Ruined Center Console, $13,000 Repair!

[betty1510]

Very unhappy. Our center console does not work. There was no warning on the touch screen about putting anything on the screen. We are senior citizens and are not familiar with touch screens. We put a suction cup on the screen and now the GPS, A/C, etc., controls are not accessible from the touch screen. The estimate for the repair is $13,000!!!!!!! Lexus will not fix it under the warranty because they say we caused it. We would not have put anything on the screen if it had had a warning on it. Any suggestions?

[Russell-H]

Insureance, it was after all an accident.

Regards

Russell.

[betty1510]

Insureance, it was after all an accident.

Regards

Russell.

True, but we do not want that on our insurance record. Do you have any suggestions other than that? Thanks

[Russell-H]

Then pay the money yourselfs after all as you have admitted it was you that broke it.

Regards

Russell.

[Ian Sartoria]

I would like to help, but can't think of much for you two. Premium will of course go up with insurance claim but then it's less of a sting than pulling $13,000 out of the air.

There are some loop holes in instruction manuals that if they don't specifically mention something, i.e. do not stick anything on the console then you can fight against it. But i am not sure on this.

To some up, few options:

* Pay for it

* Insurance claim

* Go to a different Lexus dealer and say it has broken and play ignorant about why it is not working

* Or the difficult option, seek legal advice and see if your entitled to have it fixed.

Hopefully someone on here can give you better and more accurate advice

Ian.

[Parthiban]

Is this thread a joke?

I empathise with your situation but I have to admit it wasn't the wisest move to stick a suction cup to a touchscreen - at the end of the day I wouldn't stick anything to any kind of screen, but with something that is sensitive to touch it seems completely insane!

I find it totally unacceptable that you feel you need to be told that for you to know it wasn't a wise move..........but given US culture you may as well sue Lexus and you'll probably win. Then they'll just add a few more pages of warnings in the owner's manual and perhaps stick one on the dash of new cars to make sure they're covered.

In terms of your situation though, wasn't the best idea to tell the dealer how it broke, and probably best to try another one and just say it "stopped working" and you don't know why.

[Steve ( West Mids )]

The big circle may be a give away in the display. I'd go to another dealer and part exchange it for a new one - it will be cheaper than repairing it ;)

[Rory]

why would you stick a suction cup on ANY type of monitor screen, touch or not?

[betty1510]

I would like to help, but can't think of much for you two. Premium will of course go up with insurance claim but then it's less of a sting than pulling $13,000 out of the air.

There are some loop holes in instruction manuals that if they don't specifically mention something, i.e. do not stick anything on the console then you can fight against it. But i am not sure on this.

To some up, few options:

* Pay for it

* Insurance claim

* Go to a different Lexus dealer and say it has broken and play ignorant about why it is not working

* Or the difficult option, seek legal advice and see if your entitled to have it fixed.

Hopefully someone on here can give you better and more accurate advice

Ian.

[betty1510]

Thanks for your comments. I have gone through the manual and did not find any reference to not putting anything on the screen other than a note to only use your figure to push the commands on the screen. I have received a response from a mechanic on another site. He gave me a number for a department at Lexus that seems to be rather helpful. They are getting back to me so we shall see! My insurance says that it would come under comprehensive and would not raise my auto rates. However, they would have to approve the expense. They haven't had anything like this before. I have found a repair place that will trade it for a reworked one for $5,000. So the options are increasing. I appreciate your reply.

[betty1510]

Is this thread a joke?

I empathise with your situation but I have to admit it wasn't the wisest move to stick a suction cup to a touchscreen - at the end of the day I wouldn't stick anything to any kind of screen, but with something that is sensitive to touch it seems completely insane!

I find it totally unacceptable that you feel you need to be told that for you to know it wasn't a wise move..........but given US culture you may as well sue Lexus and you'll probably win. Then they'll just add a few more pages of warnings in the owner's manual and perhaps stick one on the dash of new cars to make sure they're covered.

In terms of your situation though, wasn't the best idea to tell the dealer how it broke, and probably best to try another one and just say it "stopped working" and you don't know why.

[betty1510]

The circles on it are a big giveaway. My son said about what you have said. However, just wait until you are 70 years old (my husband is 80) and see if you know everything about the new electronics that are out then. I am not electronically impaired, have three computers, nintendo, Blackberry, just no touch screen. Had no idea they were sensitive. I honestly didn't know and honestly told them what happened. Apparently, honesty does not pay.

[betty1510]

I would like to help, but can't think of much for you two. Premium will of course go up with insurance claim but then it's less of a sting than pulling $13,000 out of the air.

There are some loop holes in instruction manuals that if they don't specifically mention something, i.e. do not stick anything on the console then you can fight against it. But i am not sure on this.

To some up, few options:

* Pay for it

* Insurance claim

* Go to a different Lexus dealer and say it has broken and play ignorant about why it is not working

* Or the difficult option, seek legal advice and see if your entitled to have it fixed.

Hopefully someone on here can give you better and more accurate advice

Ian.

