M.IQBAL

Dj i tried cleaning it with gliptone leather cleaner and conditioner (2 seperate applications) but i didnt have much luck - but luckily i have managed to get a seat from a similar car - hopefully this will sort my non working heated seat element problems aswell regards miq

Sorry i meant Mark 3 not Mark 2 in the title Guys what do you think of that steering cover - does it look the part or not?? - it certainly does improve grip and is very comfortable. - all the way from USA! http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/0/7/6/0/4/0...100103961_o.jpg http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/0/7/6/0/4/0...100103947_o.jpg http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/0/7/6/0/4/0...100103935_o.jpg also as you can see the drivers seat wear is letting the interior down - i have another on its way for this weekend - can anybody shed any light with regards to removing the seat. Also any prcautions i need to take ( i have read about keeping the ignition off) regards miq

HI RAB - Mine is a Mark 3 but with an aftermarket navigation system fitted in the astray space - here is a pic: http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/0/7/6/0/4/0...100103961_o.jpg hope it works regards miq

hi have a look here - it might help - copy and paste into your address bar - sorry no good at links either lol! http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...showtopic=21124 regards miq

Hi steve many thanks for the detailed information - i hadnt recieved a reply to his thread for over a week and i had made my mind up to live with a dud sensor untill another one packs up and then maybe look into it further. The sensors fitted to my MK3 are aftermarket ones made by steel mate - i think they are the best feature of the car as it makes life really easy. I have spoken to steel mate and they can sell me one sensor for £15 - each sensor is supposed to unplug seperatley but the problem is when i came to remove it the sensor came out but wont come out more than 2 inches of wire - i suspect the wiring is tangled inside the bumper or is caught against something thats whyits not budging. But i now how your info to hand im going to give it another try and fingers crossed i should be able to retirve the old sensor - once thats out its a 10 second job - plug the new on in and pop it back in. many thanks for your help regards miq By the way do you have beige leather? - its very hard to keep clean - i have to wipe my shoes everytime i goto drive it! that is the only downside of my car Hi. I am probably too late with this and hope you resolved your problem by now. I fitted aftermarket parking sensors to my 1995 series 3 LS 400 last week, though I bought mine off ebay for £19.00 total. (It took me 4 hours but it was freezing and I was being careful) In fitting them I didn't want to take the bumper off and found that if you lie under the rear corners you can reach inside the bumper. From here I found that the rear bumper had 2 metal box section (hollow square tube) running across the car and a rubberised coating between these and the bumper itself. The rubber material was shaped and filled the gap top and bottom leaving a clear channel about 40mm wide aroung the mid hieght of the bumper. I ran the wires and mounted the sensors to fit in the gap. I used a wire coat hanger (pushed carefully so as not to crack the bumper) from sensor hole to sensor hole and using duct tape to lash a thin wire to the end and pulled the wire through. If the set up of your sensors is the same then it occurs to me that you need to pull all the sensors out a little to help remove the old and fit the new. If the wire is made free by this work you could use it by fitting a thin wire the sensor head wire and by lashing to this thin wire and pulling the new sensor wire though the cavity in the bumper. Hope you are OK. Rab Hi First of all many thanks to all you guys who have replied to my question. Rab i am also very reluctant to take off the bumper as i may not be able to put it back together again properly. I was unable to remove the sensor becuase the wiring is stuck inside somewhere. So like u have done i will have to get underneath the car and try to locate and untangle the wires so that i can full retrieve and remove the sensor so that i can unplug it and attach the new one. I havent been able to do it as yet as is cold and raining out there but plan to do it asoon as possible as the "double beep" indicating there is a fault is getting a bit irritating everytime i reverse! Im also thinking of replacing the front bumper black trim pieces ( or air dams) but i have read that you have to remove the front arch liner which again im a bit reluctant to do so if anybody out there has done and can shed a bit of light as to how easy or hard it is then i would gladly like to hear from them. Apart from these small niggles my MK3 is performing great - cant get enough of it really - it certainly is and was discovery of perfection! regards miq Hi Miq. Hope you get the sensors sorted. I am with you about plucking up the courage to remove parts etc, the car is so fantastic to drive and just look at when you park it up you don't want to spoil it. I was always taught measure twice cut once, but before I drilled the back bumper for the sensors I must have measured and marked the spots 6 times to make sure it looked right. like you I am looking to replace the rubber skirt on the front air dam and will need to find where to buy it/them. (Anyone know where this can be got?) My series 3 has had some poor work done by someone, but the owner before me started to restore the car and I will finish it. My list of niggles is longer than yours but I still love the car. (the biggest problem is that I drove my old car today, which I used to enjoy, and hated the whole experience. I'm ruined for driving other cars now) Happy driving, Rab Hi rab - the air dams are a dealer only part and are about £37 per side - the nearest dealer to me is about 12 miles away just trying to find the time to go and get them. Mine is a 1996green over grey with cream interior and its a challenge trying to keep the interior clean - i hoover it religiously every week and have covered the factory over mats with clear rubber mats but i still often find myself picking up small stones or specks of dust if i see any and never drive with the windows down as i dont want dust flying in!! ha ha mad or what !! I think deep down i would rather prefer to park it up a heated garage and just admire it - hate to see rain/dust/brakedust on the alloys etc!! ha ha I have only had my car 2 months but when i bought it i didnt drive for a month because it need some bits doing as follows: Oil Change 4 New hubcaps from USA 2 New gas bonnet struts Steering wheel cover from USA Vacume interior in boot Washed over mats Cleaned carpet with Vanish mousse New clear mats 4 wheel tracking done New map CD for the Sat Nav Upgraded sidelights and headlamps to PIAA Washed and poolished with meguirs gold class as it stands i need to replace on of the rear sensors and the front air dams and then i think the car will be perfect. Sorry cannot figure out how to insert pics other wise would of shown you my car regards miq

