BARNEYHYPHEN

Washed entire motor out using spray electronics cleaner. Washed out all the 12 years of accumulated crap, then washed and dried hamster wheel. Using a spray lubricant (with straw), lubbed up bearings at both ends of the motor and reassembled back in to the black plastic housing. now all back in place and running almost silently but totally chirp/squeak free. BH

UPDATE. Actual fan motor now removed from the black plactic housing, albeit with hamster wheel blade assembly still attached to the motor shaft BUT it now allows much better access to the underside of the hamster wheel and the bearings on both ends of the motor. Removed the motor from the plastic housing by removing the two screws on the end of the motor, gently prying off the small "cover" on the side of the plastic casing and then tapping the end of the metal motor, throught the opening made by the removal of the small cover. Whole motor assembly slid out from the black plastick housing.

Ok, fan assembly out. Good start. Now, how do I extract the plastic blade assembly from the motor shaft? I've removed the circular spring clip but blades do NOT want to come off the motor shaft. I want to get to the shaft bearing and can not do so with the blade assembly in place. Thanks. BH

I have the same problem on my wife's 2000 LX. Is the blower motor etc in the same place on the 2000? I have previously removed the glovebox etc and the large Black plastic cover ect, behind the glovebox but never seemed to get in there deep enough to actually find the blower motor and fan. Should I be attacing it from underneath the dash, above the passenger footwell, as opposed to behind the glovebox? I believe the problem is probably dry bearing(s). Thanks. BH

I'm not sure if "US SPEC" make an iPod box (interface) for the LX yet but I got one from Crutchfield for my daughter's Explorer. Basically wires into the stock wire loom, behind the factory stereo (all plugs and wiring included) and leaves you with a wire/plug that you plug your iPod into. You can have the wire/plug come out wherever you need it to be with a little routing. You can then control the iPod from the factory stereo. IMHO, 1000x better than any experience I have had with "wireless" FM units.

Yes. Cool Springs. Took a little persuation but I think the end result was ok. I still don't think Lexus is trying quite as hard as they did in the early to mid 90's to win/retain customers. They're almost as complacent now as Merc & BMW were before Lexus appeared.

Mehullica, Thank you for the advice. This sounds real straight forward. The sound seems to be coming from perhaps behind the ashtray? Is the terminal block behind the right driver's side kick panel or the left passenger side. Thanks you. Update. Lexus relented and agreed to replace the Junction Block. Did it yesterday. They paid for the part ($650 retail) and I paid for the labor ($255). I think this was an ok resolve. Thanks again everyone's advice on this issue.

Mike, we now have five people with the same problem. LX470 with faded paint on hood/upper tailgate/roof. We need to get together on this issue. Please feel free to E-mail me tdf@newhall.biz. Thanks. Hi Folks, I'm thinking of getting a 1999 LX470 that seems to be pretty well loaded with everything but the rear wind deflector. It has approx 90K miles on it and it seems to be in excellent condition as far as the interior goes. The exterior looks in good shape with the exception of paint fading on the hood, tailgate, and roof. Was there a problem in this year with the Smokey Topaz color. In general, is there anything I should look for before purchasing other than the normal wear and tear and abuse of an SUV. I had a Sequoia but turned it back in after the lease last year and didn't think I was going to get another large SUV but this just called to me as I drove by. Any thoughts would be appreciated on this model year and paint issues. thanks fdavid I have the same exact car and color. We are having the same problem with the paint fading on a garage kept 470. I approached Lexus and they have agreed to pay for half though I'm not happy with that solution. My thought is if we get together we will see there is a problem Lexus needs to address. Thoughts? Mike Mike, we now have five people with the same problem. LX470 with faded paint on hood/upper tailgate/roof. We need to get together on this issue. Please feel free to E-mail me tdf@newhall.biz. Thanks. Hi Folks, I'm thinking of getting a 1999 LX470 that seems to be pretty well loaded with everything but the rear wind deflector. It has approx 90K miles on it and it seems to be in excellent condition as far as the interior goes. The exterior looks in good shape with the exception of paint fading on the hood, tailgate, and roof. Was there a problem in this year with the Smokey Topaz color. In general, is there anything I should look for before purchasing other than the normal wear and tear and abuse of an SUV. I had a Sequoia but turned it back in after the lease last year and didn't think I was going to get another large SUV but this just called to me as I drove by. Any thoughts would be appreciated on this model year and paint issues. thanks fdavid I have the same exact car and color. We are having the same problem with the paint fading on a garage kept 470. I approached Lexus and they have agreed to pay for half though I'm not happy with that solution. My thought is if we get together we will see there is a problem Lexus needs to address. Thoughts? Mike Mike, TomLX & Pitbull....Looks like we have five people so far with exactly the same problem. Hood/Upper tailgate/Roof PAINT FADING. We need to address this issue with Lexus. Feel free to contact me at tdf@newhall.biz. Thanks.

The Clot Thickens, TomLX, Pitbull & Barneyhyphen, That makes 3 already, and we haven't even really started looking yet! Starting to smell like a Class Action Lawsuit? Just kidding, I just want my faded panels resprayed. Funny enough, my roof has NOT faded (YET). Hood & upper tailgate only at this time. Time to talk to a paint professional me thinks? Hey TomlX & Pitbull, Did a little more digging over the last 5 minutes and have discovered "Mike" & "fDavid100". Guess what.... they've got the SAME problem. Well Well! Looks like we've got five now. Agree 50% is something but also agree, not the right offer. Hopefully, when lexus repaint MY panels, they'll use some of that terrible old Ford or Isuzu paint.