[betty1510]

I would like to help, but can't think of much for you two. Premium will of course go up with insurance claim but then it's less of a sting than pulling $13,000 out of the air.

There are some loop holes in instruction manuals that if they don't specifically mention something, i.e. do not stick anything on the console then you can fight against it. But i am not sure on this.

To some up, few options:

* Pay for it

* Insurance claim

* Go to a different Lexus dealer and say it has broken and play ignorant about why it is not working

* Or the difficult option, seek legal advice and see if your entitled to have it fixed.

Hopefully someone on here can give you better and more accurate advice

Ian.

Thanks...wrote a reply farther down.

[betty1510]

why would you stick a suction cup on ANY type of monitor screen, touch or not?

Because I am 70 years old and had no idea you weren't supposed to...have never had a touch screen....just wait until you're 70!! It's hard to keep up.

[Ian Sartoria]

I would like to help, but can't think of much for you two. Premium will of course go up with insurance claim but then it's less of a sting than pulling $13,000 out of the air.

There are some loop holes in instruction manuals that if they don't specifically mention something, i.e. do not stick anything on the console then you can fight against it. But i am not sure on this.

To some up, few options:

* Pay for it

* Insurance claim

* Go to a different Lexus dealer and say it has broken and play ignorant about why it is not working

* Or the difficult option, seek legal advice and see if your entitled to have it fixed.

Hopefully someone on here can give you better and more accurate advice

Ian.

Thanks...wrote a reply farther down.

Your welcome, mistakes happen, hope you get it sorted.

[Parthiban]

The circles on it are a big giveaway. My son said about what you have said. However, just wait until you are 70 years old (my husband is 80) and see if you know everything about the new electronics that are out then. I am not electronically impaired, have three computers, nintendo, Blackberry, just no touch screen. Had no idea they were sensitive. I honestly didn't know and honestly told them what happened. Apparently, honesty does not pay.

Yes I do understand your situation, and I apologise if my initial post caused any offence. The rate that technology moves nowadays can even catch out people far younger than you and your husband!

The point I was trying to make though was that you wouldn't stick something to any kind of screen whether it is a touch screen or not. As an example, I wouldn't have thought you'd need someone to tell you not to stick a suction cup to your television?

Either way the damage has now been done and there is no point dwelling on the causes.

I'm not sure why Lexus are saying you need a full new centre console, as that seems odd. Unfortunately there aren't too many LS owners on here so the answer might be hard to come by, but as far as I'm concerned the only thing likely to be damaged is the touch screen itself.

It might take a bit of digging, but you'll need to find someone who can supply you with just the touchscreen, and then be competent enough to take the unit apart and replace the screen - these sorts of things are usually very simple (I once replaced a cracked screen on a mobile phone and it took me about 15mins, and I have no electronics knowledge whatsoever!)

I'm assuming you're based in the US seeing as all the prices are quoted in $? Have you posted this on the clublexus forums? There are many more LSs in the US than there are over here so there is a good chance that someone may already have the answer that you are looking for.

Good luck with it and I really hope you manage to sort this without having to spend too much, as it was clearly an honest mistake and doesn't deserve such a high price as what you've already been quoted.

[betty1510]

Thanks...I appreciate your letter. I was feeling a bit chastised!! I will try to post on other sites.

[ormi]

is the window too far away????

anyway give the screen a good clean taking off any marks go to a diff dealer and say its not working DO NOT SAY YOUVE HAD A SUCTION CUP ON THEIR JUST SAY IT STOPPED WORKING and see what they say you'll prob get a new one!!

[Parthiban]

is the window too far away????

anyway give the screen a good clean taking off any marks go to a diff dealer and say its not working DO NOT SAY YOUVE HAD A SUCTION CUP ON THEIR JUST SAY IT STOPPED WORKING and see what they say you'll prob get a new one!!

I don't know if this is the case, but I have a feeling the suction cup would have made a ring on the actual screen (due to the pressure on the touchscreen) rather than just a ring you can clean off like you get on the windscreen.

[betty1510]

is the window too far away????

anyway give the screen a good clean taking off any marks go to a diff dealer and say its not working DO NOT SAY YOUVE HAD A SUCTION CUP ON THEIR JUST SAY IT STOPPED WORKING and see what they say you'll prob get a new one!!

I don't know if this is the case, but I have a feeling the suction cup would have made a ring on the actual screen (due to the pressure on the touchscreen) rather than just a ring you can clean off like you get on the windscreen.

You're right.....little gold colored lines on the screen that won't come off. Thanks

[steve2006]

This case brings back memories,many years ago in the UK there was a baby product which was basically a baby's rattle on a stalk with a rubber sucker on the base the idea being you could attach this device to any smooth surface and amuse the baby.

What parents did however was attach this device to their foreheads as this was apparently very amusing but upon removal they were left with a long lasting red ring on the forehead where the sucker had been attached,this became known as sucker daddy syndrome.

There was nothing in the instructions to say do not attach to forehead,had this happened today you could have sued for millions and retired early!