When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
So on Saturday I went to pick up my baby at the dealership after its yearly service. I also had ordered a new remote as the double was broken (the tiny bit of plastic holding the physical key). The guy at the dealership first couldn't find it and thought it would have been left in the glovebox... I need to mention I had already fixed the said glovebox (the usual broken plastic, where the little string attaches) but that after the fix it didn't open 100% on its own...it needed a (gentle!) push to ben opened all the way.
So the guy at the dealership pushed it open...without any particular car...and I heard a little crack. Immediately I though "sh*t...hope it's not broken!" and when I got back home I could see it was every bit as bad as I feared: that f'n moron completely broke the plastic arm at the point where it attaches to the glovebox lid!!!
So I spent the whole Sunday afternoon trying to fix it, screwing little metal plates to it, that would slip into the hole on the back of the lid, where the plastic arm goes. And after hours of adjustments, just when I was about to get it right, the darn thing broke again, this time where I had placed the little screws!! All this time for nothing...
Therefore I have to figure out another solution...I guess I'll keep the small-metal-plates-that-go-into-the-hole-of-the-lid bit and this time attach a leather strap to them. I have an old belt that I can use. Hopefully that'll work, although I'm afraid the shape may be a problem (straight vs. arc of a circle for the plastic arm). A colleague of mine suggested I have a 3D-print replica of the plastic arm...that could be an interesting solution too, although I have pieces of wood lying around that I could use as well... I'll keep you posted!
But one thing is sure: that design of the glovebox opening really is a sh*tty one!
###
My '10 is in the shop this week, floating the idea about getting a spare key "fob". What is the dealer charging for a key / programming these days in your part of the world??
So on Saturday I went to pick up my baby at the dealership after its yearly service. I also had ordered a new remote as the double was broken (the tiny bit of plastic holding the physical key).
Not sure if they are still available but you used to be able to buy repair kits for the fobs which would be a lot cheaper than buying a whole new one.
I bought one last year - Ebay I think. My car came with 1 key - I purchased a second key and had it programmed by my local dealer (not cheap - $782 all in)
My '10 is in the shop this week, floating the idea about getting a spare key "fob". What is the dealer charging for a key / programming these days in your part of the world??
Yup I should have looked that up before...but I was far from thinking that such a tiny bit of plastic could be sold separately!
And indeed, it is not cheap...to the point it surprised me, even. I don't have the exact figures in mind and I don't have the invoice handy right now, but that was close to 300€ (fob + programming thereof).
Kind of hurts, for what it is...
But overall, it's amazing that you can find such sh*tty parts (this one on the key fob, the glovebox lid arm - see my previous post in this thread, and I'd also add the handle of the board that makes up the bottom of the trunk...seems so fragile, I'm all the time afraid of breaking it!) on a car like the X150.
By the way, just curious, did anyone ever break that afore-mentioned cheap plastic handle on the bottom of the trunk?
..................... I don't have the exact figures in mind and I don't have the invoice handy right now, but that was close to 300€ (fob + programming thereof).
Kind of hurts, for what it is... .........................
My wife bought a new Lexus RX a few months ago. It came with only ONE key because of a shortage of some sort. Lexus now even sells 'Key Insurance'. One free key available each of the first three years of ownership. The reason??? A new Lexus key with programming is $1200.
My wife bought a new Lexus RX a few months ago. It came with only ONE key because of a shortage of some sort. Lexus now even sells 'Key Insurance'. One free key available each of the first three years of ownership. The reason??? A new Lexus key with programming is $1200.
Yeah, lots of owners on the Lexus forum are pissed, still waiting for their second key, due to a chip shortage.
Finally got the XK fixed after oil cooler failed dumping most of the engine oil in cooling system! It also broke down before it left the workshop with a failed injector which could easily have bent a rod or piston as it locked up, appears to be running fine but not sure I trust the car to go far, maybe I just need to give it a good run for the sake of it?
Finally got the XK fixed after oil cooler failed dumping most of the engine oil in cooling system! It also broke down before it left the workshop with a failed injector which could easily have bent a rod or piston as it locked up, appears to be running fine but not sure I trust the car to go far, maybe I just need to give it a good run for the sake of it?
What year is your X150? 4.2L or 5.0L? It's not in your Public Profile.
Yes swapped out all the insolaters which has definitely improved the ride quality substantial.
The upper strut mount had split I could hear a knocking sound so I changed the strut (had a spare lying around) the knocking sound still there ruling out a faulty shock which then pointed towards the upper strut mount...upon inspect there was a split in the rubber component of the mount.
@steve_k_xk Did you clock the springs when you replaced the mounts? Just curious as they can be a pain to realign with new isolators. Any tricks to doing it?
FWIW, I found zero mention of this when replacing springs in the manual and was surprised a bit.
Another suspension components ticked off..front sway bar bushes it's a pretty big job as access is very limited, subframe will need to be released , engine propped and radiator support In order to gain enough access to remove one of the 13mm bolts located underneath the transmission cooler pipe
You guys will probably see in last pic a collapsed mount lol don't worry I've got one on the way I did the other side earlier on this year there's a write up somewhere however xj, f type , xf (4.2 & 5.0) (V6 & v8 sc f-type) mounts all fit
Last edited by steve_k_xk; 06-30-2023 at 09:41 AM.
Managed to get the redness out of my tail lights hard to see however they have more of a cherry colour appearance now ...might even look into putting a LED halo light in where that existing red circle is ...theres room. Left side stock / right side wrapped Finished product (3rd brake light next to receive the cherry colour treatment)
Last edited by steve_k_xk; 06-30-2023 at 07:19 AM.