is dried out and gummed up engine lubricating oil.
Sledge is a type of hammer, a heavy one, maybe like the one possibly used on the Japanese engineer who screwed up the initial V6 engine design that made it subject to sludging.......
information on Toyota's sludge issues, folks need to use the search features on the left side of the page. The issue did not affect the LS, it is something that disrupted more discussions around here than possibly any other issue ever and it will not be rehashed here.
I'm on my second LS purchased from Hendrick Lexus in Charlotte; they are a great dealership. I have an 04 LS Custom...let me know if you have any questions.
Does anyone know of any good online sources for Lexus OEM parts, other than lexus-parts.com? I'm looking for a set of 17" chrome rims for my 2005 LS, and I think my local dealer is a bit pricey (though lexus-parts.com costs even more).
For anyone with the V710, motorola has am HF800 bluetooth speaker (it's universal for any bluetooth phone) system that is excellent. It does many of the things we wish you can do in the LS430 if Verizon ever gets its act together. I use it in my GX470 on the visor and it works great with voice activation and sends and receives the sound very well. I got if for all of $74 on Froogle (thru a Yahoo merchant actually).
I need to replace my Nokia 6310i phone which has worked just fine with my 04 LS (am with AT&T, now Cingular) and would appreciate hearing from any of you with good experiences with the LS and Bluetooth phones. The Let's Talk site recommends the Nokia 7610, 6820, Motorola V551--anybody out there with personal experience with these or the Motorola Razr?
sidgriggs : the moto v 551 locked onto cingular is the best for the price . it is a quad mode world capable phone . the speakerphone is ample . the bluetooth is fast to mate with the hitatchi navigation system in the ls430 ( 2004 + 2005 ) and the lx470 ( 2004 & 2005 ) and the 2005 gx470 . { from personal experience } . the 551 can be bought brand new on e bay for $ 318 + shipping ... without signing a new or additional contract . however , you WILL NEED A NEW SIM CARD FOR CINGULAR ... ( $ 30 at best buy ) or the reseller on e bay . the equivelent att phone ( also on e bay ( new ) ... is the moto v 525 . the difference between the 525 and 551 is the v 551 has video streaming , and the 525 does not have video streaming . the att sim cars can easily miss cingular's gsm towers . the phone you have ( 6310i ) is a GAIT phone ... ie : it is listening to 850 tdma and 1950 gsm so it doesn't miss a tower . ( that's why you'll need a cingular sim card ) . any questions ... please ask here on site . mitchell rowe
Will all of the features of the Moto Razr work with my 04 LS; ie, ring thru the car, mute radio on incoming call, pair with nav system even when talking on a call and let you continue your call after turning car off?? If i have to get a cingualr sim card than do I have to change from the old AT&T plan I am on??
sidgriggs : everything i wrote earlier tonight about the motorola v 551 and v 525 would be the same for the motorola razor with one exception : the razor is double the cost with more things to break . ALL CINGULAR PHONES THAT ARE GSM USE A SIM CARD . the nokia 6360i is a GAIT phone with no sim card . the tdma systems have been mandated out of existence in a couple years . consequently tdma and gait phones are not built with the bluetooth technology . GSM is the " world standard " any " unlocked " gsm quad mode ( 4 bands ) phone will work on any system in a majority of the world . IN THE LEXUS NAV SYSTEM : YES ... THE RADIO MUTES , THE PHONE RINGS THROUGH THE RADIO , THE MICROPHONES ARE UP IN THE CEILING WHERE THE SUNGLASS HOLDER IS , AND IF YOU ARE TALKING ON YOUR BLUETOOTH ENABLED CELL PHONE AND GET INTO THE LEXUS , START THE ENGINE , ... THE BLUETOOTH MATES WITH THE CELL PHONE , AND THE CALL AUTOMATICALLY IS SWITCHED AS FAST AS YOU CAN BLINK TO THE FUJITSU NAV SYSTEM . THE REVERSE WHEN YOU TURN OFF THE ENGINE , THE CELL PHONE BEEPS AND THE CALL IS BACK ON YOUR CELL PHONE . if you buy your phone direct from a cingular company store , they will " burn " a free sim card for you . the price on v 551 without a contract ( phone only is $ 250.00 . the razor could go as high as $ 500 to $ 700 . mitchell rowe
Mitch: Thanks for the info. I use Verizon/Motorola V710 and it works fine in both the 2004 & 2005 LS 430 except that it will not download phone book to the nav/audio system. It also does not ring on inbound calls, but it does silence the audio system and that's fine with me. Verizon does not offer the Motorola Razor in my area (Albuquerque, NM). I was unaware that the Motorola Razor was Blue Tooth capable but I checked the Motorola web site and got up to speed. Thanks again.
