Ls460 Steering Rack

[abdallian]

Hi Guys. Looking for some, as always, helpful advice. I have a 2006 LS460 SEL with 70,000 miles. Got stuck in the snow the other day and after some grunting and pushing it finally made it up the slippery driveway...no problems. Next day I get the check VSC, check VGRS lights flashing and instructions to take the car to the dealer. Another thing that happened was that the steering wheel shifted off centre. It lay 10 degrees to the left. Apart from being a bit disconcerting, the car otherwise drove fine as long as you got used to a car going straight with steering pointing left. Anyhow a service was due anyway so I took the car into Lexus Reading. Apart from worn front bushes and a mild front suspension leak which need sorting, they tell me that a pin in the acctuator of the steering rack ( by this point I was lost) is out of position which has set the lights off and the sterring off centre. Fair enough....can't be that bad......HOWEVER, to fix it they have to replace the entire steering rack for an eye watering, heart stopping £5800. Does anyone have any experience of this problem, is there another (cheaper) way to sort this out? I am off to pick the car this morning so should have more precise details about the problem. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Cheers

[tonyricha]

I got a feeling we have heard of this on this forum about 2? years ago,if you search back you should find it,struck me as strange then they could or will not change parts on the rack. Good luck, got my prayer mat out for you.

Regards Tony

[abdallian]

Thanks Tony...all prayers needed. I had a look and found the post you may be referring to. Some guy in Edinburgh had similar problem and got a similar quote. I'll see if I can find a trusty mechanic who may be able to help. Any suggestions in Berkshire/ Buckinghamshire area appreciated. Otherwise back to Lexus. there seem to be steering racks on eBay from the States. This may sound stupid but does left hand/right hand drive make a difference to the steering rack

[steve2006]

Lexus as always will not repair anything that can simply and expensively be replaced, so while us mere mortals will replace the O ring seal on our power steering pump reservoir Lexus would replace the whole pump.

Try and get as much information as possible and then we can have a look at the exploded diagram of the steering rack and see if there are repair parts available, If not it will be more cost effective to have the rack reconditioned at a specialist.

LHD racks are of no use sorry.

Could you post up a link to that old post you found please?

[mikeyv]

Lexus as always will not repair anything that can simply and expensively be replaced, so while us mere mortals will replace the O ring seal on our power steering pump reservoir Lexus would replace the whole pump.

Try and get as much information as possible and then we can have a look at the exploded diagram of the steering rack and see if there are repair parts available, If not it will be more cost effective to have the rack reconditioned at a specialist.

LHD racks are of no use sorry.

Could you post up a link to that old post you found please?

Could be this one http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=66192&hl=+steering%20+rack#entry715784

That's an awful lot of money for a repair - hope you can sort it for much less.

[Lexmanic]

Paid Lexus £260 for a starter motor to find via LOC that it can be repaired parts supplied by eBay vendor for £35 not well pleased :megaangry:

AND they charge £30 refundable when I return the duff one cos "Lexus don't want their products finding there way onto the used market cos they won't meet THEIR standards"

Needless to say I've ordered the parts to have it refurbed & I may keep as a spare or sell it on eBay

[steve2006]

The link below may be of interest and a possible bargaining chip!

http://lexusenthusiast.com/2010/05/19/lexus-ls-to-be-recalled-for-vgrs-issue/

[Lexmanic]

The link below may be of interest and a possible bargaining chip!

http://lexusenthusia...for-vgrs-issue/

If its an inherent vice it may or rather should be fixed FOC

[ipwn]

Paid Lexus £260 for a starter motor to find via LOC that it can be repaired parts supplied by ebay vendor for £35 not well pleased :megaangry:

What are you not pleased about exactly ? You're comparing a brand new product up against a rebuilt product ?

Ofcourse rebuilding an old one is going to be cheaper than manufacturing a brand new one.......

Some customers confuse me to be honest.

[Lexmanic]

Paid Lexus £260 for a starter motor to find via LOC that it can be repaired parts supplied by ebay vendor for £35 not well pleased :megaangry:

What are you not pleased about exactly ? You're comparing a brand new product up against a rebuilt product ?

Ofcourse rebuilding an old one is going to be cheaper than manufacturing a brand new one.......

Some customers confuse me to be honest.

I'm not pleased about spending £260 against £35 when Lexus know only to well that its seldom the motor that's at fault but the solenoid costing a fraction of £260 AND easily replaced

[Lexmanic]

Paid Lexus £260 for a starter motor to find via LOC that it can be repaired parts supplied by ebay vendor for £35 not well pleased :megaangry:

What are you not pleased about exactly ? You're comparing a brand new product up against a rebuilt product ?

Ofcourse rebuilding an old one is going to be cheaper than manufacturing a brand new one.......

Some customers confuse me to be honest.

