2006 GS430 Automatic Trunk Lid Closer Problem

[David]

I have a 2006 GS430 which has an automatic trunk lid closer. Recently my
sister slammed the trunk closed not knowing it was suppose to close
automatically. Up until that time you just had to make contact between the
trunk lid and the car body in order for it to close automatically. Now you
have to push the lid until it makes a clicking sound (probably engaging the
latch part way) and then it closes the rest of the way using the trunk's
motor.

I took it to the local Lexus dealer who at first said the problem was
leaking struts (I saw no evidence of this) which they replaced. Before I
could pick up the car, they called me and said the trunk motor was making a
funny noise (I never heard any kind of abnormal noise) and they were going
to replace it also. I got the car back and it is acting the same way it did
before it was "fixed".

Does anyone know if there is some kind of sensor that might tell the trunk
motor the position of the trunk lid so that the motor knows when to engage?
I'm going to take the car back to the dealer, but I'd like to be able to
talk intelligently to them about this problem.

Thanks for your help.

David

[j***@hotmail.com]

Maybe check that the motor assembly or the latch isn't knocked out of
alignment or pushed back either way.

Show the service writer the problem and explain the before and after,
and get it fixed within the warranty period.

Post by David
I have a 2006 GS430 which has an automatic trunk lid closer. Recently my
sister slammed the trunk closed not knowing it was suppose to close
automatically. Up until that time you just had to make contact between the
trunk lid and the car body in order for it to close automatically. Now you
have to push the lid until it makes a clicking sound (probably engaging the
latch part way) and then it closes the rest of the way using the trunk's
motor.
I took it to the local Lexus dealer who at first said the problem was
leaking struts (I saw no evidence of this) which they replaced. Before I
could pick up the car, they called me and said the trunk motor was making a
funny noise (I never heard any kind of abnormal noise) and they were going
to replace it also. I got the car back and it is acting the same way it did
before it was "fixed".
Does anyone know if there is some kind of sensor that might tell the trunk
motor the position of the trunk lid so that the motor knows when to engage?
I'm going to take the car back to the dealer, but I'd like to be able to
talk intelligently to them about this problem.
Thanks for your help.
David

[David]

Post by j***@hotmail.com
Maybe check that the motor assembly or the latch isn't knocked out of
alignment or pushed back either way.
Show the service writer the problem and explain the before and after,
and get it fixed within the warranty period.

Post by David
I have a 2006 GS430 which has an automatic trunk lid closer. Recently my
sister slammed the trunk closed not knowing it was suppose to close
automatically. Up until that time you just had to make contact between the
trunk lid and the car body in order for it to close automatically. Now you
have to push the lid until it makes a clicking sound (probably engaging the
latch part way) and then it closes the rest of the way using the trunk's
motor.
I took it to the local Lexus dealer who at first said the problem was
leaking struts (I saw no evidence of this) which they replaced. Before I
could pick up the car, they called me and said the trunk motor was making a
funny noise (I never heard any kind of abnormal noise) and they were going
to replace it also. I got the car back and it is acting the same way it did
before it was "fixed".
Does anyone know if there is some kind of sensor that might tell the trunk
motor the position of the trunk lid so that the motor knows when to engage?
I'm going to take the car back to the dealer, but I'd like to be able to
talk intelligently to them about this problem.
Thanks for your help.
David

I took the car back to the dealer and asked a salesman if I could use one of
their floor models as a test. He wanted to know what my problem was. When I
told him what had happened, he said the trunk closer was suppose to work
that way...you have to push it down until it clicks and then the motor takes
over to completely close the trunk. He demonstrated this on a new GS430. It
appears that my trunk lid closer was not functioning properly before it was
slammed shut. The salesman also said that slamming the trunk shut should not
have caused a problem anyway.

I had already talked to the service writer when I first brought the car in.
He said he didn't know how the closer worked and that he just relayed what
the mechanics told him. The work was done under warranty to the tune of over
a thousand dollars, but I wonder if it was even necessary.

David

[Jay Somerset]

Post by David

Post by j***@hotmail.com
Maybe check that the motor assembly or the latch isn't knocked out of
alignment or pushed back either way.
Show the service writer the problem and explain the before and after,
and get it fixed within the warranty period.

