Damo

Can I ask where you got the towbar from? Am quite interested in fitting one to my GS430, which I assume would be the same towbar...

I bought mine off a guy on fleaBay, new and unused, but I expect he only had the one.

I'd say Lexus could supply one - the other option I found is Watling Engineering http://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/ Part number you want is PTY75DT. It's not type approved so they will only sell you one if it is for a late 97 or early 98 MK2 GS even though it will fit later model MK2s fine. I rang them when I was looking around and they were extremely friendly and helpful.

Hope this helps....

Hey Everyone -

I just bought a towbar for my MK2 GS300 and now need to get a tow ball and wiring kit for it....

Will a standard wiring setup do or do I need a bypass/relay kit?

Thanks in advance!

Damo

try camskill.co.uk used them the past few times.

On my IS i had Michelin Pilot Sports, Marangoni Zeta Lines and Goodyear Eagle F1's GSD3

I found the Goodyears to best all rounders

Thanks for the opinion guys.

I've been on this website and found useful info which matches what you say:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresult...mp;sortValue=17

I've found Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3s' for £122 from MyTyres, they seem a bargain at the moment. I'll get a price for Lexus to fit them.

I've a MK2 GS300 so this may not be totally relevant - When I was looking for new tyres, after reading all the recommendations on this site and others, I went for the Goodyear GS-D3....

While they are VERY good tyres overall, they have somehow failed to open my shoe laces in any particular aspect - It's like I can't fault them for anything but neither can I congratulate them for anything

In other words, when the time comes for new tyres again I'll definitely be looking to change - not because I'm unhappy with the GSD3s but because there are definitely tyres out there that will be more suited to my particular requirements....

Also, £122 a piece seems a bit pricey - when I got mine a few months ago (Okay, probably nearer a year ago) they were only €90 each delivered to Ireland from Camskill which is just under £80 sterling in today's money!

Thanks for info.

I want a tyre that reduces road noise more than anything, i'm not a sporty driver by any stretch.

Regarding the price, what size wheels did you have. The price differance is huge depending on rims! I will try camskill again though.

17" wheels - GS-D3's I got were 235/45/R17 94Y.

Road noise was reduced a little over previous cheaper tyres but I'd bet there is quieter out there.

Went for a quick spin last night on back roads and, in fairness, the grip from those tyres is exceptional

Get under the car mate and give the exhaust a thump with your hand all the way along. Something should rattle at some point if it is the exhaust or cat and pinning down the location should be easy. Only issues I've had with mine is the heat shields, some of them wrap around the exhaust and can have stones in them or just be loose and rattle. Also check the dampers bolted to the exhaust just before the back boxes (they are two fairly large rubber "chunks" bolted to the exhaust itself), worth checking that the rubber washers have not done a bunk and they are loose.

Thanks for the replies - Haven't had a chance yet to get under the car proper as have nothing to put her up on at the moment... Will check as soon as I can as I think the power is slightly down too, might take it to local garage next week and ask them to get it up on a ramp and have a look at it with me.

Thanks again for the advice, will check all that you suggest....

Hey Everyone - I've just had a nasty thought....

With the last month or two I've had a rattling sound from my Mk2 GS300, sounds like a load of gravel rattling on tin (Can't hear it with the windows up, but driving through town with a window open it's very prominent). I thought it was gravel stuck under a plastic cover or a loose piece of exhaust, etc. but I've checked all those and seems okay.

Other thing I've noticed is, after a drive, turn off engine and there's still steam coming out the right hand side exhaust for a few minutes afterwards (nothing outa the left)...

I've a fecking cat gone haven't I :tsktsk:

Forgot to add - After parking up following a very hard drive there's a fierce burning smell around the car... More I think about it it's gotta be a bad cat

Someone put me out of my misery :shutit:

Right - just tried a few things....

No rattling at idle or at any revs when stationary - only when driving over rough surfaces!

Maybe it is just gravel or something

Hey Everyone - I've just had a nasty thought....

