Jump to content

B-n-B

Regular Member
  • Posts

    11
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by B-n-B

  1. Just a quick follow-up. The keys were delivered certified mail on the 27th (about 2 weeks after I ordered). I'm very happy. I started with one cracked master key (had to be very careful turning the car on), and ended up with 2 fully programmed and working master keys (ordered one new master, and a new shell and moved the 'guts' over) -- for less than the dealer wanted to charge me for 1 new key. Programming was very easy following the instructions on the website, though I did have to go through the remote programming a few times until I held the key in the right place (up by the sunroof controls) for the final step to work. Can't believe the dealer wanted to charge me $90 for the 5 minutes it took me. It helped having 2 people, one to put the key in and out and one to open and close the door (and to have the timer for the 2-second / 1-second button presses at the end). No complaints ... toy-lex.com did a great job.
  2. Hi All, I have one master key for my 2003 and it's cracked (seems to be the standard failure mode), so I've been using the valet key. I ordered both a new shell (to move the guts of my existing master into) and a replacement master from www.toy-lex.com about a week and a half ago. I have emailed them twice about when I might expect the new keys and I'm not getting a response (my online order status says "processing"). Has anybody used them? How long does it usually take for the keys to arrive? Thanks a bunch!
  3. Hi All, have spent my lunch hour reading posts about this problem. Seems like there is a lot of discussion about alternators and the wiring on the hinge of the trunk ... question, is that wiring still something to check on a 2003? I know it's there for the older models. When my headlights are off, I get no warning light. The minute I turn my headlights on, I get the "Tail light failure" warning on the instrument panel. All my tail lights are illuminated. I have no idea if I have OEM bulbs or not, just had 2 replaced by the local Toyota dealer (took 2 trips ... grrr) .. you'd think they'd at least look at them after replacing the bulb ... sigh. So, is the recommended procedure the following: - double check all lamps .. including one in the back window - replace all bulbs with OEM bulbs - check for corrosion and clean sockets - check for correct voltage (12.5 amps)? Can I use a volt-meter for that? - check wiring box in truck hinge (if option for my year) - check alternator Other ideas? Even with the troubles so far, I *love* my "new" car. :D It was on sale, after all. Thanks so much guys!
  4. It's funny, I looked at the photos and said "oh yea, that's my car" ... we got home Sunday evening, dropped it off at the Toyota dealer for a once-over on Monday morning, and haven't seen it since. Should get it back tomorrow evening. It look a long time to get things straightened out with the selling dealer about the diff vent and so forth, so they didn't actually start any work until today. Passed on the brake job, since the rotors were just machined in January (800 miles ago), the original deal assured me that the rust was "flash rust" from sitting and would wear off with normal use. You guys probably knew this, but you can only machine your rotors about twice before they get too thin and will need replacement next time ... seemed like I'd rather save up that machining for when I really need it. We're going to take it on a road trip to New Hampshire in a few weeks, so that will hopefully be a fun time to test it out. I think I'll need hours in the garage to figure out how everything works. :-D
  5. I called back and demanded more information. The story is that the replacement vent part has to be "bent" to fit into the "hole" and it will never be as good or as tight of a seal as the factory original. She did say that if cleaning doesn't fix it, the warranty dealer did offer to pay to replace. I feel a bit better. sorry for all the questions!!
  6. I haven't had a chance to look at it (it's been at the dealer since Monday AM), and hubby is out of town. The warranty dealer offered to pay to have the vent cleaned, not replaced. Apparently the cleaning is about $90 ... the replacing is $120 ... so, I said "how about I pay the extra $30 and have it replaced." ... the service coordinator indicated that it was actually better to not replace it, but instead clean it. This sounds somewhat suspicious to me, so I called another Lexus dealer service guy and he said that cleaning it is putting a band-aid on it .. much better to replace it, especially if it would only cost me the difference, since it will at some point wear out again. ARGH! You guys have any opinion about who is right? Thanks a ton!