rgsw: please let me try to list each item in your commentary as replies that might help you with your moto v 710 . a) the v 710 is a CDMA PHONE . cdma is unique to verizon and sprint in the usa. cdma = code delivery multiple access . it is a proprietary system patented and licensed by qualcomm . b) a cdma phone ( like a v 710 ) will not mate with a tdma or gsm system . tdma = the older system that att and cingular use . gsm = the new system that att and cingular , and deutche telecom ( t phone ... etc. use ) tdma stands for time delivery multiple access . gsm is now the world standard ( finally ) c) therefore : you cannot buy a razor for anything but gsm ( cingular -etc ) d) the v 710 is subject to quite a bit of controversy as to old version and new version , and possibly some class action .again you can only use the v 710 for verizon . AND , the v 710 IS THE ONLY CURRENT PHONE ON THE MARKET THAT IS CDMA- VERIZON AND BLUETOOTH . e) all of your complaints about the v 710 are fixable by yourself in the programming of the v 710 / mating the bluetooth technology in the lexus . as follows : 1- go into settings in the lexus nav system ( re the phone ) and erase everything totally ... item by item . 2 - shut the engine down and remove the key , or if you have keyless entry , walk away from the lexus more than 10 meters in length for a few minutes . 3 - start the engine , go to settings for the phone in the nav , set up the mating of the v 710 and the bluetooth in the new ( add a phone item ) ... your set up code in the v 710 shoulsd be the lexus default setting of 1212 . 4 - after the v 710 and the nav mate , you must program each item in the v 710 memory ... one item at a time . the whole phonebook will not download at once . this is true of all the motorola bluetooth phones whether verizon or cingular . one entry at a time . yes it's boring and frustrating to do . BUT , that's how their rocket scientists at moto wrote the software . IF YOU CANNOT DEAL WITH THE MONOTONY, YOUR LEXUS DEALER HAS A GEEK WHO WILL . ..... mitchell rowe
I sure appreciate your knowledge, just wish I had someone around like yourself when I buy electronic stuff....Tony ps wwest don`t feel left out, as I appreciate your knowledge also, merc1 your passion and on and on
anthonyp : thank you for the complimentary words . two of my hobbies are HAM RADIO ( call sign K3OKY ) and collecting lexus cars . if i can help , i am in the phone directory . mitchell rowe
I bought the Motorola Razr and every feature seems to work with the LS. I did not have to download the phonebook to the car since it was already there. I notice that the signal meter on the nav screen even works and that was something that did not function with my Nokia 6310i. The phone was too expensive and I didn't need all the features and I could probably drive a cheaper car, but!!!!! My only complaint so far is that I can't see the phone's screen in bright sunlight--anyone know why or how I can solve this?
I have a RX 330 and just replaced my Nokia 6310i with both a Motorola V551 and a RAZR3. Both phones paired very easily with the car and pair in exactly the same way. Still unable to transfer the phonebook but the connection is almost automatic.
Do you mind advising me where you ended up buying your LS 430 and the price you paid? I will also be purchasing a LS w/Mod. Lux. in the San Francisco Bay area very shortly.
Does anyone know what a good car cover is for a car that will be outstide? Lexus parts has one for about $300 which says there are three layers? Or they cheaper ones out there that are just as good? Does anyone own of of these lexus covers? Just looking to sheild it from the sun on the days i don't use it which is mainly during the week,
Noah car covers got great reviews, i think the Evolution has an extra layer of protection good for protection against dings but car will primarily be covered on driveway so it should be safe, for the money i think Noah is a good bargin, do you leave it on when it is raining and if so did you notice the car was wet or traps moisture?
Rain, snow, hail, pollen, leaves - basically under any conditions.
It seems to repell all elements - maybe over time this quality will diminish but it's been great for over a year now.
