Trunk won't stay open
02-26-07, 02:01 PM
#17
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: VA
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Trunk Support/strut
I'm also having a similar problem with the trunk on my 2002 SC430 not staying up. Carson Toyota quoted me $104 each plus $6 to ship to Virginia. If it is as easy as JohnMD's instructions say, DIY sounds much better than Lindsay Lexus price of $151 each plus about hour labor at $100/hr.
12-30-12, 12:56 PM
#19
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Az
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
01-07-13, 10:39 AM
#21
Lead Lap
I have a 2002 also and will be replacing mine again for the second time fairly soon.
01-07-13, 10:47 AM
#22
Moderator
On my 2002, I replaced them at the 4 year mark, under warranty. I might have exaggerated the problem a bit to the service tech at the time, but the discussions here made me wary. Since that time I have not noticed any problem. My car has fairly low mileage, but I presume that these age with time, not miles.
When time time comes, it's nice to know about the best place to get good replacements.
When time time comes, it's nice to know about the best place to get good replacements.
01-11-13, 08:15 AM
#24
Moderator
It does not pay for itself until it has paid for repairs in an amount about twice the premium. I passed on the extended warranty and have, over the past 10 years, spent far less in repairs than the premiums. This makes my situation more or less average, since the insurance you are buying is calculated to be something beyond the norm, else the seller would not be making any money on the deal. Generally, you there is no need to insure something that you can afford to lose; that's why you have home and auto insurance. Car repair insurance is just one step closer to toaster repair insurance. If your car is a total loss, that's significant - but having to purchase a gas-filled strut is not a major item of economic loss. You probably have that much cash in your pocket right now.
01-13-13, 07:04 PM
#26
Moderator
My thinking is this:
Let's say the warranty costs $2,000.00.
I don't pay the $2,000 to Lexus, but rather but it in the bank or invest it.
I will tap this account if I encounter a covered repair, less deductible, that the warranty would have paid for. Even if a timing belt goes bad, I only pay my service guy $1,000.00 or so, and I still have money left over from not spending the two large in the first place.
For the guy with the warranty, he is betting that his car, generally regarded as one of the most reliable cars ever built, will, within the few years of the warranty period, encounter repair costs that, after deductible, exceed the cost of the warranty. In the meantime, he has lost opportunity costs and has lost the time value of the money.
Such repair costs seldom happen. The folks that price these contracts, like the folks (actuaries) that price life insurance policies, know that they will pay out to dealers less than they have charged, and still have plenty of money left for marketing and for profit. (It's the same principle that dictates that leasing a car is almost always more expensive then buying a car.) Exceptions will happen, of course, due to the random distribution of events, but just as the smart money is on the house, the wise decision is to keep the $2,000.00, use that to pay for your own repairs, and keep the rest.
Often the warranty owner who has a $3,000.00 repair considers himself so smart for having the warranty that he buys another as soon as the first one expires. At the end of that additional period the odds are astronomical that his benefits will exceed his purchase prices. Like someone who wins big at roulette, he should stop right there and step away from the table, but the house knows he won't.
I have had an SC400 and SC430 for somewhere between 15 and 20 years. The cost of purchasing extended warranties would have far surpassed the total costs of paying for repairs as they became necessary.
Finally, it's not actually a warranty; these contracts are pre-paid service contracts for service that may never be needed. That's always a bad buy.
Let's say the warranty costs $2,000.00.
I don't pay the $2,000 to Lexus, but rather but it in the bank or invest it.
I will tap this account if I encounter a covered repair, less deductible, that the warranty would have paid for. Even if a timing belt goes bad, I only pay my service guy $1,000.00 or so, and I still have money left over from not spending the two large in the first place.
For the guy with the warranty, he is betting that his car, generally regarded as one of the most reliable cars ever built, will, within the few years of the warranty period, encounter repair costs that, after deductible, exceed the cost of the warranty. In the meantime, he has lost opportunity costs and has lost the time value of the money.
Such repair costs seldom happen. The folks that price these contracts, like the folks (actuaries) that price life insurance policies, know that they will pay out to dealers less than they have charged, and still have plenty of money left for marketing and for profit. (It's the same principle that dictates that leasing a car is almost always more expensive then buying a car.) Exceptions will happen, of course, due to the random distribution of events, but just as the smart money is on the house, the wise decision is to keep the $2,000.00, use that to pay for your own repairs, and keep the rest.
Often the warranty owner who has a $3,000.00 repair considers himself so smart for having the warranty that he buys another as soon as the first one expires. At the end of that additional period the odds are astronomical that his benefits will exceed his purchase prices. Like someone who wins big at roulette, he should stop right there and step away from the table, but the house knows he won't.
I have had an SC400 and SC430 for somewhere between 15 and 20 years. The cost of purchasing extended warranties would have far surpassed the total costs of paying for repairs as they became necessary.
Finally, it's not actually a warranty; these contracts are pre-paid service contracts for service that may never be needed. That's always a bad buy.
01-14-13, 05:30 AM
#27
The only extended warranty I invest in are the Lexus Platinums at a heavily discounted rate. Well worth it. It is re-investing back into Lexus-Toyota.
01-14-13, 07:12 AM
#28
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: FL
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Success
Purchased following via EBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...d=427047359024
$39.60 w/shipping. Perfect fit for my 2004 and took all of 10 minutes to install. One suggestion is to tie string to small screwdriver used to release clips in case drop. I did tie the string and yes I dropped screwdriver into bowels of trunk - disaster - but string saved the day!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...d=427047359024
$39.60 w/shipping. Perfect fit for my 2004 and took all of 10 minutes to install. One suggestion is to tie string to small screwdriver used to release clips in case drop. I did tie the string and yes I dropped screwdriver into bowels of trunk - disaster - but string saved the day!
01-22-13, 08:04 PM
#30
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: FL
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
SlvBullet, easy fix. New struts came with clips installed both ends. Slipped small screwdriver into indentation of clip and pulled free. Same on both ends. To install new, simply gently pressed onto post. Did with top up and trunk open. Used golf club to support. 10 minutes and $38 - like new!
Good luck
Good luck