Shiner

Hi William I have been following your threads with interest... And am jealous that you have space to create such an enviable stable of luxury cars... I agree that when LS430 is going it's a dream to drive...so quite and air suspension just takes all the awfulness of our roads in its stride! But when things go wrong...boy they are expensive to fix!even that didn't worry me at the beginning....I expected some niggles and big bills...but enough is enough.... Just my luck I guess! What model of GS450H did you have?...if I go ahead and part company with my LS430 ( because I feel I am jinxed with this car...I have given it a fair chance you might say ) I am seriously considering the 450H...even though I know I shall miss the air suspension....but seriously I only do about 3000 miles a year and in short journeys! Lexus Reading in Berkshire have one GS450H SE-L for just under £17k ( march09 ) with 32000 miles....I may go and have a drive and see if I can do a part exchange.....

Incidentally Before anyone thinks that I am trying to bad mouth LS430... I must advise that one of my best friends bought one before me...two yrs before me! And ,nothing....NOTHING ...has gone wrong on his...exactly the same model except a year older!apart from maintenance the only things he's had to replace were the brake calipers. I hate him with passion...but he does leave me a fiver for when something goes wrong next with my car.... Mine was obviously built on a Friday.... Shiner

Thanks Mark There was another post on US forum...that a defective battery cell can be the cause...it seemed more than a coincident that this happened to me after charging the battery up...we'll see. I just saw a YouTube clip of guy...an American of course...fixing this problem on his LS400....where he just raised the gear wheel that wasn't engaging with a plastic wire tie back ....amazing! I am just too scared to fish around there and make matters worse!...will see an Indie after the bank holiday.... But it's not a big problem...as long as the tilt function works I am ok with living without the telescoping function! Incidentally, I too am going to take a driving test for the GS450H.....have heard great things about it... I think my loyalty to LS430 can only go so far...

Hi all Shiner here Thought my nightmarish experience of owning my LS430 was over! I hadn't been able to drive my car for a few weeks after some surgery...so the battery went flat...charged it up with trickle charger and started it no proble! Nut now...the steering wheel tilts but has refused to telescope... In The US lexus forum some solutions offered ... Disconnect the battery and then reconnect....didn't work Remove the cover from the motor on steering wheel and tap it with hammer a couple of times...Haven't dared do this As above but instead of hammering remove the E clip from a worm gear which might be jamming the motor ..spin the motor, lubricate the gear....haven't dared do this either incase I jam the tilt mechanism as well....that would be nightmare situation.! I have no idea what Lexus dealers would offer to relieve my of vast sums of money but can source the motor from Tokyo for 160 euros plus shipping. Any ideas how I should proceed.... One option, of course , is to ditch the car and buy a bycycle....

Thanks Chris After spending some time with your guide as above I now where they all are and also the SatNav unit. Shiner

Which fuse box, it has many, 1 in driver and passenger footwell, 3 in engine bay, and 1 hidden in the boot, that i know of, maybe more but not found them yet. I did find a first aid kit in the hide away seat tray on the driver side of my 430 after a year of owning it, and some sunglasses in the pop down holder next to the sun roof. Wow Chris... I have now located the fuse box in foot well but the others are still a mystery...is there an easy memoir aid as to which is for what? The user manual very helpfully says that you should carry spare fuses in case of emergency.... I also never knew there were hide away trays...and there they are on both the driver and passenger side...but ALAs they are empty! And no sun glasses in the pop down holder either....

I have had my LS430 for six years...am still not sure where the fuse box is?..... But can , now, turn on/off smart key operation or low "tire" warning sign off....! And that takes some fiddling about where you can't see..... Why can't they have it on their touch screen.... Still a great car....and so quiet...my wife thinks I am going deaf!...

Visa are They comply with section 75 of the CCA 1974 Hi Jon You are right Visa try to give you the protection that the section 75 gives you....I now realise so do MasterCard and American Express ( which is not a credit card...BTW ) But strangely these cards are not covered by section 75 ...... On the other hand they cover cost of items without any limits by a scheme which wis known as chargeback .....whereas ..... Credit cards whilst covered by section 75.... the range of cover is from items costing between £100 to £30000. Shiner

If your debit card was Visa , you have a chance ...Visa offer a charge back facility unlike MasterCard debit cards....but the unfortunately the debit cards are not covered by the credit card legislation.... Talk to your bank and see what they say....but really you should just get the dealer to fix the problem or return the car ... Shiner

