Hi everyone,
As some of you know my GS300 developed this strange kind of vibration after my last service that was done at the Lexus dealership . . . The vibration is felt through the driver's seat underneath my right leg to be specific when cruising at highway speeds 60mph+
I had the appointement scheduled earlier, for today and they used some sort of vibration machine analyser to detect using some numbers at different engine speeds what the vibration was of wheels, driveline, and engine . . . When the readings came out the SVC manager said everything seemed to be in acceptable range (without showing me a standard acceptable vibration chart which could be used a yardstick to compare whether its normal or not?) and there was no apparent change goin from different engine speeds on the readings and that I shouldnt worry about this vibration????

And I was like NOT WORRY about it . . . . .this wasnt there to begin with THIS VIBRATION WAS NEVER THERE!!!!! until your last service!!!!!
The last service I got done (for those of you who don't know) was for a clunking noise I used to hear from the left front end of my car when I used to brake while reversing and changing wheel direction!!!

So I made the mistake of going to the nearest Lexus dealership from where I work/study (I usually go to the one in mississauga near my home). These guys then checked the front end components and found the Left Front Suspension Arm Nut loose . . . ok so they naturally tightened the fore/aft nut and voilaaa the clunking was gone and I walked out feeling good that the problem has been remedied and it only took an hours worth of labor work! So its all good . . . . . .

However not quite so HAPPY and no its not ALL GOOD! why? because the moment I walked out of there and went on to the freeway I could feel this weird sensation under my right leg like a vibration I never ever used to have before . . . I thought its just a temporary thing and it should go away but it never did . . . I called up the SVc Manager and he said we'll have a look at it to see whats going on ? He then test drove it with and said he doesnt feel a thing! and I was just like dats not tru I feel a vib right under my right leg . . . and I swear I was in the car with him when he was roadtesting and he didnt seem to bother or pickup and sense the vibration coming under his leg . . . he then told me maybe because I have skinny legs I feel it and he doesnt and at the end of roadtest he said that NO there is nothing I feel and absolutely nothing wrong with the car and I was like I told him I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE if I HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. . . I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU BEFORE YOU PERFROMED THE SERVICE THAT PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS VIBRATION I FEEL UNDER MY DRIVER'S SEAT..... BUT I DIDNT NEED TO TELL YOU THAT BECAUSE I NEVER HAD THE VIBRATION TO BEGIN WITH PERIOD!
anyways then he scheduled today's appointment where he used this vibration detector machine that I talked about earlier to come up with diff readings that he thinks are normal ??? I dont understand something that what am I SUFFERING for??
Basically what it comes down to is my car went to this dealership to get the clunking noise remedied and drove out with a vibration in the driver's seat!

After the Svc manager gave me the readings I told him that this isnt fair I want to roadtest the car with the mechanic and he would be better able to understand and identify what it is the vib is being caused by when hes in the car with me and I can pinpoint him where the vib is coing from etc. so the Svc manager said that he will schedule one last appointement with the mechanic but will not schedule any more appointements chasing something thats not really there (ACCORDING TO HIM ITS NO THERE!!!!!!!)

I mean is this the kind of service that Lexus has? I mean the dealership near my home is so nice and the svc managers are so co-operating unlike this dealership which is just tellin me that I am wrong and they are right about the vibration being not present . . .

I don't know what step to take next . . .

 

If they can't or are not willing to fix the problem contact lexus or take it to some other places for esimates and opinions and show it to Lexus. It could be something as simple as the tires or rims being removed and replaced that caused all this.

 

Thanks for the advice I shall do that , but I'm telling you as for tires n rims:
the tires are new the rims are new as well (OEM) they are balanced on the Hunter GSP9700
so they wudnt create this sort of vibration that is only felt in the drivers seat ! My steering wheel is rock solid doesnt shake at all at watever speed plus they never did anything to the tires and rims during there service so . . . but I dunno why the seat vibrates?

 

Lexus are so picky sometimes when it comes to tires, maybe the tread pattern is causing it, maybe you't notice it before because of the loose suspension nut?

 

But I mean the tires I have are the Michelin's MXV4 plus that come standard on most lexus vehicles w/OEM rims and my car is stock and never had any problems like this!
I dont understand how can the tread pattern create a vibration only in the driver's seat only at a particular speed and not anywhere else. . . like the steering wheel or the whole body of the car?
I mean dont you think it has something to do with some other part?

 

I don't know what it has to do with and yes tread pattern can create lots of annoying things. It has to be from someting spinning, tires, driveshaft. I'm not there that's why you need to take to a few different places that specialize in that stuff to find out. I know my GS has a tiny bit of vibration, howerver I have 20"s and an aftermarket exhaust. It doesn't bother me, I guess I could let it. It could be any number of things, I''m just throwing out suggestions. I also asked you before if it does it at 60mph in any gear? Or is it only at a certain RPM?

 

Yea I appreciate your advice . . .
So you suggest take it to different mechanics?
or a different lexus dealership? or what?
maybe getting a wheel alignment will that resolve anything? my car doesnt pull anywhere but I dunno last time I got alignment was like in the fall 2004?
Should I get the left front tire inspected throughly for any irregular treadwear patterns since thats the closest to the driver's seat?
I mean I know definitely this problem wasnt there for sure before . . . but do you think waiting till Tuesday and test driving it with Lexus mechanic may resolve the issue?

 

Go tuesday and see what happens, if nothing contact some other places for estimates and opinions. Make sure they drive or ride with you if they're able, a good mechanic would do that. See what kinds of answers you get. Aiignment is probably not the answer.

 

I had almost the same thing happen to me last year w/ my 93' GS300!! I would drive on back roads w/ no problem, as soon as i hit 60-65 i got vibration in my seat and the shift lever would shake some. I brought it to the closest place i could find and they said i needed both inner tie rods and one outer. Keep in mind i told them it only happened on the hwy and they never take it up to speed, so they do the work, i send my wife to pick it up. Not even ten min. in the car she calls me and said as soon as she got up near 60 it did it again. I sent her back called the manager and told him he better find the problem or he just did the front end work for free! He called me about a day 1/2 later and said they pin pointed it to the right rear caliper acting up, for some reason it would not release all the way. It has'nt happened since, i had thought originally it was the tire or drive shaft balance doing it!! Sorry for such a long story......