brendangeorge

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.

CGR Car Sales in Towcester did my 200K LS430 belt change - they also got a good price on third party bits.

Good luck

Bren

I have had 2 1995 MK-III LS400s. Both fantastic cars, best car ever, just a very different drive to my Ferrari Testarossa.

If I could afford the Fuel, I would get another MK-III.

I hear the newer cars have more toys, just not quite the same whisper silent smooth ride as the 400.

Daily drive is now a top of the range Skoda, Laurin & Klement Octavia 1.9 TDI running on WVO, 50mpg at 25pence a litre makes my 25,000 miles a year very affordable .

Horses for courses.

Does your motor smell like a chip ship going up the road. I like the idea of alternative fuels - LPG for me at the moment but if it gets much more expensive I will have to plant sugar beet in my field (8.5 acres) and turn it into alcohol for my Lex.

Bren

Hello and welcome to the LOC.

I take it you have an IS200?

First thing is to try the spare key if you have one or replace the battery in the key you have and then go from there.

If the battery has gone in the key it will not open or close your car or transmit the required security code to your alarm/immobiliser system pick up sensor located around the ignition lock.

If you don't fancy replacing the battery yourself a local locksmith or Toyota/Lexus dealer can do it for around a Tenner.

There are videos on youtube showing you how to change the bat - it is easy a new bat is less than £2.00. You have to take the the the slider off the top of the key (without breaking it). Remove the mechanism from the shell. Change the bat and reassemble.

Here is the video

Good luck

Bren

A couple of things to add to Mark's great list.

Also make sure you check the transmission and engine dip sticks - look for contamination in the oil etc.

If the car has done a lot of miles check the power steering fluid cooling pipe - it runs in front of the rad and will eventually rot and leak. It is expensive to replace but a hacksaw, a piece of rubber tube and two jubilee clips sort it out.

Drive it and give the brakes a good work out i.e. warm them up- the front disks can get a bit wobbley when warm - the car will stop but will not feel comfortable. I find the 430 eats front disks - don't let that put you off but you need to know. I use EBC disks and green stuff pads - you need to make sure the disks have less than 4 thou run out when fitted ot they will warp.

Good luck these are great cars.

Bren

I had 3 Ls400s - ran them for two years from new (about 45K miles) and they were pretty good cars. I agreee they were smoother than the 430 with air suspension - however the 430 is a better car - more refined and more features. My current 430 I have had from new (2002) and have done 203K miles with no major probs - just the normal things you would expect. When they built the 400 they had an almost unlimited budget to take on Merc and BMW with their Luxuary Export US and they suceeded in building a fantastic brand and reputation. The 430 was a reskin and update pretty good but not a quantum leap.

Bren

You can close and open all the windows and sun roof with the remote - I am not sure how you only get the front windows down (or partially down) with the remote. It is handy to be able to close all the cars orifices with one button.

Bren

That's no good, planes won't land even in the ice and snow at Heathrow so damn sure it won't be any good on our LSs on the road

Malc

Damn - that's bad news :)

Bren

Hi Pete I get my tyres from Ilford Lane there are several tyre places & competition is quite hot, Most of them get the tyres from the German tyre co in bulk, Go to a few part worn tyre places near you You will find some or be able to order some as there is plenty of part worn winter tyres available due to people here wanting summer tyres. Or google German tyre warehouse & buy direct & get them fitted locally .

Searched for German Tyre on eBay and got this :)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WWII-German-Luftwaffe-Bomber-Tail-Wheel-Tyre-/160669317565?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item2568a339bd

Bren

I never knew that either, but from what I've read they should be able to supply you with a document stating you have been insured with them for 5 years and give details of your record which another insurer should accept as proof of your last 5 years driving history.

I think trying to do this online is going to get you nowhere so the old fashioned telephone call will be needed.

Classic Car Insurance from the looks of it is designed for a 2nd car that is used occasionally and that you have another everyday car that will carry your NCB.

My current insurer is the Post Office - I declared my NCB and they did not ask for proof - all on line. They did however say in the documentation to make sure I had proof and to keep safe in case I make a claim. Your NCB is awarded because you have not made a claim - just because the classic company will not give you a discount it does not mean others will not. I moved from a company car to a private car and my insurer respect the period I had not made a claim on the company insurance and gave me a discount.

Good luck

Bren

Well pointed out sadly at your expense. This goes for all Classic Car policies.

Tough & expensive lesson.

At your renewell date you should always trawl through the comparisons sites

Its still worth asking insurance companies about your particular position. Mike

Amen to that Mike - every year I change insurer because the renewal is always a ***** take - I have even canceled renewals and then signed up with the same company as a new customer for a lower rate - madness. My insurance is going down each year for a few mins searching :) The renewal notice is quite useful as proof of your no claims bonus so always keep it.