I'm not pleased about spending £260 against £35 when Lexus know only to well that its seldom the motor that's at fault but the solenoid costing a fraction of £260 AND easily replaced. SOME dealers confuse me with their greed

[bookend]

I can understand the dealers replacing the lot as the labour involved is expensive if it doesn't work.

They could at least give you the option though then you have the choice.

When mine went the dealer gave me the option but I bought the bits to do myself.

[steve2006]

Are they brand new starter motors from Lexus or reconditioned from Lexus?

[Lexmanic]

Are they brand new starter motors from Lexus or reconditioned from Lexus?

Who knows! I doubt they throw the old ones away. If Its just the contacts or the solenoid it would make more sense to refurb it.That way there's more profit

[The-Acre]

Are they brand new starter motors from Lexus or reconditioned from Lexus?

Who knows! I doubt they throw the old ones away. If Its just the contacts or the solenoid it would make more sense to refurb it.That way there's more profit

And just to make it worse, I think you'll find the parts are £13.50 not £35!

To me there's always that satisfaction of beating the system when you repair a component rather than replacing it. In my Vauxhall I repaired a part with some plastic from an old toothbrush. 4 Years later still fine and me £75 better off!

[Lexmanic]

Are they brand new starter motors from Lexus or reconditioned from Lexus?

Who knows! I doubt they throw the old ones away. If Its just the contacts or the solenoid it would make more sense to refurb it.That way there's more profit

And just to make it worse, I think you'll find the parts are £13.50 not £35!

To me there's always that satisfaction of beating the system when you repair a component rather than replacing it. In my Vauxhall I repaired a part with some plastic from an old toothbrush. 4 Years later still fine and me £75 better off!

No that's for this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEXUS-LS400-4-0-V8-UCF10-UCF20-STARTER-MOTOR-SOLENOID-REPAIR-KIT-/251215408044

Whereas I'm buying the WHOLE solenoid from the same supplier

[scythe]

Hi abdallian,

Is this failure is due to an incident in the snow - some sort of soft collision? Because if so, isn't it your insurance company that you should be turning to? The alternative is that it's straightforward component failure, but it doesn't sound like that from what you've said.

Good luck with it - and do let us know how it all turns out.

: o )

[The-Acre]

Are they brand new starter motors from Lexus or reconditioned from Lexus?

Who knows! I doubt they throw the old ones away. If Its just the contacts or the solenoid it would make more sense to refurb it.That way there's more profit

And just to make it worse, I think you'll find the parts are £13.50 not £35!

To me there's always that satisfaction of beating the system when you repair a component rather than replacing it. In my Vauxhall I repaired a part with some plastic from an old toothbrush. 4 Years later still fine and me £75 better off!

No that's for this

http://www.ebay.co.u...T-/251215408044

Whereas I'm buying the WHOLE solenoid from the same supplier

Oh, I see!

[mikeyv]

Hi abdallian,

Is this failure is due to an incident in the snow - some sort of soft collision? Because if so, isn't it your insurance company that you should be turning to? The alternative is that it's straightforward component failure, but it doesn't sound like that from what you've said.

Good luck with it - and do let us know how it all turns out.

: o )

Good thinking.

Years ago a fellow cab driver went through a ford in his Renault 20 diesel, sucked water in to his engine, which was completely wrecked.

He talked about claiming on insurance, and we all said "no chance", but he was right, and got a brand new engine fitted.

I would have thought your situation was similar, so definitely worth a try.

[abs66]

Mikeyv are you using your LS as a taxi?

[mikeyv]

Mikeyv are you using your LS as a taxi?

Nooooooooo, my taxi days are well behind me, 1980-1990, ten years were as much as I could take.

I'm not as brave as you, if I were cabbing now I'd probably be in a five year old Honda or Toyota diesel.

[Lexmanic]

If its an inherent vice (fault of manufacture) then I suggest Lexus are at fault & despite there warranty being expired would still be required to repair FOC. Also if insurers know this they won't admit liability for your claim AND even making an unsuccessful claim may still push up your premiums.......Chase Lexus

[abdallian]

Thanks for all the helpful inputs guys. Lexus do not seem to think that the skidding around in the snow had anything to do with it but they did'nt sound too confident one way or the other. I did read up about the VGRS recall but I got the impression this effected LS460's post 2009 but I may just make a cheeky enquiry about that and see what happens. I have the car with the mechanic who knows some "ex-Lexus mechanic". He will be reporting back tomorrow. Will keep you all posted. Thanks again

[ipwn]

I'm of the opinion you have a software glitch fault and that clearing all the error codes will sort it.

[abdallian]

Just an update. The actual problem is coming up as "lock holder deviation"requiring a brand new steering rack. Nobody seems to be aware if how to recondition the electrical components of the steering rack so my hunt for a steering rack has begun. Wish me well