Jump to content

HRP

Regular Member
  • Posts

    191
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by HRP

  1. I would appreciate some advice, preferably from someone who currently owns a 2002 LS430. My wife and I are seriously considering purchasing a dealer demo 2015 RX350 AWD with around 9,000 miles. We currently are driving both a 2002 LS430 base (only options are sunroof and heated seats) with 137k miles and a 2001 Honda CR-V SE AWD (top end) with 97k miles. Both of these cars are approximately the same value on a trade, dealer, or private seller price and are in great shape. The 430LS has 2 problems; a cracked passenger outside mirror cover and the rain sensor for the wipers does not work. It will need a new set of tires soon. The Honda CR-V has no real problems. Both cars have been well maintained, and the LS430 is usually garaged. We are in the central area of North Carolina. The LS is driven mostly around town but weekly has a 60 mile round trip. We do have a few days of snow and ice each winter. MY QUESTION: What problems has anyone had with the 2002 LS430 over the years, especially electrical ones? Appreciated advice: Which car would you keep if we purchase the 2015 RX 350? And why?? I will be posting this on another Lexus forum also. Thanks.
  2. Does my 2002 LS430 Have the Tanaka Grenade Airbags? Thanks, tlcmd
  3. 2002 base LS430 purchased new Labor Day 2002. Now with 105K on her. Other than checking the fluid levels, there has been no other transmission service performed. The owner's manual goes up to only 125k. Car has only been driven normally. Does it need additional tranmission servicing or fluid change, etc? Dealership wants $200+ for fluid change. What does it really need. Still drives like new without any tranny problems or symptoms. I am concerned about condensation in the tranny. Comments, suggestions, etc. Thanks, HRP Posted on Club Lexus also
  4. The latch on the left side of my 2002 LS's coin tray is broken. Suggestions for repair and/or replace, please. Is this a relatively easy R&R? Am I correct in assuming tht the 2 small bolts beneath it which are exposed when the emergency brake release handle is pulled out are the bolts holding the try in place? I have the base Millennium Silver with the grey ahd white interior. This is a dual post on the other Lexus Forum. Thanks, !Removed!
  5. This question also Posted on Club Lexus. 2002 LS430 base model. 100k. Bought new and dealer serviced every 5k. Garaged, well maintained. Appears to have developed a slight ooze from the front of the transmission pan gasket. Have gotten a tad miffed at my local Lexus service dept, so am having an outside certified Lexus mechanic fix this problem. For my general information, what besides the gasket and fluid replacement need doing? Filter, etc. Helpful hints, no-no's, etc would be appreciated. Am not real familiar with the Lexus and Toyota and other recent transmissions. The last tranny I rebuilt was a 1953 Packard Ultramatic, but have serviced my own 454 GMC, 3800 Buick, and several manual VW's dating back to a 1959 beetle. So any comments would be appreciated. Thanks, ****
  6. This question also Posted on Club Lexus. 2002 LS430 base model. 100k. Bought new and dealer serviced every 5k. Garaged, well maintained. Appears to have developed a slight ooze from the front of the transmission pan gasket. Have gotten a tad miffed at my local Lexus service dept, so am having an outside certified Lexus mechanic fix this problem. For my general information, what besides the gasket and fluid replacement need doing? Filter, etc. Helpful hints, no-no's, etc would be appreciated. Am not real familiar with the Lexus and Toyota and other recent transmissions. The last tranny I rebuilt was a 1953 Packard Ultramatic, but have serviced my own 454 GMC, 3800 Buick, and several manual VW's dating back to a 1959 beetle. So any comments would be appreciated. Thanks, ****
  7. Thanks, all. I am dual posting on Club Lexus. Are there Bilstein shocks for the LS430 (2002)?? Anyone used them??? I have been told by my dealer (during yesterday's state inspection) that the right rear shock is leaking and that I'm looking at around $700 to replace the 2 rear shocks. Fortunately, my eldest son is quite the mechanic in his free time, so he gets the first look for confirmation. Also, my tire and alignment shop (who does a much better alignment than the Lexus dealer and gives lifetime balance and rotation is going to recheck them also. FYI, I'm 69, retired, and like a fairly stiff suspension. Our other cars are a 2001 Honda CR-V, 1991 Buick Reatta Convertible, and a 1977 Excalibur. In the mid - 70's I did take 2 years of auto mechanics at our local community college. I also am into detailing my own cars (I'm a Zaino Zealot)so the LS looks brand new. It has been driven around 12k/year, usually at 10+ miles trips and around town here in the South (Greensboro, N.C.) where our roads are good and well maintained. No off road driving. No hitting curbs, etc. Serviced every 5k and rotated and balanced and aligned every 5k (roughly 2-3x/year. Top of the lin Michelin A/S Tires kept at 38 lbs. I'd like a slightly stiffer shock than the OEM ones. I've got Monroe shocks/struts on my Excalibur and Buick Reatta. Thanks again, !Removed!