With the last month or two I've had a rattling sound from my Mk2 GS300, sounds like a load of gravel rattling on tin (Can't hear it with the windows up, but driving through town with a window open it's very prominent). I thought it was gravel stuck under a plastic cover or a loose piece of exhaust, etc. but I've checked all those and seems okay.

Other thing I've noticed is, after a drive, turn off engine and there's still steam coming out the right hand side exhaust for a few minutes afterwards (nothing outa the left)...

I've a fecking cat gone haven't I :tsktsk:

Forgot to add - After parking up following a very hard drive there's a fierce burning smell around the car... More I think about it it's gotta be a bad cat

Someone put me out of my misery :shutit:

try camskill.co.uk used them the past few times.

On my IS i had Michelin Pilot Sports, Marangoni Zeta Lines and Goodyear Eagle F1's GSD3

I found the Goodyears to best all rounders

Thanks for the opinion guys.

I've been on this website and found useful info which matches what you say:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresult...mp;sortValue=17

I've found Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3s' for £122 from MyTyres, they seem a bargain at the moment. I'll get a price for Lexus to fit them.

I've a MK2 GS300 so this may not be totally relevant - When I was looking for new tyres, after reading all the recommendations on this site and others, I went for the Goodyear GS-D3....

While they are VERY good tyres overall, they have somehow failed to open my shoe laces in any particular aspect - It's like I can't fault them for anything but neither can I congratulate them for anything

In other words, when the time comes for new tyres again I'll definitely be looking to change - not because I'm unhappy with the GSD3s but because there are definitely tyres out there that will be more suited to my particular requirements....

Also, £122 a piece seems a bit pricey - when I got mine a few months ago (Okay, probably nearer a year ago) they were only €90 each delivered to Ireland from Camskill which is just under £80 sterling in today's money!

Hey Everyone - I've just had a nasty thought....

With the last month or two I've had a rattling sound from my Mk2 GS300, sounds like a load of gravel rattling on tin (Can't hear it with the windows up, but driving through town with a window open it's very prominent). I thought it was gravel stuck under a plastic cover or a loose piece of exhaust, etc. but I've checked all those and seems okay.

Other thing I've noticed is, after a drive, turn off engine and there's still steam coming out the right hand side exhaust for a few minutes afterwards (nothing outa the left)...

I've a fecking cat gone haven't I :tsktsk:

Almost forgot to post this... Found this Aristo in a little seaside town south of Yokohama last month - check out the furry dash

Indicators in the mirrors would be classier if he got rid of the normal side repeaters.

Don't forget to check the simple things like tyre pressure - I had a wobble from 65-75 that had gradually been getting worse, fixed it this evening by pumping the tyres, turned out the pressure had dropped in both fronts to about 23psi since the new tyres went on a few months ago.

I did this job a few months back and, while it takes a a bit of time, it's not the worst job.

Mine is a facelift MK2 so not sure if there's a difference but someone here will be able to clarify this.

I was able to change the plugs without completely removing the throttle body - I removed all the nuts/bolts but not the plumbing and was able to move it out of the way enough to get at what I needed to.

Also - watch out for those plastic clips on the (HT?) lead connecting to the coils, I had heard they break easy and even knowing that I still managed to break one :tsktsk:

Also, I bought the plugs from camskill.co.uk and they were the cheapest at the time.

Hope this helps, best of luck with it.

Agree with all the above - I have a late 2000 facelift GS300 so hopefully have avoided the master brake cylinder problem plus you get more airbags on the facelift. Last April paid £4.1k for it so should be easy to pick something similar up now for 3k.

Also, it's a Navigator which I think is well worth going for - definitely the best sat nav I've ever used, million times better than any portable unit I've used, ready to go in less than 10 secs, lowers the radio when giving directions, etc. etc. Also with the Navigator you don't just get the sat nav, you also get trip computer and much nicer controls for climate, audio, etc. plus you avoid the problem with the leaking LCD screens on the non sat nav models.

I get better than others quoted with regards to MPG - 30mpg possible on a run with a/c off, not even driving like a nun.