Post by David
I have a 2006 GS430 which has an automatic trunk lid closer. Recently my
sister slammed the trunk closed not knowing it was suppose to close
automatically. Up until that time you just had to make contact between the
trunk lid and the car body in order for it to close automatically. Now you
have to push the lid until it makes a clicking sound (probably engaging the
latch part way) and then it closes the rest of the way using the trunk's
motor.
I took it to the local Lexus dealer who at first said the problem was
leaking struts (I saw no evidence of this) which they replaced. Before I
could pick up the car, they called me and said the trunk motor was making a
funny noise (I never heard any kind of abnormal noise) and they were going
to replace it also. I got the car back and it is acting the same way it did
before it was "fixed".
Does anyone know if there is some kind of sensor that might tell the trunk
motor the position of the trunk lid so that the motor knows when to engage?
I'm going to take the car back to the dealer, but I'd like to be able to
talk intelligently to them about this problem.
Thanks for your help.
David

I took the car back to the dealer and asked a salesman if I could use one of
their floor models as a test. He wanted to know what my problem was. When I
told him what had happened, he said the trunk closer was suppose to work
that way...you have to push it down until it clicks and then the motor takes
over to completely close the trunk. He demonstrated this on a new GS430. It
appears that my trunk lid closer was not functioning properly before it was
slammed shut. The salesman also said that slamming the trunk shut should not
have caused a problem anyway.
I had already talked to the service writer when I first brought the car in.
He said he didn't know how the closer worked and that he just relayed what
the mechanics told him. The work was done under warranty to the tune of over
a thousand dollars, but I wonder if it was even necessary.

Over a thousand dollars? You've got to be kidding!

Sure glad my Lexus is on a 4-year lease with warranty coverage through
the entire lease period. Guess I'd better not buy it at lease end and
keep using it, unless I want to see grossly inflated charges like this
when I'm responsible for them.

Colour me flabbergasted!

[j***@hotmail.com]

Yeah, while I don't believe Toyota's Lexus line is worth the money the
line is certainly a marketing success story for Toyota.

Just by dolling-up the same Camry and Corolla chassis they can more
than double the sale price, and then charge triple what for the same
service Toyota techs do for cheap.

I drove a relative's GS400/430(?) and it felt just like a larger Camry
with a more powerful engine. From the boat ride you know that's thing
still sports the cheap McPherson suspension geometry!

Post by Jay Somerset
Sure glad my Lexus is on a 4-year lease with warranty coverage through
the entire lease period. Guess I'd better not buy it at lease end and
keep using it, unless I want to see grossly inflated charges like this
when I'm responsible for them.
Colour me flabbergasted!
--
Jay (remove dashes for legal email address)

[Ray O]

Post by j***@hotmail.com
Yeah, while I don't believe Toyota's Lexus line is worth the money the
line is certainly a marketing success story for Toyota.
Just by dolling-up the same Camry and Corolla chassis they can more
than double the sale price, and then charge triple what for the same
service Toyota techs do for cheap.

There are no Lexus models based on the Corolla chassis sold in the U.S.

Post by j***@hotmail.com
I drove a relative's GS400/430(?) and it felt just like a larger Camry
with a more powerful engine. From the boat ride you know that's thing
still sports the cheap McPherson suspension geometry!

The GS does not have a McPherson strut suspension.

[j***@hotmail.com]

I didn't actually check or follow the Lexus line. It's not worth the
time. It just felt like the cheesy boat ride MP suspension.

Like I've long said, Toyota/Lexus suspension systems don't win
awards.

Post by Ray O
The GS does not have a McPherson strut suspension.
--
Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

[David]

Post by Jay Somerset
Over a thousand dollars? You've got to be kidding!
Sure glad my Lexus is on a 4-year lease with warranty coverage through
the entire lease period. Guess I'd better not buy it at lease end and
keep using it, unless I want to see grossly inflated charges like this
when I'm responsible for them.
Colour me flabbergasted!
--
Jay (remove dashes for legal email address)

The trunk motor was $601 and the two struts were $123 each. I don't know
what the labor charge was, but I'm sure it was enough, along with the sales
tax (9.25%) to make the total over $1000.

I hate to say it, but I think the dealer sometimes just replaces parts under
warranty to make money off of Lexus. I had a '95 SC400 with a Nakamichi
radio that had a lot of static on the AM side. The dealer replaced the whole
radio trying to fix the problem (it didn't fix it because the radio was not
the problem).

If I still have the car after its warranty is up, I probably won't take it
to the Lexus dealer for service. There are two or three good repair shops
where I live including one opened by a service writer who had previously
worked for the Lexus dealer here.

I've owned four Lexus automobiles and I really like them, but they are
expensive to maintain!