  8. Suggestions please. Base 2002 LS430 with 100k needs rear shocks. OEM or aftermarket. Suggestions, please. Replace all 4 or just the 2 rears. Commesnts and suggestions appreciated. Thanks, !Removed!
  9. Best of all, many auto parts store (the Advance Auto 1/2 mile down the road from me) will install the new battery purchased from them. Easier on your back. Also gives an 8 year warranty with the first 3 years being total replcement.
  10. Try ebay or ioffer.com and you might also google floor mats for that car.
  11. First question: Why does your wife want a new car? New car fever??? If she's got new car fever, let her pick it out to keep her happy. If mma ain't happy, no one is. If it's for economy's sake do the math. Cost of Prius vs keeping a perfectly good LS and the difference in fuel and maintainance costs. Figure in an extra 20 - 30 cents per gallon for premium fuel for the LS. We just went through that right before the 2 grand 90k servicing and new tires on our 2002 LS430. My wife was considering a Camry Hybrid or Avalon. The numbers (and experience and condition) said "keep the LS!!!" BTW, I've got OCD, Obsessive, Compulsive DETAILER, so the 2002 LS still looks new. Other suggestion: get it detailed professionally if you aren't into detailing a car. You probably willhave to do it if you sell it yourself anyway, and she might decide that he car looks and runs so well, she will be unhappy with anything else she drives.
  12. Comments: My sons gave me el cheapo ramps from Harbor Freight. Since they use (and lose) my tools, etc, these ramps have had about every kind of 4 wheel vehicle on them imaginable and have held up well for over 10 years. I also have a set of jack stands they have bought and used (agan from Harbor Freight). As long as you use common sense and the proper safety precautions (wheel chocks, etc) you should do fine. Even if you've got 10 thumbs, you ought to be able to do the oil and filter changes yourself. Since the federal government ("guviment", since you also are from the South) uses all kinds of vehicles and mandates that all oils, coolants, etc be compatible, I'd choose a good quality coolant, lubricant, etc and stick with it. About the only things I suggest you do regularily at a reliable shop would be tire rotation, balance, and wheel alignment. You should be able to do almost everything else yourself. What knowledge you obtain from doing this for your Lexus will "transfer" to other vehicles. You'll also learn new ways to bust your knuckles and expand your vocabulary at the same time. Keep some bandaids and antibiotic cream available. And it wouldn't hurt to have some GO-JO and shop towels handy. Years ago I did take evening classes (for 2 years) at our local techinical institure (now a community college. SInce I was the only mechanical "novice" there, I learned from everyone. Also learned a lot of "tips and tricks' used by the pros. And also have prevented myself and family members from being sold a "left handed framitz" and other unnecessary services and parts. Most reliable service facilities parts stores appreciate a customer who is familiar with their problems and knows how to ask for advice in the proper "lingo". . And provide better care to your car. This knowledge allowed Santa to give each of my 3 sons a "car" the Christmas after their 13th birthday along with a set of jackstands, tools, and a manual. (They were told that if they ever were caught under the car without a jackstand, that car was history. It gave them a respect and a helluva lot of experience and kept them out from under the hoods of our family cars. Together, any 2 of them can now drop a VW 1600 engine out, completely rebuild, and replace it within 3 hours if they remember to have all the parts and tools at hand. One is working now on his Phd, one is a high mogul in a fortune 500 company, and the other is high up in a multi-state filter, tank, pump, and maintainance company. All still do their own car work. And keep their kids' go-karts, motorcycles, lawnmowers, etc up.
  13. Would go with the Michelin Primacy MXV4's unless you are planning to do some weird driving or are planning to trade cars in the next 50k. Advise running at a slightly higher pressure than recommended by Lexus. Slightly stiffer ride, better handling and gas milage.
  14. FYI, Most places have a shop that repairs equipment which uses hydralic hoses (fork lifts, etc). And most of them need to be repaired NOW when they die. Google, your phone book (yellow pages), brake shops, etc and help you to find the nearest ones.
