Redsteve

Thanks Hydrostat, I will give the search a try. Of course, all this worrying may be un-necessary, the brakes might not squeal tomorrow. Steve.

Hi Pete, I really hope I haven't brought this problem on by using Blueprint parts. I specifically sourced the discs as I had read so many good reports of their quality parts on this very forum. If it does turn out to be the discs I am going to have to learn to turn up the stereo a bit more, I could afford to take the hit on a new set of pads but not on a new set of discs! Steve.

Hi guys, here is the report on the squealing pads. I set off for work this morning full of hope, within 200 yards my hopes were dashed, the squealing was still there. It was still there at the next junction too, but by junction number 3 it had stopped. This is how it has been for the last week on these new pads. There was no more squealing all the way to work. On the way home it was a different story, not a peep from the brakes at all. I have my fingers crossed it has stopped, it was so nice not having to listen the damn things. If you could try and find out what the blue stuff you are talking about is called, Hydrostat, I would appreciate it, it might come in handy if this problem re-presents itself. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks for the help and advice, I will keep you posted as to how the brakes behave through the week. Steve.

Hello again. Well, I have greased the sliders and the cross shaped springy thing that tensions the pads. I even checked the calliper bolts were tight. That was my first job of the afternoon. I then cut the grass, which is quite a big job, and then I cleaned out the pond and topped it up with water. All this has taken about 5 hours to do, my plan was to test the brakes after I had done all my jobs. However, I was so hot after the grass cutting and pond cleaning I came indoors for a drink. A couple of cans of lager later and there will be no brakes test today. I will let you know how it has gone when I get home from work tomorrow. Fingers crossed. Steve.

Thanks, Steve, for that little gem of info. I will try greasing the sliders at some time over the weekend , it is so windy here at the moment I am scared the car will get blown off the jack! I will keep you posted as to how I get on. Thanks. Steve.

Hello guys, I am after a bit of advice before I go completely insane. About 3 months ago I replaced the front discs and pads on the LS. The discs are "Blueprint" but I can't remember what brand the pads were (I do remember that I hadn't heard of the brand before). Anyway, all was good for a few days, then the squealing started. It was just for a second or two when the brakes were cold to start with, but then it was all the time if I was light on the brake pedal. It was driving me mad, not to mention the fact it was highly embarassing to be wafting through town only to squeal to a halt at the traffic lights or at a junction or in a queue or anywhere else I had to slow down. So, last week, I bought a replacement set of pads, also "Blueprint" and put them in on Sunday. All was well on Monday, it was pure bliss driving and stopping in silence. However, on Tuesday, the squealing started again, just for a second or two when the brakes are cold. I fully expect this set of pads to become as annoying as the last set, it's just a matter of time. Before you ask, the discs have been cleaned three times with brake and clutch cleaner (twice by me, using my fluid and once by a friend, using his) and the pads have been taken out and roughed up a bit. The pads have had a coating of Copper Grease on the back. I do know that there are no anti-squeal shims on the brakes but I have never had any on this car and never had this problem until 3 months ago when the new parts went on. Does anyone know what might be causing the brakes to squeal and how to stop it. Hopefully someone can help me before I have to start driving round with ear defenders on! Thanks. Steve.

Hello Frank. Are you sure you need to change the lights at all? A few years ago I had an American pick-up truck. It was imported to the UK from Italy (it belonged to a US serviceman serving in Europe) and it was still running on US plates. To be able to register it in the UK I had to put it through the SVA test, which is a much more involved MOT. The guys who did the work for me just adjusted the lights as much as they could to point the "wrong" way and it sailed through the test with no problems. Maybe there will be enough adjustment on the LS lights to just get you by without spending any money. Just a thought. Steve.

Hello again. Well, I bit the bullet and ordered two batteries from Ebay (one for my wife's key and one for mine) at the cost of £2.85 inc postage. They arrived today and I have just installed them. Both keys work like a charm from a decent distance and much quicker than before, a job well done. Thanks for giving me the confidence to take the batteries out of the keys with no major consequence Nitmoi. Steve.

Thanks for that Nitmoi, I will try and get a new battery this week. Steve.

Hello Guys, I hope you are all well and enjoying the good weather. The battery in the ignition key that my wife uses seems to be going flat, it will start the car fine but it struggles to unlock the doors and boot via the remote. If I take out the battery, roughly, how long do I have before the key will lose it's memory and have to be reprogrammed? I have already had a quick peek inside the key and given the battery a wiggle just to make sure it was seated right but it hasn't made any difference to the key's performance. Thanks in advance. Steve.

Thanks for that little nugget of info. It has really bugged me for the last 18 months or so since I got my MK IV that there was no audible alert to tell you the car had locked like I had on my MK II. :tsktsk: I just went outside and tried holding down the lock button but still no beep, then I remembered the little button under the boot release lever. The beep only sounds if the button is pressed in. I am now a happy bunny, thank you. :D Redsteve.

