ls430fan

Sorry I haven't replied sooner, I ended up trading my car in for a 2005 LS430 at the main dealer. I eventually found out that the ECU had failed completely and that it needed a new ABS sensor too. It would cost a small fortune to replace so I cut my losses! I wouldn't worry too much if you have a LS430 with around 60000 miles as what happened to mine is apparently extremely rare! It is interesting that the LS430 on eBay has been mentioned as a friend from Devon had a look at this car last weekend. He couldn't fault it and said that the blemishes mentioned were not noticeable and had to be pointed out to him. He loved the way the car drove and made an offer of £11500 which was declined. I'm not sure what the car is worth but its important to buy a well sorted LS430, I made the mistake of buying one with the engine management and VSC warning light on when I'd have been better off paying more for one with no faults. My friend is thinking of making a higher offer, he has looked at some cheaper 120,000+ miles cars and wasn't too impressed with the condition! How much does everyone on here think the one on eBay is worth? Was £11500 too low or a fair offer?

The engine management light is on constantly in my 60,000 mile 2001 LS430 and the fault code reveals that there is a fault with a valve in the manifold and that the valve is possibly sticking? Has anyone else experienced this? I am a bit concerned that even if the valve is replaced, the engine management light will stay on. Greatly appreciate any advice/experience of LS430 owners unlucky enough to have had their engine management light stay on.

I'd agree that the clonking noises are likely to be far more expensive than a suspension bush. The LS has legendary ride quality so I wouldn't personally touch one with even the slightest of suspension problems. There also seems to be a noticeable dent in the rear bumper of the car and it is a bit of a concern that although the VSC light is on in the photo it is not mentioned in the write up. LS400s seem to make a lot of money on eBay, a friend was outbid on a 1999 model with nearly 150,000 miles a while back and this car sold for £5000 which sounded a lot to me for such a high mileage car.

I took my LS430 into the main dealer today and they advised that it would take 2 new oxygen sensors to put out the engine management light. Unfortunately, before I took the car to the main dealer, an auto electrician plugged his laptop into the car and set off the Check VSC light. The main dealer now tells me that there is ABS/steering fault with the car and they have been unable to reset the Check VSC light and need to have the car in for diagnosis and this is likely to cost a fortune in labour charges. I'm gutted I took the car to the auto electrician as if I didn't I would have this Check VSC problem. Has anyone else had this problem of a Check VSC light coming up after an independent's laptop. I'd greatly appreciate any advice so I can let the main dealer know what is likely to have caused the problem. There definitely seems to a be a lesson here - trying to save a few quid going to an independent can mess up your car and end up costing a lot more. I should add that although the Check VSC light and VSC off light have been on since the auto electrician plugged in his laptop the car drives 100% fine except for the the fact the VSC is permanently switched off which can cause the occasional wheelspin when accelerating hard from a standstill. Greatly appreciate any advice here as I know the main dealer will charge 80 quid + VAT to try and diagnose why they can't turn off the VSC light. I originally heard that the VSC light will go out once the oxygen sensors are fitted but apparently the fault relates to the ABS and steering. Many thanks in advance and best wishes

Hi Mark Many thanks for the reply, is this likely to be an easy problem to solve? I haven't encoutered it before. Thanks again

Many thanks for the replies, I will let you know if I can find a local specialist Ian. The problem with the car is that the engine management light is constantly on, I took the car to an auto electrician who plugged his laptop in which diagnosed 2 oxygen sensors werent getting hot enough and a fault code 1630 which wasnt specified as an identifiable fault. Ever since the laptop was plugged in, the Check VSC light and VSC off also comes on constantly once the car is in Drive or Reverse. These issues have cropped up just after I decided to sell the car for a later model - ideally I'd like to solve the problems before selling the car. I'd greatly appreciate any advice/opinions, this is the very first Lexus I've owned so I'm not familiar with any potential problems. A friend suggested disconnecting and reconnecting the battery but I'm afraid this could potentially cause more problems! Many thanks in advance

I've not been able to find anyone advertised on the internet so far but can anyone recommend either a Lexus specialist or competent auto electrician who can check out fault codes in Devon or Cornwall? Many thanks in advance.

Since I decided to upgrade my LS430 to a later model, I've had the engine management light on and then the Check VSC light after a diagnostic check on the engine management light. I was about to head off in the car today and now it won't start!! I'd imagine I've got a flat battery as the window was very, very slow to go up (I left the window down when the car was in the garage). I also find that the dials flicker so although I guess it is possible I have some electrical fault I'm keeping everything crossed that recharging or replacing the battery will get me back on the road. I know this is a very similar question to one that has been asked before for a LS400 but am I right in assuming jump starting the car won't cause any damage to the electrical system? Ideally I'd like to find out as soon as possible if it is the battery causing the problem.

Many thanks for the replies, I was hoping to solve the engine management light problem outside of the Lexus dealer network but trying to avoid a main dealer bill has resulted in the VSC light coming on too which is a bit frustrating! I haven't heard from the auto electrician since so it looks as thought my only option is to visit the main dealer and stump up for 2 oxygen sensors (presumably they can't be cleaned or repaired if they aren't getting hot enough??) and also to sort out the VSC light (which only came on for the first time when the auto electrician plugged in his laptop). It will no doubt cost a fair bit to sort out but seeing as I am selling the car it probably makes more financial sense to sell it sorted out as I can't imagine anyone buying a car of this price bracket with 2 warning lights on. I am hoping to realise £12k for the car as it is immaculate, low mileage, full supplying dealer history up to a few hundred miles ago. Although it's one of the very first LS430s on an X registration it would look about a year old on a private plate! Just one question - is it worth me disconnecting and reconnecting the battery to try to reset the VSC light? I realise the the engine management light will almost certainly come back on again because the oxygen sensors arent getting hot enough but would disconnecting the battery reset the VSC light? I am a bit reluctant to disconnect the battery without having any advice as the last thing I need is to set off more warning lights! This is the first Lexus I've had - forgive my ignorance but does the LS430 has a radio code? As far as I can see I dont have one in my handbook pack. It's just all been a bit frustrating as the car drives perfectly so I'm effectively spending a fair bit just to put out a warning light! All in all though, it's been a far better car than my old S500

I finally got around to having the engine management light on my LS430 checked out, an auto electrician plugged in his laptop and 2 oxygen sensors aren't getting hot enough and there was also an unrecognised fault code, 1631. Ever since this diagnostic check has been carried out the Check VSC light and red warning triangle have come on when driving the car. Is it normal to have this light come on after a diagnostic check? Many thanks in advance

Many thanks for the replies, I haven't got around to taking the car into the Lexus dealer yet as I've been on holiday but it sounds like it is probably the oxygen sensor causing the engine management light to come on. I'll let you know what the problem is as soon as I take the car in. I'm buying a 2005 LS430 from a friend at the end of September so I'm hoping to sell my car (which is one of the first LS430s) before the newer one arrives. My car has a full Lexus history, one previous owner and the full premium pack/massaging seats/cool box etc etc. It's covered 65,000 miles, what sort of price am I likely to achieve and where would be the best place to advertise it? Many thanks in advance.

I have been very pleased with my LS430, I am intending to trade up to a 2005 model but yesterday I noticed that the engine management light comes on as soon as I start the ignition. I'd greatly appreciate any advise as to what this is likely to be and whether there will be any great expense. My dad had his engine management come on with this C-class Mercedes and the Merc specialist plugged his computer in and couldn't see anything wrong with the emmissions so turned the light off free of charge and about 4 months later it's never come back on again.