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When driving thru our neighborhood at 30 mph with volume at a reasonable level, then hit the interstate at 70mph, we have to manually increase the volume in order to hear the sound well. This applies to CD and radio.
We have the Premium Pkge (so no Mark Levinson system) and I'm wondering if ASL only works if the ML sound system is installed.
I've searched all the Lexus forums under "ASL" and have not found much information.
Any ideas, anyone?
dealer unable to fix, so noted in Lexus surveys of quality control. One fine automobile, but still persuing perfection.
Next day went back to dealer asking them to change to 17"rim
Now drive a lot better .But still drive not smoot,small vibration at steering wheel
Any suggestion? Michelin MXV4 will help? or should i change to a thicker tires[my tires was dunlop 5000m 225/55/R17]
please help PAUL.
paul
Guess I'd better start budgeting for those expensive repairs that can go wrong.
By the way does anyone have experience with the power steering pump? Once it starts whining, how long does it take to go bad. I check my garage daily for leeks...so far, it is not leaking.
Don't Forget to check with your dealer to be sure the timing belt has been changed. If not you might want to have everything done at once.
I bet your car still feels nice and solid ...they are great cars and the 400 is the one most people think is the best looking LS ...and ...the most bullet proof.......Good luck.
gwendolyn, Our son now drives our '98 Toyota Avalon with 95k miles on it and the power steering pump began leaking fluid a month ago. IMHO the Avalon and LS are first cousins from the same 'generation' (same gene pool, etc.) so I'm not surprised to see the power steering is going out.
Check the Toyota Avalon forums here on the Edmunds site for more information. You can search for "power steering" and see the discussions. $500 for a PSPump replacement is a darned good price from a Lexus dealer, based on the quotes over on the Avalon forum.
Thanks for your reply!!!
The Lexus dealer performed the 90k mile service (@ 101,600k miles, I have the records),before I purchased the car, which included the timing belt and a host of other things.
My concern now is the power steering pump. It's not leaking, just whining. Should I wait for it to leak before repairing or repair now..don't want to damage the alternator.
Thanks again!!!
That might cure the whine and buy you quite a lot of further service from the existing pump.
You can get that pump resealed. Lexus I'm told does sell a reseal kit for that pump should it leak. As advised get the P/S fluid flushed. I made the mistake of not changing the fluid on my 92 (They said it was "lifetime" fluid..) and paid the price for a new pump. ($725).
A few more things to consider: Suspension bushings and strut inserts. The strut inserts are usually worn by that mileage and require replacement. ($325 a pair). Also the dash cluster needles may begin to burn out.
The board rules prevent me from giving you the specific address of the repair guy but you can google search for dashusa.com or mikando engineering. The dealer will say they need to replace the whole cluster, but you can get it fixed for about ($350). The LCD's on the radio and climate control unit may go bad as well. You can get these repaired too for a few hundred each instead of a costly replacement.
Otherwise there isn't much that needs tending to. Just keep up with frequent fluid changes and you should be fine. There is some debate over whether synthetic oil would be better, but frequent oil changes should be fine. Also use Chevron Techron every other oil change to keep your injectors clean. If Lexus hasn't done it already, get a bottle of BG 44K fuel treatment to really clean things out.
SV
Ditto on that, too. Another topic on the Avalon forum when they reach 90-100k miles.
gwendolyn, you might want to have the P/S looked at and just get diagnosis and a cost estimate. Then you'll know exactly what you're dealing with.
My last volvo made a groaning noise and finally went out less than 6 months after the warranty ran out. I think it was rack & pinion? Can't remember, because I told the dealer to check my files on their computer, that I had complained about the noise for a year before the warranty ran out. They fixed it for free, but they said it was an expensive repair. (They were as wonderful as any Lexus dealer is reputed to be.)
The problem is so bad it makes passengers travel sick. So I do not use the car. It has just been sitting in my garage for over two months. So much for Lexus "service".These people seem to forget who ultimately pays their wages.
Also, as seems is usual the radio's LCD is out but I found a shop here in the Atlanta area that will remove the radio and fix the LCD and replace the radio while I wait (promised 1hr). Price $225. Will pass on the info for anyone in the Atlanta area who is interested.
Thanks for any help with the shutter problem
I eliminated this vehicle from my short list because of it.
I have now put the LS back on my list since if I have such a problem in the future, I now know about TSB TC006-04.
"Having experienced the slight hesitation in my 04 LS 430 and reading in many places that it was inherent, part of the LS experience etc. I then came across a posting that told of a tech bulletin TSB TC006-04 for this symptom. I decided to stop in to my dealer today and he gladly performed this "computer download" to adjust the shifting. I drove home and found the car noticably crisper in accelerating and that annoying microscopic but perceptible pause seemed like it was gone. The power of information. Keep up the good work everyone."
I guess I can take credit for this one (see my posts in LS: Problems and Solutions #1416 on 2/15; Lexus LS #7168 on 3/9). Now even Bimmer-owners can enjoy the LS experience- right Howard?
BTW, an excellent source of info on TSBs for all makes is http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov; you can search by year, make, then model. There are few other TSBs for the '04-early '05 LS that owners might find of interest.
I'm glad I got to experience a "real" LS, not an untuned one. Man did it surge ahead- very powerful car! Doesn't say much for the other dealership. Someone was asleep at the switch.
Regards,
hpowders
Jim H. Orange, CA.
Go to www.cartalk.com and on that website (http://www.cartalk.com/content/mechx/) you can find readers' opinions on area mechanics, listed by either city/state or zip code.
There is an independent repair shop dedicated to Toyota in Chamblee, GA on a side street, only a mile or from what I call Auto Dealer Alley on Peachtree Industrial. We found it on cartalk.com for our son, who now has our '98 Avalon and lives there.
FORGET ABOUT COST, JUST BUDGET LIKE I SAID & PAY WHEN YOU MUST, REPAIRS & REPLACEMENT ARE FAIRLY PREDICTABLE (EXCEPT THE STARTER MOTOR WHICH SURPRISED ME), THEN DON'T EVALUATE FOR AT LEAST A YEAR. IF YOU'RE ME, YOU'LL BE VERY HAPPY.
LIKE I SAID, GREAT FAMILY CAR, EVERYDAY & LONG DISTANCES, IF YOU'RE DOING EXTREME DRIVING (MOUNTAINS, BAJA, OFF ROAD) BORROW YOUR BUDDY'S CAR!
thanks
paul
For example the door can be set to lock and unlock almost anyway you want them to......All unlock when the car goes into Park for example or only the Drivers door unlocks ....All lock when is put into gear...and other variations...I know they can adjust the interior lights when they go on and off...Lots of stuff.
My impression is that these customizations are the farthest thing from tedious that a dealer does. I'd be surprised if a different dealer complained, especially if he wanted you to become a regular.
hpowders