Being honest - After just over 6 months of owning a GS300 my one and only regret is that I didn't buy a GS430 :winky:

Best of luck with whatever you decide.

Here's list of differences/improvements with facelift Mk2: http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/knowledge...p;id=69&c=3

Agree with all the above - I have a late 2000 facelift GS300 so hopefully have avoided the master brake cylinder problem plus you get more airbags on the facelift. Last April paid £4.1k for it so should be easy to pick something similar up now for 3k.

Also, it's a Navigator which I think is well worth going for - definitely the best sat nav I've ever used, million times better than any portable unit I've used, ready to go in less than 10 secs, lowers the radio when giving directions, etc. etc. Also with the Navigator you don't just get the sat nav, you also get trip computer and much nicer controls for climate, audio, etc. plus you avoid the problem with the leaking LCD screens on the non sat nav models.

I get better than others quoted with regards to MPG - 30mpg possible on a run with a/c off, not even driving like a nun.

Being honest - After just over 6 months of owning a GS300 my one and only regret is that I didn't buy a GS430 :winky:

Best of luck with whatever you decide.

That's great.

It looks like a MK1 RX :P (Only joking)

I think there could be an expensive problem around how they would extend the roof. Also, I imagine there would be issues around removing the horizontal strengthening around the boot and below the rear window. You'd also need to convert the rear seats so they would fold down flat. That's a whole artform in itself. I can't see you doing this for 3k, to be honest.

Posted a reply but don't know where it went

Wouldn't be worried about folding rear seats and wouldn't mind a horizontal support behind rear seats - understand what you mean about the roof, etc. though.

Was hoping could get a crowd to just 'graft' on the relevant part of an estate car and make it fit :-)

Yes - more I think about it it may be my daftest idea yet.

Looks like someone already did it with a MK1 GS bet it cost a lot more than 3k though.....

I have a GS300.

I have a big hairy dog that loves the beach (She's only allowed in the GS when very clean and very dry).

Saturday morning comes and I'm driving dog to beach in company van when I would love to be driving the GS.

Would it be possible to turn a MK2 GS300 into an estate?

I'm thinking of contacting coachbuilders for opinions - If it would look good and cost maybe 2 or 3k I'd go with it, plus I'd have something very unique :-)

And before anyone suggests an RX - I hate the look of the MK1 and can't afford the MK2!

See pic below - (Photoshop dodgey after a few drinks) ;-)

Hopefully, that will have cured the CEL problem...

As I said, your old one was probably just on it's way out, so you may not notice much improvement in driving, other than maybe a slight increase in MPG..

John

Just to update - 1k miles today since changing o2 sensor and haven't seen CEL since

Thanks lads, esp. Einstein!

Yeah, a new sensor should fix the problem. If you haven't already done so, check out Frugal Mechanic to see if you can find a lower price. It's a shopping comparison website for auto parts. Comes in very handy with my SC400 :)

http://frugalmechanic.com/auto-part/19423-...3-oxygen-sensor

Just to update - Fitted the new 02 sensor today... The hard way

Ordered the oem Denso 02 sensor from Rock Auto in the States Tuesday eveing and it arrived Friday morning - cost about 100 euro delivered.

Was considering just joining the wires under the car but as have no way of raising the car enough to get underneath comfortably decided I'd do it the hard way and get under the carpet and plug her in!

Trick is to remove the centre console fully, then it's very easy to pull away the carpet and get at the connector and the gromet where the cable goes through the floor of the car.

Nightmare removing the old 02 sensor - it would turn a little bit and then get stuck fast, threads were in sh1te by the time it came out

Turns out this particular 02 sensor had been replaced previously - could see the wires had been joined underneath - car only has 98k miles on it, is it normal to have gone through 2 (of the same) 02 sensors at this mileage?

