Lexmex

I have a friend with, of all things, a 97 Harrier here in Mexico. Why he imported this car all the way from Asia is beyond me, but he is a diplomat. I usually have to get him parts from the States. However, he recently moved to Cancun on the Yucatan. Although they have a Toyota dealer in Merida, he often goes to Belize to get Toyota parts there. He has successfully used some brake pads, oil filter and a few sensors from a Highlander without problem, so I have no doubt there are many similarities.

For some stupid reason, even if you enter a Toyota part number for a Lexus or a Toyota not sold in this hemisphere it will not show up in Toyota's computers here in Mexico.

mikey00

Just curious, how come you didn't get them from the link supplied by someone in response to your previous post for $128. each?
Mike

Fern

I am in Canada and the link was to an American website and by the time you take the exchange rate and brokerage fees and shipping cost, it would far exceed the Toyota Highlander price...

parula

I have noticed that it is a little better with the slightly warmer weather but not nearly fast enough imo. I'll have to get them replaced at the end of the 4-year warranty, maybe before that if they deteriorate.

Fern, did you notice any rust on the screws or frame when you replaced them?

On my '99 I noticed one of the screws was rusting on the outside, and only after a couple years, the screws seemed to be made of a metal that would rust - though I never replaced the struts or took a screw out to investigate if the rust was migrating. This is something I want to control on this car I intend to keep long term.

Fern

screws are a bit rusty but nothing major...

I lubricated them w/ wd-40 and also the hinges.
I even suspected the hinges of being too tight... But only after removing both "stays" as the dealer calls them, will I know...

I even lubricated the pivot joint at the base and top of the "stays" hoping that would help a bit... Only thing that makes a difference is warmer weather..

I am expecting a call back from Lexus Canada Customer service this week on an explanation on the price difference between similar Lexus/Toyota parts...! I think we all deserve it.

In the mean time I am putting groceries in the car w/ one hand while the other holds the hatch open..

Fern

Received call back from Lexus Canada customer service rep today.
She apologized for delayed return call and said she wanted to speak to service department of dealership where car was last taken. She indicated she needed to speak to service manager. I also mentioned the "D" drive light on the dash that had gone out.

I have read the details on the extended car warranty and found the bulbs and lights are not covered, but want to get a response back from Lexus.

Waiting for reply from Lexus on these issues, meanwhile, looks like Lexus did a great job on excluding the items that breakdown and including the bullitproof stuff, ie: engine and trani...

Fern

Man now I know where my extended warranty dollars are going.

This is the 2nd person from Lexus Canada Customer Service Dept. that called me to tell me sorry but the rear hatch struts are not covered under the extended warranty nor is the "D" drive light on the dash that burned out.

She also told me the if there are any TSB's on these issues that Lexus Canada is not obligated to inform or even provide copies to their clients... Only recall issues.

She went on the state my dissappointment was noted and she would have someone form their quality assurance ? department followup and explain " how well built my vehicle was.

Their explanation for Lexus charging more than Toyota for the same interchangeable part was that the parts were manufacturered at different locations, subject to different shipping costs and have to meet different quality control standards... yada, yada, yada,...

Hate to say this but its my first and last.

And if anyone (with a fancy title, ie: quality assurance specialist) from Lexus calls me back I will make it a point of telling them that I know now where my warranty dollars are going... Their salaries, certainly not my "customer satisfaction"..

Bullcrap- 3 levels of customer service is unheard of, especially if no customer service has been provided.

LexRX

That sounds like a waste to me, too bad the extended warranty is so restrictive. I'm sorry to hear that you are having such a poor experience.

parula

I would like to think the warranty would cover stuff that they know is easy to fix and cheap for them, like the dash bulb they haven'y changed to a higher voltage rating apparently to make it last practically forever and the rear hatch struts that sound like someting less than Lexus standard equipment, imo.

cephraim

Did a search and found this old thread.

Has anyone been able to confirm whether the Highlander parts work?
Are there any other options?
Anyone find a cheaper source than the Park Place Lexus link provided earlier in this thread?
How long would it take to install these yourself?
Anyone have the instructions?

$400 US, at least.
Ouch.
Then again, I keep banging my head on the damn gate as it sits halfway open.
Ouch.


Eph

bob2200

I just had the rear hatch stays replaced by the dealer under warranty on my 2002 RX300 a few days ago. The part number was 68950-49016.

I had complained last year and they said it looked normal. This time I took it in on a colder day.

Instead of WD-40, you might try silcone spray. It's worth a try, if you can't get it replaced under warranty.

Fern

Maybe if enough CL members send these guys emails like I have they will recognize that there is a need for the rear hatch lifts to be available aftermarket.

http://www.arvinmeritor.com/products...arket/app1.asp

They are already manufacturing for the '00 Toyota Forerunner

BTW in just looking at the Highlander units in the showroom at my local Toyota dealership they do in fact "look" the same as our RX300's. Don't know if the parts rep would actually let me take one out to the car to compare.

cephraim

Anybody find any other solutions?
I still refuse to pay for new ones from my Lexus dealer, but can't find any other options.

Thanks again,
Eph

HarrierAWD

The solution is surprisingly easy... and cheap.

I clamp a wooden laundry clip on the metal part of the strut, so it couldn't move downward. That's it.

cephraim

Ha! I suppose you mean after you open it, and each time you open it, right? Then you have to remove it before closing?

I guess this would keep me from bonking my head, but it sure isn't very convenient...

Eph