Bren

Hi MJM - you need to charge the Battery to test it - a real test is its capacity and CCA (cold cranking amps) for your 400 I think you need a 610A CCA and 70AH. A battery's life is governed by how many charge discharge cycles you put it through and how deep you discharge it. Car batteries do not like being flattened - they are designed for a large number (hundreds) of low level discharges, like when you start your car and then charge the bat by driving. If you keep flattening your Battery you will kill its life (i.e. reduce the number of charge discharge cycles available) and may cause it physical damge.

You will soon see if your bat is in good nick in the cold weather we are having.

Good luck

Bren

I'm aroused enough just driving my 430 - I'm not sure what would happen if it was able to massage my chuff as well :)

Hi I thought OBD was a standard that included the connector - perhaps it does with OBDII. I saw this site on the net that had a lot of different adapters on it you will probably find what you need here and then source it locally. http://www.made-in-c...Adapter-1.html.

Good luck

Bren

and I would go straight to Toyota / Lexus to buy your replacement battery ... with a 3 year warranty and their assurance that it will probably last 5 years .

Might be the cheapest around anyway !"

I found that with my new Mk3 battery

Malc

The AA did me a good deal (sounds implausible) and I got a 3 year warranty as well.

Bren

........ and many of us find the LS400 just about nigh impossible to drive safely in snow and ice conditions, notwithstanding many years of clever safe and competent driving ........... it's a very heavy, automatic with rear wheel drive on fat tyres and those road conditions usually make it a real headache driving ......... unlike a little front wheel drive thingy with skinny tyres which clings to the ground, ice and snow and a joy to drive ( the only time tho' :hohoho: ! )

Good luck with it.

Malc

Hi Malc I'm not sure agree with you about being impossible to drive in snow however you are right about the big tyres - if you put winter tyres on your LS will be better and safer to drive in the cold. Winter tyres have a softer compound and so improve breaking when the temp is below 7C. The tread on winter tyres is designed to deal with snow. So you will get better traction in snow and you will have a reduced stoping distance in cold weather along with better road holding.

My wife has a front wheel drive (Avensis) and notices a big improvement in the handling and stopping of her car in the winter with winter tyres on.

You will need decent tread on any tyre for them to work in the wet or snow.

I have not put winter tyres on my 430 yet this year but am about to.

Bren

I found-out what my remote problem was, -a flat battery, caused by me manually locking the Lexus at night-and not noticing that I hadn't closed the drivers door properly,( it's out of sight, on my neighbours side) what a stupid thing to do, bought a battery charger today, charged the battery -bingo! sorry for the unnecessary questions,but also a big thank you for the feedback guys, Iain.

I've never done anything like that :) My wife has never left the ignition on flattening the bat and nearly causing me to miss my tee time at the golf club :)

Bren

Hi MJM - the AA if you are a member will test your Battery if you call them out. I had a similar problem when I had a duff 3 year old bat and could not boost it - the AA blokes nuclear power pack got it going though. I tried to charge it but the damn thing would not hold any - I ended up buying a new bat and have no probs now.

Bren

I just leave mine in "D", does that mean it is going into overdrive at high speed? What is the ratio of 4th gear in a Mk 3? I'm slightly confused by this!

Paul

Hi Paul yes to your overdrive question

A 4 speed 1989 has a 4th gear ratio of 0.75 to 1 - as you can see below 3rd is direct drive so instead of the old bolt on overdrive unit and a button they built a new gearbox and put in a forth gear and over geared it so you have overdrive. The five speed box has 1 to 1 in 4th - they now have 8 speed boxes and 1 to 1 is 6 so you have two over geared ratios.

Gear Ratios for 4 speed LS400

Gear Ratios: 1st 2.450 2nd 1.450 3rd 1.000 4th 0.730 Reverse 2.222 Final 4.300

Gear Ratios for 5 speed LS400 and 430

• 
  
  
  The A650E five-speed automatic had a 3.357-to-1 first gear ratio, a 2.180-to-1 second gear ratio, a 1.424-to-1 third gear ratio, a 1.00-to-1 direct fourth gear ratio and a 0.753-to-1fifth gear ratio. The reverse gear ratio was 3.266-to-1.
  

Top gear is overgeared so is an overdrive for each car.

Bren

Thanks for that bren. I know what you mean about the weather. If you dont mind me asking, how much did it cost you to do all 4 wheels?

One of my pals owns the company (Pristine Wheels) so I did a dodgy deal with him that included tyres. I think but am not sure it is about £75 per wheel refurb and probably £10 for the centre cap. Have a look or give them a call http://www.pristinealloywheels.co.uk/.

Bren

Thanks for that Bren.

