Just need to vent. . .
#16
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
Originally posted by sweetsc400
Damon -
VSsc400 -- Your car is nice, and it sounds like you take great care of it. After I get this stuff done I'd like to get HIDs, rims and coilovers or a nice strut/spring setup. Then I'd be perfectly happy. As of now I'm just glad to have it back! I was driving my beater 91 5.0 mustang. If you ever don't appreciate your Lex, drive an old POS like I did, then switch back. OMG what a difference!!!
Damon -
VSsc400 -- Your car is nice, and it sounds like you take great care of it. After I get this stuff done I'd like to get HIDs, rims and coilovers or a nice strut/spring setup. Then I'd be perfectly happy. As of now I'm just glad to have it back! I was driving my beater 91 5.0 mustang. If you ever don't appreciate your Lex, drive an old POS like I did, then switch back. OMG what a difference!!!
#17
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Originally posted by VSsc400
i had a beater for a spare......... then i couldn't take it anymore... so sold the beater and bought an RX300 as spare car... i love me some cars!
i had a beater for a spare......... then i couldn't take it anymore... so sold the beater and bought an RX300 as spare car... i love me some cars!
#18
Sweetsc,
Had I not not known better ( mainly due to this forum) my cost of ownership would be significantly higher. I avoid the dealer whenever possible and read / search the most cost effective solution at this site when I can. If I still own this machine at 350,000 I will be very happy.
I have no need to impress, damon
Had I not not known better ( mainly due to this forum) my cost of ownership would be significantly higher. I avoid the dealer whenever possible and read / search the most cost effective solution at this site when I can. If I still own this machine at 350,000 I will be very happy.
I have no need to impress, damon
#20
Wow! I guess I should feel pretty lucky. Our '95 SC400 just turned 191K miles and we've owned it since it was almost new.
So far:
1) Leaking power steering pump hose(not the high pressure one). $40 something to replace.
2) Alternator destroyed by #1. $530 or so to replace at a dealership. Prices range from $530 all the way to $1100 depending on dealer.
3) Cracked radiator. $159 CSF from overnight radiators. Replaced myself in an hour.
The only other thing that would have cost money was the AC Air Idle Control valve. Apparantly the cost is about $1100. I said screw that, removed it myself (45 minutes), cleaned it in an ultrasonic bath with carb cleaner for an hour, re-installed. This was at 80K miles. 110K miles later it needs to be done again, but I'm fairly certain it is the same as before as the symptoms are identical(stalls when coming to a stop after turning off AC).
So our total repair costs in almost 200K miles is about $750.
Of course there was the 60K which we did first at 120K. We plan to do it again at 240K....maybe. We had a local toyota shop do it for $380 something.
Tires twice for about $600 a pop. About to do them again. In fact, the AVS DB S2s only lasted 50k miles, but they stick very nicely.
Now I'm all worried that our car is suddenly going to fall apart. Not good as we're about to spend $1000 to do the seats and steering wheel.
I do all my own brake work including fluid flush, power steering flush, and radiator flush every few years.
Of course I do my own oil with Mobil 1. I don't do my own PS fluid and we recently discovered about 25K miles ago that we'd been using regular dextron III rather than Toyota type II or IV, so I'm expecting that if something blows up, it will be the trans or TC.
So far:
1) Leaking power steering pump hose(not the high pressure one). $40 something to replace.
2) Alternator destroyed by #1. $530 or so to replace at a dealership. Prices range from $530 all the way to $1100 depending on dealer.
3) Cracked radiator. $159 CSF from overnight radiators. Replaced myself in an hour.
The only other thing that would have cost money was the AC Air Idle Control valve. Apparantly the cost is about $1100. I said screw that, removed it myself (45 minutes), cleaned it in an ultrasonic bath with carb cleaner for an hour, re-installed. This was at 80K miles. 110K miles later it needs to be done again, but I'm fairly certain it is the same as before as the symptoms are identical(stalls when coming to a stop after turning off AC).
So our total repair costs in almost 200K miles is about $750.
Of course there was the 60K which we did first at 120K. We plan to do it again at 240K....maybe. We had a local toyota shop do it for $380 something.
Tires twice for about $600 a pop. About to do them again. In fact, the AVS DB S2s only lasted 50k miles, but they stick very nicely.
Now I'm all worried that our car is suddenly going to fall apart. Not good as we're about to spend $1000 to do the seats and steering wheel.
I do all my own brake work including fluid flush, power steering flush, and radiator flush every few years.
Of course I do my own oil with Mobil 1. I don't do my own PS fluid and we recently discovered about 25K miles ago that we'd been using regular dextron III rather than Toyota type II or IV, so I'm expecting that if something blows up, it will be the trans or TC.
Last edited by sorka; 07-19-04 at 02:25 PM.
#21
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Originally posted by sorka
Wow! I guess I should feel pretty lucky. Our '95 SC400 just turned 191K miles and we've owned it since it was almost new.
So far:
1) Leaking power steering pump hose(not the high pressure one). $40 something to replace.
2) Alternator destroyed by #1. $530 or so to replace at a dealership. Prices range from $530 all the way to $1100 depending on dealer.
3) Cracked radiator. $159 CSF from overnight radiators. Replaced myself in an hour.