Try www.furnitureclinic.co.uk in Gateshead - 0191 482 6112 thanks for your replies guys - i have made my mind up not to go for these quick fix kits - instead it will either be a replacement seat which is around im going to look into retrim options - the thing is if im going to go through the expense and hassle of a re-trim then i would rather reaplace the heated seat elements - dpes anybody know if these are available on their own as replacement parts??regards miq

hi my drivers is a bit worn and looks a bit dirty so (me being a perfectionist) im looking around to see what would be the best way round it: do i take it to the trimmers do i do it myself using a kit such as buffalo kit or do i buy seat covers from www.seatcovers.com Also my seat belt is dirty and doesnt wind back up again - i have rang the dealer and they reckon they can supply the seatbelt with the winding mechanism for £47 - i personally thought this was very cheap but the partsman insisted he was right! - so has anybody ever replaced their seatbelt - if so is it easy ?? any help and opinions will be greatly appreciated regards miq

Hi steve many thanks for the detailed information - i hadnt recieved a reply to his thread for over a week and i had made my mind up to live with a dud sensor untill another one packs up and then maybe look into it further. The sensors fitted to my MK3 are aftermarket ones made by steel mate - i think they are the best feature of the car as it makes life really easy. I have spoken to steel mate and they can sell me one sensor for £15 - each sensor is supposed to unplug seperatley but the problem is when i came to remove it the sensor came out but wont come out more than 2 inches of wire - i suspect the wiring is tangled inside the bumper or is caught against something thats whyits not budging. But i now how your info to hand im going to give it another try and fingers crossed i should be able to retirve the old sensor - once thats out its a 10 second job - plug the new on in and pop it back in. many thanks for your help regards miq By the way do you have beige leather? - its very hard to keep clean - i have to wipe my shoes everytime i goto drive it! that is the only downside of my car Hi. I am probably too late with this and hope you resolved your problem by now. I fitted aftermarket parking sensors to my 1995 series 3 LS 400 last week, though I bought mine off ebay for £19.00 total. (It took me 4 hours but it was freezing and I was being careful) In fitting them I didn't want to take the bumper off and found that if you lie under the rear corners you can reach inside the bumper. From here I found that the rear bumper had 2 metal box section (hollow square tube) running across the car and a rubberised coating between these and the bumper itself. The rubber material was shaped and filled the gap top and bottom leaving a clear channel about 40mm wide aroung the mid hieght of the bumper. I ran the wires and mounted the sensors to fit in the gap. I used a wire coat hanger (pushed carefully so as not to crack the bumper) from sensor hole to sensor hole and using duct tape to lash a thin wire to the end and pulled the wire through. If the set up of your sensors is the same then it occurs to me that you need to pull all the sensors out a little to help remove the old and fit the new. If the wire is made free by this work you could use it by fitting a thin wire the sensor head wire and by lashing to this thin wire and pulling the new sensor wire though the cavity in the bumper. Hope you are OK. Rab Hi First of all many thanks to all you guys who have replied to my question. Rab i am also very reluctant to take off the bumper as i may not be able to put it back together again properly. I was unable to remove the sensor becuase the wiring is stuck inside somewhere. So like u have done i will have to get underneath the car and try to locate and untangle the wires so that i can full retrieve and remove the sensor so that i can unplug it and attach the new one. I havent been able to do it as yet as is cold and raining out there but plan to do it asoon as possible as the "double beep" indicating there is a fault is getting a bit irritating everytime i reverse! Im also thinking of replacing the front bumper black trim pieces ( or air dams) but i have read that you have to remove the front arch liner which again im a bit reluctant to do so if anybody out there has done and can shed a bit of light as to how easy or hard it is then i would gladly like to hear from them. Apart from these small niggles my MK3 is performing great - cant get enough of it really - it certainly is and was discovery of perfection! regards miq

