ls400rgr

Saga update –
After the local lexus dealer quoted $1500 for the body ECM – I went to a salvage yard, they said the would check it out – 5 days later they referred me to another shop that had better electrical diagnostic equipment. $95 dollars later they confirmed it was the body ECU and there was a European / Japanese salvage yard 10 minutes away that had the part. Problem is, it is not plug and play, needs to be programmed and they can’t do it.
I call the local Toyota dealer, service technician own a lexus himself and the head service technician worked at lexus before. They said if I bring the part in, they will charge me an hour labor and try to program it. They don’t have all the lexus codes, but will do what they can.
I drive over to the European / Japanese salvage year. This place is right out of a Capital One Credit card commercial – hilarious – but for $150 dollars I get a body ecu (used) that a dealer wanted $1400 for.
Yesterday I drive to Toyota, 1 ½ hours later the head service technician comes back, good / bad news. I now have daytime running lights and headlights, but no high bean, requires further programming.
I also need a power steering pump replaced, got part for $150 from the European / Japanese auto parts place and a ac compressor with clutch for $125. Original savage yard wants $1100 to install, to include replacing the vacuum valve in dash (adding 6+ hours of additional labor). Is this necessary?
Lexus dealer I worked with in Connecticut quoted me 2 ½ hours for the power steering pump, and 4 hours to put in ac compressor and clutch. In my mind that adds up to $650 of labor vice $1100, unless it does not include the vacuum valve in the dash that does need to be replaced at additional hours or labor.
Thoughts?

emarknot

Only thought I have is "yikes"

rome99LS

@Ls400gsr
Theway that labor works is its not just the one part they quote you on...other parts have tobe removed, so they charge labor to remove and replace the other parts as well so that's why Labor is so expensive. Some shops not dealer looks out for you and don't charge for the other parts tobe removed, but the dealer will always charge for that. Goodluck tho!!

skperformance

iTrader: (6)

I am pretty sure the cars have completely different systems for DRL's for wiring if it comes with or without.
Also i think the DRL relay your looking for is underneath the drivers side headlight with the fan relays . Only way to access it is to remove the headlight.

ls400rgr

Quick update - it was the driver side relay. Went back to Connecticut and had Hoffman Lexus check it out. They diagnosed the relay within 30 minutes. Months earlier had visited Lexus of Tampa Bay with same problem, after printing out all of your suggestions about the relay, couldn't diagnose the problem. I was shown the damaged relay by Hoffman Lexus in East Hartford, and they had it fixed.

Lesson learned - your friends on Club Lexus are usually right. Trust Hoffman Lexus in Connecticut, avoid Tampa Lexus.

emarknot

So, did dealer "a" actually install the ecm? If so, what did they do about the dlr still in-op?

I'm glad it's finally fixed.

ls400rgr

I had Stadium Toyota in Tampa install a body ECM (That I picked up from salvage yard) and that solved the problem with daytime running lights and regular high beams. I was pretty frustrated with Tampa Lexus at that time.