What's remarkable about the material is that it doesn't let moisture get to the surface of the car but when the sun comes out it's somehow breathes, so there is no accumulated condensation between the surface of the car and the cover.
We've had our new '05 LS (Mercury Metallic color) for four months now, and it only has less than 5k miles on it. I opted out of the dealer's after market clear-coat protective film when we purchased this car.
After two interstate road trips in two weeks, I hand washed it to remove the dead insects. That's when I noticed some small chips or dinks in the paint finish on the front bumper. I don't think we're down to the primer, as what I see is black and not white. Thankfully, the body paint seems allright.
Does Lexus use a softer clear coat paint finish than other manufacturers? Could it be just on the bumpers? I don't think our '98 Avalon had this problem, but a lot can change in seven years. I just don't seem to remember this happening on other makes we've owned, or perhaps I am overreacting.
Famwald, I have definitely noticed this on my new LS430 too. The paint doesn't seem to be especially durable. My LS400 paint is much better at resisting these sorts of things. My last LS430 seemed to have the same problem as well. It did not resist scratching well at all. I even treat my cars with a nice Autoglym Polish/Sealer and then top it off with a hard 3M wax..It's cut down on the incidence of scratches, but it still is a problem. I wonder if this is just a Lexus thing.
Since my wife took my car over, (I don't have a chance in hell of getting it back at this point) I've been driving my Ls400 most of the time. It has about 94,300K on it, and is 13 yrs old. It still is whisper quiet and delivers an ultra smooth ride. The paint is great on it. The only complaint is the leather on the driver's seat has cracked. I suppose a good redye job will fix it.
I have to say, this car has held up remarkably over the years. It really has been a true pleasure to own. I suppose it's what keeps me a Lexus customer. I really did want an S Class last time, but the positive experience I've had with these cars is what made me come back. I only can hope Lexus continues to build cars with this sort of long term build quality. I prefer this car for leisurely drives. I don't know, but the new one doesn't seem to drive as smoothly. But it does make up for it, with all the electronic goodies. At times I feel like a 747 pilot instead of a mere auto driver!
My dealer offered to have a plastic/vinyl clear coating applied to the front of the hood and fenders. I'm not sure if they were going to apply it to the bumper also? It is a high tech material that is maybe a tenth of an inch (?) thick and leaves a line where it quits and does not blend smoothly into the rest of the paint on the hood. I don't drive too much to pick up dings or on dirt/gravel roads, so I declined. I had several rock/bug chips on my white 2004 LS430. Now have the Emerald Green and it will be harder to see the imperfections I hope.
I will be buying a LS 430 in July and am interested in a Black Cherry Pearl/Ash Leather combination even though I have never seen one on the road. Can any one give me their views on this combination and it's availability? My dealer said he has never had one in stock but could order one.
I have the exterior color , and strongly suggest you think about the long term.....It is hard to keep clean...When it is all buffed up, very attractive, but that does not last long. Tony
I had a gold/tan color on my first LS and then a white one. I now have the "Cypress Pearl" (read green) and I like it. It kinda grows on me and looks very different in the changing light conditions or at night. White was just white like so many other cars here in the desert. I prefer the ecru leather interior however the saddle color looks good on the web site..
,,, Black Cherry Pearl/Ash Leather combination even though I have never seen one on the road. Can any one give me their views on this combination?
The colors, individually, are great (we have mercury metallic/ash) but I'm not sure they would work together as a team. Would you wear that combination in clothing?
I think that rich deep red would look really nice with the cashmere or saddle color. Just my opinion, since you were asking. :shades:
I looked at a black cherry/light beige interior LS while shopping around. At first I liked it but the more I looked at it the less I liked the too-purple-for-my-taste exterior. I can also see how swirl marks and scratches would be an issue on that color if you're picky about those things.
In an IDEAL world with no dirt or scratch marks possible, this car ROCKS in the black/beige combo. Black scares me in the REAL world though -- I had a black SUV once and it had noticeable swirl marks and scratches all over after a year of use.
Still... if the color moves you... go for it. That's why there's wax!!!