Hi steve many thanks for the detailed information - i hadnt recieved a reply to his thread for over a week and i had made my mind up to live with a dud sensor untill another one packs up and then maybe look into it further. The sensors fitted to my MK3 are aftermarket ones made by steel mate - i think they are the best feature of the car as it makes life really easy. I have spoken to steel mate and they can sell me one sensor for £15 - each sensor is supposed to unplug seperatley but the problem is when i came to remove it the sensor came out but wont come out more than 2 inches of wire - i suspect the wiring is tangled inside the bumper or is caught against something thats whyits not budging. But i now how your info to hand im going to give it another try and fingers crossed i should be able to retirve the old sensor - once thats out its a 10 second job - plug the new on in and pop it back in. many thanks for your help regards miq By the way do you have beige leather? - its very hard to keep clean - i have to wipe my shoes everytime i goto drive it! that is the only downside of my car

Hi I would first check that they have been wired up - these days most parking sensors only need one connection which is to the reverse lights of the car - I have reverse sensors fitted on mine and find them really helpful - the only problem is at the moment one of the sensors has packed up and i need to remove the bumper to replace it - so i shall be watching this thread with interest regards miq

Hi does anybody know how to remove the rear bumper on a MK3 plz - One of my parking sensors has packed up and needs to be replaced. Also wanted to ask when would you use the front foglights (TURNING THE INNER RING ON THE LEFTHAND SIDE STALK) I just found out last night whilst looking for the rear foglight switch that the car has frot foglights aswell built into the headlights - surely they will dazzle oncoming drivers? Many thanks guys for yor support over the past months and all the best for the festive season regards miq

hi steve I have the same problem with the rear screen misting up from the inside. I have done the following: a) Switch the air Re-circulate option off B) Open one of the rear windows slighlty when dricing with the heaters on I done this a few times and it has helped alot - although i still get about 5 inches on mist right towards the bottom. While im here i wanted to ask do you know how the black trim pieces at the bottom of the bumpers fit on - are they bolted on?? ive been meaning to look at them and then try to order some from the breakers - but havent had the chance - and the rain hasnt stopped much. regards miq

£1.02 in bedford

hi steve i has the same fault on my MK3 plus they fixed the missing digits fault for £85 including delivery back to me. You have to remove the stereo and post it to them. their website is www.caraudiorepairs.co.uk hope this helps. Also before i sent it away i also came across a website www.manualsparadise.com which lists typical faults to these units by model number and then also gives you techinal guide on how to fix it . I did purchase the repair for the MK3 lcd backlight not working. The instructions were clear and precise with diagrams but with no experince and the right tools i decided to give it a miss. Im sure somebody with a bit of expertise can follow them and repair the fault themselves - and it only costs about £2. If anybody wants the info i can gladly email it regards miq

hi i have a 96 Preg Mark 3 and i am experiencing the same problem - the boot almost always opens from either the switch or remote when the car is not running however when the car is running i cannot open the boot (remote not the switch will work) which is quite annoying ! Also is it just me or are the black pieces of plastic trim on each end of the front bumper it bit low for the car - i have to be extra careful when parking at car parks which have a raised edge so not to hit the front bumper against the edge of the pavement. regards miq

hi sorry if this reply is a bit late - i had the same problem on my CD LCD - i got them done at www.caraudiorepairs.co.uk - the bulbs can be found here www.consumabulbs.co.uk - logon and enter your car details - it will then show all the bulbs fitted to the car regards miq

hi i havent had my LS400 long - I bought a brand new battery last sunday and fitted it - the car has been standing outside all week and i had not started it - Friday morning at 6am the alarm goes off - got up and switched it off - decided to look into the problem at the weekend. On saturday morning i went to start it and the battery was totally flat - no dash lights either!! oh dear this got me worried. Anyway took the battery out and put it on charge - put it in this morning - started it up everyting as normal - so i thought i would start by look at the abvious things i.e wether any lights were staying on etc - I have found that when the igntion is switched off - the phone still stays on!! im not sure wether that is right? So what i need to know guys is should the phone be wired like this that it stays on all the time - common sense says surely not? - i had a BMW before and the phone used to switch off - secondly would the phone alone be enough to completely drain the battery in 5 days? Obviously if the answer to questions 2 is yes then my worry is over - if NO then i will need to investigate further to see if there is a short somewhere. Also above the rear doors there are 2 reading lights on each side - one switches on via the button - where as the other one doesnt switch on at all - should the second one come on when the door is opened ( the front on is set to "door") any advice on any of the matters will be very much appreciated and lastly guys just below my name it sys "warn 0%" - what does that mean?? regards miq

