Just bought a 2008 and this is my first post. I'm lovin' the vehicle. Found one with less than 50k miles and it is like new.

One thing that I'm addressing is some missing fasteners for the dress-up panels in the engine bay. I did a forum search and I've got the push pin style fasteners that are on most of the panels on order.

However, the actual engine cover (big silver cover in the middle) is flopping up and down because both nuts are missing for two studs that poke up and hold it down. What do those nuts look like?

TIA!

 

I'm missing most of mine. After some investigation I believe these are it - I ordered them off eBay and they're supposed to be here tomorrow or Friday:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/262815643110?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Picture of what I bought:


EDIT: Sorry - after looking at this again I think we're talking about two different things.... I'll look at what yours may be missing...

 

They are just cap nuts, 10mm I beleive, dont quote me. If you call the dealer ask for a part # or look at Lexus online parts places like Sewell, lexuspartsnow, atlantalexus, etc. or just go to the hardware store, if they have the cap kind ( I rec. stainless steel) or any nut that will fit, if its not capped, just snug it down dont crank it and break the plastic. Tell the hardware guy you dont know the size, either he will give you a few to try or go out with you.

 

Thanks guys. I think they are probably 10mm, but I don't think a standard cap nut (AKA an acorn nut, if I understand you) will work. There's a lot of stud that the nut would have to run down and a cap nut would be too shallow to really do anything to hold the cover down. A standard nut would work, of course, but might be a PITA since it would have to run down the stud into a pretty deep well. I think there are some long nuts out there that would work, but I was interested in the factory solution. I'm going to guess they were plastic. Would they look like the ones used to hold the passenger side dress-up panel to the firewall?

 

Well I am cleaning up my engine/bay. This is what holds mine on. What do you think now? Lol

 

So WTH are those and how do they go on??

 

Call your local dealer and ask them, have them order the 2 nuts. Then you will understand. Well I hope you do. Your cover has 2 hole in it, correct? Thats where the studs go, then you put these on. The holes are deep, with the cover on, stick your finger and feel how much thread is in it. If it was me, looking at those, for the mean time, go to the hardware store, get some cap nuts and some washers. Add and remove the washers to hold the cover.If you want I will measure the overall length. I think you aren't understanding the concept.

 

Those are the nuts that hold the silver engine cover on. Use a 10mm with an extension to put them on.

Chip H.

 

I'd try the hardware isle at home depot..

 

Sweet! Thanks guys.

 

Have to take mine out haven't checked the radiator coolant in years just fill up the bottle, it just crossed 100k so gotta keep an eye on it as some ppl suggested here.

 

Ya the engine covers are luxury snobbery in full effect. You open the hood to discover another "hood" underneath, what a joke. Mine were removed on day one. The front of the engine looks ugly without the silver cover because of all the hoses/wires that are under the cover at the front. So I took a dremel to the silver cover and cut it just behind the logo, and reinstalled the two nuts (they're just standard metric nuts, get a metric nut/bolt kit and find the one that fits). My silver cover was cracked when I bought the GX, so I had to epoxy that and it doesn't look as nice as it should, but oh well.

The engine bay is dusty from my recent wheeling trip to Moab, but you get the idea. By doing this you've shaved 50% off the time to perform simple maintenance like air filter, light bulbs, fuses, battery, etc...

 

IIRC - wasn't Lexus the first brand to start the "another hood" as you called it? My brother bought one of the first LS400's when they hit the market and I'm trying to remember if his was the first one I saw with all the covers. Seems since then most brands have started adding some sort of engine bay cover, even if it's just the manifold.

 

Besides looking "nice", they cut down on the engine noise (there's padding underneath them).

Which for the LS400 was a key goal of the designers, and something that everyone who rode in one noticed.

In modern cars they need the covers to reduce the sound of the GDI injectors (which otherwise sounds like a diesel).

Chip H.

 

Yeah on my IS250 all the bay is completely covered but in my new GS350 they have just put the engine part, both engine have loud engine noises.