Ninety-Eight

I have a 1995 Mk3 LS400. The idle speed when warmed up is eratic. Sometimes correct and sometimes it is like 1200+ RPM. It can be anywhere in between as well. I am assuming it is one of the following: 1. Idle control valve faulty or sticking 2. TPS faulty or sticking 3. Some form of vacuum leak. Is there anything which is a "known issue" on this engine? Any hints or tips welcomed.

I have to change all 4 discs on my LS400 due to excess wear. I don't have a manual for the car, nor can I find one. Anything specific I need to watch out of when changing the discs and pads on these cars? Its a 1995 Mk3.

not tried this yet but its great info! My stereo is on its last legs and I want to retain the stock speakers, sub, amp, etc for now at least. As soon as I have everything fitted I will report back but life is getting in the way a bit at the moment

Great questions! I can tell you I had an LS400 Mk4 DHP and if any of them wouold have had an LSD that should have, but didn't. The Mk4 has a traction control system instead. I hadn't thought of raiding a Soarer for an LSD. Very interested to know if this will fit...

Also check the exhaust is not blowing at the manifold. I have had a couple of V8 cars where this has resulted in a sound which at first sounded like tappets.

thanks for that. I'll bear that in mind when shopping. :)

Does the loom adapter mean the stock amplifier still works? I'm not 100% sure I understand how the audio is configured in these. I believe mine has an active (ie amplified) subwoofer or something in the back shelf.

I'll see what we can do, I should know in a few days how far bent over I need to be paying for this trans LOL.

Chaps, I have the Mk3 as the stereo isn't happy. The CD Changer doesn't work, the tape cuts out intermittently and it doesn't illuminate meaning guesswork at night to operate any controls! So I understand the LS400 has a separate amp or maybe two. If I put in an after market head unit can I still drive this using some clever bit of wiring kit or do I need to bypass it in some way? I appreciate the easiest thing maybe to fix the stocker but it has a number of shortcomings which include not linking to an iPod except by "bodgy" means which have poor sound quality, picking up interference from my mobile phone, and not having blue tooth or an aux input for my satnav. So I have a nice Sony CD/MP3 with iPod i/f here I could fit, all I need is a fascia adaptor and suitable wiring... I've seen the dash panels on eBay (anyone know if they are OK or cheap looking when installed?) but no idea on wiring? Cheers

I might be getting some shortly, depends how much the trans rebuild on another car of mine sets me back. If the chap in the US is iffy about shipping to the UK I have people in the USA who have acted for me as a forwarding address for this sort of stuff before so I could may do a few sets if people are definite for them (ie pay me up front so I'm not left with lenses I don't need!)

Cheers for the replies. Job done. I did both headlights as I was upgrading since one bulb was out, and it appears the trick is not to remove the headlight completely to get into the back as its a funny fiddle of a job (two swearword minimum) to get it back in.

I'm not in possession of an owners manual and am thinking the only way to get to the bulbs is going to be to remove the headlight and side light assemblies respectively to get to the bulbs. The back of the light units seems utterly inaccessible from the engine bay side?

I presume the MK3 will also need a multipoint or can I get away with a Lambda type one? I *need* to be on LPG as I'm putting fearsome amounts of go-juice in mine right now.

I got a cheap portable one from eBuyer for £49.99 + P&P. brilliant. Its really good. And if you don't mind a small amount of software piracy you can make them run Tom Tom for free. I have stuck with the standard "Turbo Dog" software on mine. I can't get over how good it is for the money. EDIT: Here is the link: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/167473 its gone up to £54.99 since I bought mine.

What are you trying to say? You got better prices than I did. I did a "what if..." price check after being told that a set of 4 was a grand and got prices more like £230, £240 for the Pirelli and more than that for Bridgestone from the usual online places. Those seemed to the the only two options. Hense I bought a set of 16s for "sporting" days in the car. I've never been a fan of Pirelli tyres TBH.

I got my last set off eBay. They fit fine and were not expensive

useful thread! my radio lights are all out but everything else works fine. I have an FM modulator to fit so I have to pull the dash apart (not looking forward to that) so I can do both at the same time.

I'm tempted to go get mine done there for that price. Not the other stuff I can do myself easy enough but the cam belt change for sure. I'd expect to pay that at my local independant garage and not have the proper Lexus stamp for it either (not that my Mk3 still has FLSH but hey)

A set of mats?

Its sounding more like an exhaust related one. I have got the car running on super unleaded (Esso I think, it was a motorway services and I forget which now) now I'm pretty sure the only noise it is making is exhaust related ticking on a leak somewhere. Thanks for the input. I think it was pinking a little on load due to the fuel.

OK, "RTFM", I assumed it would be OK on normal unleaded. Next, it does make a non-factory noise when revved on no load (although I only revved it gently, I don't like to give any engine the gun with no load on it) but that sounded more like an exhaust leak than pinking. Perhaps I have two separate problems with similar effects. I will top up with "Super" The car is a 1995 model Mk3 Which I think is a UCF20-1 if I got my model designations right. Thanks for the suggestions thus far, I'll see where I get with them and report back.

nobody made the "that's why its called a well" gag? :) I have heard our cars can also weep water in through the tail light aperture. This can be fixed in the same way outlined for the boot seal.

The car is a 1995 Mk3. Not a VVTI model. I am using normal unleaded. I will check tonight (with the motor properly warmed up) that it is as you suspect, that it does not do it with no load, just under load. I think this will be the case although I have not explicitly tested for it. Only new addition to the car is me as its owner.

No idea but I'm seeing how you get on before I order one! Its a PITA to be trying to lock and more exactly UNlock the Lexus in the snow on the key as its dark andmost mornings my locks are frozen up so I can't get the key in!

^^^ this was also my first thought. The data proves which brand of cars are more likely to be correctly maintained. Interestingly the BBC has lead with "Ford most likely to fail MOT" and the Register has lead with "Renault cars tops MOT failure charts". Now what was that "lies, damn lies and statistics...." :)