robob

My 98 has just done exactly the same thing. used it Monday and all fine. turned it off and steering wheel didn’t retract and central locking wouldn’t work. used it couple of hours later and it started and drove as normal. now totally dead nothing except red security light flashing on dash. waiting for a new battery to be delivered and keeping fingers crossed.

Hi, i have an ls400 1998, just clicked over 150k. Has niggles as to be expected as nearly 20 years old but always runs great. This morning started up put in reverse and the car heavily jolted into gear and then check engine and check vsc lights came on. Accelerator pedal did not rev engine until the kickdown switch was depressed. Turned it on and off several times and still the same, disconnected battery for few minutes then tried again. Still the same. Tried yet again but this time revved it hard the second it started. Now runs fine!! Popped to a friends garage locally who knows nothing about these unfortunately but did manage to scan it and get code p0120 throttle position sensor. Anyone had similar problems? Exhaust does have a tint blow up front somewhere but i don't think that is relevant? Always has oil changed every 6000 or so, clean air filter. I haven't checked plugs as the service history showed it had new iridium plugs fitted about 5000 miles before if bought it and i have done about 15000 in it. That said i guess i ought to pull one out and take a look. I did have a similar thing occur twice in a couple of days about two years ago, check vsc came on and no accelerator but that cleared itself after a restart and has never happened again until now. Any input gratefully received. Thanks

Left my trusty old ls parked up in pevensey for a few days and this happened. Not happy.

Thanks for all the replies. Did worry me a little at the time, the thing i found most odd was why they didn't leave a phone number. As said above decent ones are getting very hard to find. I was lucky finding this a year ago as had almost given up. I guess it qualifies as being decentish. On 140k now and drives as would be expected for that mileage so i believe is genuine. Last owner had it 10 years and have all the history and loads of invoices etc. I had cambelt and water pump etc changed when i got it, rear springs replaced and a good service (less the iridium plugs) since then just a couple ofm oil changes and mots, passed both times without even an advisory but then my old one always did pass as well. Has some niggles of course, bodywork is good excluding the bumpers could do with a repaint and passenger side rear door has a weird crease in it. Also wheels need a refurb, to make matters worse they are the mk3 wheels off my old one as the wheels on this were dreadfully in need of refurb so i swapped them over. Thought was good idea at the time but regret it now as it doesn't look quite right and despite them having been refurbed a few years back they have deteriorated massively in the past year. Drives great, occasional slight steering vibration but then i need to get a pair of tyres on the front so that will resolve that hopefully. Could do with a four wheel alignment too i guess as follows the camber of the road more than my last one. Slight fast clicky noise when accelerate hard, sounds like a minor exhaust blow but whenever had the chance to get under it all seems fine. Maybe just the sound of the vvti engine? Seems to roar more than the mk3 i had before, is likewise quite noticeably better on fuel, tighter to drive and a lot more powerfull. That said the engine in the mk3 was quiter even with starship enetrprise mileage. I have driven these for about 10 years now and still my favorite model of car compared to everything else i have ever owned. Only old cars i have owned as well. I use it every day which i think is unusual for one of these now? Hence in some ways i am glad it isn't a mint unmarked example. Last weekend another inch long scratch appeared on corner of rear bumper while it was parked up at the holiday park we have a static on. I just think oh well the bumper needs painting anyway. Altough my wife and Daughter point out that's not quite what i said at the time

Really strange thing today. Left my 400 parked in the usual place while at work. Came out to find a note under the wipers written on a scruffy old envelope. Just said )will i sell it, leave a note i will be passing again in the morning. Thankyou) No phone number or anything. Anyone else had anything similar? Cheers