The Clot Thickens, TomLX, Pitbull & Barneyhyphen, That makes 3 already, and we haven't even really started looking yet! Starting to smell like a Class Action Lawsuit? Just kidding, I just want my faded panels resprayed. Funny enough, my roof has NOT faded (YET). Hood & upper tailgate only at this time. Time to talk to a paint professional me thinks?

The car is a champagne colour. Never waxed a car in 31 years of driving. Never had a car paint fade. Currently have 1976 KZ900, 1990 Isuzu Trooper, 2000 Ford Explorer and 2004 M3. NONE of these has ever been waxed. The only car I own that has faded paint is my 2000 LX470? Is non-waxing the problem or could it be....let's see BAD PAINT? I'll bet a dime to a $ there's a problem with the paint. Wadya thank? Let's Discuss.

Mehullica, Thank you for the advice. This sounds real straight forward. The sound seems to be coming from perhaps behind the ashtray? Is the terminal block behind the right driver's side kick panel or the left passenger side. Thanks you.

As Mehullica correctly diagnosed, I need the Terminal block relaced! "Sorry, out of waranty" That'll be $250 Labor + $658 in parts. Why is this not a recall item? WHAT A TOTAL RIPOFF.

My LX has 58k miles and experiencing similar paint fading on the upper rear tailgate. Except when parked at the office mine is kept in garage or under car port as well. I don't think this is normal for a car this young. I have an 1984 Mercedes Benz 300TD station wagon and the original paint looks better than the shade of the Lexus' tailgate. I'm not sure if the dealer can do anything about it. TOMLX470, WE HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM, Check your HOOD. I can't believe we're the only two out there.

Thanks everyone. The car doesn't have NAV and the sound is there when everything in the cabin is OFF. I assume TSIB..... is some kind of Tech bullitin? Any ideas where I might locate that. Thanks.

Thanks for the input. When I say it's under cover, I mean it's parked in a carport when it's not being driven. Not it's under A cover. Sorry for the confusion. It doesn't look like oxidization, it looks very much like paint thinning. it looks like the top layers of clear/pain have liturally worn away. No, I don't ever touch it with a buffer, I mearly wash it regularly with a good quality car wash liquid mixed in warm water.

2000 LX470 116,500 miles, kept under cover. I have terrible paint fade on both the hood and the upper rear tailgate. Has/does anyone else had/have this problem? Thanks.

2000 with 116,500. New Transmission, supplied and paid for by Lexus at 82,000. FOR SALE. tdf@newhall.biz

2000 LX470. Yesterday a high pitched tone/whistle started inside the car. In trying to locate it "seems?" to be coming from in or around the top of the shifter. It doesn't occur if the engine is off. It DOES occur when the engine is running, with the radio and a/c OFF. It doesn't change in tone or frequesncy from P to R to D etc. Any clues. Thanks.

I suggest you aim a "pi**ed-off" letter, personal & confidential, to the most senior individual at Lexus in the USA, whomever that might happen to be, with pictures. I suspect they will fall over themselves to make it right.

Sorry for your problem. I've got the same vehicle 2000 lx470 76,000. build date 00/2000. I'll take a listen to mine when it's running again! Problems so far...Transmission self-destructed @ 72,000, Lexus paid for the Transmission ($2,800), I paid for the labor ($800). "VCS" light came on @ 72,500 and lexus say I need a new throttle body ($1,400), saving up for this one. Starter/solenoid died last week @ 76,400 ($1,100). Look out. Good luck!

ALSO HAVE 2000 LX470. 76,000 MILES. OWNED SINCE NEW. TRANSMISSION TOTALLY SELF DESTRUCTED AT 71,500 MILES. LEXUS BOUGHT THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION ($2,800+), I PAID THE LABOR ($800). 74,250 MILES THE "VSC" LIGHTS CAME ON. LEXUS RESET THE CODE AND TELL ME I NEED A NEW THROTTLE BODY. SOUND FAMILIAR? 76,000 MILES THE STARTER/SOLENOID RETURNS GET JUST ONE "CLICK" WHEN I TRY TO START. CAR WILL ACTUALLY CRANK AND START MAYBE 1 IN 20 ATTEMPTS. BEAUTIFUL CAR BUT LONTERM QUALITY VERY DOUBTFULL.

2000 LX470 76,000 MILES. WILL NOT START. TURN THE KEY AND GET ONE "CLICK". MAYBE 1 IN 20 ATTEMPTS THE ENGINE ACTUALLY CRANKS AND THE CAR STARTS. BATTERY TESTED YESTERDAY AT AUTOZONE AND CONFIRMED GOOD. SOUNDS LIKE A SOLENOID PROBLEM? DO I REPLACE JUST THE SOLENOID ($90+) OR THE WHOLE STARTER ($200+)? IS THE STARTER ACCESSABLE? HOW LONG SHOULD THE JOB TAKE ME? VERY MECHANICALLY CAPABLE BUT ANY AND ALL ADVICE WOULD CERTAINLY BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. THANKS.

2000 LX470 76,000 MILES. WHEN I TURN THE KEY I GET ONE CLICK. ORIGINAL BATTERY BUT BATTERY TESTED YESTERDAY AT AUTOZONE AND CONFIRMED GOOD. SOUNDS LIKE A SOLENOID PROBLEM? PLAN ON CHANGING OUT ENTIRE STARTER ($200+) OR JUST THE SOLENOID ($90+). VERY MECHANICALLY CAPABLE BUT WOULD ASK SOME ADVICE. IS THE STARTER ACCESSABLE? HOW LONG IS THIS LIKELY TO TAKE ME. ANY AND ALL ADVICE MOST APPRECIATED. THANKS.