  7. Hi All, me again ... Got the call back from the local Toyota dealer. It's not as good as I would like, but could be worse (a little under $1k ... kinda surprising since the Lexus dealer did their check over and fixed a bunch of stuff) The one item that I don't know anything about ... they said there is a rear differential leak, and that the "vent" is frozen/locked and needs to be replaced. I went to lexuspartsonline, and managed to find the differential parts category, but nothing in there says vent ... the lady at the dealer didn't have a part price, but they said about 1 hour of labor. I got a 1K mile / 1 month warranty on engine/drive train/transmission from the dealer I purchased it from ... it seems like this would count in that bucket, right? I just hope they don't make me take it back to their location ... need to read over the paperwork tonight. Is this a serious thing? Could it be an indication of larger issues (i.e. should I make the local folks dig into it more in case it's a something that I could get fixed under my very tiny warranty), or is it just something that wears and I shouldn't be concerned? Thanks so much!
  8. Well, we spent the weekend driving 6 hours one way to buy a used 2003 Lexus LS430 ... and then had to deal with tornados, closed highways, and frog-choking rain on the way home. See my previous post (Miles vs. Years) ... for some of the decision making thrashing around. It has about 75,000 miles on it, silver, and has a few cosmetic issues, as well as a few known issues (like 1 missing and 2 broken parking sensors, some wheel corrosion, and some paint scratches) ... but we got it "on sale" as it was just going to auction, so unless the dealer who is checking it over today comes up with some expensive and scary items, we feel ok with the known repair costs. I think it's a similar case to the house buyer that can't see past the bad wallpaper job (at least I sure hope that is why it wasn't sold -- the sales guy assured me that was the case, and they always tell the truth, right. HAHAHAHA). Where is the video that tells me how to use my car? ;) I haven't felt this dumb since I got a Herman Miller Aeron chair at work with about a billion adjustment settings. I must say, the Nav was very helpful with figuring out the 30 mile detour on I-57 yesterday. I've been reading on the forum for a few weeks, and there is a lot to learn. I saw a wiring diagram somebody posted for the parking sensors the other day, so we may investigate trying to replace the missing one ourself (ordering the parts from one of the websites that are recommended on this forum) -- looks like that's an all parts cost item. Hopefully the wiring harness is in there ... not sure how you LOSE the sensor ... ? Here are a couple pictures (if the links work): note the missing sensor on the rear bumper Just had to share the joy!!!
  9. They offered it to me at $17,900 ... seems like a SUPER deal! Any red flags to anybody out there?
  10. Life gets more complicated. I stumbled across another Lexus LS430 (2003) heading for auction from the Lexus dealer (they have had it since January). It's got 74,144 miles, the nav/nice radio package, carfax 1 owner, no accidents. Concerns: It was owned by somebody who lived very very far from a Lexus dealer, so the lexus service history is very thin. Pretty much only shows the 25K checkup, and the brakes once. I'm sure they were having stuff done by a non-lexus dealer. The dealer who got it on trade in did the standard oil change, filters, put 2 new tires on it, trans and coolant flush, and the drive belt. Also, one of the rear parking sensors is missing (as in gone), it has some corrosion on the tire rims, and a few scratches on the fender/hood ... none of these seem like a big deal to me. These are the reasons he listed as why he thinks the car isn't selling ... said it drives and rides like any other ls 430. Temptation: It's currently listed at $23,000 (same price as the other one I was looking at), but he said he'd give me a "heck of a deal" ... waiting for the call back to quantify what that means. Was thinking I should bargain for the 75K service as part of the deal if I go for it (or maybe they already did everything .. can't find a service schedule). The question is, at what price is this a good deal? I can buy the other one (listed at $23K with 86K miles and full service history) ... and I might be able to talk him down some and/or get the 90K service included. NOTE: Husband is very cheap!! Trying to get the price as low as possible while still getting a good reliable car. Thanks so much for your sage advice. :D
  11. Hi, Hubby and I have decided that the Lexus LS430 is the car for us to have. We buy using the death statistics and injury numbers ... add reliability and this one floats right to the top! We want to keep it in the low 20s for price. My question is, am I better off to buy an older car with fewer miles, or a newer car with more miles? For example, I am looking at a 2003 with 86,500 miles ... full package ... $23,000 (all maintenance done at dealer, recalls and bulletins taken care of) OR 2001 with 64,000 miles ... strip package (no nav, etc.) ... $21,000 (not sure about maintenance history .. need to get that from the dealer) What's the better way to go? Seems like these run forever? Any help would be greatly appreciated. We're going to have to drive several hours to buy one, since we have no Lexus dealer locally (but have Toyota dealer who said they can do almost all repairs). Thanks a bunch!
×
×
  • Create New...

Forums


News


Membership