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I'm a long time lurker and first time poster here. I have a 2004 LS430. The outside temp on dash board normally is not displayed. After a recent oil change, the outside temp was somehow displayed on the dash board (under the speedometer). Would someone tell me how to turn this off ? The outside temperature is already being displayed at the center below the Nav.
TIA.
A couple of weeks ago I got fed up and decided to have the started replaced, as most of the opinions I received here and from other sources indicated that was the problem.
Called about 5 - 6 Southern California dealers and received rate quotes of between $950 - $1,372 for parts & labor. Called my mechanic and asked him for a labor only quote. He told me the Chilton book lists this job at 5 hours, but that he would charge me only $200 (he is a good friend...).
With my mechanic permission, I ordered a starter from a Lexus dealer under my mechanic's name, pretending I was calling from the shop (which gave me close to 20% off the $309 starter price and no sales tax).
So here is the damage breakdown:
Labor: $200
Part: $252
Core allowance: - $30
Total damage to replace a 1998 Lexus 400 starter: $422.
Savings of more than 50% compared with the lowest quoted dealer and 70% compared to the highest quoted dealer (Lexus of Cerritos).
Thanks again to everyone - the car starts now like new...
I have just read your message. Strangely enough, when you wrote it, it was a few hours after the new starter was installed (on January 5th)...
But thanks for your helpful advices!
I think your dealer is trying to get an extra $250 out of you to install it. I put mine in myself, and it works just fine - shows all the new streets in my town, etc. You can get them for $299 from Lexus-parts.com, and put it in yourself. Previous posts explain how to. It's painlessly easy. Takes 5 minutes. I did it on a coffee break at work.
Thanks
I am currently looking for a reputable company to purchase a used or rebuilt engine in good condition. My lawyer said that the dealership will pay for half.
So If anyone has any recommendations on where to get a rebuilt/used engine in good condition, I would really appreciate it. Thank you.
Did you have any warranty from the used dealership? Any maintenance records from the previous owner?
Toyota/Lexus has an 8 year unlimited mile warranty to cover engine sludge, however, they require that you provide proof of reasonable maintenance. It also covers specific models and I don't believe the LS430 was one of them. I never understood why Toyota/Lexus limited which models were covered, because they never admitted that it was a problem with the design. The subject engines can get sludge with maintenance as prescribed by Toyota/Lexus, so the fact that you have sludge in the engine does not necessarily mean it was poorly maintained by the previous owner, but it could have been -- without their records you really won't know. Also, just because it wasn't serviced by Lexus doesn't mean that the previous owner didn't do his own oil changes or take it somewhere else.
From what I understand, the sludge warranty covers the specified models for the full 8 years, regardless of whether ownership changes hands. The question is, can you show it was maintained properly by the previous owner(s)?
It is a long shot, but before you buy an engine, I would suggest that you check into the sludge policy further. There used to be a Toyota and Lexus phone number you could call, sort of a sludge hotline, but I don't know if it is still active. Start by trying the 1-800 customer service number to see if you can speak to someone about a sludge problem. Good luck. Since this isn't one of the models in the sludge policy it is a long shot, but worth a try.
Also, if it can be proven that it was likely sludged when you bought it and the used dealer somehow knew and didn't disclose it, you could have some recourse with them. They may not have known about it -- sometimes it is hard to spot unless you pull the valve cover. Sometimes the check engine light will come on or there will be smoke in the exhaust.
LS 430s with their V8 engines are about the best there is out there. That engine has a great reputation for being bulletproof.
I'd be willing to bet you've got a formerly leased car, and the previous owner ignored maintenance altogether. That was, and still is happening with leased cars, altho' the car companies are now trying to get lessees to be more accountable by charging premiums for improper maintenance.
Like you said,, whoever had it before you didn't maintain it, and it was never in for service by Lexus.
I think you may have recourse with the store you bought it at--work with your Lawyer on it. Also, you might get some help from Lexus, but that's probably doubtful because of the previous owner's transgressions.
