Hi Fellow ES owners!

I have an issue with our 2022 ES350 Ultra Luxury that I hope that you can help me with. I washed our car yesterday and after finishing it, the trunk doesn't want to go up and the outside lights on the tail lights (red ones) don't want to turn off. I read the owner's manual and it said that if working with high pressure water, that I needed to turn the power to the trunk off. I read it after I power cannoned the car and now I'm paying the price for it.

Does anyone know how I can fix this problem? My main concern is to shut the lights off because I don't want to run the battery dead. I hooked my CTEK trickle charger up to the battery last night to prevent this from happening but I can't take the battery charger with me when I take the car out. I do have a power pack jump starter that I can take with but I don't want to resort to using it if I don't have to.

I do have an appointment at the dealership for the 5k service, so I'll have them take a look at it too, but to be Honest, I trust this forum more than I trust the dealership. Better class of people and smarter too!

Any help would be Greatly Appreciated and Thanks in advance!

 

Since you live in the state of confusion I don't know if you currently have some sunshine. But if you do, I would park the car in the sun and let everything dry out. In the future I would not use high pressure water on your car. A gentle flow of water and a quality car wash solution - not dish or laundry detergent - will do the job. In the meantime I'd disconnect the negative battery terminal to prevent battery discharge and taillights from staying on... If you must operate the car I'd also bring your jump device. GOOD LUCK!

 

Thank You for the reply and the Good Luck wishes. I Appreciate them. I did hook my trickle charger up to it to prevent battery drainage while She's in the garage and Thankfully we have another car that we can use in the mean time.

When the weather permits, I do enjoy hand washing our cars. Since the weather was somewhat permitting, I thought that I'd give the touchless a try. I didn't know about the power to the trunk thing until this problem came up. We had this option in a

My car wash plan in the good weather is a two bucket wash (one for soap and one for rinsing the Micro Fiber mitt) using a good car soap (usually Chemical Guys Honeydew or Maxi Suds II) in the foam gun. I rinse first to get heavy dirt off and then use the foam gun and let the soap sit there and dwell for a minute or so, then I'll rinse it off and then get to the bucket wash. Before dipping the mitt in the soap, I'll rinse it in the water bucket (with a grit guard in the bottom of both buckets). Then I'll rinse the soap off with the hose using a water sheeting trick that also helps to dry the car too. Then I use my electric leaf blower to dry the car and wheels off. If I need to use towels, I'll use them, if not, then I won't.

She also gets a coat of wax once every couple of months (Collinite 845 and Blackfire sealant) and a maintenance buffing every 6 months just because it's easier to correct what micro-marring that might be there before it gets bad. I'm like other's on here that like to wash their cars, but sometimes Winter changes all of that because the touchless is quicker, easier and also does the undercarriage to get rid of salt. I've also used ONR and rinseless products too but this time, I got lazy this time and am paying the price. Ceramic coating is Definitely in my future though.

Thanks again for your advice! I'm going to use it. I also Apologize for the long winded washing explanation but it's quite the process.

 

Well apparently you really didn't need my advice as it seems you have a pretty good knowledge of car maintenance. Hopefully the issue will resolve itself and you'll be OK...
Living in Pennsylvania with the tough winters it's difficult to keep the car up to standards as far as washing in the driveway. I don't like car washes so I use the stall facilities with a bunch of quarters and dry the car myself after. I recently found a car wash that uses only water - no brushes of any kind - and it does a satisfactory job except for the wheels but not like I do...

Here it is the first week of February and no snow to date... Temps in the 40's except for the polar vortex one night this past week,
8 degrees F. so keeping the fingers crossed...

 

Thank You for the compliment and while I do have a good knowledge of car maintenance, I do Appreciate your advice because I don't know anyone who knows everything and it's good to get advice from Folks that might teach me something.I didn't think about putting the car in the sun and since We have similar weather as you do, there isn't much sun, even if the temps are higher than they have been recently. I opened the trunk and took the leaf blower to it to try and dry things out of the crevices but the lights are still on.

The trunk works but the outside lights on the tail lights are still on. I've thought about pulling the trunk apart to take the bulbs out but part of me just says to wait until Wednesday and letting the dealership deal with it. That's what warranty's are for.