Yeesshhhh! As a current BMW (97 5 series) looking for a new car, I have looked at almost everything and was just about to throw the LS430 into the mix (even though it is not comparable to the 5...e.g. sport vs. luxury). Reading all the horror stories about the LS paint makes me wonder whether all the hype about Lexus is justified? My BMW has incredibly tough paint (not that it hasn't taken some hits over 125K miles) but still look mostly new. If Lexus can't deliver "almost new" ten years after delivery, like my BMW, then they need to upgrade their paint. Mercedes charges extra for most of their paint, but it is pretty much bullet proof. Lexus may need to get on this bandwagon.
nvbanker, It's true..I've found on my newer Lexus cars that the paint is not very durable. It scratches way too easily. I've had a heck of a time with my new '05. I don't even know how the trunk lid got so scratched up. Chips are a problem too. In contrast, my 92 LS's paint job has held up very well.
But this problem has a very easy solution: Using a clean Terry 100% Cotton towel 1) Prep the car using a Clay Bar..Mothers sells a great kit 2) Use a two stage polish/sealant like Klasse or Autoglym 3) With Autoglym you can layer a hard Carnuba wax over it like 3M's Imperial Paste Wax.
The Sealant is very durable and will last 6 months. 3M's wax is about the toughest Carnuba wax you can get out there. Not only will the car look great, it will stay shiny. More often than not, dealer detail effect is gone once the car has been rained on. Most people don't realize that the car needs to be polish and waxed at least once a year to maintain a great shine and protect the paint. An easy way to check your finish is to put your hand on the paint. It should feel as smooth as glass. If not, you are in need of a detail.
I always have my cars detailed twice a year, but honestly, I'm a little concerned though if the paint is soft, about what else is being "softened up" in there. I have a friend who has a Camry, who is telling me about interior parts breaking inside her Camry, which have been heretofore unheard of. Car & Drive reported switched coming out of the dash on their 05 Avalon test car. Now soft paint. I'm just ready to move over to Lexus.... Could be bad timing.....
I have been encountering what I think is a weird problem on my 2004 LS430. This deals with the clock suddenly becoming innacurate. First of all, I thought that the clock was GPS monitored along with the Navigation system and that it would never deviate more than a few seconds from the exact time. Is this true? Well, I have noticed that the past month or so, the clock has been running too fast. When I first became aware of it, the clock was a minute fast. I adjusted it manually a couple weeks ago. But now, it is about 2 minutes fast. So, what gives here?
Thanks for that tip. I guess I am not sure. I didn't even realize there was an "auto adjust" option. I will have to check this in the next hour or so.
Well, I just ran out to the car and low and behold, you are right on the money. The "auto adjust" was off. I must have accidentally turned it off during Daylight Savings Time adjustment. Thanks again dval!
Hey Michael88...sorry I didn't answer sooner, was out of town for a couple of weeks. I hope you're still reading this message board.
I ended up buying my black cherry/cashmere Modern Lux LS from Lexus of Stevens Creek for $1,000 over invoice. But they nailed me for adding 17" chrome rims and XM Satellite Radio, which was fine because I really wanted those items. FYI, Lexus of Serramonte made me the exact same offer.
I bought my GS400 from Lexus of Stevens Creek and had all its servicing done there. They have always treated me very well and was happy to buy from them again. But Serramonte and Putnam also have good reputations.
Comments
Thanks....
Sledge has nothing to do with your LS...it was a sometimes a problem with other models...
Simiply put it it a gummy build up in your engine. I hope this helps.
Disclaimer: I don't build em or fix em ...I just drive them.
Sledge is a type of hammer, a heavy one, maybe like the one possibly used on the Japanese engineer who screwed up the initial V6 engine design that made it subject to sludging.......
The end.
Thank you.
I'm on my second LS purchased from Hendrick Lexus in Charlotte; they are a great dealership. I have an 04 LS Custom...let me know if you have any questions.
link title
the moto v 551 locked onto cingular is the best for the price . it is a quad mode
world capable phone . the speakerphone is ample . the bluetooth is fast to mate with the hitatchi navigation system in the ls430 ( 2004 + 2005 ) and the lx470
( 2004 & 2005 ) and the 2005 gx470 . { from personal experience } .
the 551 can be bought brand new on e bay for $ 318 + shipping ... without signing a new or additional contract . however , you WILL NEED A NEW SIM CARD FOR CINGULAR ... ( $ 30 at best buy ) or the reseller on e bay .
the equivelent att phone ( also on e bay ( new ) ... is the moto v 525 .
the difference between the 525 and 551 is the v 551 has video streaming , and the 525 does not have video streaming .
the att sim cars can easily miss cingular's gsm towers . the phone you have
( 6310i ) is a GAIT phone ... ie : it is listening to 850 tdma and 1950 gsm
so it doesn't miss a tower . ( that's why you'll need a cingular sim card ) .
any questions ... please ask here on site . mitchell rowe
it is integrated into the radio also . mitchell rowe
would be the same for the motorola razor with one exception : the razor is double the cost with more things to break .
