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I saw a press release recently wherein Mazda was doing the same thing in Australia.
Unless you allow the LS430's "cabin to dry out during the night by opening the sunroof overnight in the garage the A/C evaporator will remain damp from the previous day's operations and then mold and mildew will form and you get that "smell".
I saw another press release wherein one of GM's products, about 15 minues after the engine is turned off, will automatically set the system to flow-thru and run the blower motor for 10 minutes to "dry" out the A/C evaporator and plenum.
Use the above practice manually, or rolling down your windows about five minutes before you arrive home for the evening will also work.
My working theory is that I'm allergic to something used in the Ecru UL leather or interior components. But, there is a very distinct, sweet type odor coming from the AC vents. If you open the glove compartment and pull the air filter out (you can access the filter compartment by removing a plastic piece from the back of the lower glove compartment), you can smell the sweet smell. If you replace the air filter, the smell goes away for a couple of days, and then returns (again in the filter element). I've confirmed the same smell from another Ecru UL that the dealer loaned to me, so I'm wondering if I might do better with black or some other interior color. I'm worried that the smell might be generated in the AC coil (which, according to the Lexus docs) is coated with an anti-microbial chemical. So, either the coil is generating an odor (perhaps the chemical coming off?) or the smell of the car's interior is collecting in the filter and then permeating the AC system. Does anyone with a black or gray interior notice any kind of sweet smell when turning on the AC system? Does anyone with an Ecru car notice this issue? Thanks again.
(2) Just got the car back for a groan repair (again). The delaer tells me that Lexus now has a fix. 2 days and no groan so far. We shall see. BTW, this time, they loaned me a ES 300, not the Daewoo I got the last time.
There are several things that can create your smell...
The chemicals used to process and then treat your leather materials will "out-gas" from these materials, more rapidly if the car sets in the hot sun for a period of time. There are also chemicals used in the plastic manufacturing process, that new car smell, that will also out-gas out over time. These effects are much worse when the car is new, they will lessen over time.
If you tend to notice a slight oily-looking film on the interior glass surfaces over time it is these chemicals you are seeing. Some of these chemicals are moisture "attractants" and that will increase the propensity of vapor to condense on these surfaces.
Back in 92 the Lexus dealers were using some anti-microbal agent in a spray can to help combat the formation of mold and mildew if you complained.
I suspect that what might have happened is that you "inadvertantly" created just the right atmosphere to start a colony of mold or mildew, left the car stored in a cool gargage for a few days with the evaporator "choked" with moisture after using the A/C all day on a very humid day.
Dealers on the East Coast say the new phone will be here by mid September. It will be on the Sprint System [again]. I have called Lexus and they know nothing about the re appearance of the phone...does anyone have conformation or other information?
Look no farther than the fact that it is likely the quietest car on the road today.
How do they achieve that level of quiet?
Good sound absorbing insulation, tight door and window seals, low CD, LOW BLOWER SPEEDS.
Once mold and mildew forms inside your Lexus there is NO ESCAPE.
Becuase the Lexus is so well insulated and sealed there is only one way, other than opening windows or doors, for the "contaminated" cabin atmosphere to escape.
Lexus does provide for an exhaust airflow path as required by our government, barely. But that "path" is so restrictive and subject to differential pressure gradients that it is virtually useless.
The path begins at the very back of the "package shelf" just at the bottom of the rear window. There is a small gap between the inside of the rear window and the back of the package shelf. From there exhaust air flows into ducting that is part of the body/structure. This duct then has openings at both ends, allowing the exhaust air to flow into the quarter panel interiors. There is an opening at the bottom of each quarter panel, underneath the car.
With the car "at speed" there is more positive air pressure under this area of the car than can be generated inside the car by the system blower except with the blower on one of the higher speeds.
Additionally lexus goes to extremes to keep the blower speed as low (quiet and unobtrusive) as possible. You may have already noticed that the climate control system will automatically switch the outlet airflow to the upper body and/or face position as the cabin atmosphere approaches and then reaches the setpoint, even on a COLD winter day.
Human body comfort is very adversely affected by this action so I suspect most of us have learned to over-ride the idiot thing at this point and change the air routing to the footwell. But there is another automatic operational aspect that occurs at this very same time that is completely invisble to the operator and occupants and therefore cannot be easily over-ridden.
The inlet air source control for the system goes to the full re-circulate position. And why not? If the cabin is very near the setpoint why not recirculate most of the air, that will allow the blower speed to be extremely low and less noisy.
But what keeps the cabin atmosphere's humidity level, from various human body sources, from climbing and climbing and climbing....
Of course. The dehumidification capabilities of the Lexus air conditioning system evaporator. Since we are mostly recirculating cabin airflow
that airflow is well within the range (68-72F{?})wherein the A/C system can extract the airborne moisture.
