Baldeagle

Agree with all your practical sentiments regarding anticipation, and looking further ahead than the car in front of you,-I wish there were more drivers out there who adhered to this basic and commonsense principle, passengers often comment on my sparing use of the brake pedal, -not that I thrash my LS400,rather, I tend to drive it sedately,(maybe an age thing, I'm 62....) but nice to know the powers there when it's needed.

Wish I could take the bulb out! I watched the mechanic change the rear pads, he removed the old pads, and sensor wires, like he was defusing a bomb, showed me them, explained about the wear not yet down to the sensor-tab, puzzled at brake-wear light still coming on, took them back off, checked the wires again, re-assembled, lights still on, what a frigging pain.

Now you've got me wondering about my headlights too! I occasionally get flashed at, ( headlights, I mean....) so now that's on my check-list for tomorrow, -if the damn rain has stopped that is... I wonder though, is it because the LS400's headlights are a bit intense anyway, even on dipped?

A lot of replies to my thread mention battery-condition, I replaced mine with a new one very recently, I get a lot of opinions outside this group from mechanics, owners of high-spec cars like Lexus,they talk about moisture and dampness affecting the alarm-sensors, nice to know about that, but it don't cut much ice, when the alarm goes off repeatedly during the night, and the neighbours start complaining! I have heard that some Lexus models have an alarm disabler switch under the dash, but I don't think my one has-mores the pity, -wonder how big a job it is to disconnect the damn thing, yes, I know, insurance problems, but it would be nice to have an worry-free alarm!

Can't be bothered to look out the handbook, anyone out there know the safe max weight to carry in a LS400,-I've got to travel from MK to Scotland loaded with tools for a job, and wondered what is a safe limit for the '98 model?

Had my '98 LS 400 for around 5 months now, all that time, the brake wear warning strip on the dash has been active, the previous owner, who I've known for years personally, and trust, informed me that the front pads had been replaced a few weeks prior to me buying the car, the warning light came on shortly after that, he told me that the rear pads were OK, the mechanic having told him so, in the event, fed-up being distracted by a warning light continually, I got the rear pads changed last week, turned-out they were not even down to the warning sensor, -but had them changed anyway, warning light still on, any suggestions anyone?thanks.

Took my '98 LS400 for it's MOT yesterday, I suppose there are lots of us in The Lexus Owners Club who own and run these great cars, but dread, as the years roll by, the MOT process, as things turned out, all the car needed,was a replacement sidelight-bulb,I got a good eyeball under the car, as it was up on the lift-couldn't believe how clean and corrosion-free the exhaust-system, brake pipes and other components were, -but then, (stating the bleeding obvious)-it's a well-built car, and made to last longer than the average commercial crap-

Brand new batteries in both my key-fobs.

Mmmm.... It can't be the battery, as I bought and fitted a new one two weeks ago, -the car is used regularly, so it's being charged efficiently, sounds like I'm not the only Lexus owner who experiences this problem with the alarm, -don't suppose there is an alarm-immobiliser -switch anywhere on the LS? While on the subject -since owning the Lexus, every time I pass through the security bars of the doors of any Tesco, Morrisons, Halfords, Currys, -any major store-outlet in fact, I set-off their security-alarm,-only happens when I've the Lexus remote on me though........

Hi Everyone, Parked my '98 LS400 in a busy Industrial Park today, walked away after locking with the remote fob, I'm 100 metres away inside the foyer of this garage, and my alarm goes off, go out, stop it with fob, return to office, 2 minutes later, same thing, happened 6 times, to my acute annoyance and embarrassment,it was then driven in to the garage work-space to have an MOT done,no problem then, or since, ( fingers crossed) -I might add there are two wind turbines in this car-park area, I was parked under the one that wasn't turning, though the other one, 15 metres away was, could this have set off my alarms? or, as it was raining heavy at the time, could damp have got into the alarm-sensor? any help, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks.Iain.

Meant to say also: I can vouch for Halfords supplying a Lexus LS400 size battery at a reasonable price.

Apologies to intrude on this thread, but what does Steve mean by trying the 'red shift over ride button on the selector panel'?

Hey Bren, thanks for that info, I'll be calling them today, I'm into 78,000 miles on my LS400-and according to the previous owner, has never had a timing -belt change.

Thanks for that info, now I need to find someone here in Milton Keynes that I can trust to do a timing -belt inspection/change.

I lived in Canada years ago, their Winters don't need describing here, snow-chains were mandatory in these conditions, as most people drive big rear-wheel drive V8's -just like my LS400, even with chains, ( or studs,fitted by yourself, or the the local gas-station) driving was precarious, to say the least,bottom line was-leave the car at home,or get a 4x4, same applies here in UK, though our Winters ain't a patch on the ones Canadians endure every year, also, most people here in the UK don't know how to drive in snow, or icy conditions, we had a fall of light snow here in Milton Keynes a few days ago,and people were driving on the roads like lunatics,-though I think that's par for the course these days.