ALL CINGULAR PHONES THAT ARE GSM USE A SIM CARD . the nokia 6360i is a GAIT phone with no sim card . the tdma systems have been mandated out of existence in a couple years . consequently tdma and gait phones are not built
with the bluetooth technology .
GSM is the " world standard " any " unlocked " gsm quad mode ( 4 bands ) phone will work on any system in a majority of the world .
IN THE LEXUS NAV SYSTEM : YES ... THE RADIO MUTES , THE PHONE RINGS THROUGH THE RADIO , THE MICROPHONES ARE UP IN THE CEILING WHERE THE SUNGLASS HOLDER IS , AND IF YOU ARE TALKING ON YOUR BLUETOOTH ENABLED CELL PHONE AND GET INTO THE LEXUS , START THE ENGINE , ... THE BLUETOOTH MATES WITH THE CELL PHONE , AND THE CALL AUTOMATICALLY IS SWITCHED AS FAST AS YOU CAN BLINK TO THE FUJITSU NAV SYSTEM . THE REVERSE WHEN YOU TURN OFF THE ENGINE , THE CELL PHONE BEEPS AND THE CALL IS BACK ON YOUR CELL PHONE .
if you buy your phone direct from a cingular company store , they will " burn "
a free sim card for you . the price on v 551 without a contract ( phone only is $ 250.00 . the razor could go as high as $ 500 to $ 700 . mitchell rowe
a) the v 710 is a CDMA PHONE . cdma is unique to verizon and sprint in the usa.
cdma = code delivery multiple access . it is a proprietary system patented and licensed by qualcomm .
b) a cdma phone ( like a v 710 ) will not mate with a tdma or gsm system .
tdma = the older system that att and cingular use . gsm = the new system that att and cingular , and deutche telecom ( t phone ... etc. use ) tdma stands for time delivery multiple access . gsm is now the world standard ( finally )
c) therefore : you cannot buy a razor for anything but gsm ( cingular -etc )
d) the v 710 is subject to quite a bit of controversy as to old version and new version , and possibly some class action .again you can only use the v 710 for verizon . AND , the v 710 IS THE ONLY CURRENT PHONE ON THE MARKET
THAT IS CDMA- VERIZON AND BLUETOOTH .
e) all of your complaints about the v 710 are fixable by yourself in the programming of the v 710 / mating the bluetooth technology in the lexus .
as follows :
1- go into settings in the lexus nav system ( re the phone ) and erase everything totally ... item by item .
2 - shut the engine down and remove the key , or if you have keyless entry , walk away from the lexus more than 10 meters in length for a few minutes .
3 - start the engine , go to settings for the phone in the nav , set up the mating of
the v 710 and the bluetooth in the new ( add a phone item ) ...
your set up code in the v 710 shoulsd be the lexus default setting of 1212 .
4 - after the v 710 and the nav mate , you must program each item in the v 710
memory ... one item at a time . the whole phonebook will not download at once .
this is true of all the motorola bluetooth phones whether verizon or cingular . one entry at a time . yes it's boring and frustrating to do . BUT , that's how their rocket scientists at moto wrote the software .
IF YOU CANNOT DEAL WITH THE MONOTONY, YOUR LEXUS DEALER HAS A GEEK WHO WILL . ..... mitchell rowe
HAM RADIO ( call sign K3OKY ) and collecting lexus cars . if i can help , i am in the phone directory . mitchell rowe
M
Thanks, Michael
I got a "Noah" cover with free shipping for about $170.00.
I especially like the "Noah" type which has a first class fit and has performed
amazingly well in both hot and freezing conditions.
My LS430 is black and I can vouch for the convenience of having this cover.
It seems to repell all elements - maybe over time this quality will diminish but it's been great for over a year now.