Anyway, fitted new 02 sensor and tightened it as far as it would go, reset CEL, everything fine except 3 miles later mad smell of BBQ - stopped, could see leak/smoke around sensor and tried to tighten it again (turned a few more times now when hot) and all okay so far and CEL staying off - fingers crossed :winky:

If anyone is going tackling this job and would like step by step instructions just let me know - took me about 4 hours today but if I had to do it again tomorrow I could probably finish it in 40 minutes :-)

Sounds quite normal... and looks like the sensor is only just failing..

should all be sorted with the new sensor..

John

fantastic - that's good news!

thanks a million John.

Just a quick question please lads -

Have an intermittant CEL and only fault code that ever shows is P0161 which is: "H02S Heater Performance Bank 2 Sensor 2"

About to purchase a new Denso 02 sensor: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecat...;a=YH14-2344603

The thing is, often the CEL will often be off when starting the car and only come on after a minute or so, sometimes it won't come on at all for a few hundred miles, other times it just stays on when (and after) starting. Just wondering if this is normal - ie. is this common behaviour of a failing 02 sensor or could there be something else wrong.

Wanted to check before ordering the sensor as I would have thought if the sensor had failed I would have a constant CEL.

Screenshot of ODB reading:

Thanks a million for any help,

Damo.

Just to add - Only strange engine behaviour I notice is that if I blip the throttle in N or P she hesitates, or coughs, before reving. Drives absolutely perfectly though, even taking off hard from stop.

Fuel consumption seems fine too - OBC showing 34.4 MPG today over 40 mile journey today on average roads (passing through towns, etc) with lights on and air con off.

Not sure if relevant....

Just a quick question please lads -

Have an intermittant CEL and only fault code that ever shows is P0161 which is: "H02S Heater Performance Bank 2 Sensor 2"

About to purchase a new Denso 02 sensor: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecat...;a=YH14-2344603

The thing is, often the CEL will often be off when starting the car and only come on after a minute or so, sometimes it won't come on at all for a few hundred miles, other times it just stays on when (and after) starting. Just wondering if this is normal - ie. is this common behaviour of a failing 02 sensor or could there be something else wrong.

Wanted to check before ordering the sensor as I would have thought if the sensor had failed I would have a constant CEL.

Screenshot of OBD reading:

Thanks a million for any help,

Damo.

Hi Damo,

Just wondering, where are you buying your parts from ? I've got the same ideas as you, doing the servicing myself. But I'm at a bit of a loss as to where to go for parts.

Cheers.

Sorry for the delay replying but have only recently went about sourcing parts for the big service.

Much like Einstein - Some stuff from main dealer and rest motor factors and internet.

From Dealer: Toyota Semi-Synth 5L+1L was about €35, OEM Oil Filter about €12.

8L Toyota Long Life Red coolant about €45.

Pollen filter about €20 delivered off eBay (Or possibly better quality one from puravent.co.uk for about €33 delivered) - €58 from Lexus.

Denso SK20R-P11 Spark plugs from camskill.co.uk roughly €16 each delivered - €32 each from Lexus.

Air Filter - K&N drop-in off fleabay for just under €60 delivered.

Hope this helps, will update when figure out where to get the rest!

Damo.

Hi all just a quick question on my GS430 Navigator the sat nav is a 2001 disc so APART from the obvious road updates does a newer disc give anything extra ie speed camera info

wallpaper screen savers ? just curious

Gus

Eh, no.... and... no ;-)

Only difference you will probably see (Other than your maps being up-to-date) is that you will no longer be able to change certain nav settings while the car is moving.

To buy your new dvd be sure to try http://www.lexus-mapupdates.eu/ (Apparently official Lexus site) and as it's outside irl/uk, but within EU, give a VAT number when ordering and save yourself a few bob!

I rang local Lexus main dealer and they pointed me to that site - 130 euro (delivered) for full European up-to-date mapping, can't complain ;-)

Thanks Colin, just to update -

As per advice bought an ELM327 (which supports ISO 9141) off eBay which works like a dream (Facelift '00 GS300).

Was only 45 euro delivered and came with tons of software, if anyone wants details of eBay seller send me a PM.

Lots to learn now ;-)

Air filter - use genuine or K&N drop in.

Oil filter - use genuine.