So most of the time you are driving your Lexus the blower speed and inlet airflow is quite low, thus there is virtually no exhaust flow. Why should you be surprised that mold and mildew will form overnight in the nice pleasant, cool, damp, dark, breeding ground Lexus has created for it?
I keep my car in a garage & covered with a car cover.
I'd like to see Lexus hire Leo to be in their ad. If so the ad definitely has to be humorous.
A. The car is hot after a lot of time in the sun and the climate control is cooling it - which I'm very greatful to Lexus for as they've created an A/C system that makes it almost too cool in a minute or so. I actually wish the blower would slow down faster than it does as I'm quickly raising the temperature because it gets so cool even though I'm a guy who likes it cool. If your "quiet car conspiracy theory" was on the money the blower speed would slow down earlier in the cycle.
B. The car is very cold and the climate control system is warming it - which I also remember happens very rapidly.
Once the car "senses" it has reached the desired temperature the blower noise is gone and the car is as quiet as can be. Magically the systen than keeps the car precisely at the desired temperature which means no blower noise. I wouldn't want it any other way.
I have ecru and ivory interiors which still have new car smell thus no odor. Never had an odor on 95 car (ivory interior) or 98 car (black interior).
Lastly - saw a white SC430 with what seemed to be a white interior (but must have been ecru) at the Peninsula hotel in Beverly Hills - that was absolutely stunning. There were 5 people near it just staring at it so I couldn't get too close. If I have to keep three cars in the future because of job needs that is my next car.
I was going to say the best value, money wise, but in truth I really don't know about that. Sometimes I feel as if I was born into this world looking for ways to improve everything I touch, and sometimes that means finding flaws that everyone else overlooks.
"The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection"
Is an acknowledgement that you're never going to get there.
So now it is:
"The Passionate Pursuit of Perfection"
If Lexus is to ever actually reach their "goal" it will be through customer feedback.
I currently own a 2001 AWD 911 Coupe, a stunningly beautiful, wonderful implementation of automotive art. What would/will I do to improve it?
LED tail/stop lamps.
And Yes, re-program the climate control system so it doesn't route cool airflow (a large percentage thereof) out the defrost vents in normal operation mode (you get HOT airflow automatically in defrost mode)like the Audi TT does. I couldn't figure out why the A/C system wasn't up to snuff until condensation started to form on the outside of the windshield just after dusk after a hot and humid day in Alabama.
That's what I would call a software design flaw. If the outside temperature is lower than that inside the car then it should be clear that leaving the system in flow-thru would cool the interior much quicker than trying to cool and recirculate interior air which is much hotter to begin with.
There is also the issue of the materials in the car being heated to elevated levels in these environments. More true for you than me, I will never buy a dark interior, primarily because they absorb more solar radiation and thus take longer to cool down than a lighter interior will.
The best way to cool down a hot car interior on a hot day is, like Lexus itself says, purge the hot atmosphere, and the heat within the car's materials, by lowering the rear windows for some brief period. Or you can simply return the climate control system to flow-thru and accomplish the same thing even quicker.
So when I get into my Lexus on a hot day one of the first things I do is return the system to flow-thru mode, that way I don't need to use Lexus' alternative of lowering the rear windows.
Try this. The next time you get into your Lexus on a cold day and after its about halfway through the warm up cycle, about the time it switches from footwell to "mixed", footwell plus dash, activate the defrost function. The system will automatically increase the blower speed and route WARM airflow to the interior surface of the windshield.
Why? Because that what it's supposed to do. You, the owner/operator have noticed some obscurity on the windshield, so you have taken the approperate action.
Now try this AFTER the interior has acclimated to the temperature setpoint. Cool dehumidified airflow to the windshield and no increase in blower speed, right? You pushed the button for the very same reason, why do you get differing results?
Because Lexus VALUES your COMFORT above your SAFETY.
They well know that the only SAFE thing to do in this instance is to move lots of hot airflow to the windshield, but then that would be discomforting to the front seat passengers.
Only YOU, the person who activated the defrost function, are aware of the severity, or lack thereof, of the problem. If it was a minor bit of condensation on the windsield then you are quite free to turn down the blower and eventually return the system to normal operation.
Get into any MB, Porsche, or Jaguar (good, I hate recommending them for ANY reason) and try the very same test.
Now that the OAT sensor is also so being used to indicate the OAT to the passengers I have added a switch to the circuit so the OAT indication is accurate in the summertime when I don't really have to worry about the formation of mold and mildew nor a cold windsield with a propensity to fog over.
Summertime temperatures aren't likely to be below 47F so the resister would be useless anyway.
Has anyone shopped the Lexus dealers for a used one, and if so what are your impressions? My initial impression is that the dealers cling to a high price and have yet to see the effects of the present economy.
