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I finally gave up and just run the engine and transmission ECUs in "snow" mode, which eliminates the tip-in surging altogether.
Me too. I bet that this post on Club Lexus would result in many 'fogey' or 'granny' comments.
A note to others: If you think that this isn't an issue, watch, out of the corner of your eye, your passenger's head bob when you initially accelerate.
I must confess that at times I felt like jumping in on many of the discussions but I felt it was best to wait.
My LS is the base model (Mystic sea - Ecru leather), no NAV, no ML stereo but still very very happy with it. I paid 49,900 here in Illinois. It was the last 2001 my dealer had. I would be interested in hearing if this sounds like a reasonable price.
I am coming from a 1996 ES300 that I have nothing but praise for. In April I started shopping for cars and included BMW 3s and 5s (thought 7s were out of my price range) They had great handling but couldn't live with the IMO stark interior. I didn't really consider an Infinity - negative stigma. I looked at the 2001 ES but it seemed too much like my '96. Almost bought a GS until I tried the new MB C320. I really liked the C and put down a deposit. It had a very nice ride, great interior & exterior, good price and good set of options.(Tried the E - liked it but interior was dull. S was out of price range) Then waited 5 months for delivery only to then be told I would have to wait another 1 or 2 !!! In the 5 months I waited I read the C boards and found out about all the problems (although the last time I looked they seemed to be getting most under control). What raelly put me off was the exceptionally poor dealer performance - Lexus has always been fantastic. MB dealer never called me, I always had to initiate. Then it took 2 -3 voice mails to get a response. I finally wrote to dealer and MB execs complaining about poor level of service and demanding deposit back. Got check (no other explanation) back in mail for deposit from dealer - never heard a word from MB execs.
So when the new ES came out I went for a test drive. VERY NICE WORK Lexus. But I saw this 2001 LS on the lot with 600 miles on it. Thought, before I put the money down on the ES I should at least eliminate the LS. After a testdrive I was hooked.
Hope you don't mind the long winded AUTO biography.
My questions:
Around post 2045 (or 2097 ??) JS95 says he reconfiged his own door locks. JS95 could you share the steps. I have the shop manual for the '96 ES and it shows how to do this kind of thing but it doesn't work on the LS.
Someone much earlier mentioned the ALS on their radio displaying flashing ALS icons. I just have the base radio and it just shows the ALS letters on the display when it is on. I don't really notice any difference in volume if I open windows , etc and change ambient noise level. Is it likely the ALS is not working?
Considering paying money to join clublexus. Is more detailed tech help like above available there?
Thanks in advance
Ed
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I think you made a great decision. The LS430 is a fantastic car. I helped my mom purchase a LS430 as a gift this past August. My dad helped a great deal in the actual purchase as well. I'm still a medical student, so no real need for a car, although I get to drive it when I'm back home for vacations.
Anyway, we paid about $52,000 (not including fees and tax) for an LS430 with the ML sound system only, and not usual package. So about $3800 off MSRP. So in my opinion you got a great deal on your car, especially if it hasn't been sitting on the lot. The only difference between the 2001 and 2002 is the addition of an exterior color. You have a beautiful car. Just expect that discount to resurface when you trade in or sell your car, since it's not the newer 2002. Enjoy.
gtr49;pcbrs - I have never seen an LS400 or an LS430 without a sunroof. Never. I would think that since it is an option you could custom order it but I thought Lexus packaged it with other goodies so you may have to do without heated seats, maybe the memory system etc. if you go this route.
nealm1 - I think some people at BMW lost their minds with all the technology they tried to build into the new 7. It seems like you are going to need a manual to change a radio station with that Idrive from what I've read. All I want on the next Lexus from a technology standpoint is that dirt eating glass, a tire sensor and a PHONE. I do like Infiniti's camera idea as well - but for the suv's. On scopes - try telescope.com where there are many retailers. Woodland Hills who'll you'll find on that site usually discounts Celestron a bit and offers free shipping at times and of course you'll bypass the tax. Good luck.
My dishwasher saga - discovered that the European equivalents to appliances have the same first letters as the cars; Asko, Bosch and Miele. Interesting. I told my appliance repair guy I want the Lexus of dishwashers (very quiet and very reliable) and he steered me to KitchenAid. Hope he's right.