  15. When one of my p/s hoses went on another car ('77 Excalibur), I took the old hoses to my local hydralic hose company and they made me new ones (fittings and all) for a pittance (less than $25). Suggest you try that route but do not tell them that it is for a motor vehicle.
  16. Tire pressure has been discussed at length here and on about every discussion board about cars. Briefly, your tires are used by the engineers and designers in helping to adjust your ride. Many of us who prefer a firmer ride and quicker handling run our tires at a higher pressure than suggested by the manufacturer. If you search tire pressure on the web, you'll find that many state highway patrol departments recommend 40 lbs for handling (and this commonly on Ford Crown Vics which are of comparable waight to an LS). If you watch your tread wear, you'll find that under-inflated tires wear on both the outer and inner aspects of the tread. Over-inflated tires wear on the tread crown. Then adjust tire pressure accordingly. I generally run high quality Michelin all season tires on our vehicles which weigh in at around 4000 lbs and run cold tire pressures of 38 lbs. I get firm handling, a slightly stiff ride, and good traction as well as even wear. I do rotate, balance, and 4 wheel align at least every 5k. I also check tire wear and pressures every couple of weeks. I would not run tires at less than your vehicle manufacturers recommended pressures or higher than your tire manufacturer's recommendations. Look up "how to read your tire information on your sidewalls". This will tell you the maximum cold tire pressure (usually around 44 lbs for most Michelins and other automobile premium tires). And increasing your tire pressure usually will improve fuel milage a bit. Hope this info helps.
  17. Both front sunvisors on our 2002 LS430 have recently developed a horrible "squeek" which sounds more like an angry crow. The noise occurs with the rotation of the sunvisor on the plastic tube when the visor is rotated up and down either in or out of the clip above the inside rearview miror. I've used a silicon lubricant as far down the tube as the visor will extend without significant improvement. The noise does not occur with rotation of the visor to cover the side window. Only when the visor is rotated up and down (in any position, extended or not). Suggestions??? Thanks, HRP
  18. My curiosity speaking, "Why are you selling it?"
  19. The Lexus manual recommends a dilute wool cleaner (as in 5% Woolite). I have a spray bottle of it and clean my interior leather and vinyl with that and a terrycloth wash cloth. Then rinse with water, dry, and apply Zaoino's Leather-in-a-Bottle (Z-10). My interior looks great and smells like it has new leather.
  20. Go here, http://www.edmunds.com/maintenance/select.html enter your car's info, then on the next page scroll down and you can see what Lexus recommends for your next servicing. And no, I cannot explain why our local Lexus dealer charges 3x ($1700) the anticipated cost ($524) for a 90k servicing and our local Toyota dealer charges only 2x $1000( for the same servicing on a 2002 LS430
  21. Our 60 lb dog stepped on the console cup holder in our 2002 LS430 and now the cup holder will not stay retracted. Is thre a fix or do I need to spend upwards of $200 to get it replaced? I suspect it is "sprung." This cannot be a unique problem.
  22. As a followup to a question which I previously raiised on this and a couple other forums, I aasked my service manager about the best way to treat the upper window gasket on my Lexus 2002 LS430 which becomes rough between routine cleanups. I'd been using Z-16 Zaino's Vinyl and Rubber Protectant) for this. He recommended that I clean it until it was smooth, thrn use a silicon spray lubricant (in my garage, that's CRC). Anyone ever use it for that purpose and/or for other window or door, trunk, etc trim??? I've used it on cars as a window channel lubricant, but never as on a gaket. Will it also act as a protectant?? Comments, questions, snide remarks.
  23. FYI, when I dropped my LS430 off today for the 85k servicing and warranty work, I asked the service manager what he recommended for the problem mentioned above. He suggested cleaning that strip with a good cleaner and then spraying it with silicone lubricant. I have not tried it yet, but will when I get it back in a day or two and let you know.
  24. "Nitrogen Enriched" is just another way to sell gas. All of our gasoline comes through the same piplines, and Let's face it air is roughly 80% nitrogen, so the nitrogen "added" to Shell is insignificant, just as the nitrogen used in car tires. And if I remember my college chemistry correctly, nitrogen is slightly lighter than oxygen and will diffuse out of tires slightly faster than oxygen. Besides, Shell has "Resident Passionate Experts" on their website and also Shell has "V-Power". Somehow "passionate experts" and V-Power" seems sort of suggestive. Could Shell be Viagra for your car???
  25. Is there a way to insert an image from my computer into my signature?
×
×
  • Create New...

Forums


News


Membership