amcdonal86

I would be very cautious doing that. You can easily ruin your windshield and force yourself to buy a completely new one.

It's time for a chill pill!

Thread summary

Loud popping during braking can come from many sources:

-loose pads

-loose caliper mounting bolt

-ball joints

-lower control arms

In my case it was the lower control arm. My car had only 112k miles, so it is possible for a LCA to go bad at around this mileage.

Yes, I switched to synthetic at about 90k because it allows me to change my oil at longer intervals (I do 10k). This is the first car I've had that doesn't burn oil over that time period!!!

lsrxlex, thanks for following up!

This is not normal. I believe your car has the same brakes as my '97, which stops well and doesn't require putting the pedal to the floor.

I've never tried to slam on the brakes at 50 mph, but I can definitely lock the brakes on a sandy surface at low speeds.

I use Lexol every few months on my Lexus. I haven't noticed any problems.

Why on earth would you use Vinylex on leather? I use it on my dash and the VINYL parts in the interior. Unlike Armor All, it does not seem to have a lot of gassing that creates a film on the windows after a short period of time. (This is good!)

Maybe I will try Leatherique sometime.

What a bunch of babies...

Not that anyone cares, but replacing the right front LCA has fixed the problem.

Even if its a drive by wire- throttle system error, why would it not appear in any of the other Lexus models including the RX, LS models. I am not hearing those had issues.

Can't lexus use the same firmware as those cars had to fix the issue if they were good.

Not saying this source is 100% credible, but this article quotes a guy who says his 2000 LS400 did the same thing.

http://industry.bnet.com/auto/10003499/sud...ot-just-toyota/

I think we will see the probe extend to many other Lexus models.

The problem seems to get worse when the weather is warmer. Although, after I tightened the LCA bolt, it's bad all the time!

The driver didnt call 911...the passenger in the back did...

Even so, how the heck can people have time to call 911? It shouldn't take you more than 10 seconds to figure out to put it in neutral. Unfortunately, that's not enough time to stop the car from running over a couple kids on the sidewalk or hop the curb, but it should definitely be enough time to stop it from reaching 120 mph!

A car running a curb into a building I can understand that a driver can't react in time, but a car running down the 405 freeway at 120 mph? Really? And they had time to call 911? REALLY? Come on.

I absolutely agree. How in the hell can people have time to call 911 when this is happening!

I wouldn't worry too much. As long as most of it is still intact, you should be fine.

Those headlight bulbs took me about 30 minutes to figure out. Not very helpful when the owners manual just tells you to see your dealer...

Another improvement of drive by wire has more to do with ease of packaging. You can put the throttle body in more places and without having to worry about connectivity with a cable!

EVERYONE REMEMBER THIS THREAD? (complete with carnage photos)

http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...=56647&st=0

Got closed because some moderator thought it was completely made up. Who knows, maybe it is. But my guess is not.

It's funny how one day everyone can call you a lunatic one day, but the next day, most people agree with your suspicions.

Well, since nobody seems to know what the symptoms are, I went ahead and ordered the part.

Ok. I replaced my ball joints and I still have the noise that the original poster describes.

However, I had read that a loose bolt for the lower control arm can cause all kinds of popping and banging sounds. So I tightened it. Now the noise is much more easily reproduced. AND it's also much LOUDER than before. Now it's a really serious sounding banging sound when I push hard on the brakes!

So my guess is my noise is LCA-related. What are the symptoms of bad LCAs?

I need to know now because if I'm going to replace my LCA, I want to do it on Friday, which would require me ordering the part very soon!

After the media is done flogging Toyota, the Lexus brand will mean nothing!

You are a lazy bastid! You can't even capitalize and use punctuation... :P :D :D

Plus your holier than thou attitude was apparent in the email, which probably got you that response.

This makes a lot more sense than the "condensation in the pedal mechanism" theory...

I just looked at the list for the latest recall, the RX isn't on it...no Lexus is actually.

It's only a matter of time...

Seems to me that if it's not a problem with the floor mats, it has to be some sort of problem with the drive by wire system. And I highly doubt that this would just be limited to the Toyota brand. But we shall see!

http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/26/news/compa...ndex.htm?hpt=T1

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc. said Tuesday it is asking dealers to temporarily suspend sales of eight models.

The company's sales suspension is part of a recall announced last week to correct a problem that could cause the accelerator pedal to stick.

"Helping ensure the safety of our customers and restoring confidence in Toyota are very important to our company," said Toyota USA group vice president Bob Carter. "This action is necessary until a remedy is finalized."

About 2.3 million vehicles will be affected by the recall, Toyota said Tuesday in a statement.

The automaker also said that it will halt the production of vehicles in certain production facilities in Canada, Indiana, Kentucky and Texas during the week of Feb. 1 to "assess and coordinate activities."

The vehicles covered under the recall are:

2009-2010 RAV4, Corolla, Matrix, 2005-2010 Avalon, certain 2007-2010 Camry, 2010 Highlander, 2007-2010 Tundra and the 2008-2010 Sequoia.

The new recall involving sticking accelerator pedals is separate from an on-going recall of 4.2 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles due to the risk of pedal entrapment because of a loose floormat.

About 1.7 million Toyota Division vehicles have been affected by both recalls.

Toyota owners with questions should call Toyota's customer service line at 800-331-4331.

I remember posting a thread a long time ago where a friend of a friend crashed into a store at Tysons Corner Mall in Northern Virginia because her Lexus IS250's gas pedal got stuck somehow and the car began to accelerate before she had time to react. At the time, everyone said it was hearsay and the thread was even closed.

Now, the IS250 isn't covered under this recall (I guess it's not really a recall), but something tells me that they might be somehow related! It certainly is interesting that Toyota is taking such a brash action.

I guess not...

Sounds like your EGR pipe is cracked.

I'm wondering if my tie-rods ends are bad.

I did this procedure shown in the video here:

The chalk lines do not stay together at all. What does this mean? Is this video accurate?

Well, I spent about an hour lubing up the brakes on the side that seemed to be making the noise, and the noise seemed to stop for a while. However, after driving for an hour or so, the noise is back just as before. I did notice, though, that my pads are pretty worn (down to the little brake wear sensor), so I will probably go ahead and order Lexus brake pads. However, I am doubtful that this is the cause of the noise.

Does anyone have any ideas on what I should check? I have replaced all of the following recently:

--upper strut mounts

--front strut rods

--front sway bar bushings

Please help!