Engine Pulley recall (merged threads)
Pole Position
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 294
Likes: 1
From: NJ
Sorry to hear about that. I had actually looked at relocating to a dealer in the North Jersey / NYC area for some personal reasons, but I was just not impressed after I looked at a few. It really says something about the company when they can provide a service like this to the customer. I know if I was upset about a recall on my vehicle, but the company offered to pick it up and leave me a loaner, then my vehicle was full of fuel when it was returned to me, I would be ok.
Jersey is tough, North East Jersey is not much different than the city (NYC). Lines, crowds and not so patient people for the most part and if you let your guard down you will be rolled. North West Jersey is like a different world with rolling hills and farm land and high end homes. South Jersey is like being in the deep South. Central East Jersey like Princeton area would be your best bet to work for a good dealer.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 435
Likes: 150
From: East Coast
I'll let you know if I get a "free" fill up. It's usually the other way around, they use gas on the road test.
Jersey is tough, North East Jersey is not much different than the city (NYC). Lines, crowds and not so patient people for the most part and if you let your guard down you will be rolled. North West Jersey is like a different world with rolling hills and farm land and high end homes. South Jersey is like being in the deep South. Central East Jersey like Princeton area would be your best bet to work for a good dealer.
Jersey is tough, North East Jersey is not much different than the city (NYC). Lines, crowds and not so patient people for the most part and if you let your guard down you will be rolled. North West Jersey is like a different world with rolling hills and farm land and high end homes. South Jersey is like being in the deep South. Central East Jersey like Princeton area would be your best bet to work for a good dealer.
I had looked at a few Dealers in the NYC area since thats where I was considering moving to. I am not talking bad about the dealers, because they are all good in my opinion. Just as a tech, the working conditions/opportunities to me were not up to par with my current dealer and I could not justify the move. When you say they simply cannot offer this service, I understand why. It just baffles me that they stay so busy, there are so many dealers so close together. One of the techs I met said that Prestige Lexus sold 750 cars in the month of November. Thats just insane to me. Thank you for the insight though.
(sorry, I did not mean to derail this thread)
Pole Position
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 294
Likes: 1
From: NJ
Yes, thats about right, Ray Catina at one location sells 800 units a month, thats why we fight for a service appointment and they all have an attitude in service that you are lucky we took you.
At Prestige you would have been treated like a piece of meat, they have guys lined up for those jobs that are not fully ASE certified. They pay most techs in this area on flat rate and they do make around 50k-80k doing $1000 brake jobs. My buddy brought a Porsche to Prestige for service. When he picked it up they scratched the rear spoiler something awful and they told the him to put a claim in under his auto policy, they were not responsible, it got ugly from their.
As a car and motorcycle nut, I have friends who work at dealerships in sales and service......
At Prestige you would have been treated like a piece of meat, they have guys lined up for those jobs that are not fully ASE certified. They pay most techs in this area on flat rate and they do make around 50k-80k doing $1000 brake jobs. My buddy brought a Porsche to Prestige for service. When he picked it up they scratched the rear spoiler something awful and they told the him to put a claim in under his auto policy, they were not responsible, it got ugly from their.
As a car and motorcycle nut, I have friends who work at dealerships in sales and service......
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 435
Likes: 150
From: East Coast
Yes, thats about right, Ray Catina at one location sells 800 units a month, thats why we fight for a service appointment and they all have an attitude in service that you are lucky we took you.
At Prestige you would have been treated like a piece of meat, they have guys lined up for those jobs that are not fully ASE certified. They pay most techs in this area on flat rate and they do make around 50k-80k doing $1000 brake jobs. My buddy brought a Porsche to Prestige for service. When he picked it up they scratched the rear spoiler something awful and they told the him to put a claim in under his auto policy, they were not responsible, it got ugly from their.
As a car and motorcycle nut, I have friends who work at dealerships in sales and service......
At Prestige you would have been treated like a piece of meat, they have guys lined up for those jobs that are not fully ASE certified. They pay most techs in this area on flat rate and they do make around 50k-80k doing $1000 brake jobs. My buddy brought a Porsche to Prestige for service. When he picked it up they scratched the rear spoiler something awful and they told the him to put a claim in under his auto policy, they were not responsible, it got ugly from their.
As a car and motorcycle nut, I have friends who work at dealerships in sales and service......
