Expert: Brandon Date: 1/2/2007 Subject: Lexus GS300 Radio
Question With the rash of problems with the LED display going bad on the Pioneer head unit used in the GS300/400 from 98-05, I would have thought Lexus would have recalled them. Anyone have any information on this. My dealer told me it would be about $1,000 to have it replaced. My 98 GS300 has 88K miles on it and other than this radio problem, the car has been 100% trouble free. I do have the major scheduled maintenance done buy Lexus (30K, 60K, and an upcoming 90K) and while it's expensive, I firmly believe it pays off in the long run. Any info on the radio would be appreciated.
Answer Rash of problems? Never experianced one going bad.
Normally it's simply a small light bulb that burns out, or in the case of the needles lexus use to use (SMD's) They simply burn out from overheating around 7+ years.
For those you can pay Lexus around $180-200 per needle, or you can use a guy that rebuilds them. http://www.lextech.org/
Which is run by a moderator on the www.clublexus.com forums.
If it's that expencive who cares about it if it doesn't have navigation? Scrap the POS OEM headunit, and put a quality aftermarket one in there. Doesn't amtter if it's a bottom of the line Yugo, or a Bently. Even if an OEM radio looks good in the car. It's literally a cheap piece of shit that couldn't compete quality wise with even a mid-priced low end unit in the best case. ;)
Yes, preventative maintenance is big. If you flush your fluids & change everything else when specified & do afew extra things that simply need to be done in general. They'll typicaly outlast the owner's will to keep them.
Hell a different version of your engine (2jz-ge) is famous for producing in excess of 900 horsepower without actual internal engine modifications, and being fairly reliable on a daily basis at 600-650 horsepower.
(2jz-gte out of the Supra)
I don't keep up with it, but I think people get 450-550 out of yours. More than double what it comes with.
