jpilk99

How tough is this to do? The premium, basic, stereo sounds good, but, I know that the Levinson is the best available. Plus, I really want Blue Tooth. Has anyone done this? Is it tough to do or pretty much unplug one and plug in the other? The Levinson supports bluetooth connections, right? Thanks all, Jay

---- This helps! Thanks!!!

-------------- Thanks, but, I actually need help just getting the plastic cosmetic covers off of the shifter base and then that whole plastic cover underneath the shifter base - where the ashtray sits into. Any ideas? I've seen nice step-by-step photos but ofcourse can't find em' now :-). Jay

Hi folks. I've seen pdf's and pictures before on how to take off the couple of pastic covers in the center console & shifter to be able to get down underneath to the audio wiring. I'm selling car and need to remove the DICE ipod adapter that's plugged in by the CD wiring. Any help is appreicated. Thanks, Jay

Thank you VERY MUCH for your information and patience. I'm going to wait until you get back to me as mentioned. I'm a little leary of bleeding air out or taking out the lines - I think the problem is a sensor and need to test them. Brought my car to a shop and his computer could not connect with the car's computer. Just to re-state problem: never had any issue with the air suspension. No hissing, or variable ride height on any wheels. Then one day, the rear end is approximately 3" too high, the suspension is stiff as a board and the car bounces around like a superball. Hitting the ride height or suspension buttons inside on the center console does nothing. The fuse is good. Disconnecting battery and removing fuse for 10 minutes, then reconnecting in that order made no change. Something is telling the car to raise up, inflate those air bladders, to this ridiculous height. Is that the 'failsafe' position? Will it go to 'failsafe' if one of the rear sensors is bad? I'm thinking of taking the sensors out, cleaning them as you say, and hoping for the best. Not really sure how to test them. Again, any help you can provide is greatly appreciated!!!!!! Jay

--- I've read the 3 docs, many many times. Doesn't tell me how to bleed the air out - just says to do it. Seems to be talking mostly about the front wheels/sensors; my problem is only with rears. Thanks for the info & help, but, it doesn't help. I give up.

Thoughts??? Yes, sell, or shoot, the car. The more I learn about this air suspesnion the more I'm convinced it was deliberately built to cause service issues that you and I would have to pay exhorbitant fees to their service departments to repair. $800 for a switch (height sensor) that looks like a $6 doodad at Radio Shack. Sorry, my sense of humor is gone. Sounds like your issue MAY be compressor related. Mine is just a failed switch/sensor somewhere. As soon as I learn more (can afford to pay to find out) I will Reply back. Jay

Thank you both for your help. I guess this is probably a designed failure/service enabler. Obviously, ANYTHING underneath a car is going to get desimated by sand, water, salt (likely), and all kinds of other abuse. I've been under the car a bunch, (unplugged both sensors hoping that would do it), and can see that they're just cheapoh switches - NOWAY they should cost more than $10. Oh well, it is what it is. The one other thing, now that I think about it, that has me concerned is: What's the likelihood that BOTH failed at the exact same time - because both driver's and passenger's side is 'failsafed' at max pressure? You know what I mean? If a sensor went bad, then just that side would be max'd out; wouldn't you think? Oh well, at least I feel I'm a lot closer to the problem. Now I just have to come up with the coin to buy them for between $600 - $800, buy a funky reverse-torque bit socket, hope they're not too rusted, and swap em' out. Ah well, at least I'm above ground!!! Thanks again folks. Jay Pilkington

I know this must be a somewhat uncommon issue, but, ofcourse when it happens - it HURTS. The rear of my car is riding at an unbelievably high height. The height switch is at "off" or normal, the Sport switch is off or at normal, I've checked the fuse, i've unplugged the rear height sensors.... Can anyone help me??? Puhlease? The car can't be driven the way it is. Thanks, Jay

MANN777, I do not see the information to bleed the air out of the REAR suspension. Did I overlook it somehow? Sorry to be a pain - it's been weeks since I have been able to drive the car and need it; badly. I've disconnected the battery and removed fuse. No luck. Disconnected sensors on rear axle/arm, no luck. Need help. Thanks, Jay

--------------------------------------------------------------- Hi Jack, Obviously, some time has gone by since your issue - but I believe I'm having the same exact one on my 2004 LS 430 Ultra. Actually, I think it's only the rears that are over-pressurized and both sides of the rear are about 2 or 3 inches too high. Plus, driving at anything more than 5 or 10 mph and it's bouncing all over the place. Did you get the answer on how to fix? Thanks so much for any help you can lend. I can't afford a big "Lexus" repair.

--------------------------------------------------------------- Hi Jack, Obviously, some time has gone by since your issue - but I believe I'm having the same exact one on my 2004 LS 430 Ultra. Actually, I think it's only the rears that are over-pressurized and both sides of the rear are about 2 or 3 inches too high. Plus, driving at anything more than 5 or 10 mph and it's bouncing all over the place. Did you get the answer on how to fix? Thanks so much for any help you can lend. I can't afford a big "Lexus" repair.