The only other thing that would have cost money was the AC Air Idle Control valve. Apparantly the cost is about $1100. I said screw that, removed it myself (45 minutes), cleaned it in an ultrasonic bath with carb cleaner for an hour, re-installed. This was at 80K miles. 110K miles later it needs to be done again, but I'm fairly certain it is the same as before as the symptoms are identical(stalls when coming to a stop after turning off AC).
So our total repair costs in almost 200K miles is about $750.
Of course there was the 60K which we did first at 120K. We plan to do it again at 240K....maybe. We had a local toyota shop do it for $380 something.
Tires twice for about $600 a pop. About to do them again. In fact, the AVS DB S2s only lasted 50k miles, but they stick very nicely.
Now I'm all worried that our car is suddenly going to fall apart. Not good as we're about to spend $1000 to do the seats and steering wheel.
I do all my own brake work including fluid flush, power steering flush, and radiator flush every few years.
Of course I do my own oil with Mobil 1. I don't do my own PS fluid and we recently discovered about 25K miles ago that we'd been using regular dextron III rather than Toyota type II or IV, so I'm expecting that if something blows up, it will be the trans or TC.
Wow! I guess I should feel pretty lucky. Our '95 SC400 just turned 191K miles and we've owned it since it was almost new.
So far:
1) Leaking power steering pump hose(not the high pressure one). $40 something to replace.
2) Alternator destroyed by #1. $530 or so to replace at a dealership. Prices range from $530 all the way to $1100 depending on dealer.
3) Cracked radiator. $159 CSF from overnight radiators. Replaced myself in an hour.
The only other thing that would have cost money was the AC Air Idle Control valve. Apparantly the cost is about $1100. I said screw that, removed it myself (45 minutes), cleaned it in an ultrasonic bath with carb cleaner for an hour, re-installed. This was at 80K miles. 110K miles later it needs to be done again, but I'm fairly certain it is the same as before as the symptoms are identical(stalls when coming to a stop after turning off AC).
So our total repair costs in almost 200K miles is about $750.
Of course there was the 60K which we did first at 120K. We plan to do it again at 240K....maybe. We had a local toyota shop do it for $380 something.
Tires twice for about $600 a pop. About to do them again. In fact, the AVS DB S2s only lasted 50k miles, but they stick very nicely.
Now I'm all worried that our car is suddenly going to fall apart. Not good as we're about to spend $1000 to do the seats and steering wheel.
I do all my own brake work including fluid flush, power steering flush, and radiator flush every few years.
Of course I do my own oil with Mobil 1. I don't do my own PS fluid and we recently discovered about 25K miles ago that we'd been using regular dextron III rather than Toyota type II or IV, so I'm expecting that if something blows up, it will be the trans or TC.
Sounds like you've had a well-behaved car . I hope she gives ya another 200k miles!
#22
Racer
Originally posted by sorka
Of course there was the 60K which we did first at 120K. We plan to do it again at 240K....maybe
Of course there was the 60K which we did first at 120K. We plan to do it again at 240K....maybe
Despite my advice, my girlfriend just got talked into changing out the timing belt of her 90K Toyota RAV4. I told her to get the original belt back and checked it out tonight- except for the dirt, it looked like it came out of the new parts bin.
Last edited by PERRYinLA; 07-20-04 at 08:31 PM.
#24
Pole Position
wow i noticed alot of alternator replacements....please guys save your self some money and get your alternators rebuilt....it should only be $100.00 to $175.00 max....
CEO
CEO
#25
Lexus Champion
I agree with others. All were routine 90K maintenance except the window regulator and the alternator. However, alternator does wear out eventually. 90K isn't bad. My PoS GM alternators burned out every 30K miles or so. Changed it 3 times before I hit 100,000 miles, that's 4 alternators.... You don't want to hear me vent about GM.
So I bought a Lexus.
So I bought a Lexus.
Last edited by HarrierAWD; 07-23-04 at 11:50 PM.
#26
Lexus Champion
Originally posted by THE_CEO
wow i noticed alot of alternator replacements....please guys save your self some money and get your alternators rebuilt....it should only be $100.00 to $175.00 max....
CEO
wow i noticed alot of alternator replacements....please guys save your self some money and get your alternators rebuilt....it should only be $100.00 to $175.00 max....
CEO
#27
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Toyota / Lexus alternators routinely last about 150,000 miles and the only thing that normally goes wrong with them is that the $20 brush and brush holder assembly needs to be replaced. However, the early 90's LS400's and SC400's commonly have power steering system leaks at around 90,000 miles and the fluid leaks down onto the alternator, shorting it out. A cheap solution to prevent this from ever happening is to install a protective alternator cover http://www.saber.net/~monarch/alternatorcov.jpg And a cheap solution to prevent to power steering system leaks is to periodically check and clean the filters in the power steering pump reservoir and in the power steering rack solenoid control valve. Plugged filters cause high system pressures which in turn create the O-ring breaches that cause leaks.
#28
Lexus Champion
Ah, that's great information.
I saw the alternator cover photo. I wonder if that'd trap heat in the alternator, which might cause the alternator to fail prematurely.
Thanks.
I saw the alternator cover photo. I wonder if that'd trap heat in the alternator, which might cause the alternator to fail prematurely.
Thanks.
Last edited by HarrierAWD; 07-24-04 at 06:21 PM.
#30
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I had a 93 300D turbodiesel and a 93 400SEL. I had some problems with the 400SEL. But my family used to be a Mercedes family, and they're expense to maintain, for sure.