Bitkahuna - football is awesome in HD. Why does CBS do college and not pro in HD? With BMW introducing TV's as an option for rear seat passengers will they be jumped by MB and Lexus with hdtv's for their next models? I think the technologists are running wild in these companies. Maybe the auto companies think it's a shareholder value thing. Now there's a term I haven't heard in a while.
re: steering wheel retraction groan - I tried the 'limit' fix described here earlier, and it seems to help in that the groan occurs less frequently. But I understand now that there is a proper dealer fix, so I will get that done.
re: Nav system - I am delighted with it and it works great 99% of the time. One thing though - consistently, 100% of the time, when it gets to the destination, almost 50-100 yards *before* you actually arrive, it says 'your destination is on the right (left)' - is this what you all see - or do I have a calibration problem?
Nobody else reprogrammed any behavior on their LS430?
Mine does exactly the same thing. I guess that they have street numbers encoded by block but not by location within a block (if that makes sense).
Kinda startled my neighbors until I caught on.
The reason I'm specifically looking for a '93 LS400 [other than for financial reasons] is because that was the first year for the passenger-side airbag and the 16" wheels. [along with some other significant improvements] I think even the Nakimichi stereo got a 'boost' in power. [is that 'right'??]
Is driving the LS400 like driving a Lincoln Town Car?? When people describe the ride as being 'like on a cloud' they don't mean it 'floats all over the place' - do they?? lol If you HAD to - could you PUSH an LS400 without feeling like your going to roll over??
I'd appreciate any help!!
Thanks!!
Craig
And click on the various tabs for the info you want on U.S. options.
[This site - edmunds.com - is even MORE impressive - and informative - than I thought!!]
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Craig!! )
First, when I invoke it (by holding the ALS button until a beep) all I see on my LCD display are the letters ALS. Others have mentioned flashing Icons, etc. Is this on your Nav screen or should I be seeing something in addition to ALS on the basic radio?
Second, if I set the radio volume so it is just audible and then raise the ambiant noise level (e.g., open the windows) I do not hear any change in radio volume to compensate (thus I no longer hear the radio well above the outside noise). Does this suggest the ALS is not working? Is there something else I need to do to invoke ALS besides just holding the button until a beep?
TIA
Ed
IMHO the tip-in surge is the result of the engine ECU doing something to reconfigure the engine mechanicals, intake plenum volume, value timing, etc, just at the instant it senses an off-idle throttle movement. Whatever it does, it seems to "instantly" increase the engine's torque output.
The WOT delay you are experiencing in your LS is very likely directed related. I can readily understand that in "cruise" the engine mechanicals are more likely "tuned", adjusted, for maximum MPG rather than performance.
When you suddenly go from "cruise" to WOT it might take a few milliseconds to reconfigure the engine mechanicals to this mode, thus the delay in high output performance.
Mostly a guess, but.....
Craig
On my GS400 I have 'e-shift' (steering wheel mounting shifting buttons), and so when I want to be more responsive I drive around (a lot) in M-4, meaning the car won't go into 5th gear. This makes a big difference in terms of responsiveness.
I'm sure the LS has a '4' gear setting. Try leaving it in that for a day. The car has so much power and flexibility, you won't even miss 5th gear unless you're driving REAL fast.
SLOW as she goes...
Except WOT.
I would imagine the torque converter gets locked up at "cruise" regardless of which gear one might be in. To release this lock at WOT, without incurring a hard and loud "thud", takes a few milliseconds of engine "derating" (virtual stall) on the ECU's part.
In the '50's my mother owned a '56 Rambler.It had a six cylinder engine and a GM "dual" hydramatic trans. I loved to drive the car because a slight nudge of the accelerator would cause the tranny to downshift – very noticeably, but not too harshly – almost like a manual shift, and very responsive to to my toe on the accel pedal.
It seemed to give me pinpoint control and very quick acceleration when needed. As we all know, some cars respond much better to accel. downshifts, while others, like the LSs, are reluctant to kick down, and do so with a hesitation and a roar which is more noise than response.
I guess I want two basically incompatible qualities. I've never driven a big Bimmer, which those obnoxious people at Car and Driver and Road and Track always tout so highly. Would a 740 have the quickness, smoothness and quietness, all in one (expensive) package, that I seek?
Have you looked around for an LS430 hot rod "chip" (memory rom)(actually you would need two, one for the engine ECU and one for the tranx)?
Sometimes I get the destination announcement along with the final turn announcement which can be quite some distance.
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
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Dealer claims that this is the way all their cars operate, and that it is not adjustable. Has anyone else noticed this problem? Has anyone gotten it corrected? Seems hard to believe that such a problem was not corrected.
You may end up having to live with the wiper not quite parked (fully under the hood lip) but IMO that would be better than not swiping the windshield fully.