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 459
Likes: 1
From: Colorado
I'll let you know if I get a "free" fill up. It's usually the other way around, they use gas on the road test.
Jersey is tough, North East Jersey is not much different than the city (NYC). Lines, crowds and not so patient people for the most part and if you let your guard down you will be rolled. North West Jersey is like a different world with rolling hills and farm land and high end homes. South Jersey is like being in the deep South. Central East Jersey like Princeton area would be your best bet to work for a good dealer.
Jersey is tough, North East Jersey is not much different than the city (NYC). Lines, crowds and not so patient people for the most part and if you let your guard down you will be rolled. North West Jersey is like a different world with rolling hills and farm land and high end homes. South Jersey is like being in the deep South. Central East Jersey like Princeton area would be your best bet to work for a good dealer.
As a former Bergen County resident - you're assumption is correct. The rest of the country is a different world for the most part. I enjoy visiting NYC and Northern NJ, but life is sooo much better here in Colorado.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 294
Likes: 1
From: NJ
Just dropped mine off today to get the recall done. I did not wait for the recall letter, I called Lexus corp and they ran my vin. The dealer is keeping my car overnight. The recall is done but they are attending to other issues.
Thanks Lexofreak for the heads up post
Thanks Lexofreak for the heads up post
Driver
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
Even though my car is subject to the recall, I don't think the pulley recall is a huge deal by itself. However, when you add up all the TSIBs such as the wind noise fix, the creaking dashboard fix, the re-programming of the transmission to solve the slip at start and now the pulley recall, all these items do add up!
This being a first year model should NOT be an excuse for these mistakes. I don't think Lexus would want to use the "first year model" excuse because fewer people would buy the first year model. Actually, Lexus prides itself on quality on ALL its vehicles.
This being my first LS, I really like the car and prior to purchase was sold on the perception of quality and reliability and the extra care from Lexus. After my initial LS experience, my perception of Lexus quality has gone down.
This being a first year model should NOT be an excuse for these mistakes. I don't think Lexus would want to use the "first year model" excuse because fewer people would buy the first year model. Actually, Lexus prides itself on quality on ALL its vehicles.
This being my first LS, I really like the car and prior to purchase was sold on the perception of quality and reliability and the extra care from Lexus. After my initial LS experience, my perception of Lexus quality has gone down.
The dealer informed me of the recall when I was there for the above parts (which took a few days to arrive) and scheduled me for a few days later. A free tank of gas? Never got that.
All in all my 07 LS has been back to the dealer about 7 times, in less than a year and less than 5K miles - My previous LS an '04 was at the dealer only for schedule services - no problems of any kind.
There are cars I like more than the LS - but chose the LS because reliability, and not having to return to the dealer, was the deciding factor.
I am convinced the current LS has a major design flaw in regards to the wind noise issue and some other minor flaws related to a first year model. I am also convinced that the Lexus of today is nowhere near the caring and responsible company they were when I first purchased a '92 LS.
I have 23 months left on my lease, I may wait or may take a loss before then, but as of now I am inclined to leave Lexus and give other luxury manufacturers a try. I have swayed some friends from getting the LS based on my experience and my demo of the wind noise (after windows were changed). One got the Audi S8 - so far, with less issues and more fun.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: WY
Bought our car in Albuquerque and we've been in San Diego for 3 months. We go back thru albu on way to home in WY. Need to see if it's a fix that needs to be done ASAP or wait until NM. OUr vin JTHGL46FX75013813 Thanks for any help
frank etscorn
frank etscorn
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: ny
This is my fourth LS and I agree with you. - Lexus quality has gone down. I have the wind noise, I had the center console change because it was stained from inside. An inside molding on the side of the door was changed because it was breaking where the seatbelt hits it (the design of this was changed in the '08 likely due to this problem into a curved design).
The dealer informed me of the recall when I was there for the above parts (which took a few days to arrive) and scheduled me for a few days later. A free tank of gas? Never got that.
All in all my 07 LS has been back to the dealer about 7 times, in less than a year and less than 5K miles - My previous LS an '04 was at the dealer only for schedule services - no problems of any kind.
There are cars I like more than the LS - but chose the LS because reliability, and not having to return to the dealer, was the deciding factor.