It sounds like you've found a good solution to clean your car and I wish that we had one of those coin operated washes around here but everything has gone to the automated types (touchless and brushes). With the water only car wash, Please remember to press the power button in the glove box if you've got the power trunk, just for the fact that I wouldn't want any of the issues that I'm having to happen to you.

By the way, I Hope that the snow stays away from you, as long as it doesn't come our way instead!

 

Amazing winter so far. We hit 1 above zero Saturday morning and today close to 50°. No sign of snow for northern NJ.

 

We'll all be interested to know what the issue is with the taillights... Let us know when you get back from the dealer...

Bob C.

 

I will post up what they find out, if they can figure it out. Hopefully they can but I don't put much Faith in our dealership based on past performances with our LS460.

Hopefully, they will surprise me though!

 

Did the car get fixed yet?

 

Sorry for not posting earlier, but it's still in the process of the problem being determined.

Here's Full disclosure: Our car had 842 miles on it when it was tapped in the rear by a semi. It was repaired by a qualifying facility.

I took it into the dealership and they said that it wasn't covered under warranty because it was hit (I'm not sure if that's right or not, but I've found from dealing with them with our 2009 LS460, that they aren't honorable when it comes to taking care of the customer). I left there and took it back to the body shop that repaired the car and they are troubleshooting it now. They rented a loaner for us and have a company that is troubleshooting it to get to the bottom of the problem.

I do have question though. In our situation, is it right for the dealership to turn down covering this or do I have unrealistic expectations? Am I expecting too much because I've never had this happen to me before?

Here's a back story of why I said the above statement concerning our dealership: Our daily driver is a 2009 Lexus LS460. Lexus had Very Generously offered a fix for the bad leather on the inside of the car. They did this according to the VIN and ours qualified for this. They offered to replace the bad/worn leather out (at no cost to us) but it was to be determined by the installing dealership. I took ours in to them because in the summer, the arm rest got hot and sticky (which was one of the reasons for the replacement) and the mechanic wiped it down with brake fluid cleaner and said that it was alright. The service advisor agree and said that basically.."Sorry, but it stinks to be you" type of deal. I called Lexus again to make sure that I wasn't over reacting and they said to have the dealer contact them. Long story short, we never got the replacement pieces (arm rest on the doors, center console, seat covers on some cars and the dash, if needed too. Ours just need the door arm rests) and the offer is no longer available (expired). I was just disappointed that the dealership didn't step up because Lexus had even offered to foot the bill to make the car right (which I was VERY Impressed by) but the dealership dropped the ball. Some of the fault goes to me too for not going to another dealership.

I was talking to my Wife and We've come to figure that there are two possible explanations: Either our 2022 ES350 Ultras Luxury is jinxed or I am! The result is to be determined but We also agreed that we're finding a different dealership.

Sorry, but I'm just a little chapped and chafed right now because of the dealership!

I also Apologize for my rant! It sounds like the "Diary of a Madman!"

 

I mean if the car was in an accident, how do you expect the warranty to cover that repair?? I didn't see that in your original post.

 

I didn't put that in my original post because I didn't think it was relevant. I was wrong in my ignorance because I didn't know better. I've never had any experience with this situation.

It doesn't change the fact that someone has to figure out what's wrong.

 

I'd be chapped too. You have a right to be seriously peeved at that dealership. That is not the treatment you buy a Lexus for.

 

Thank You for your thoughts! I didn't know what to expect because our last couple of cars have been German (an Audi and two BMW's) and their service has been stellar! I came into Lexus with Zero expectations and as long as you need basic services, they are fine (not stellar but fine) but this dealership has been a bit disappointing! Quite possibly, it just might be that dealership since it's the only one that I've used.

We have one that is a little closer to our house that I might try when it comes to the next service. By the way, does a 5000 mile service come with an oil change because the SA told me that it didn't?

Once again, maybe my expectations are too high but I just want them to do what they promise/advertise. My Wife said that this will be our last Lexus though and by the way that I feel now, I'm likely to agree with her. The cars are nice but the service leaves me wanting more.

I will say though that this Lexus forum is Great and Very helpful and Nice people. I wish that the service department was more like this place!

Sorry for the rant!

 

It might not hurt to check with the body shop that did the repair work on your car (or their receipt/paperwork etc.) and see what their work/guarantee covers. I was recently rear ended while stopped at a red light by an uninsured and impaired driver and took my car to a BMW authorized body shop for the repair and they say they have a 100% guarantee on parts and labor.