Hi Messi

My car is a bit minging because of the weather so I gave a front and back wheel a quick clean and here are pics of the front and back wheels and the side. I need to go and see the poor sods who hand wash cars for a fiver but I haven't got the heart in this weather. I think the wheels would look better even darker or black. If I can get better pics I will try - I need to clean the car, better light and stop shaking in the cold :)

http://s1336.beta.photobucket.com/user/snarler45/media/IMAG0016.jpg.html

http://s1336.beta.photobucket.com/user/snarler45/media/IMAG0017.jpg.html

http://s1336.beta.photobucket.com/user/snarler45/media/IMAG0018.jpg.html

Good luck

Bren

@ Ontheroad mentions having your LS400 in overdrive. What do you mean by "overdrive" ?. My '96 400 doesn't have overdrive. Just PWR ECT.

Paul

On the original Mark 1 the overdrive function was discribed as that by Lexus in the Manual and it was also inscibed on the switch embedded in the gearknob which you pressed to apply, mine was applied always but electroniccaly controlled did'nt operate under certain driving conditions.

The car only had three forward gears low 2nd and drive,this meant you could actually do 100mph in second gear and I did (naughty).The overdrive would only come in when the car was cruising above 30mph and did'nt operate in the ectpwr mode it was as bren says a slightly higher ratio gear than final drive.My 98 LS as a 4th gear and then drive which I presume is overdrive its just an extention of gearing to the original ls and they have dropped the overdrive word.

Interesting Paul - I never owned a MK1 400 so never saw the switch. The 5 speed LS430 has a final drive ratio of 0.753 to 1 and the 6 speed 0.58 to 1 - which are both overdrive.

Bren

Hi brendongeorge. I have a 2001 ls430 in platinum ice. I need to refurb the alloys. But do you have any pictures of how the dark grey refurb looked on your ls430?

Thanks

I'll give one a clean and take a pic for you.

Bren

Many thanks for all your help I have mended the door mirror light, so on to the headlight washer I assume the water pressure drives the spray jet out of the bumper and its spring return??? There are no other motors involved as one side of the bumper the spray jet is not lifting up from the bumper while the other side is lifting around 4 inches,

Kind Regards

Ice

You are correct about the washer Ice man - I have had to replace parts after bumps (each side has £200 worth of bits in it). If it is not extending you may have a blocked pipe or the actuator is duff.

Here is a link with some good diagrams - the LS 430 bumper is at the end.

http://www.justanswer.com/lexus/6uxxq-lexus-ls430-provide-step-step-instructions.html

Good luck

Bren

@ Ontheroad mentions having your LS400 in overdrive. What do you mean by "overdrive" ?. My '96 400 doesn't have overdrive. Just PWR ECT.

Paul

Top gear is effectively over drive (need to look at the gearing though) for a LS. A LS is automatic so the torque converter can "slip" a little - however at high speed in top gear it will lock up which is the best approximation to overdrive. Top gear is usually direct drive and an over drive gear used to be fitted to manual cars with 4 speed gear boxes to over gear the car - you could not reach top speed but cruise at high speed and low engine revs.

Five or more gears are now common so the highest gear can be overgeared to give you an overdrive - in the old days manufacturers bolted and extra unit on the end of the gear box however I'm not sure if they do anymore becuse I am too fat and old to crawl under cars - also I am an electrical and electronics engineer so lazily pay other people to mend my LS :)

Bren

Interesting thread - I have had 5 LS models 400 and now a 430. Over 10 years my 430 returns about 22 on average (I run on LPG so fuel consumption calcs are fun). I have a heavy foot and drive a lot of motor way miles and short 20ish mile (golf club) trips, The only way to work out your real fuel consumption is with a pencil and paper not the cars computer. I keep a record of mileage and fuel put in and then work out long and short term averages - I drive on the mileage because I run on LPG so the fuel gauge is no use to me.

Your fuel consumption will be highly dependent on the type of trip (and your foot) - a long motor way trip at a constant 70 will get you up to the 30MPG figs reported - drive a stop start route in a two ton car round town and it will be 16 or lower.

There are differences in the two modes - in econ mode the car will change gear at max torque (half shift if you are an American) and in pwr mode it will change gear at max power (full shift) which is just before the red line - Amber hit on this in the previous post.

Getting upto cruising speed quickly and staying there will save you fuel.

PWR mode round town will burn more fuel. The gear box will change more quickly in PWR mode - I find that the car will "learn" how I drive and even in ECO mode will respond more quickly.

Try driving fast and hard for a while then slow down and drive sedately and I'll bet you find the gear box is a little bumpy for a short time - until it works what you need from it.

I find the car will do what I want (except run on water :) ) when I want and is great and the best way to save on fuel costs is an LPG conversion.

Good luck

Bren