I am convinced the current LS has a major design flaw in regards to the wind noise issue and some other minor flaws related to a first year model. I am also convinced that the Lexus of today is nowhere near the caring and responsible company they were when I first purchased a '92 LS.
I have 23 months left on my lease, I may wait or may take a loss before then, but as of now I am inclined to leave Lexus and give other luxury manufacturers a try. I have swayed some friends from getting the LS based on my experience and my demo of the wind noise (after windows were changed). One got the Audi S8 - so far, with less issues and more fun.
The dealer informed me of the recall when I was there for the above parts (which took a few days to arrive) and scheduled me for a few days later. A free tank of gas? Never got that.
All in all my 07 LS has been back to the dealer about 7 times, in less than a year and less than 5K miles - My previous LS an '04 was at the dealer only for schedule services - no problems of any kind.
There are cars I like more than the LS - but chose the LS because reliability, and not having to return to the dealer, was the deciding factor.
I am convinced the current LS has a major design flaw in regards to the wind noise issue and some other minor flaws related to a first year model. I am also convinced that the Lexus of today is nowhere near the caring and responsible company they were when I first purchased a '92 LS.
I have 23 months left on my lease, I may wait or may take a loss before then, but as of now I am inclined to leave Lexus and give other luxury manufacturers a try. I have swayed some friends from getting the LS based on my experience and my demo of the wind noise (after windows were changed). One got the Audi S8 - so far, with less issues and more fun.
i have bought the lexus brand for the last 14 years to NOT have issues like this.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 294
Likes: 1
From: NJ
Just got my car back from the dealer for the recall. Received a loner car, washed my car and filled up my tank.
The shop foreman said the stock idlers are made out of plastic and are failing. The new ones are metal.
The shop foreman said the stock idlers are made out of plastic and are failing. The new ones are metal.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 435
Likes: 150
From: East Coast
Its hard to read all this stuff. When I became a tech for Lexus, the quality was top notch. I remember driving a LS430 and just being amazed by the car. I still am by the LS460, but its true, there are quality issues that need to not be there. In my opinion, it started with the ES350 transmission issues, and just snowballed from there. It really is an unfortunate reality. There are many customers like you guys who are just down right dissappointed, and rightfully so.
All I can do is fix the cars, and do what I can for customer satisfaction. I would say on the bigger scale, the fit/finish/build quality/ride quality is still there, its just overcoming the little things.
I ran your VIN # for you:
Campaign Description: 8LA - 2007 MY LEXUS LS 460/460L IDLER PULLEYS
Completion Status: Not Completed
If you do not hear any noise in your engine bay, I would say you will be fine until you return to Albuquerque.
All I can do is fix the cars, and do what I can for customer satisfaction. I would say on the bigger scale, the fit/finish/build quality/ride quality is still there, its just overcoming the little things.
Bought our car in Albuquerque and we've been in San Diego for 3 months. We go back thru albu on way to home in WY. Need to see if it's a fix that needs to be done ASAP or wait until NM. OUr vin JTHGL46FX75013813 Thanks for any help
frank etscorn
frank etscorn
Campaign Description: 8LA - 2007 MY LEXUS LS 460/460L IDLER PULLEYS
Completion Status: Not Completed
If you do not hear any noise in your engine bay, I would say you will be fine until you return to Albuquerque.
Last edited by onepointon; Mar 4, 2008 at 03:58 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 414
Likes: 1
From: Texas
[QUOTE=onepointon;3331521]Its hard to read all this stuff. When I became a tech for Lexus, the quality was top notch. I remember driving a LS430 and just being amazed by the car. I still am by the LS460, but its true, there are quality issues that need to not be there. In my opinion, it started with the ES350 transmission issues, and just snowballed from there. It really is an unfortunate reality. There are many customers like you guys who are just down right dissappointed, and rightfully so.
All I can do is fix the cars, and do what I can for customer satisfaction. I would say on the bigger scale, the fit/finish/build quality/ride quality is still there, its just overcoming the little things.
We appreciate your sincere efforts and straight forward opinions. People like you make our world so loveable. God Bless.
All I can do is fix the cars, and do what I can for customer satisfaction. I would say on the bigger scale, the fit/finish/build quality/ride quality is still there, its just overcoming the little things.
We appreciate your sincere efforts and straight forward opinions. People like you make our world so loveable. God Bless.