Hi guys, my advice would be not to bother replacing the bit of trim. Just remove any broken bits that are still attached so it doesn't look scruffy. I can almost guarantee that as soon as you put a new bit of trim on you will have to park somewhere "nose in" and there will be a curb that is just high enough to smash you new investment. The car is so long that you have to put the nose over the curb or the rear end will be blocking the road. Look around at other LS400s and there are not that many that have a fully intact lower bumper trim. :winky: Just my experience of owning a couple of LS400s. Redsteve.

Hi Guys, I recently changed the front discs and pads on my MKIV. I got the parts from Exhausts Unlimited, the discs were £74.37 each (Blueprint) and the pads were £37.27, both these prices include VAT @ 17.5%). I would imagine the prices would be similar for a MKIII. Hope this is of some use. Redsteve.

Hi Guys, this is my list. Opel Ascona 1600cc Mini 1000cc Metro GTA 1300cc Toyota Hilux 4x4 2000cc Nissan Bluebird 1800cc Talbot Samba 1300cc Mini 1000cc Rover 216 1600cc Nissan Primera 2000cc Toyota Hilux 4x4 2400cc Diesel (later swapped to 3500cc V8) Nissan Primera GT 2000cc Dodge Dakota Sport 3900cc V6 Lexus LS400 4000cc V8 (but you guys knew that already) Peugeot 306 1900cc Diesel Nissan Primera SRI 2000cc Landrover 88 3500cc V8 Toyota Hilux 4x4 2200cc Lexus LS400 4000cc V8

Hi John, I had a similar problem on a Merc Sprinter a while ago. All I did was take the plastic cover off the back of the light (as if you were going to change the bulb) and then drove around for a few days with the headlights on to make sure the inside of the lens was totally dry. I put the cover back on and Hey Presto...the light fogged up again! :tsktsk: I just left the cover off from then on and the light never fogged again. I don't know what the back of the IS headlight is like so this may, or may not be a useful post. Redsteve.

I agree with LF. When I started using V-Power I didn't notice any difference but I stuck with it (you get double points on your Shell card with V-Power). After a few weeks I thought that it was a waste of money for no increase in performance so I put a tank of regular unleaded in. Within a couple of miles I thought something was wrong with the car, it seemed very lacklustre in it's performance. It was like this until I put some more V-Power in about a week later. I think it is a case of you don't notice the difference when you put it in but you sure as hell notice the difference when you stop using it. Just try putting your gearbox into Sport mode for a week, you don't notice much difference at first but when you switch it back to normal you will think the gearbox has broken, it takes so long to kick down. Just my experience, I know a lot of people on here don't rate premium fuel. Redsteve.

:D That reminds me of the time I went to my local carpet store which was claiming to "Beat any Quote" I walked in and said "To be or not to be..." They couldn't beat it! :winky:

Hi Steve Thanks for all the trouble you took but unfortunately as pointed out to your wife the centere discs you were offering were not suitable for my LS400 MKIV but I appreciate you help Mike MJM444 No problem chap, I am just sorry they were the wrong type for you. Steve.

Hello, I have a brand new set of four centre caps that don't fit my 17" wheels. I am only at King's Lynn, so less than an hour away from you, if you want them you can have them for £10. Redsteve.

You could try cutting them off with a fine cutting tool like a Dremmel. Just slice the side of the valve cap and then lever them off with a small pry-bar (screwdriver). You would have to carefull not to get the valve stem too hot or it might damage it and cause it to fail at a later date. I have had the same trouble on work vans, people who don't check the pressures for a few months then pass the van on to someone else who then cops for all the grief. :tsktsk: Make sure you daughter uses plastic caps in future, who the hell notices the colour of them anyway? :winky: Redsteve.

Hello again, I don't really go through Long Sutton very often so I don't remember your car, sorry. I don't recognise the name Waymans Trans but I am not far from Pegasus Trans. I used to live in Kings Lynn and as I still work from there I tend to do my shopping there too (old habits die hard). My wife likes to go to Asda in Wisbech so she can "just have a look" at the clothes. The company I work for does quite a few deliveries in and around Wisbech but my route takes me along the coast via Hunstanton towards Blakeney. I will have to keep my eyes peeled for you next time I am out your way. My car is dark green and usually has a generous coating of various filth on it. Redsteve.

I know Tears. Did you work in the workshop or were you on the trucks? They have recovered a few of my (non Lexus driving) friends. :winky: Redsteve

Hi, I am not too far from Wisbech, I live just outside Sutton Bridge on the King's Lynn side of the river. Redsteve.

I slip mine into Neutral if I am stationary for more the a few seconds. If I am at a set of lights which I know take a long time to change then I will put it in Park, I usually have a bit of a giggle when the lights turn green, I look in the mirror and slot it into Reverse and watch the panic as the person behind thinks he is about to get a bill for driving into the back of my car. Purile, I know, but it keeps me entertained. Redsteve

Hello Steve, I drive a medium sized van. Sometimes it is necessary to swing out wide to increase your turning circle, if you just turned straight into the bend as a car driver would the back wheels of the van would hit the apex of the bend. Sometimes, even if there is enough room to turn into a driveway I will still swing out wide so the van mounts the pavement as straight as possible. If you mount even the flat part of the pavement at an angle it can cause the van to rock from side to side which doesn't feel nice for the driver and it puts the cargo at risk of moving around in the van. Redsteve.