Nick V

Hi Folks Thanks for the suggestions. Bit the bullet and had the AA take it to JEM in Colindale who I can thoroughly recommend. Had a timing belt, drive belt, water pump and tensioner changed plus decided to get the diff oil and all important but blisteringly expensive auto box fluid changed. One of the rollers was seizing causing the belt to heat up - caught in time. Have to say though that the overall condition of the old belt was very good given it is probably 10 years since last done. Cheers Nick

Thanks for the input. The engine still runs fine other than the smoke so will check that nothing else has seized first but to coin a phrase - it is like being a pelican, all I can see is a big bill. Ta Nick

Hi folks My K reg LS400 passed its MOT today after 40,000 miles this year. It has about 110K on the clock. After 600 miles on Friday I noticed that there was a definite squeak from the usually silent engine. Today whilst driving along I noticed a smell like burning rubber and pulled over. Then I noticed smoke from the bonnet. Gently I liffted the edge of the bonnet and there were no flames so panic over. A few minutes later I looked again and assumed it must be drive belt related. Having removed the shrouds above I then restarted the engine and no smoke from the drive belt but suddenly a load from the area of the plastic cover on the n/s cam cover. I cut the engine sharpish. The engine runs smoothly and temperature is fine. Might this be "simply" the cam belt breaking up or tensioner failure - slightly ahead of schedule but it has had a hard year and the last change was probably 8 years ago (it did little early life mileage being a Guernsey car). I have left it where it stopped (safe residential street) but before I get the AA out any thoughts? (I'd hate to miss anything obvious and simple). Finally any thoughts on where to get a full cam / water pump change in Herts. other than Lexus. Cheers Nick

Here goes (model dates are approx in some cases and it is skewed by the fact I worked with Ford for some years and had to have their cars, albeit quite fun ones. Not sure what age says other than I now rather like comfortable cars that don't break down and are reasonably fast!)): AGED 16 : 1970 Triumph Vitesse Convertible (still got it) 1982 Renault 18 TS 1992 Fiesta XR2i 1993 Fiesta Turbo 1993 Escort Cabriolet 130PS 1992 Sierra Saphire Cosworth 1995 Escort Cosworth 1976 Scimitar SE6 2001 Ford KA 1992 Land Rover Defender 90 1982 Scimitar GTC (LPG) 1995 Land Rover Defender 120 1965 Jensen CV 8 6.3 Mk2 1967 Lotus Elan +2 2000 BMW M5 1994 Range Rover Vogue (LPG) 2002 Honda Jazz (still got) 1996 Audi 80 Cabriolet 2.6 (still got) AGED 43 : 1993 Lexus LS400 (still got) Cheers Nick

Hi All Over the weekend I removed the boot seal and moulding and reassembled it with silicon . It was a quick(ish) job and has worked as the boot is now bone dry after the continuous rain over 2 days. This surprised me as visually there seemed little wrong with the seal or the fit. I suspect this is a stopgap however as some of the "springyness" of the seal must have gone over the years (the boot closes all too easily and may not have been pressing down the seal) so a new Lexus seal (or cheaper alternative thanks for the info) beckons in the middle future. What impresses me a lot about this car is that the ingress of water for some time (there literally was fungi growing in the wheel well) has caused zero corrosion anywhere. Thanks to everyone for their advice. Nick

Ah. Thanks Mark - I would have been sledgehammering to crack a nut. Will update when done. ta. Nick

Thanks to all for suggestions. It hasn't been undersealed (yet - ironically I have an interest in a business that does this) - so the drainage holes / tubes are not blocked. ManicMark may have the answer as it reminds me of the same issue on my Audi 80 Cabriolet which has rear light sealing issues (it has a large rear light area like the LS 400). The fact he has just sorted his own car re-affirms what I said about the forum - the knowledge here is worth a fortune on a car like an LS400. Thanks to all. Will update when I have looked at this over the weekend. Cheers Nick

Hi All Have now had the 1993 LS400 for a few weeks and love it. Have done hundreds of easy miles with no drama other than that I create myself. The great thing is that these cars all seems to have the same issues - LCD displays, dash lights, suspension bushes and this forum knows all the answers. That said, I have of course what may be a one off problem - every time it rains the boot carpet get wet, the spare wheel well takes in water and the l/h well below the tool kit fills up yet there is no sign whence it comes. The boot lid is dry, the rubbers seem fine and are dry yet the it happens every time it rains whether or not the car is driven. It is a channel island import so maybe it wasn't so used to rain? Any help much appreciated. Cheers Nick

Hi All Great site joined today. Have just bought (last night - in rain, in dark will I ever learn) an LS 400 so stick me down as interested in the LPG group if Pete can make it happen. Modern system, tank in spare wheel well. Cheers Nick I think a conversion at this price, although possible, would be very basic and come with reliability issues due to having to use cheap parts.... you do get what you pay for with LPG parts..... having said that the prices have dropped a bit lately so you never know.... Will not be a problem IS will be cheaper as you have less cylinders and the front end kits are priced on cylinders not cc's He never lets anything but first class work out the door...... Any single point system is prone to backfires, this is nothing to do with the LPG kit but to do with worn or defective standard ignition system, the ignition system has to be maintained in tip top condition..... The 300 engine when in the RX is known for valve seat recession.... but strangely not in the GS.... I thought the engines were the same.... maybe its because a lot of people use the RX for towing.... not a problem though, a flashlube kit (upper cylinder lubricant) can be fitted to ensure valves stay OK.... all other Lexus engines are fine on LPG The 400 has bank fireing standard injectors, not sequential, so no great benefit in fitting multi point, I have asked him to price for both... biggest tank will be boot mounted, so you would loose boot space.... spare wheel toroidal keeps boot space.... Totally agree Chris... do you want the Lexus doing or that snail thing you own!!!!! If anyone wants to see the standard that these kits will be fitted see my thread here http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/ind...showtopic=49175 The only difference between mine and a customers car is that we usually left it up to them to refit the carpet around the gas tank if they wanted to.... we usually just left them out, most people don't care about it, but I was fussey and wanted it to look right... It can be done at the time of fitting but it does take a while to make it look nice so it costs more.... Pete