What no one could have predicted was that most of the LS430's shipped to the US were "over-valued", most were UL's, such that a 2000 LS400, or any late nodel used LS, is a terrific bargain in comparison.
I waited for the "custom" model, above "base" and below UL, to show up in the spring. It never did.
Actually the poor economy plus the inflated value of the LS430 have both helped the value of used LS400's. More people are buying used, and everyone knows Lexus' reputation for quality and reliability.
* I have the steering wheel groan. It is worse when it is hot outside. The fix described in post 1601 is only a temporary fix for me. I understand there is a more permanent fix. I will ask the dealer to fix it during the next scheduled maintenance
* I have a squeak in the rear of the car as I go over bumps like speed bumps. The sound seems to be coming from the wheel well, but I cannot say for sure. I rode in my uncle's 1-year old S500 and heard no squeaks. I will ask the dealer to fix it. We will see. The car is so quiet otherwise that the squeak has become an irritant.
* I had a gasket fall out of the moon roof on me while I was driving. This took a while to fix, but the service manager was committed to get it done correctly.
* At times the navigation system gets confused for short periods of time, e.g., it thinks I'm on a frontage road when I'm on the freeway. Overall I am impressed with the navigation system and its user-friendly GUI. One has to use one's common sense.
Are these common problems or unique? Are there any TSB's that cover them. Thanks in advance.
The navigation system problem you describe is normal, and occurs because GPS technology is not as precise as necessary to always pinpoint your exact location. The computer system takes the data concerning your direction and location and forces it onto the closest street. Because the GPS is not perfect, you may end up showing the wrong street for some period of time.
I read somewhere that there is a TSB for early model LS430's for a problem with the rear right wheel making noise. I think it has something to do with a weld. I think I read about it on an earlier post on the lS430 board.
Martin W. Anderson
If I were to initiate a "trip" at an ambiguous location per GPS "inaccuracy" I would agree with you wholeheartedly. Initializing the Nav at a location wherein the GPS isn't accurate enough to resolve a local ambiguity is understandable.
But when I start out from my home, where there is no ambiguity to resolve, and my path of travel relies completely on the Nav, and IT guides me to a parallel roadbed "ambiguity" ten miles distant, there is NO excuse for the stupid machine to "think" my car suddenly "jumped" from one roadbed to another.
This has happened to me twice now, and luckily both times I recognized the system's mistaken directions immediately.
I have begun to suspect that the causes for these failures may be a temporary loss in a GPS satelite signal resulting in the system re-computing its location once the signal returns. Still a flaw in the Nav software regardless.
In addition to the above problems, I have had the system simply go bananas on me a few times. I had to pull over and stop, re-initialize the system and have it re-compute the route in order to get it back on track.
One of those times on the way to Bellingham it routed me onto I5 northbound and then almost immedately started telling me to do a legal u-turn.
I'm not saying your system isn't flawed in some way, given your other issues - but I think you are incorrect in calling some of these problems flaws and might be incorrectly influencing others who are less informed than you into deciding GPS systems are flawed and, therefore useless. I, for one, disagree respectfully and highly recommend the nav - especially the version in the LS430. Limitations?, sure - fatally flawed, no.
GPS....loss of signal...
First of all I wasn't at all conclusive that loss of signal was the problem. I haven't made the exact same trip again so I don't know if it would do it again or not. Perhaps one day soon....
But, lets suppose there is a loss of sognal involved. During the period of the signal loss the Nav sysetm still tracks my path but using the "vehicle" inputs only.
Oh, Hell, if the programmer worked for me I would just go to him or her and point out the flaw and ask them to fix it.
In order for this event to have happened at all the system had to lose the satelite signal briefy and then it had to re-initialize...erase what it already knew about my position and start from scratch all over again. Re-initializing AND erasing what it already knew about my location previously is just plain dumb programming.
that plane? In the meantime stay safe my friend.
I guess it was easy to forget that terrorists had tried to blow up the WTC a few years back and that they would no doubt try again.
Unfortunately, the likelihood that we will catch those responsible is not very good.
I pray for everyone in NY and WDC, especially the families of victims. I also expect a swift, strong retaliation from the U.S.A. We haven't seen something like this since Pearl Harbor.
As for the terrorists who actually carried out the deed - they had to have at least some last second doubts. They are human after all albeit badly brainwashed and have no clue as to how they themselves were used. Nonetheless I have no empathy for them and wish they had never been born. They now think that there are 200 NYC firefighters dead and 78 NYC police officers are missing. Somehow I think that a good deal of that occurred when the first building collapsed.
Did anyone get the Pa plane crash story facts? Initially it was reported that the Air Force got word that it was an route to Camp David and may have played a roll in bringing it down. But then I didn't hear anything more on it. Could be instead that the terrorists knew they couldn't finish that job and crashed it. On any day that crash itself is a major story but today it is an aftermention. The fact that it left from Newark and was bound to SF, a flight I've been on many times strikes close to the heart.
