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racingclub

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  1. Carbon coming from where? If it is carbon in the height sensor itself, then it would be more than likely conductive carbon for the contacts, so that argument kinda falls over at that point IMO. Rust/corrosion from water ingress sounds much more feasible. TF, I agree that the carbon explaination does sound off the mark...I got my car back today and insisted on having the faulty parts returned. BOTH rear height sensors are rusted up and the engineer said that he's seen alot worse. Also the bellows had kinda exploded at the bottom rather than cracked at the top which Lexus dealer said they had never seen b4? I'll post some pictures and get some thoughts going (picture = 1000 words etc)... the parts and rust look exactly like the Toyota LX/Amazon problem. Main dealer also confirmed that they get them all the time on the RX....the plot thickens!
  2. Found another car with new height sensors going about the same time as mine, interesting that Lexus say this is NOT a problem.... bit like Amercian foreign policy...if you deny stuff for long enough...guess what...it always catches up with you! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT This car was sold soon after the height sensors went...another £1200 bill for a problem that lexus claim they have sorted out!
  3. Bit more info, I asked my old mate Honest John (loved his column for agesand find the advice is sound and direct) His replay was Found out the reason why, by referring to my own car by car breakdown at hjuk: Carbon can build up inside rear active suspension height sensors, preventing current getting through and causing the suspension to malfunction. Sometimes they only last 18 months, and cost £1,400 to replace. HJ Now I had run into the water ingress causing rust and associated failure (see other posts and links) but this was a new one on me...any thoughts anyone? Looks like the height senor which Lexus claim is not a problem actually has TWO underlying faults that cause failure...not a good week for Toyota bosses all round
  4. Ruud, hi Yes have got my dealer and Lexus GB (who in effect are the Toyota Customer Service Team) involved as this was a know and recurring fault on my car. Main dealer (Chester) are sympathetic and indeed the engineers on site admit that this is an issue they have to deal with on a regular basis. They have pulled out the stops but even after taking off most of the parts mark up (they dropped from 15% to 5%) and doing the whole job for c£250 labour the fact of the matter is that lexus GB know this is a design fault that they have kept quiet with warranty repairs and throwing money at the problem rather than sorting out the design fault. I can’t see what more the dealer could do and to be honest I can’t ask for more from them...even though they know that it’s highly unlikely that I will do my next service at the dealership as I can save £300 by getting my local garage to fit the parts I can buy for buttons on the web... Lexus GB have taken a defensive position. They claim that modifications to the parts I had fitted 18 months ago have got rid of the problem...I have £1400 bill that kind of says that the problem might still exist! They say that they only give a 12 month warranty on the new and improved parts even though they have a 5 year warranty on the original items...which makes me feel like the modification was like pushing a plank out over a river rather than building long term solution like say a bridge. What happens as you push the plank out further and further...yes...it falls into the river and gets you wet...but just outside the warranty period so it’s not our problem. Within 5 minutes of my first call the Lexus a very curt and unfriendly man told me that Id better take the issue to trading standards...even though their internal customer service charter plumbs for arbitration....small claims court is cheaper and lower risk all round so I guess its no surprise they don’t mention this.... The annoying thing is that both the dealer and Lexus GB are kind of saying (reading between the lines) if I had extended the warranty (which would have cost £1400...does everything cost this much on this car!!!) then they would prob do the work...although I suspect they would want a contribution from me so warranty plus parts/labour contribution would give me a c£2k bill...so I would be worse off by taking the extended warranty? I guess the main dealers are the ones who will suffer most. Lexus GB attitude is making me check out the Jag/Audi/Merc/BMW options rather than the LS460. Personally I usually buy 2-3 year old cars and run them for a further 5-6 years....I’ve kind of hinted to both dealer and Lexus GB that taking a "buyer beware" attitude on my Ls430 means that I am going to get picky on my nearly new Ls460 (which has the same damned height sensors so beware all u guys!)