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Hybrid TechnologyUnique topics related to the LS600h L model hybrid drivetrain and other features/options found only on the LS600h. Please use the main 4LS forum for discussion about shared components with other fourth generation LS models.
if this isnt an idea you want to entertain, i certainly understand. But I have known Jason and done business with him for nearly 2 decades. If anyone can help you here, it's him.
Thanks to all for the replies - I am going to call Jason. I've put the dealer in Danvers, MA on hold.
I've found trannys online for about $3K. http://www.carmonkeys.com/Transmissi...S-LS600HL-2008
I am trying to get a second opinion in the Boston area - but no one seems to want to touch the hybrid??
Ravi, for a local second opinion, I would strongly recommend Lexus of Northborough. I drive 30 miles to service there - great, knowledgeable team, and their diagnostic specialist is top notch: a Lexus encyclopedia (including hybrids, actually) and very detail-oriented. He's well-known and very reputable in the field. Worth a shot, IMO, in addition to calling Corporate.
I also have called Corporate. The rep was very courteous and took all my details and pulled me up on their system. Someone is supposed to get back to me by COB tomorrow. Realistically, has Lexus been of any real help in this scenario - car that is 7 years old, past warranty/100K, etc. Thanks to all for the incredible help!
Thanks let us know what they say. As others have mentioned, this is rare for someone to come up with a transmission failure, and on a LS600hl out of all things.
I also have called Corporate. The rep was very courteous and took all my details and pulled me up on their system. Someone is supposed to get back to me by COB tomorrow. Realistically, has Lexus been of any real help in this scenario - car that is 7 years old, past warranty/100K, etc. Thanks to all for the incredible help!
I'll say this in reply...
Though the scenario is quite different and the cost gap is quite significant, I contacted Lexus about my upper control arms when my LS was 8 years old, and they did me a service by goodwilling the parts, and I paid for labor. Now, in putting all variables on the table, the car did have less that 70k miles on it.
All this to say, don't allow the age and mileage of the car be a deterring factor. Put your best effort forward, be informative, respectful, polite but stern and allow them to decline you. Secondly, remember, albeit older, it is still a model that is virtually a unicorn, given the small amount of sales the car has done since its inception. Give them the opportunity to make it right while exercising your other options.
Lastly, 9k is still to much... Assuming labor is a constant, that means that they are charging a difference of $5k between a new and used trans and you said yourself you've been able to find them for $3k?? Stating the obvious here, but the dealer will always be the most expensive, but who is to say they are the best place to replace a trans? Its not something they specialize in and its not a job that I'd assume is done very frequently. And why not offer you option out of the gate??
I'd follow-up on the advice given by caha14 as well as speak with Jason.
I tend to agree to all "second opinion" needed posts...
Reaon is.... a dealer will not get into fixing parts. They replace it. And if Lexus doesn't manufacture individual pieces of a bigger part, they will sell the entire part.
As an example, let's say your alternator dies. Typically, it's only the brush inside that needs to be replaced. Dealers will not remove the alternator, open it up to replace that 5$ brush. They don't want to, and they don't have the brush as a standalone part. They will sell you a brand new complete alternator...
I believe you issue might be with one of those transmission parts and don't need to replace the whole thing...
Exactly , and it even goes deeper and more sinister then that in my opinion
I see the dealers as inherently corrupt , dishonest , self serving as well as in many cases incompetent.
Ive never heard of an automatic tranny of any kind just "dying", it usually starts slipping, showing signs of wear, acting funny etc... before it dies weeks/months/years later.
This could be as simple as a hybrid battery issue, some blown fuse, some electronic glitch , sensor etc.. and not a full on mechanical breakdown, and because we aren't techs we would never know, we have to believe anything they say.
When my old sc400 started stalling mid drive, I took it to the dealer because they are supposed to be the best , 2 hours of diagnosis and they told me they cant figure out the problem exactly, but they want to replace all the coils, plugs, wires , battery , and a few other things, and that SHOULD fix the problem they said but no guarantees. 2 Hours diagnosis was like $250.00 , plus they wanted almost 2 grand to replace all the other items. I was young and stupid but I didn't fall for it, I yelled at them and got them to waive the diagnosis fees and I took my car to my regular mechanic.
It took him a while but it ended up being a loose cam or crank sensor, it was plugged back in securely and the car was good as new, for all I know the dealer knew this and tried to sucker me for over 2 grand.
I simply don't trust them, or their so called expertise.
In all of my mechanical experience (nearly 20 years), I have NEVER, and I mean never, seen it take more than 10 hours to rebuild a transmission on a normal car. That is including removal, and reinstallation.
