rj4510

Hi all,

I’m a new GS400 owner as well as new to the board. I’ve been reading through the posts and am very impressed by everyone’s enthusiasm and accuracy. I’ll have to write up a bio soon to properly introduce myself.

My wife and I have owned our 99 GS4 for almost two months and absolutely love the car. We are however, most annoyed by a squeak we hear from the left side of the dash. If we push in the emergency brake release, the squeak stops!! The squeak is not caused by the break release handle, but something behind it or in the general area of the dash.

I tried to pull the panel apart below the dash, which I believe routes the ventilation system and covers the ugly stuff. I removed two screws and located a small clip which released by pushing to one side. However, the assembly would not release and appeared to be attached by something in the middle!!! I stopped in order to avoid breaking the cover.

Does anyone know how to pull this cover off? Diagrams of photos would be great. Has anyone had the same type of squeak in this area and resolved it?

Thanks a bunch.

rj4510

OK,

So nobody has the annoying little squeak I've mentioned! Can someone please tell me how to remove the cover I wrote about in my last post, before I break the thing in half

I know it will be a simple job once I pull the cover off. I'm just trying to avoid the pain involved with finding out how easily the cover comes off...if you hold your tongue in the right position.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

i don't have that squeak so i don't know eaxtly the fix.

to take off the panels, i did it once before but i have to go back and see again. i know you haev to take off the bottom one first, it's just couple of screws and just pull it down. then another couple of screws and clips and the one above it will come off as well. it's two separate pieces

rj4510

Thanks,

I'll look at pulling the pannel "down" later today. Hopefully I'll be able to isolate the squeak.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

lexus stuff are always very well designed. you should be able to figure out the screws and clips easy

rj4510

The ones I can see don't bother me. It's the hidden ones I'm trying to avoid breaking.

I know I sound incompetent to the point I shouldn't be picking up a screw driver I'm just trying to avoid a replay of my last car. Two weeks after driving a new model off the lot, I set out to install new door speakers. I searched and pried, but the door handles would not come off. They were held on by what appeared to be one screw. I asked the local install shops and they had not installed any speakers in that type of car yet. So, I asked the dealership mechanics how to pull the handle off and was told "you take out the screw, then pry and twist upward. It appears tougher than it should but the handle pops right off... you won't have a problem."

I came home and did as they told me when SNAP, my worst fear came true. There was a metal clip at the opposite side of the screw which broke a piece of the door panel on it's way out

The correct solution was to pry up slightly to expose a small slot. Insert a small screwdriver in the slot and release the clip. GRRRRRRR the door handle never stayed on again....without the help of double sided tape.

If I break the panel under the dash while attempting to isolate the offending squeak, I'll be feeling it in more places than my wallet. My wife has wanted a GS for 11 years. If I bust her baby, she's likely to make me pay

rominl

iTrader: (4)

man that sux, sorry to hear that

but no, don't get me wrong. i wasn't saying you shouldn't have asked these questions. i would never say that all questions are welcome here and we all help each other out. i was just trying to give you a tad more confidence in trying

rj4510

I greatly appreciate the input. I didn't get a chance to break...ah...I mean...remove the panel. I hope to get the squeak problem resolved this weekend.

Thanks a bunch for your help.

JellyBean

Try looking through the shop manual online at http://techinfo.lexus.com. You get 24 hrs access for $10 to a tremendous amount of Lexus technical info, including the *entire* shop manual in PDF format. (Forget about downloading it because its broken up into numerous parts--youll see what I mean ) I'm sure you'll find an exploded drawing of the assemby in question. Good luck, and if possible, post a description of you fix.

ntran18

iTrader: (27)

I think that's a floor light or clip that you need to separate for the bottom panel. The 2nd panel is in the diagram.

BTW: That'll be $10. I'll put it on your tab

rj4510

Thanks JellyBean for the techinfo link. What an absolute gold mine
ntran18, your pdf attachment was exactly what I needed to proceed with confidence. Looks like others have benefited from the attachment as well! At the time of this post, the pdf file had been downloaded 8 times.

Solution: The lower cover came off without a problem. Another half an ounce of pressure and it would have popped off the first time I was a little disappointed with my findings once the covers were removed. There is absolutely nothing behind the emergency break lever except air!!! I pulled off the plastic piece holding the coin tray and mirror control, placed thin pieces of dense foam padding around the edges and every other piece of plastic touching other pieces of plastic.

I put everything back together and took the car for a test drive. I found every rough road I could find (not many) and so far as I can tell, the squeak is gone. From disassembly to smile took around an hour.

Thanks for everyone's help.

JellyBean

I love the "let's give'em a hand" attitude in ClubLexus!

rj4510

YUP! The squeak is definitely gone.

Thanks again.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

wow that's some very nice documents there! we all gotta love the power of clublexus sometimes