... In simple terms I will be asking for a further 2k off the car to pay for the extended warranty as it appears that you have to purchase your goodwill in advance from Lexus in order to ensure that your impeccably reliable ex£65k luxury saloon does not bite you in the behind...lets put it this way BMW are practically giving away their 7 series and Jag are not far behind. Audi play is cool as the new boys on the luxury circuit. Having had big Mercs in the past I have told Lexus that even the poor manners of the Merc head office have been nothing compared with the non interested approach Lexus have shown...now that’s something I didn’t think I would ever say!!!! I’ve had some feedback from the Lexus sales guys who are basically saying that shifting 3-4 year old LS460's is already tricky without buyers like me coming in with a hit list of four figure repair faults that they want longer term indemnification against going wrong. It’s fair to say that main dealers make a shed load more from selling nearly new stock than brand new stuff, and an indifferent attitude from Lexus GB will impact on the dealer... Personally I feel that Lexus does have a good product in Ls430 but has three issues that they just throw money at to stop people complaining about...however given tight budgets and Toyotas reliability coming into question they are changing their position. Three mains faults = 1. Height sensors that can destroy your rear suspension = £2k fix every 18 months 2. Alloy wheels - they replace them at the drop of a hat in warranty period but the things blister like hell after 12-18months...another modified part that’s replaced to keep you sweat but the part is not a long term fix... 3. Wing mirror electrics - about as reliable as a MP's expenses claim and main dealer has never got sorted out so I just don’t use the parking mode any more... As the car was only on the list for 3 years I guess they will be glad to see the back of them as they slip into 2/3/4th ownership and out of the main dealers and into independents or DIY garages, buy guys the parts are only avail from Lexus and you cant get them scrap...trust me I’ve searched...unless you know better and can help? Unfortunately unlike the bullet proof Ls400 range I think the complexity of the Ls430 is showing that long term running costs of the newer LS's mean that you need a bullet proof warranty for as long as you can keep one going for....which in turn means that the resale value of the new LS460 will drop as hopeful people will seek to recoup this cost at point of sale rather than waiting for the electrics to give up the ghost one by one... Long answer to a simple question I know...thanks for reading...if you got this far!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  5. Has anyone got any experience on how Toyota/Lexus approach issues in the Small Claims Court? I am sure they are keen to keep things inhouse or down the route of Trading Stds or within Auto Mobile Association/NPower review but has anyone tried things on with direct action with limited claimant exposure?
  6. No wonder Lexus/Toyota are not keen to be spending money on looking after older cars, looks like they have got hands full with the new stuff... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8281981.stm
  7. Guys, Ive made a little headway with this sensor issue. It would appear that is a MASSIVE issue within the Toyota network with dealership memos from head office etc. The part is faulty and they know it but a recall is bad for business. Given that Lexus and Toyota are the same thing at head office level what do you think to this thread from a Toyota site http://www.tlocuk.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=749 Im explain to Lexus that I dont mind paying for repairs on parts that have reached the end of life or have developed faults through reasonable wear however I do have a BIG ISSUE with paying a significant four figure sum for a part that is not of the qulaity it should be and they know it.... :tsktsk: Thanks in anticipation of any help you can offer....
  8. Ive managed to find some information about this issue which I thought I would check with you experts. a)Seems this is a common fault. B) Water gets into the "sealed" system c) Lexus modified the part and now think the mod has sorted out the problem (Ive got a £1500 bill which kinds dones not support this!) d) Damage to bellows is a common issue after the system defaults to open and the suspension becomes as hard as rock! What I am not certain about is linkage to Toyota LX 4x4's who seem to have the same fault and the parts dont half look the same? Found this interesting link...any thoughts anyone... http://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruiser...-dead-05lx.html Would be good to chat through this and any other LS430 issues, my car is 6 years old and c80k... keep with main dealer or go with a local garage...or does anyone know a good lexus specialist in the North West?
  9. How did you get on? Im in a simular position but Lexus had already fitted what they claimed were upgraded rear height sensors...which failed again after 18mths and c20k. Im getting crazy quotes from my dealer as the parts are all unique Lexus only and are VERY expensive...when the sensors failed they took out the bellows as well which all makes the bill c1500 quid!
  10. Ive got a LS430 (2003 Vintage!), which had the height sensors replaced at c60k when 4 years old. Lexus stumped up cos they recognise this is an area where the normal high LS stds of care and quality are not what they would want. Now the difficult bit..the things have failed again within 18mths of replacement and with less than extra 22k miles on the clock. What are peoples feelings on this issue... how can I best go about getting the dealer/Lexus UK to play ball on what will be a second significant failure in the lifetime of this car. Other than the alloy wheels blistering worse than a 16 year old boys face the rest of the car is a credit to the land of the rising sun... Would really appreciate any helpfull input as I am looking down the barrel of a £1500 bill!!!! :shutit: Cheers :winky:
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