David

[mcbrue]

Yes, the Lexus brand is VERY expensive to maintain and service at the
dealer. Much higher on a per incident basis than Mercedes is. But the
Mercedes brand requires more repair items. The Mercedes dealer sucks
localy, but the Lexus dealer is getting just as bad. So it comes down
to a question of what will keep you on the road and that is Lexus. If
you want true comfort and great engineering, then you go for
Mercedes.

My trunk motor did develop a squeak. They had to replace the closer
motor which cost $614.53, and that is for a motor which only grabs the
trunk lid when you bring the lid down to it. When you release the lid,
it does not pop open, you have to lift it up. Other trunks lids with
power release/close thingies pop open and close down. But those trunk
lids don't let water drip into the trunk the was the LS430 does. Oh
well ... at least the Japanese will finaly beat the Americans in the
War of Business.

The 10,000 mile check up cost $176.68, mainly for the oil change I
guess. Of course they had to use some injector cleaner at each
inspection so far - wonder if that is whey the mechanics say not to
burn that dratted E10/Gas90 mixture?

[j***@hotmail.com]

The Mercedes is having a lot of quality problems in the last several
years, but now that they parted with Chrysler and can focus more maybe
things will improve. They do have excellent suspension systems that
are both comfortable and handle well. So IMO Mercedes' suspension
system is superior to that of the BMW's firm athletic ride (now
performance drivers will disagree with me here). No doubt BMWs handle
very precisely and are excellent performance cars, but just a bit too
firm for my taste.

If you like a Porsche-designed suspension with what a magazine termed
"physics defying" brake system at a low cost, try out the new
generation of Audis. Like the new Q7. Impressive I must say. Talk
about great suspension systems.

And if you look under the beautifully dolled-up Lexus, there really
isn't much engineering to rave about, compared to the real luxury
brands. But 99% of the owners can't tell you what's a control arm or
the difference between shock and strut to know better, unfortunately.

That's why I say the Lexus line is Toyota's successful *marketing*
story. However they do offer comfortable boat rides tuned for the US
market!!

Post by mcbrue
Yes, the Lexus brand is VERY expensive to maintain and service at the
dealer. Much higher on a per incident basis than Mercedes is. But the
Mercedes brand requires more repair items. The Mercedes dealer sucks
localy, but the Lexus dealer is getting just as bad. So it comes down
to a question of what will keep you on the road and that is Lexus. If
you want true comfort and great engineering, then you go for
Mercedes.
My trunk motor did develop a squeak. They had to replace the closer
motor which cost $614.53, and that is for a motor which only grabs the
trunk lid when you bring the lid down to it. When you release the lid,
it does not pop open, you have to lift it up. Other trunks lids with
power release/close thingies pop open and close down. But those trunk
lids don't let water drip into the trunk the was the LS430 does. Oh
well ... at least the Japanese will finaly beat the Americans in the
War of Business.
The 10,000 mile check up cost $176.68, mainly for the oil change I
guess. Of course they had to use some injector cleaner at each
inspection so far - wonder if that is whey the mechanics say not to
burn that dratted E10/Gas90 mixture?

[DaveW]

Post by j***@hotmail.com
And if you look under the beautifully dolled-up Lexus, there really
isn't much engineering to rave about, compared to the real luxury
brands. But 99% of the owners can't tell you what's a control arm or
the difference between shock and strut to know better, unfortunately.

This from the same idiot who posted in this very thread that a GS has
a McPherson strut suspension.

Yeah, those Lexus owners are idiots!

[j***@hotmail.com]

Toyota pays minimal for warranty related work. Sometimes barely
enough. The prices printed for warranty services are more to impress
the customers. The dealer doesn't even get that from Toyota, according
to a master tech.

If normal service time is clocked at rookie tech speed (hence the high
cost), then warranty service time is clocked at master tech speed. But
I agreed. The cost is still ridiculous -- paying a premium for the
reliability that isn't even there.

Post by David
I hate to say it, but I think the dealer sometimes just replaces parts under
warranty to make money off of Lexus. I had a '95 SC400 with a Nakamichi
radio that had a lot of static on the AM side. The dealer replaced the whole
radio trying to fix the problem (it didn't fix it because the radio was not
the problem).
If I still have the car after its warranty is up, I probably won't take it
to the Lexus dealer for service. There are two or three good repair shops
where I live including one opened by a service writer who had previously
worked for the Lexus dealer here.
I've owned four Lexus automobiles and I really like them, but they are
expensive to maintain!
David