New Car Issues - Help Please

Ken-IS200 · January 23, 2009

Hi all,

I'm a new member and the proud owner of an '04 IS 200 SE manual shift in Carlo Blue (a deep blue) with 68K on the clock and no modifications (that I know of ).

I would be much obliged if anyone could answer a few questions.

1. The gearbox changes all 6 gears OK but there is a very slight (but annoying) whine in 6th gear only. So I intend to change the oil and see if this fixes the problem. After a brief sortie underneath (jacking the car up and sliding under) I found what looked like drain and filler plugs on the right hand (driver's) side. These plugs are both 24mm A/F and are screwed in horizontally. There is also a plug with a star-shaped centre screwed in

vertically at the very bottom of the gearbox that could also act as a drain plug. Could anyone please tell me which are the correct ones before I commit and unscrew them?

2. After starting the car there is a delay of about 30 secs and then a loud beep is heard. This beep does not happen again until the car has been stopped and restarted. It happens every time I start the car and seems to be coming from the audio speakers - is this normal? If so what is it supposed to signify? There is an aftermarket Bluetooth mike and speaker fitted and I am wondering if this could be causing the beep? (The beep does not come from its small speaker only the audio speakers.)

3. I've only had the car for 3 days and in that time the Sat Nav display has mysteriously risen up of its own accord half a dozen times without my pressing any control buttons. In fact, I have yet to use this feature. Any ideas why it is doing this?

4. The car handles well and has all the goodies apart from reversing sensors, which I intend to fit. I thought I might try the type that is in the form of a long ribbon. This does not need the rear bumper drilling as it is hidden underneath. Has anyone had any experience with this particular sort?

Thanking you in anticipation :) ,

Ken

Steviewevie · January 23, 2009

1. Check out this diagram (scroll down), which will probably help.

2. Mine is an earlier model and doesn't do that, but I suspect that it is the stereo.

3. and 4. No idea, sorry.

aido · January 23, 2009

Welcome to LOC :)

Just wondering if you've got a worn synchromesh in the gearbox - does it vibrate slightly if you put your hand on it?

Mine did that and it was amplified when a short shifter was put in - it never made any difference to the function, just had a slight vibration - sometimes you could fix it by dropping it out of sixth and then straight back in.

Think someone was asking about those ribbon type reverse things the other day and a friend of theirs whose in the military said they weren't as effective as the four button type ones you get?

glennhughes · January 23, 2009

Hi

#1 Sorry No idea

#2 Sat nav noise mine does it part of start up routine.

#3 The screen may be out of alignment this happened on mine after the head unit had been taken out to remove 2 disks in one slot (doh) just had to be refitted there are threads on this im sure.

#4 Ribbon sensors are of limited ability that is why they are not OEM on cars as standard.

Yeldarb · January 24, 2009

The Beep is the GPS regaining signal, I noticed this as the GPS symbol (top left of screen) flashed up on the screen at the same time as the beep.

Ken-IS200 · January 24, 2009

I shall take these replies in order.

Steviewevie,

Thanks for your reply. It looks like it's the two 24mm plugs from the bahamuta diagram, although

the drain plug appears to be fitted to the left side of the gearbox? I don't remember seeing

a plug there. I will have to look again.

The other (star-shaped centre) plug that I mentioned appears to be called 'Head Straight Screw

Plug No.1' on the diagram and looks to be containing shaft detente balls and springs. I don't

think I shall be removing this one! Thanks again for the info.

aido,

Thanks for your reply. There is no vibration present, just the slight whine in 6th. I think it's

wear of some kind. When I accelerate it's there but goes away when I take my foot off the gas.

It may be a low oil level or just poor lubrication due to the old oil losing its potency. As far

as I can tell by the service records the oil has never been changed in nearly 69 thousand miles.

Based on your reply and that of glennhughes I think I shall fit the 4-button type parking sensor.

glennhughes,

Thanks for your reply. So it's the Sat Nav! Thank you for putting my mind at rest. As to its

mysterious risings I shall check through the annals as you suggest.

Yeldarb,

Thanks for your reply. Now that you have advised me I can see the symbol you mentioned flash

on as the beep occurs. It's a great relief to know that it's not a warning of impending doom!

Parthiban · January 24, 2009

I believe the problem with the ribbon type of parking sensor is that it only senses things with movement, therefore if the car is stationary, as is the object, it will think there is nothing there. Ultrasonic sensors are picking up objects all the time, and as such are more effective.

Does that GPS beep happen all the time? I've had my car for over 6 years and never have I heard the satnav beep, is it something that can be switched on and off?