Try Ebay, and ask around for a good used engine. Another alternative would be to get a rebuild quote from a reliable shop in your area.
For what it's worth, this is the skinny on the sludge issue:
The sludge story was blown totally out of proportion when it was first discussed. It received much undeserved publicity in the early 2000s, so much so that Toyota issued a SPA (special policy announcement) in 2002 providing free repairs up to 8 years--provided there was proof of at least one oil change per year. Only for some V6 and I4 engines though.
Toyota also made a minor change to the PCV system in those engines back in 02 which made them more tolerant of poor maintenance. This helped to minimize the issue even more.
History has now shown beyond any doubt the vast majority of sludged engines occurred in vehicles which were not well maintained. Owners weren't changing oil at all, or going well beyond recommended intervals. As is likely the case with your LS430, unfortunately.
A number of other makes were plagued with the same undeserved publicity, for the same reason.
The so called "sludge prone" engines made by Toyota are reliable as they come--given reasonable maintenance. This requirement isn't any different for other manufacturer's engines.
Simply put, after all that past furor about it, sludge is no longer an issue.
I wish you good luck in your situation.
Or the Glass shop or used car dealer messed up the engine somehow--odds of which are slim to none!! At this stage the "who is responsible" is moot.
The question now is "what is more cost effective": (1)Get the best deal on a new, good used,or rebuilt engine, or(2)Patch it up and dump it.
I have no idea of blue book value on that car, so what one spends now has a lot to do with which decision to choose.
If Erinfaulk has only owned the car for 6 mmonths and has proof of responsible maintenance during that time., I would strongly suggest going after the used car dealer for some responsibility for the cost of whatever the choice is.
It feels like the transmission is letting go for a second, then moving into gear and all is well. I'll check rpm next time to make sure it is nto the engine.
This has only happened in this one specific location to date. Otherwise it drives perfectly.
Is this a known or common issue with these cars that I needn't be concerned about, or is it a sign of something starting to go wrong that should go to a mechanic ?
I guess you never heard of sugar in the oil.
I own a 1988 GMC pick up with 170,000 miles and not one problem.The engine, trans, rear end, bearings, carb, front end all original and never touched or worked on. Starts every time and idles smoothly and never let me down. Can't say the same for my 2005 Mazda3 with 10,000 miles. A/C sucks, squeaky brakes, wipers that don't clean the windshield properly(can't even get that right), automatic hard shift from 1 to 2, suspension groans, rough idle, headlights poor depth, many reports of stalling, hestitation, cutting out while driving, headlights not coming on, and a long TSB list for the 04 model year. Maybe a 05 Chevy Malibu might have been a better buy? or a Corolla or Civic?
Other hand...Bought a 2003 Civic SI for $16,200. It spent one day in the shop for a fuel tank sender problem at 24K and 2 months ago at 45K I got rid of it for $12.5K at Carmax. Now to be honest I got rid of it because some say there is a problem with the steering rack in some lowered SI's (which mine was) I got much more use out of my money with the Honda.
My 1994 LS400 is solid as a tank at 127K. I'm sorry, I have bought over 30 cars in the last 12 years and my Silverado spent more time in the shop for non-maintenance repairs than all others combined. Considering most of those 30 cars were Hondas or Toyotas with over 100k, that's significant.
Needless to say, I would find it hard to go GM again.
You could turn it off manually but unless you have the dealer change the factory c-best settings it will still operate, with no indication to you, in defrost/defog/demist mode, sometimes to your detriment.
BMW has you change the oil every 15,000 miles, with synthetic oil. I doubt that would be a problem for your Lexus either. But, OTOH, it never hurts to change the oil.
AMSOIL... aren't those the guys that tried to sell us on using toilet paper rolls as oil filters back years ago?
How can we ever be sure that isn't simply re-refined waste oil passed through a deodorant saturated toilet paper roll?
shell, vavoline,quaker state and 20 others are all good oils to put in your car. believe it or not it actually helps the engine last longer increase a little gas mileage . :shades: