Tinonline

Thank you for your kind comments…I attempt to make up for poor patience and ability in the attempt of fixing the car and I’m pleased you liked the write up. 👍😁

Now the sun is shining... I've had a pair of front bushes in the cupboard for ages now and it was time to fit the new anti-roll bar bushes. It's a simple task but can be fiddly. I removed the front under cover and it didn't take long to realise the small side covers would need come out too. This is simple but essential to get full access to the bushes. Releasing the bushes needed some persuasion as the bracket was not going to pop out, I was beginning to wonder whether the bushes were fine after all. I levered them out with a long screwdriver. Fitting them and the bracket and then getting them to align with the bolt holes was a swear and jiggle. I realised that I'd have to work on them as a pair and not do one side up as this left zero room for the other. More swearing and jiggling and added taps with my heavy mallet and extension rod to tap things home in addition to pushing the things. The passenger side: the second to be fitted was a real squish and push to get the bush around the bar and seemed to take ages. I tightened all up bit by bit and finished off with a torque wrench at 28 NM. It was a job worth doing for sure as the old bushes felt and looked on the thin side and showed 22 years and 98K miles of wear. Unless mistaken, the front feels better and sounds quieter, less vibration etc. Might as well look at doing the rears too. Next job though is the Transmission mount replacement. I've ordered one via Ayamara, Lexus part 12371-50060 at £36.52 including postage. These kind of jobs are definitely cheap quick wins.

It's amazing how broken the under bonnet. plastic bonnet release can be and still function. The plastic becomes brittle over time and just gives up. I've avoided attempting the replacement over the colder months as there's nothing worse than frozen fingers butter-fingering a bolt and dropping it into the deepest recesses and inky blackness of the engine bay. It's an easy swap out. I bought the new part (bracket 53540-30010) from Amayama: genuine part from Japan at an amazing cost of £27.00 all in. The bolts I bought from Lexus Parts in Swindon. I had to tear away and break apart the old unit. I didn't realise the mounting bracket it is fixed to is plastic too otherwise I would have taken more care. But no damage done. This left the bolts with their very stuck screw collars in place. I could then hold the collar in place with vice grips and undo the 10mm bolts. I could not get purchase on them any other way and the collar inserts just rotated inside the remnants of the handle. I attached the handle to the metal rod first as it as was easier. Then offered up the unit to the mounting bracket. Fitted and tightened up the bolts and job done. That was it. Happy motoring!

Thanks Malc👍

Oh OK so smacking the dash will be an "intermittently required driving procedure". Done it again... Is it worth sending off for repair? Whom to?

Hi Steve and thanks everyone for contributing and/or enjoying the post. I have indeed smacked the dash. All is well with the LS’world and the speedo is behaving normally. 🤪 Case closed with great relief. 👍😁

Hi Steve i haven’t tried that yet. The green light on the cruise control comes on/off correctly and the mileage is illuminated…unfortunately couldn’t do a check on them during a busy short journey in a hurry…so don’t know if they are functioning.

Thanks. I’ll give this a go. 👍

Thanks. I’ll give this a go. 👍

The speedo is not working. All dash lights are ok. Car drives ok. All other dials working. No fault lights showing. Any ideas? 🙂

Still looks like a big project…👍🤭🧐

I’m not advertising and my friends here will attest to my long standing membership of following and contributing to the forum… I’m in a new job (at my age👍🤗🧐😂) and it’s rock and roll: really exciting. Time to start looking at shifting my 2000 LS 400. Projects to do are: Refurb the wheels Repaint front bumper Rear wheel arch small dink and dink to rear bumper Front wing dent Maybe front under engine cover replacement and rad cowl. At 97k miles with a folder of work including Lexus parts for brakes all around…not going for the song they used to. Fair yes, I always play fair. I thought of a Bentley but they are so up their own pipes and fussy as… J Clarkson wrote if he bought a pacemaker it would be made by Lexus.!😂 Aston? Second hand…only buy new if you own a company…nope. Alfa Guila Veloce it the quadri 4 cheeses oh yesZzx The Maserati Grandturismo 4.7 oh yes not new but a serviced 2010 would be fine. Battery or hybrid? Not yet. It’s time. A move that I know I will miss and regret. 😢

That’s a project car all right…lot of work?

Sorry my error…the part was the ignition switch so a gasket for the fuel float likely to do it. 🙄🤭

Unlucky but a new gasket should do it. ambermarine says it’s a generic switch…so is the right fit? Is it a bite the bullet future proof action of getting an OE part? Ayamama could get a good price from abroad or the parts direct division of Lexus Swindon worth a try.

Very nice car: looks better than mine with its flakey front bumper paint and shot wheels…and dings… I’ve got black interior and feel it ages better or at least appears to… I’m sure once the niggles are done with you’ll get hooked…the MK 4 really flies too and is a really good car. Might be worth checking the fuses are clean and pressed home, electrics are clean and WD40’d, battery terminals are greased and engine Earth straps\bolts clean. I’ve had similar systems off, once in reverse in the Lexus (came straight back on) I did a switch off and on again…all fine and in a Merc C200, only the once in either vehicle with no subsequent issues. Nuts 🤪

This is a tough call. In the scheme of things the cost is…OK. You may not want to think about the unrealities of insurance should someone shunt you and write your car off. High maintenance costs are a complete loss. Gates kits are ok. I’d prefer Lexus and would source abroad. Where Lexus parts are just outrageous I’ve stepped away. When these lovelies are worth money then it’s time for OE kit. Brake parts btw, OE can be got UK great price. My 400 was overdue a belt change from its original at 70k miles and well over 10 years: it was ok but showing distress: some bearing play, water pump ok…I had just bought it so changed the lot. Gates kit at US stupid low offer price. Next time everything will be changed and it’s true OE will just see water pump and belt…everything else will wait for the next change.

This is the advisory: Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Also Worn. (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Also Worn (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

There are options as Steve says Rockauto in the US and euro suppliers that might take a bit of research. Trick is to ID the exact issue so you only fix what’s needed… I recommend a no panic strategy: careful of Lexus dealers: they are good but you pay tops. But good for batteries, tyres, and some online OE services like Lexus Swindon online fab for OE parts.

Year 2000 LS 400 only advisories were tyres…no I wasn’t happy with even that. But mot.er noted condition and underneath was clean and great condition of car. Last year’s work: rear discs and pads, driver side front wheel bearing, oil change. Carrier bracket. I did brakes with OE, plus carrier non oe good quality and OE oil and filter. Good quality non oe bearing but SK made in Japan. Tyres are ok but they are being picky and that’s correct… 👍🙂

Some company will advice on conversions I’m sure. I did wonder if E10 introduction impacted the current shortage… Did refiners just add a bit more E to existing stock? How long and complex was that?

Oh joy…we’ll I’ve a few Dinky and Corgi 60’s super cars and have never found the late LS400….yes I’ve looked😁👍

The usual side effects impact the fuel system seals, components etc. The engine will run ok. I’m certain a one off or few more uses will not cause harm; long term use would be an issue: a lot of motorists including myself, are doing modest annual mileage and have opted to keep using E5 although it means higher costs for the Premium fuel: I had already decided to stay off the standard unleaded. My late 400 is cleared for E10 but while I have the choice I’m going to exercise it!

These early motors have more service parts than the later 400’s. I’m thinking distributor parts and early teething issues. The later 400’s are the fastest in their class so performance is delightful 🤭. Any 400 is a great choice - they’re not cheap or free of maintenance cost though. Glad I can wield spanners and do most work myself…not all…but it’s a judgement call isn’t it.

Here here: the petro chemical industry has had years to come up with viable alternatives but has failed. Like the tobacco industry, they’ll pile and bail out stashing their cash in to the likely winning tech or solutions… I wonder where the trad oil producing counties will go…back into the grains of sand they came from?