galletgun

Hey guys I am new to this lexus forum:
MY first quesiton will start off my introduction with a bang!

First, here is a little background on my car. My car is a lease and ever since I have gotten this car I have taken it to the lexus dealership for its periodic maintenance's. As you all know it is very expensive. Since my car was leased for four years I did not know what I was gonna do witht the car when my lease matured so I always took it to the lexus dealership for maintenance just in case If I ever planned to give the car back to them and I didnt want my lease to be void if I took it to a "Nonlexus" place and they screwed up my car.

WEll it turns out after four years since I am so happy with my car and its in perfect condiditon, I will be keeping it for myself. Since my car is no longer leashed to my lexus dealership, this brings up the problem of should I still go to lexus for my 30,000 mile maintenance which will be very very expensive or should I take it to "nonlexus" place with a very good reputation where it will be much less? (right?)

Orrrrr, should I do it myself? Now you guys should know I am a novice when it comes to car maintenance since I have always taken my car to the dealership for maintenance. Here is the list from the lexus manual of what is covered under the 30,000 maintenance.

-replace air filter [color=#CC0000] I know I can do this
-replace brake fluid [color=#CC0000] I know where the container is but how do I remove the old brake fluid?
-replace engine coolant [color=#CC0000] I know where this is too, but how do I remove old engine coolant?
-replace engine oil and filter [color=#CC0000] I know how to replace the filter, but how to remove old engine oil?
-retorque drive shaft flange boots [color=#CC0000] Obviously I cant do this, I mean I have a torque wrench for my wheels, but I am assuming its not the same thing...I would have to get this done at a place
-rotate tires [color=#CC0000] Dont have to do this b/c I had new tires installed and its only been like 1000 miles on them.
-road test vehicle [color=#CC0000] ...this is irrelevant I road test whenever I drive my car...
-inspect the following:
__ball joints and dust covers seems unnecessary right? I dont notice anything unusual
__body I can do this.. I am not blind...
__brake lines and hoses can not do this, unnecesasary? get done at a place?
__bake linings/drums and brake pads/discs not necessary, not time to change brakes, no noises.
__differential oil in the manual is says only replace if car is used for towing a trailer or as a camper, which its not..
__drive shaft boots can not do this, get done at a place?
__exhaust pipes and mountings unncessary, im not blind..
__fuel line, connections, bands, vaper vent sys. hoses can not do, unnecessary?, get done at a place?
__fuel tank cap gasket not blind...
__rack and pinion assembly unnecessary? ge tdone at place?
__steering linkage and boots nnncessary? get done at place?
__transmission fluid get done at place? or does it need inspecting, no engine problems, IF I can check it myself how would I go about doing that and what do I look for if it needs replacing.
-inspect nuts and bolts on chassis and body [color=#CC0000] unnecessary.

What do you guys think should I do? Should I #1 just go to lexus dealership and get it done, or #2 take it to a "nonLexus" place to get it done, or #3 do all the things that I can do and ignore all the unnecessaries and anything that is important that I can not do myself get it done at a place, b/c I enjoy getting my hands dirty and doing stuff myself.

Your opinions would be much appreciated!

Carbon~IS

I'm sorry, but this statement kinda questions your level of working on a car...

BUT~

You gotta learn sooner or later so here is a 60k maintenance write up that has most of what you are looking for:

http://my.is/forums/general-discussi...ml#post3502990

Carbon~IS

The "Inspect the Following" part is for you to just check and make sure it's not damaged. Not necessarily meaning it needs to be changed at this point.

***I would do the tranny fluid and diff fluid change at this time***

Good luck, and let me know if you need further help.

btorok

There are Lexus certified repair shops that charge a lot less for service (and parts, for that matter) than the dealer. As long as you take it to one of those shops, it shouldn't affect your warranty. Small things like oil changes I can see doing in the garage, but if you aren't a mechanic, I wouldn't mess with the major services.

kit cat

iTrader: (6)

you probably should get all those checked; unless you want to ignore your possibly torn boots and have to replace your half shaft...which I doubt on a 30k mile car but you never know. just jack car up (and with JACKSTANDS) check for leaks, and etc. Also, you may want to check bolts and nuts. You dont want wheels flying off a car do you?

It's good that youre trying to do all this by yourself. But as Carbon~IS said, if you dont know how to remove oil sounds like you might want to ask someone thats mechanically inclined to help you out. I'm sure someone close to you on this board would be willing to help.

good luck.

galletgun

is it possible to change the oil filter after putting in a new oil?

TACH_MOTOR

Yes you can change your filter after putting the oil in, just dont start the car when you put the new oil in, the contaminents from the old oil will mix in with the new. Also 30k service is very important since the 30k service they check everything as for 5k interval services i would just get an oil change thats all. 30k services the techs are supposed to check over the entire car make sure everything is still within specs. I know this cause i am a Lexus certified tech.