Plugs - standard is Iridium, either use OEM Denso or up-rated Denso IK16s. The IK16 would have to be changed every 30k miles not the standard 60k.

ATF - pull the dipstick and look at original fluid. If nice and pink/red and smells ok then leave it. If it is red/brown and smells burnt then change however only use Toyota T-IV fluid

No need to change fuel filter.

When you fill up with fuel, tighten the cap until you get two clicks. You shouldn't get a CEL if you do that unless the cap is faulty or maybe some other air leak in the fuel system.

Any engine oil that meets the spec in the manual is fine. Semi synth is fine or fully if you want to spend the extra (Castrol Edge or Mobil 1)

If you change the coolant then use Toyota forlife red coolant.

Any OBD-II reader that works with the ISO 9141 protocol should be fine. ODBII only became a requirement in 2001 for Europe, not sure if that is why some people have problems with 1999 model. I've tried my reader on a 1998 GS and it didn't work but was fine on my facelift 2000 GS430.

So many questions.I serviced my Gs300 sport just before i left Toyota/Lexus.I replaced the diff oil,a.t.f(you have to get the right stuff,think its dextron 5),brake fluid,spark plugs(use the ones that are ment for the car,sport is different),coolant,re-gassed air con and changed pollin fillter.i allso added prolong engine and gearbox oils,not sure how much it works but lexus and toyota both recommend it.I have a k&n air filter so did not change that.The engine oil was castrol magnetex,diff oil is castrol syntrax.If you are keping the car then change the lot,you know it has been done then.The gear box was much smoother after the oil change,it felt great before!.I change my pollin filler every year,it makes a big differnce.Known problems are noisy brakes from pins and slidders,if you are doing them then that sorts that issue out.Check all front ball joints out for wear,and thats really about it. :winky:

Thanks a million for the replies, much appreciated esp. as so many questions :-)

I'll take the advice and do the lot - have ball joints already done so okay there...

Time to make a list and this info is a huge help!

Thanks again.

Hi everyone!

I've loads of questions re servicing my GS300 if anyone can help?

It's just about due her 100k servie (Full LSH to 89k) and I'll be doing it myself and from searching the net I'm fairly confused as to what parts, etc. to use.

She's a late 00 facelift and t/b was done @ 69k nearly 4 years ago so I reckon t/b should be okay 'till next year (Not mileage based but age & perishing)?

89k service was basically check, oil/filter + brake pads so what I'm planning on doing is changing oil & oil filter, air filter, spark plugs, cabin filter, petrol cap (Have intermittant CEL which mostly goes off when I tighten petrol cap and restart) and I'm not sure what else.

I'm not doing it myself to save money - I just prefer doing things myself - so I want to buy the best parts/fluids, etc.

So here's all my questions:

What is the best oil & filter to get? I presume just genuine toyota/lexus filter but which oil?

Any recommendations on air filter, guessing just original again or k&n maybe?

Spark plugs I can't figure out - platinum or iridium? Have read loads on the net about these and very confused so would appreciate help!

What about ATF? Sticker on dip stick says it's life time fluid under normal use, is this true or should I look at changing it?

I plan to get air con serviced too but that's a specialist job as far as I'm concerned so will take to dealer for that, gonna wait to change coolant when I get t/b done next year as I'll get water pump, etc + coolant done then. Gonna replace all calipers/disks/pads next year too so will wait to do brake fluid then.

Is there anything else I should do/check such as rear diff, fuel filter, etc.?

With all the cars I've previously owned I've gotten very mechanically familiar with them but something about owning a Lexus seems to be changing this - for example sitting in traffic the other day I realised I hadn't looked at the temp guage in over 10 mins, very strange ;-)

I love this car and plan on keeping it forever so any advice on the above questions and any other preventative maintenance I should do would be greatly appreciated!

One last question is that I'd like to get a code reader that I can hook up to a laptop - seen these ELM327 jobbies on fleabay, anyone know if they are any good and if they work with the GS300?

Sorry for the epic post, any replies will be greatly appreciated!

Damo.