What's remarkable about the material is that it doesn't let moisture get to the surface of the car but when the sun comes out it's somehow breathes, so there is no accumulated condensation between the surface of the car and the cover.
...starting to sound like a saleman now
Bottom line - for 170 bucks it's a good deal.
After two interstate road trips in two weeks, I hand washed it to remove the dead insects. That's when I noticed some small chips or dinks in the paint finish on the front bumper. I don't think we're down to the primer, as what I see is black and not white. Thankfully, the body paint seems allright.
Does Lexus use a softer clear coat paint finish than other manufacturers? Could it be just on the bumpers? I don't think our '98 Avalon had this problem, but a lot can change in seven years. I just don't seem to remember this happening on other makes we've owned, or perhaps I am overreacting.
Is there a collective wisdom on this? Thanks.
I have definitely noticed this on my new LS430 too. The paint doesn't seem to be especially durable. My LS400 paint is much better at resisting these sorts of things. My last LS430 seemed to have the same problem as well. It did not resist scratching well at all. I even treat my cars with a nice Autoglym Polish/Sealer and then top it off with a hard 3M wax..It's cut down on the incidence of scratches, but it still is a problem. I wonder if this is just a Lexus thing.
Since my wife took my car over, (I don't have a chance in hell of getting it back at this point) I've been driving my Ls400 most of the time. It has about 94,300K on it, and is 13 yrs old. It still is whisper quiet and delivers an ultra smooth ride. The paint is great on it. The only complaint is the leather on the driver's seat has cracked. I suppose a good redye job will fix it.
I have to say, this car has held up remarkably over the years. It really has been a true pleasure to own. I suppose it's what keeps me a Lexus customer. I really did want an S Class last time, but the positive experience I've had with these cars is what made me come back. I only can hope Lexus continues to build cars with this sort of long term build quality. I prefer this car for leisurely drives. I don't know, but the new one doesn't seem to drive as smoothly. But it does make up for it, with all the electronic goodies. At times I feel like a 747 pilot instead of a mere auto driver!
SV
Also what your favorite color combinations?
Thanks
The colors, individually, are great (we have mercury metallic/ash) but I'm not sure they would work together as a team. Would you wear that combination in clothing?
I think that rich deep red would look really nice with the cashmere or saddle color. Just my opinion, since you were asking. :shades:
In an IDEAL world with no dirt or scratch marks possible, this car ROCKS in the black/beige combo. Black scares me in the REAL world though -- I had a black SUV once and it had noticeable swirl marks and scratches all over after a year of use.
Still... if the color moves you... go for it. That's why there's wax!!!
It's true..I've found on my newer Lexus cars that the paint is not very durable. It scratches way too easily. I've had a heck of a time with my new '05. I don't even know how the trunk lid got so scratched up. Chips are a problem too. In contrast, my 92 LS's paint job has held up very well.
But this problem has a very easy solution:
Using a clean Terry 100% Cotton towel
1) Prep the car using a Clay Bar..Mothers sells a great kit
2) Use a two stage polish/sealant like Klasse or Autoglym
3) With Autoglym you can layer a hard Carnuba wax over it like 3M's Imperial Paste Wax.
The Sealant is very durable and will last 6 months. 3M's wax is about the toughest Carnuba wax you can get out there. Not only will the car look great, it will stay shiny. More often than not, dealer detail effect is gone once the car has been rained on. Most people don't realize that the car needs to be polish and waxed at least once a year to maintain a great shine and protect the paint. An easy way to check your finish is to put your hand on the paint. It should feel as smooth as glass. If not, you are in need of a detail.
Hope this helps,
SV
Well, I just ran out to the car and low and behold, you are right on the money. The "auto adjust" was off. I must have accidentally turned it off during Daylight Savings Time adjustment. Thanks again dval!
I ended up buying my black cherry/cashmere Modern Lux LS from Lexus of Stevens Creek for $1,000 over invoice. But they nailed me for adding 17" chrome rims and XM Satellite Radio, which was fine because I really wanted those items. FYI, Lexus of Serramonte made me the exact same offer.
I bought my GS400 from Lexus of Stevens Creek and had all its servicing done there. They have always treated me very well and was happy to buy from them again. But Serramonte and Putnam also have good reputations.
Hope that helps!
https://secure.lexus.com/pursuits/