hi Djdon - I have a phone fitted in my mk3 - The handset is fitted in the armrest where as the rest of the brains are above the passenger footwell - the make and model is Bosch M-Com 726 - if you need any pics let us know regards miq

hi you have just about covered everything - Only thing i would say is try to go for either black or grey interior as with beige its very hard to keep clean and also every small mark on the leather/plastic/carpets shows up wheres black/grey tends to atleast camaflouge the small imperfection I have only had mine a week - P Reg with 72K - FSH - £2500 - extras include sat nav fitted in the ashtray - parking sensors and telephone - that should give you and idea of what you should get for your money Theres one on auto trader at the mo M reg - Silver with black leather - LPG conversion - 94K miles - was £3495 - now been reduced to £2995 - looks very clean and straight regards miq

hi I dont know about buying screen buts theres alot of info here about the fault and repair - www.lexls.com I have just bought a MK3 and had no radio backlight and the lcd digits were slighlt faded towards the top - these guys repaired both faults for £85 inc delivery back to me www.caraudiorepairs.co.uk - the chap is called riachrd hope this helps regards miq btw theres also a 2nd hand unit on that popular auction site for £40 - worth a look!

hi I need to get spark plugs for my 1996 LS400 - and was thinking of going for NGK IRIDIUM IX - is this the right choice? - is there an alternative to condsider..... Also the spark plugs uk site reccommends (BKR5EIX - 11) however the chap who im thinking of buying from in the USA is selling (BKR6EIX - 11) for the same car - can anybody pinpoint which are the correct ones please many thanks in advance regards miq

HI steve really appreciate your comment there - i have only had the car 2 days and from the info i have gathered from various sources seems to point to replacing the so called small leds inside the radio. I have also seen one post on here where somebody said that if you have and aftermarket telephone kit installed the radio backlight will also fail to light. Well in mine i have a sat nav fitted (hard wired) and a telephone so question is do you think these 2 things have anything to do with the radio backlights - do you think i could tackle this myself?? Any advise will be greatly appreciated regards miq

Hi those of you who have read the previous post will know that im trying to find a fix for my radio LCD backlight which fails to light - During my quest i came across this tutorial which details how to replace the radio LCD when it has totally failed. the tutorial can be found here: http://www.lextreme.com/lcdtech.html Hope it is use to somebody. As for my problem i read a post on here somewhere where a guy said he managed to fix his radio backlight with just a few pence and couple of hours work - although no further nformation was given but from where im standing it looks as if he has removed and simantled the unit down to the circuit board and replaced a few bulbs. But this is all i know so if anybody out there knows anything please let us know - im sure theres quite a few people who could benefit from this cruical bit of info regards miq

i sorted my problem with radio backlighting and blinking dash for the grand price of 24pence and a hour of my time 2yrs back on a mk2, have to look up what i did and i will post the fix up later ok hi I have the very same problem - if you could please let us know how to fix i would very grateful regards miq

Hi In a bid to acquire total smoothness i have after all gone and bought of these silent beasts - I have been running an Mreg Toyota Camry 3.0 V6 GX with 54000 genuine miles and in my opinion that was very smooth and quite but NOTHING and i mean NOTHING can compare to the utter smoothness of the lexus LS400. On the way back the only noise was when i was moving my foot from gas to brake and brake to gas and my leg was rubbing with the seat? - and 80 mph looked like it was doing 50! - you can easily speed in this car - and most surprising was how easy it is to drive despite being longer and wider! Mine is a 1996 Preg, Green over Grey with beige Leather with 72K on the clock and full service history. Extrsa include full colour sat nav fitted in the ashtray space, parking sensors, telephone (which came with credit ha ha ) and tracker. Price was £2500 which i think was a bargain considering the passenger and rear seats have never been sat in. Thereis however a few small things that need sorting - if somebody could provide and info to would be very grateful: 1) The CD backlight is not working - i assume this is a bulb - can this be done by yourself or is it better to let a proffessional do it? 2) I was thinking of doing an oil service on it - is castrol magnatec and normal oem oil filter from the local motor factors going to be ok? or genuine one recommended? 3) The wheel centre caps are mising - where is the best place to get those either second hand or new? 4) I was thinking o fgetting the drivers seat leather colonised? has anybody had it done? is it worth the money? can they recommend any particular place?? many thanks in advance and i look forward to hearing from you guys regards miq