Lexus Ls400 1994, My New Project

[Dan1]

Hi, Im new to the lexus owners site, I have just got my new lexus ls400 today. I am fixing it up for a project and would like some advice from fello lexs owners, I swapped a rover coupe for it, an excellent deal if you ask me :winky:

, anyway, I am very handy with spanners and I have noticed the following problems with the car,,,, , noisy power steering ( scraping grindy noise,,, fluid is clean red colour) I have also noticed that the car is running very rich on fuel,,, low on power, floods easily, lots of smoke, and engine oil smells like petrol .

I have an general idea of what to do,,, but what do you think??, I think I need to service and flush the engine, replace the steering pump, clean the pipes and replace the troublesome valve/ switch that so many people have problems with. I would like to hear of your opinions and ideas, the only thing is that I have not heard of a lexus with the steering fluid leak that has oil that smells like petrol anyway, thanks for your help and advice on a very good site,,, dan

[Haylands]

Hi, Im new to the lexus owners site, I have just got my new lexus ls400 today. I am fixing it up for a project and would like some advice from fello lexs owners, I swapped a rover coupe for it, an excellent deal if you ask me :winky:

, anyway, I am very handy with spanners and I have noticed the following problems with the car,,,, , noisy power steering ( scraping grindy noise,,, fluid is clean red colour) I have also noticed that the car is running very rich on fuel,,, low on power, floods easily, lots of smoke, and engine oil smells like petrol .

I have an general idea of what to do,,, but what do you think??, I think I need to service and flush the engine, replace the steering pump, clean the pipes and replace the troublesome valve/ switch that so many people have problems with. I would like to hear of your opinions and ideas, the only thing is that I have not heard of a lexus with the steering fluid leak that has oil that smells like petrol anyway, thanks for your help and advice on a very good site,,, dan

Blimey.... thats a long list of problems, always thought oil smelling of petrol was down to worn cylinder bores or piston rings gone.... if steering pump is leaking it will have damaged the alternator....

Got to ask is it worth doing anything to it, they are so cheap now I think I'd just buy a new one!!!

Good Luck anyway hope its not too bad

Pete

[Dan1]

thanks for your advice,,, anyway the power steering pump has no visable leaks and the fluid is at a constant level,,, I know it neds a lot of work but I have caught the lexus bug,,, I fell in love with the car as soon as I seen it, I know I shouldnt but its a very nice car and I value it highly to myself,

I was going to have it painted white and maybe use it as a cheap wedding car.

I think that the engine is flooding a lot when it was in the damp garage as it wouldnt start due to fuel all over the plugs, so hopefully it might be an injector problem?

I was also thinking about getting an lpg convrsion. Im currently using a mercedes c class as my on the road car so I have lots of time to mess on with the lexus,, thanks for your quick reply, Dan

[ROYT]

Suggest plugs and leads first, get it running on all eight before going deeper!

[Dan1]

Suggest plugs and leads first, get it running on all eight before going deeper!

thanks, will check all plugs and leads, the car is in rather good condition, it has been neglected even with a full service history!

[Dan1]

Suggest plugs and leads first, get it running on all eight before going deeper!

thanks, will check all plugs and leads, the car is in rather good condition, it has been neglected even with a full service history!

also I forgot to mention that sometimes the abs light comes on?/? the car has good brakes so I cant understand why,,, maybe its a sensor

[kenmac]

Hi Dan welcome to the club,only replying as if you decide yours is going to be to much work and cant wait to drive one I have my LS for sale on here,because I bought my LS just as a cheap runaround but fell in love with these cars and with in 3 months upgraded to a 96 MK3.

