process of reviewing our future product profile. Right now this bulb is not in the aftermarket profile, but we may change that this fall. Please check back with us or check your local K-Mart for future changes... Thanks for your interest in Philips Automotive Lighting oh well. I still love my car. steviej

a ramp truck hauls the car out chip and all. :( steviej

I actually have one. The only time that I use it is when I go into the city or am in a big parking lot (malls, movie theater, etc), or other high theft risk areas. I don't use it for actual security, it is more for a visual deterent. It is one more thing an honest/amature thief has to overcome. Before they can drive off on a joy ride. Truth be told, I actually forget to put it on sometimes because it is so infrequent that I use it. Same for the vinscribing. It is another visual deterent, but some insurance companies offer a little discount for doing it. If a pro wants your car, they will get it in seconds. steviej

catridges are many times on ebay and can be had at www.lexus-parts.com for usually less than the random dealership. battery is a battery.......open the fob, go to CVS, WalMart, or Autozone (take battery with you), match numbers. Will be about $1.99-3.99 each. Found it....good.....now throw the old one out BEFORE you open the new one. put new one in. same for the wheel, check ebay. There is a place to send it out. don't quote me, but it is something like www.autostiches.com do a search on steering wheels. steviej

that is an option on the 2002/03 ES, but I ain't got it. sj

piggy, LexDiamond has all the previous year's brochures. Drop a PM. SW03ES, couldn't help noticing you pic.........you need to get gas. :P :whistles: The black leather is very very tasteful and elegant, and I am envious. But I like mine too. My aunt has the black with ivory interior.

I heard moderatley equiped will be in the upper 30's. Maxed out puts it over 40. sj

sounds like Boston. Only here we signal with a finger....kinda like pointing to the lane you want to go to. Know what I mean. I got so many bulbs cause I got over zealous, and needed a few to practice. sj.

unfortunately Mightly-Lift and Strong-Arm don't list the ES in their catalogs for aftermarket struts. Again, this is a part that may also be found at Toyota for less. I wouldn't be surprised if the same strut(s) are shared with the Camry. Give them a call. But once again, the Lexus part guy has us by the back pocket. sj

my apologies to you for not reading that far. I got caught on the pictures. Let me know how yours goes and I will duplicate since I have 10 bulbs now, 8 painted and two in hiding. steviej

my friends have the 2004 Toyota Sienna LE with the 3.3L engine that is the same as the RX330 and should be the same in the ES330. The Sienna window sticker also said 230 hp as did the brochure. sj.

I never said anything about "high-pressure". I have my engine bay professionally cleaned once per year each spring to remove salts and crap left by winter. I've done it on my past cars and this Lex. If it is done by a knowledgeable person then there shouldn't be a problem and if there is, they are insured. In 17 years of doing this have I NEVER encountered a single problem. Today's engines are even more solid state than in previous years. However, you said you wiped it up...fine...but I still say the dealership owes you something for your piece of mind. The dealer is not going to use a "master key" if they have access to your key, hence that is why they are in the trunk. Agreed, they should not have left your trunk in shambles. This should be brought to their attention. I am finding that more and more Toyota dealers around me work on Lexus. I just may try them on the 30k service coming up this fall. If anything, the service rate is cheaper. poneyboy, I agree on the parts. I asked the Toyota parts guy that I saw this past Saturday what the story was between the parts and he told me that there are many parts shared but some are Lexus only. He also told me that generally the parts are cheaper from Toy if they are the ones used by both Toy an Lex. however, he could not give a reason as to why, except Lexus owners generally pay the price and only complain to themselves. So in essance he is saying "they charge a higher price because they can". How can dealerships improve shotty service if management doesn't know there is a problem? Alan, give the dealership a chance to redeem themselves. Go right to the GM, a letter helps. If anything, you will regain YOUR peace. If they don't want to work with you, then move your business to a new dealership. And you did the right thing by going to Lexus Corporate, however sometimes this may take a while to settle the present issue. steviej

I used the paint that was stated in that thread, except it was the chrome, not the silver. Let me know how yours come out. I will strip and repeat these if the silver paint works better than the chrome. the key I did find is to get the underside of the bulb, this area reflects the most amber in the mirror. sj

then I repeat what sk said......take it to Lexus and see what they find. sj

the Alabaster reminds me too much of wood putty. I like shiny sparkly things......metallic pearl anything. Silver, cause I hate cleaning.

if you got the new O2 sensor from Autozone, or if the new sensor is not OEM then it may be tripping your CEL also. I have heard that sometimes this can happen. So I ask you, is the new O2 sensor a Toyota/Lexus labeled part? sj

they can definately be seen during the day, but not what I am used to. I haven't had anyone flip me the bird or yell at me for what they thought was not signaling. People know I am turning, so they can be seen. I can most definately see them when I am walking up to it in the parking lot, but as stated, it is not like naked bulbs. I haven't seen any actual Philips Silvervison bulbs flash next to a standard 1156 amber bulb, so I really don't know if what I am seeing is the actual decrease or is my paint too thick. I did thin/smooth it out on one of the bulbs as a test to see how thin it had to be before the amber came through again. It was pretty thin. Oh well, I will see what's up next weekend. steviej

my final thoughts (I sound like Jerry Springer) you cannot put alot of paint on the bulb or they will not flash bright like uncoated bulbs (but we knew that) the bulbs are most definately visable at night..... .....the are not so visable in the brightest of sunlight like today. I will show them at a Lexus meet next Sat and see what the general consensus is. I'm 50/50 right now on them. But that is how I am on changing things. steviej

here is the psuedo-silvervison bulb (my DIY) flashing.