Oh dear The word **** is still in OED but obviously not politically correct here....sorry to have offended! Shiner

This may be complete waste of time for those already in the know, but I had a tip how to remove bird **** from the car without any scratches! Tea bags! Yes , have a noise cup of tea to calm your self when you see bird **** on you beautifully polished car, then take out the the tea bag ( doesn't work for those who use tea leaves) whilst still warm and place it on the spot...leave a for about 30 seconds and rub off....then wash with water...hey presto...no marks and the offending ****as been removed! Also in today's Telegraph , honest John has letter published where some one advise hair spray on your on your hoses and brake lines every six months to stop vermin seating them...and causing havoc! I just thought I share this with you on a Saturday night when there's fish all on TV.... CHEERS Shiner

Graham When is the auction... I am interested in your 460.....have been for a long time but haven't found one that I can afford! Perhaps you could send me a PM with some advice...unless of course you want to buy it back.... You have the right to return your car for full refund unless your dealer fixes the problem... Shiner

Give the dealer a written notice giving him a chance to repair the fault or you would return the car for full refund . You are entitled to do this within six months of purchase from a dealer!. The dealer has to prove the fault was not present at the time of sale! If he doesn't see the folly of his actions then sue in the small claims track of courts ....you will win without much trouble. Good luck Honest John ( of Daily Telegraph ) has plenty of advice on this topic..... Shiner

Just to say thanks Rudy publically.. For sending the wheel nut! Rudy sorted me out and all it cost me was the postage....I think it's been said elsewhere on this forum...it's the best and members are so helpful. Once again many thanks. Shiner

Hi Iain Take a look at my post ...Is Ls430 good value....as a warning about things that could go wrong with LS 430....but since then nothing has gone wrong...and I love the cabin and the drive and almost no noise....and the sound system is just awesome ! Don't know much about LS400 s...May be they are the best....but if you buy a well looked after 430...you won't regret it. Shiner

I want to attend the next meeting..... And I agree the maroon is really nice colour that complements the Lexus 400 or 430.... Here's my LS430

Well done Graham Stunning! Now that you have the LS600h how does it compare as far as driving experience goes with your LS460....I am saving up for one just in case my LS430 starts to cost serious money.....again!

Hi Nick So where is your garage that looks after your car.....

The right way around now.....

Well the photos got upside down for some reason...perhaps that's the first thing Mr Hill should fix!....I'll try later

Hi everyone I need help. I have decided to have my LS430 renovated by a Mr Hill suggested by Pepe. Apart from having the body work and stone chips etc repaired what else should I add to the list. The car is March 2004 model...has been serviced at Lexus dealers. And has done just under 97000 miles. The cam belt was changed in 2010...but the dealer did not change the water pump! Should I have that done? My Lexus dealer says they looked at it and it didn't need changing. As you can see the car is over 10 yrs old and I wish to keep it for the next 10 yrs...I only do about 3000 miles a year! Some of you may remember when I posted the topic Is LS430 good value?....this car cost me dear in 2010....but fortunately since then it's been trouble free and so even more of a joy to own! I am keen to get anything that could go wrong fixed before it goes wrong such as the recently alerted problem of failing intercooler that let's coolant to ingress into the gearbox thus fishing it up! I know the value of the car is pennies now but what an amazing piece of engineering!...and no evidence of any rust...anywhere! So please help me with what I should ask Mr Hill to look at and fix if necessary...my budget is £5000. I feel this is the cheaper option than trying to buy a replacement car that would give as much pleasure to drive in utter peace and comfort! And of course the Mark Levinson's sound system is just amazing ... Here are a couple of photos of her... Thanks Shiner

These don't look very clear ...I will make another attempt on a clearer day. Thanks!

Hi Rudy I have taken these three pictures...hope they help..it's a dull and grey day in Buckinghamshire...and bloody cold...I think LS400 sleeved nuts fit LS430 . If you have one that would be great I will send you my details by PM. CHEERS. Shiner

Thanks Rudy...I will do that . Cheers

Hi all and especially you Matt-c Auto glass came and fixed the rain sensor...it happened to be the same guy who replaced the original screen. I challenged him as to why he had replaced the rain sensor. He said he hadn't! And I must have got the wrong end of the stick when he said he was changing the gel pad and not the sensor! So thanks a lot and the new gel Ad has worked a treat!...Everything works fine! My mistake and sorry to have wasted a few people's time!