[Dan1]

Hi Dan welcome to the club,only replying as if you decide yours is going to be to much work and cant wait to drive one I have my LS for sale on here,because I bought my LS just as a cheap runaround but fell in love with these cars and with in 3 months upgraded to a 96 MK3.

thanks for the offer but im a bit strapped for cash at the moment,,,, best of luck with your car, cheers Dan

[Haylands]

thanks for your advice,,, anyway the power steering pump has no visable leaks and the fluid is at a constant level,,, I know it neds a lot of work but I have caught the lexus bug,,, I fell in love with the car as soon as I seen it, I know I shouldnt but its a very nice car and I value it highly to myself,

I was going to have it painted white and maybe use it as a cheap wedding car.

I think that the engine is flooding a lot when it was in the damp garage as it wouldnt start due to fuel all over the plugs, so hopefully it might be an injector problem?

I was also thinking about getting an lpg convrsion. Im currently using a mercedes c class as my on the road car so I have lots of time to mess on with the lexus,, thanks for your quick reply, Dan

Dan

Don't know if you have found these sites, but they are well worth reading, lots of tips and tutorials

http://www.lextreme.com/1uzfe_info.html (lots of tech info... you have to use the search facility to find most of it)

http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/ (guy in the US who has a Mk1, lots of tutorials and pics)

http://www.toyotalexusspecialists.co.uk/ (sells cheap parts... check eBay.com for parts in the US first, usually cheaper even with the post)

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=183 (very active US forum, lots of info on old threads)

Good Luck and happy reading

Pete

[Dan1]

thanks fo your help, it is really appreciated and thanks for the tips,,, I wish u all the best with your car ,,, cheers, Dan

[kenmac]

Hi Dan

If your looking for parts give this lot a try a few members on here including me use them and they are great.

RockAuto

[Dan1]

Hi Dan

If your looking for parts give this lot a try a few members on here including me use them and they are great.

RockAuto

thanks again

[kenmac]

Regarding your power steering,have you checked that it's flowing OK,as I was just wondering if your power steering filter is blocked or at least restricting the flow to the pump,so it isn't get the correct amount of fluid?

[Dan1]

Regarding your power steering,have you checked that it's flowing OK,as I was just wondering if your power steering filter is blocked or at least restricting the flow to the pump,so it isn't get the correct amount of fluid?

thanks for the info I will have a look at that,,, do you know the approx area that the filter is at?, thanks again,,, Dan

[kenmac]

It's an inline filter so can only be between pump and the rack.

[Dan1]

It's an inline filter so can only be between pump and the rack.

yeah, i will definately have a look at that when i remove the pump next week,,, thanks for the pointers,,,

[Dan1]

It's an inline filter so can only be between pump and the rack.

as an update, I have found that there is some p/steering fluid on the pump under the filler cap/tank, so it has a very small leak!, I cant look at it much due to restricted space I will have to dismantle some of the other parts to get access,,,

[Dan1]

It's an inline filter so can only be between pump and the rack.

as an update, I have found that there is some p/steering fluid on the pump under the filler cap/tank, so it has a very small leak!, I cant look at it much due to restricted space I will have to dismantle some of the other parts to get access,,, the fluid level is ok though

[Seb Harvey]

Throttle body clean will help the sluggish pulling off. If the car has been neglected, the body is probably coated with carbon and starving the engine of air.

[Dan1]

Throttle body clean will help the sluggish pulling off. If the car has been neglected, the body is probably coated with carbon and starving the engine of air.

thanks will clean throttle body,,, also does anyone know if differential ep 80w/90 gl5 is good for power steering fluid on a lexus ls 400,,, thats what Halfords recommended,,, thanks again

[kenmac]

It needs ATF DEXRON 2 OR 3,definitely not DIFF OIL,I'm just wondering how many people have seen or been told to use Diff Oil by Halfords,and found out the hard and expensive way that they are talking ***T!!!

[ROYT]

WOW....... absolutely not,EP80/90 is back axle [ i.e differential] oil!

Use Dexron 3 auto trans fluid.

[Dan1]

hi again,, I have took off the pump and cleaned it,,, i might still try a new one anyway as I have no method of checking it,,,, i have cleaned about 4mm of carbon crap from the throttle body!!!!