I think there was a hiccup in the ether - nothing was embedded/attached. TexaxMANN777, I am still confused about something and that is the consideration of releasing the air from the suspension to lower it. Obviously, this will lower it at that time. But, whatever caused it to pump to 100% to an over-inflated state will still be unaddressed. As I read that list of instructions, (thank you, by the way, great stuff), it's not like leting air out of a bicycle tire; there's a lot to it. Concerned that I will go through it all and then have the problem still. Any thoughts? Oh, one more thing: Happy Friday! :D Have a great weekend if I don't catch back up with you today. Jay ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ MANN777. I sat down to dive into this project and am realizing that the fantastic details and information have a lot to do with the front struts/suspension; or at least that's how it seems. Is that your impression when you sent the detailed, 3 page, set of directions? It actually looks like the front is fine -- it's the back end that is sky high. Jay

I think there was a hiccup in the ether - nothing was embedded/attached. TexaxMANN777, I am still confused about something and that is the consideration of releasing the air from the suspension to lower it. Obviously, this will lower it at that time. But, whatever caused it to pump to 100% to an over-inflated state will still be unaddressed. As I read that list of instructions, (thank you, by the way, great stuff), it's not like leting air out of a bicycle tire; there's a lot to it. Concerned that I will go through it all and then have the problem still. Any thoughts? Oh, one more thing: Happy Friday! :D Have a great weekend if I don't catch back up with you today. Jay

That's my goal - to 'disable' the air ride suspension. Can't figure out how. I'm hoping to "pull" a fuse/switch and have it settle back to normal. Something is telling that car to pump up the rubber air bladders to an incredible height... Just wish I could find someone who can tell me how B) Thanks for your help! Jay

Well, good idea on the test, but, it did not solve it :( . Fuse was good. found out what the VCM is, Vehicle Communication Module. Not sure what to do next. Better line up a second mortgage just in case...

I don't have the car with me at work so I couldn't run out to confirm the switches on the center console - ahead of the shifter. So, I looked on eBay and found the attached picture that shows all buttons/switches; two rows of em' actually. It's the top row that has the ones we're talking about (I believe)...: One for Suspension - Sport & Norm One for Height - High & Norm One for Power/ECT/Snow So, I think you were talking about the middle one, for Height, and that it should be "Off". I'll double check, but, I think it's only one or the other; either "High" or "Norm"... If this makes any sense, please let me know. I'll still check fuse as soon as I get home. Thanks again!!!!!! Jay

Hey, I just re-read your message and want/need to clarify a point or two: "Here the VCM would reset." - VCM, what's that; a Vacuum Control Module? "Then reconnect in the same sequence of removal. Correct me If am wrong is'nt the height control s/w in the trunk." - What is "s/w"? Switch? Regardless, I'm not sure what this is. I know the button on the lower section of center console/dash - just in front of shifter - has the button/switch for "Ride" setting... Is that what you mean? (Sorry if I seem dense - just can't afford to not understand the wonderful help you're providing :-) ). "Then ensure you need to have that to off position. Rior to the start up of this job." - I assume this means to just make sure what you mean here. As noted above, I don't know of a switch in the trunk area. The one on the dask/console, would I make sure this is set to "Normal"? I think the other setting/position is "Sport"... Thanks again!!!! Jay

Thank YOU! I will jump on the fuse issue when I get home and keep my fingers crossed. Please check back on this thread after 6pm ET tonight :-). thanks again, MANN777. Jay P

I would LOVE that. As I posted on another thread, I can't believe I never read about this air suspension being a problem. It's sounding like a $2-3k repair, which of course I can't do. And no matter what size tires I put on it :P it's still unsafe to drive over 5 mph. I hit one bump and it hops around like a jack rabbit. I'll destroy tires of zip off the road. The more I torture myself about this situation it seems to me that some little switch/electrode-thingy somewhere is failed and is telling the car to inflate those rubber bladders in the shocks to 100%. If I fix the little switch then - I ^%$#@! hope - it goes back down to norman and I can use this $70,000 car again. JP

------------------------- I feel like such an idiot - I never read anything about problems with the air suspension. ??? My 04' LS430 Ultra is now running around on it's tip toes, stiff as a board. I don't know how bad the problem is - as it seem like a sensor or some electrical component is telling the air suspension to PUMP UP to full bore. What's weird is that there is NO WAY this is one of the selectable ride heights; it's just too high. Actually un-safe. I hit one bump and the rear end almost jumps off the ground. Now that I'm reading all these posts and reviews about staying away from air-suspension cars; ...I'm a scared. Holy crud!!! $3,000. But, my real curiosity is: If it's just stuck on FULL THROTTLE AIR PRESSURE - shouldn't I be able to change a switch/sensor and have it go back to normal. PLEASE GAHD, I hope someone has good information for me. Jay

I believe one of mine is defective - car is standing up on it's tippy toes; stiff as a board. I need to figure out the culprit and swap out. Thanks, Jay.

Yours is an Ultra, right? To rule out a problem with the ride height I would cycle through the other settings to see if there is any change. When I get home in the morning I will try to remember to measure from the ground up to a given point with my 06 Ultra and let you know for comparison. Thanks Brett. Ya, it's an Ultra, and I've toggled through the other settings. I called a dealer and they said it's likely a sensor gone bad. I just need to figure ot which one it is an how to swap it. Can't pay the repair shop :-). Thanks!

I could be wrong, but, the rear of my 2004 LS430 seems to be riding higher than before. Also, seems stiff when I hit a bump. The interior controls for ride height at set to "normal". Anybody ever had an issue with this - how resolve? Thanks, Jay

Sorry for what I believe is a common question & topic. My new, (04'), LS430 just lit up the "Maintenance Required" warning. I know this means to change the oil and then reset the warning. I found out how to reset warning light, but, can find info/pictures on the oil pan drain. I'm sure when I climb under the car it will be self evident but if anyone can educate me first I'd appreciate it. Plus, it sounds like it take 4.6 quarts of 5/30 - is that right? Thanks for any help you can lend.