Now, with that said, this isn't a normal car, but it isn't an exotic either. So, lets factor in an additional 5 hours for an "oh ****" factor. So, even at $150/hr labor rate (exorbitantly high for most non-exotic dealers), You are looking at $2,250 in labor to remove, rebuild and reinstall the transmission. Now, thats just for labor. Jason may or may not be anywhere near that number, I am not sure, however, I do know that if you come out of this paying around $5,000 for everything and the car is fixed, then you got a "decent" deal, IF the rebuild/replacement transmission is what the car needs.
With the myriad of sensors and computers on these cars it is vitally important that the car is troubleshot by a true technician/diagnostician, not just a "mechanic" (typically, dealership techs are nothing more than parts changers who read a book that tells them what to do next). Some dealers have good ones, some don't. From my experience in the industry, by and large, most are lazy and would rather throw parts at it numerous times. This is counterproductive. It costs the customer money and time, and it cost the tech time which costs him money as well. It ends up taking longer that way anyway. If a true tech were to look at this car, and follow the clues to the fault, I would bet money they would find something causing the symptoms that could be fixed, at a fraction of the cost of replacing the entire unit. 99.8% of the time this has been my experience in my 20 years as a wrench turner.
Lastly, if you want a brand new transmission (some people who plan to keep the car would feel better about it), here is one for $7,3xx, and thats the cheapest you will ever find a new unit:
Lastly, if you want a brand new transmission (some people who plan to keep the car would feel better about it), here is one for $7,3xx, and thats the cheapest you will ever find a new unit:
OK - new quote from dealer is $9k to put in a used transmission.
Well seeing as how you're from Mass,why not try Jeff's Lex Toy in Londonderry? The guy was a former Lexus tech for Ira, I believe and he has some other Lexus guys working there. I bought my LS460 there, it's a clean shop inside and out. Maybe he could put in a used tranny for you? But I have no idea if it's something he'd want to get involved with.
In all of my mechanical experience (nearly 20 years), I have NEVER, and I mean never, seen it take more than 10 hours to rebuild a transmission on a normal car. That is including removal, and reinstallation.
Now, with that said, this isn't a normal car, but it isn't an exotic either. So, lets factor in an additional 5 hours for an "oh ****" factor. So, even at $150/hr labor rate (exorbitantly high for most non-exotic dealers), You are looking at $2,250 in labor to remove, rebuild and reinstall the transmission. Now, thats just for labor. Jason may or may not be anywhere near that number, I am not sure, however, I do know that if you come out of this paying around $5,000 for everything and the car is fixed, then you got a "decent" deal, IF the rebuild/replacement transmission is what the car needs.
With the myriad of sensors and computers on these cars it is vitally important that the car is troubleshot by a true technician/diagnostician, not just a "mechanic" (typically, dealership techs are nothing more than parts changers who read a book that tells them what to do next). Some dealers have good ones, some don't. From my experience in the industry, by and large, most are lazy and would rather throw parts at it numerous times. This is counterproductive. It costs the customer money and time, and it cost the tech time which costs him money as well. It ends up taking longer that way anyway. If a true tech were to look at this car, and follow the clues to the fault, I would bet money they would find something causing the symptoms that could be fixed, at a fraction of the cost of replacing the entire unit. 99.8% of the time this has been my experience in my 20 years as a wrench turner.
Lastly, if you want a brand new transmission (some people who plan to keep the car would feel better about it), here is one for $7,3xx, and thats the cheapest you will ever find a new unit:
Its 20.5 hours labor to remove and install according to all data. Insane I know.
I think ArmyofOne meant to say 15hr, 15x150 = 2250.
In 80s and 90s, Lexus used to air ship such prematurely failed components back to Japan for root cause analysis. I don't know whether they follow such protocol now. Considering all the cost saving designs we have in our LS, I doubt that.
In the event if they are interested in OP's transmission, they may supply the part (transmission) and have him pick the labor. Interested in learning Lexus response............
Correction it's 20 hours labor, looked it up today. Yikes.
Originally Posted by caha14
For what it's worth, if you apply ClubLexus' discount code to mylparts.com, which is CL5, the total comes down to around $6,600.
Originally Posted by rkuppuraj
OK - new quote from dealer is $9k to put in a used transmission.
rkuppuraj, looks like the 9K quote for a used transmission is still super high.
From caha's and Doublebase's estimates, it would seem the total cost for a new transmission (6.6K) and labor (3K) would be around 9-10K. You should consider installing the re-conditioned transmission (3K) that you mentioned earlier. It's unlikely you will be hit by lightning twice, considering there have been no recent reports of a failed tranny. Good luck!
03-28-17, 07:53 AM