That flight actually represents our best lead because the flight recorders probably survived.
If there is one thing any of us can do, that is donating blood...
I have heard from ABC that the pilot on the plane realizing the intent of the hijackers in their determination to take the plan to Washington D.C. intentionally downed the plane in a rural area. How heroic and frightened he must have been, if this is true. A lot has been said about NY and Washington DC, but as a resident of Boston, I must also ask for you to think of all the people of Boston leaving for California, who lost their lives in this tragic day. Our nation will never be the same. I hope this tragedy serves to bring our nation closer together...
I don't want to be quick to blame here either but these terrorists had a lot of training and/or a very detailed selection process. They either trained people to pilot large planes or found pilots who they trained to give up there lives. Both take a lot of time and money. Both require an extensive network and at a minimum some government protection. You can't train someone to fly such large planes without someone covering it up given the runway needs and airspace required, and of course you need at least one professional pilot or military pilot to begin with. If they did the inverse and found already trained pilots it is also hard to keep it a secret. An existing group of pilots would be a lot more educated and would only enjoin such a plan if the leader was a highly known quantity. I don't want to jump to conclsuions either but it seems to point to Iraq which was my initial thought, which I now doubt, or Bin Laden.
Protestant vs Catholics...
The only way I can get my mind around what has happened is to attribute a big portion of the causative factors to religious fanaticism.
Spending the time it takes to learn to fly a 7x7 in order to commit suicide, you can't attribute that to crazy, so why? We have an Ultra-conservative "church" right here in Redmond WA which I only attended once. When the preacher starting railing against Gays and Gay rights I felt I had to speak up.
My God would not support that sort of "teaching"(brain-washing).
Sorry, my heart does go out to all those who lost loved ones yesterday, for a "cause" that none of us can really grasp, and like most of you I want the culprits captured and punished.
But then what is a "just" punishment. My mind will never forget thoses scenes regardless of what punishment is given.
[non-permissible content removed]-for-tat, the Israelis and the Arab worlfd have been doing this for years now, where is it getting them?
Wouldn't it be better, could it possibly be a better solution if we now just went about our business and forgot about the whole thing? I don't by any means intend for us to forget about those that have died and been injured by this episode, we need to honor them in every way we can.
What will it get us to extract revenge? Aren't our shoulders big enough that we can stand tall, maybe much taller, in the eyes of the world, especially those that are rejoicing over our sorrow, and will rejoice even more if we decide to extract revenge.
Wouldn't those countries that support those terrorist organizations feel rather small if we simply stood TALL and went about our business.
Yes, even so, it might happen yet again. But can't we be quite certain, much more certain, that it will if we do strike back? Would there then be any country in the world that would continue to support these organizations in that circumstance?
Bin Laden wants to damage the U.S. to the point where it can't support Israel or influence Saudi Arabia any further. If we do nothing, he will feel like he has a green light to keep going.
The only way we could 'stand tall' (and do nothing) and NOT be likely to have even more terrorism would be to abandon support for Israel, or Saudi Arabia, and if we do that, our oil supply, and then our economy are in jeopardy. That's what makes it complicated.
Moreover, that's why we should drill a zillion holes in that damned arctic refuge to find oil to lessen our dependence on OPEC.
Edmunds host - Thanks for letting all this go on!! I've picked on you folks in the past but you've been great about this.
I cannot agree with even a limited version of the "turn the other cheek" suggestions for many reasons - mostly because it wouldn't work anyway. The types of people who commit these kinds of acts of terror would not in any way be impressed or moved to change their behavior from such a response. If fact we might well invite further such acts. While I consider myself a forgiving person, I cannot -will not- forgive this in any way. We cannot just strike out blindly at "Muslims" or religions or specific groups in general. But once reasonably identified, those responsible absolutely must pay and pay dearly. Those who harbor them must pay as well. The only cheek I would "turn" would be the charred flesh of the terrorist, just to be sure he was completely and utterly destroyed - never to commit such an act again.
ljflx, to answer your question about the pilots - my personal opinion is that the US flight crews were killed or otherwise incapacitated and replaced with terrorist pilots (probably and unfortunately, trained right here in our open-border, free society). No pilot I know would have or could have been convinced to fly his ship into such targets, even with a gun at his temple. I doubt seriously the scenario about the US bringing down the Pa. aircraft. My belief is that some heroic passengers/crewmembers made a desperate attempt to stop the hijackers, resulting in the crash. I think I heard somewhere that a cell phone call was made and that the people on board became aware of the intentions of the hijackers - thus, IMO, leading to this final, desperate and heroic effort to bring that plane down before it reached its target. God bless them, the other victims and the rest of us left behind to honor their memory and destroy those who would ever consider doing this again.