$700 deductible, 18% discount I believe, no accidents or tickets, the others have no impact on my insurance here.

 

Sir:

Really liked your summary.... and a few comments......

Regard the firm braking "squeak"... for what is worth, I have a 2008 LS 460L, purchase new, that has 165K miles which started to also emit a "squeak" on a hard brake pedal push, like you commented;... the cause, as some of the Lexus issue forums comment, is coming from the ABS brake actuator box, near the firewall, downstream of the master cylinder [looks like an solid aluminum cube with 4 steel tubes coming out of it]. I took the car to Lexus [didn't mention the issue], and they flushed the brake system, replaced with new fluid, and the squeak disappeared. ' I didn't mention the "squeak" as Lexus dealers like to replace things like this. The purge was $160 and the car did throw codes from the rear brakes during the purge and fluid renewal... they said... it happens some time?' Last brake fluid purge/replacement was at 80K miles. HOWEVER, there was an issue with that model of car where the ABS actuator box would fail or start to throw codes... caused by internal o-ring leakage and introducing air into the brake lines. The actuator box replacement and repair is pricy.. about $3,500 US. Sometimes the comment was that, new fluid and 'a bleed/purge' would "fix" the issue? How long, not forever? Might want to take this in as the car is still under warranty? Some cars do fail with much less than my mileage.

Next... the antifreeze smell is concerning!!! I've been on that pony before....and it said, head gasket leakage.... sometime I could smell it for a second when you turn on the heater. I had a VW TDI do it when it was brand new <1000 miles... then went away.... at 95K miles I was pulling the head at VW dealership with a leaky head gasket. Turbo cars can do this I'm told, when the engine takes full boost, at operating coolant temp, but before engine's block/head internal temps haven't come up to full operating temperature... torque to yield headbolts aren't quite tight enough yet to take the full & boost compression?? This could be 'a fiction' too?? But it sounded good & reasonable? I blew off the antifreeze smell off early on... then the smell went away and I forgot about it. I SHOULDN'T HAVE!! VW felt sorry for me and gave me 1/2 off on the labor.... and the Germans don't feel sorry for anybody... usually?.... still >$2,300 job.

 

Yes, very glad the reviewer mentioned the antifreeze smell (the "LS-Stink!"). That's when I knew the review was spot-on. The coolant burning smell is not something to "take in stride" or "learn to live with". It needs a proper correction by Lexus NA.
Paul

 

I am editing a video now, my first dealer service visit where I cover that antifreeze topic. Should be out later today, stay tuned.