Steviewevie

I've checked all this, it all seems fine. The theory that the battery/alternator isn't working correctly doesn't make all that much sense to me because if I'm listening to the radio really loud and i come to a stop the sound never cuts out? Only when its a CD.

Maybe the CD player uses more voltage than the radio though ?

Does the voltage needle go up and down on your car ? You made it sound like it does fluctuate, which doesn't sound right to me.

Do you think it may be a good idea to remove the pre-cats from the manifold?

Someone may correct me, but I don't see how that could be connected since the vacuum sensor is measuring the pressure before the air goes into the engine, and your pre-cats are after the engine. Sorry if I'm misunderstanding you though and you're asking an unconnected question.

could me having disconnected the light for the ash tray have anything to do with it?

I wouldn't have thought so because they're all connected in parallel, so removing one should't affect another. I actually don't think the tail light relay is that likely to be the problem, that was more of a long shot.

Given that in later cars the dimmer does dim the whole dash, I think it's most likely to be the dimmer itself, i.e. broken/stuck.

Black standard box. Found some better search results on google as I had little joy on here. Sam had an issue like this and he replaced the vac sensor. You about Sam? Part number how much is this part?

The vacuum sensor is 89421-20190 and is around £200, so you're going to want to be pretty sure this really is at fault before swapping it !

Sounds like a problem to do with voltage to me i.e. less being generated when you're going slow. I wonder if your battery is on its way out, or the alternator ? Does the voltage needle on the dash fluctuate when you slow down/stop with the head unit going ?

Nope, its always at or above 12 volts, its had a new Battery not too long ago?

What is it on at exactly ? Mine is always around 14.5V, it never drops to anything close to 12V.

Could there be a wiring problem, e.g. something has come loose in the wiring of the black box/ECU ? Are they proper soldered connections or is it scotchlocked ?

Sounds like a problem to do with voltage to me i.e. less being generated when you're going slow. I wonder if your Battery is on its way out, or the alternator ? Does the voltage needle on the dash fluctuate when you slow down/stop with the head unit going ?

Sorted, and i now have steering again :)

So roll on JAPSHOW :D

Yay ! :D

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so does it mean that I need to change the wheel at the same time when using a mk4 supra calipers?

It may just be that you need some spacers. You'd have to try it and see though.

You can buy brake calipers for the GS/Aristo off eBay if you want to stick with the standard ones. The IS200 uses the same calipers.

the Lexus dealer told me is200/altezza doesn't use the same calipers as aristo. They even said aristo can't use the same one on GS300... Weird..

Yeah that's odd, I thought they were the same. Looking at the parts diagrams closely, it looks to me like the Aristo calipers are identical to the GS300 ones, although there's a very slight difference to the IS200 calipers. But the internals of the calipers (pistons, pads etc) look the same as the IS200.

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I do hope it wasn't a dodgy MoT Chris (i.e. the guy selling the car paying someone to pass it) ?

Not trying to scare you, but I wonder if it's worth getting it re-checked over ? Having said that you're probably perfectly capable of doing that yourself.

Are you going to bring it to JAE ?

I've got a reader like this one (loads of sellers offer the same unit). Well worthwhile, could save you loads of money if you can diagnose and fix stuff yourself.

Thanks for all the helps folks - Is the fibre glass one a good fit?

Patrik Lindblom (whose car is in the pic) commented on his one here. You could of course send him a PM for further info.

Could well be a coil pack failure causing misfires. If you can get the diagnostic codes via a code reader that should help narrow it down.

EP Racing's website is here, with the various IS200 bits they do. The FRP bumper that they do (like the Legana one) is part of their "TR style" kit.

Given that it's going to be Grand Prix at Silverstone day as well, think I'll try and make sure I do get up early and trying to get there for around 9am. See you all there ! (hope you make it Chris !)

Yay, great news ! Looking forward to seeing you and the devil up at the Pod tomorrow ! :D

You can buy brake calipers for the GS/Aristo off eBay if you want to stick with the standard ones. The IS200 uses the same calipers.

Yep, that's not a TRD bumper/spoiler, it's a Legana one. Sorry, I see what you mean about you wanting the one with the spots now. You will be able to get fibreglass replicas off eBay. If you want a genuine one it'll be a lot harder, and you'll probably need to look at Japanese auction sites.

TRD rear and side skirts are available from Toyota/Lexus dealers, or then again of course there's eBay.

Sand down and re-paint your radiator brackets, and get some nice shiny stainless bolts from eBay to help set off that rad panel :winky:

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but if the pads are squealing it's not because whoever changed the pads threw away the anti-squeal shims is it ?

TRD Front bumper - this is the one with the spots

Sorry but there is no TRD front bumper as far as I'm aware. There's the OEM bumper to which you can attach the TRD front lip spoiler (which is what I've got, with the Sport grille added too). Or there's the TTE bumper which is a complete bumper include grille, holes for the fogs and optional holes for the headlamp washers, and replaces the OEM bumper.

TRD front lip on an OEM bumper :

TTE front bumper :