Have done about 1500 miles in this now, driving really well and averaging about 25mpg with a mixture of short local runs during the week and motorways at weekends. Have had both rear springs replaced which made a huge difference. Still need to pay attention to exhaust, under load makes the usual sound in the car although very slight, seems to be from drivers side downpipe but i didn't think that was a problem area on these? Will change some bushes and probably front lower ball joints soon as just a very slight vibration in steering wheel on very bumpy surfaces remains since wheels were re balanced. No noticeable wear in anything though. Will also get a four wheel alignment done after this. Had a strange thing the other day though. Was stuck in a traffic jam in the sun for ages and started getting creaking fom the front when pulling away and stopping. Also when bouncing front of car. Then as soon as drove along for a mile the noise went and hasn't come back since. Weird and any suggestions welcome. I was thinking likely roll bar bushes or something? Finally will get the bumpers, mirrors painrted and a dent in rear door repaired later in the year. When finished the car will owe me about 2.5k and be good for many years hopefully. So i think it was a worthwhile project. Hopefully will be as reliable as the last.

Titch, useful info, i will check the steering rack bushes etc. Hadn't thought to pay much attention to those. Transmisiion has had a partial fluid change when cambelt was done but is on the list to do a complete job and change or clean the filter. The only gearchange you can really feel is 1st to second when cold. Looking forward to a nice long drive this evening as we are away for the weekend. This is a much better car to drive than my old mark 3, although i shouldnt knock the old one. it lasted me 8 years almost as an everyday drive and only ever had servicing done. Sadly was rather "tired" both cosmetically and drivewise in the end. Despite all its faults in the end it always started and got me where i needed to go.

Brief update. Been using this almost daily since i last posted. Cambelt, tensioners and water pump have been changed. The old belt still had the writing clearly visible and had no cracks etc. Was very limp in comparison to the new one though. I think it was the original and never been changed before. Quite a long job though i must say. Fresh oil filter and fuly synthetic oil and throttle body cleaned. Car drives really well, slight steeing vibration but wheels being balanced today so hopefully that may cure that problem, if not will have to delve further. Ticking noise under load i think is manifold blowing butis barely noticeable, will get sorted though. Averaging about 26 to the gallon as well which is from a mix of motorway and local pottering around.

Different niggles best way to describe it. This car drives a lot better than the other. Feels a lot tighter and younger. Also a lot quiter and more powerful. The pull to the left went when I changed tyres. Brakes perfect with new discs and pads. Just need to do can belt and a service and then only some minor cosmetic issues. I am surprised how much better this one drives to be honest

Well, progress today. It had what looked like almost new discs and pads in the front but i changed them anyway. Put a decent set of tyres on. Drives like a new car, the difference is astonishing. Mot tomorrow so fingers crossed. Can anyone tell me how to adjust the clock on a mark 4?

Thanks for all the replies. Just collected it and had a fairly long drive back. Brakes are obviously warped, steering vibrates and they judder. Will take a proper look tomorrow. Of more concern braking from a high speed causes a loud thumping noise which you can feel in the steering, brake pedal and throughout the car. Any ideas? Is it possible it could simply be bad discs and pads or more likely a suspension? Car drives perfectly until braking except a slight pull to the left, which is also where the main banging noise seems to come from when braking. Thanks

I have had my current mark 3 for the past 7 to 8 years and used it daily, covered about 60k in it. I still can't believe how reliable it has been. Basically in all that time it has only needed servicing and tyres and brakes, amazing car. The only problem with it is the paintowk has suffered with bad laquer peeel over the past few years, cambelt change coming up and is due for a full going over, transmission fluid change etc. I have been looking for a replacement for about a year, whenever something turns up it is always either 200 plus miles away or i do not have the money easily to hand. I found a mark 4 advertised locally last week, went to take a look Saturday and have bought it. Basically a nice car, drove very well indeed, although showing more mileage than my own it did feel "tighter" also is in my favorite colour. 130k miles with the same owner for almost the last 10 years, service book all stamped up and most invoices as well. There are some drawbacks unfortunatly. The car drove very well but does have the follwoing faults. Pulls to the left, steering shudder when braking and if brake hard a banging sound. Tyres need replacing immediately, alloys are the worst i have seen and one is a mark 3 wheel with 3 of the originals left. As a thought could that cause a pull to that side? Mot runs out next week and has to have private plate transferred off before i can do anything else with it. Cambelt change overdue, tapping/clicking noise when accelerate hard from under bonnet but only does this when driving. The car appears to have been well looked after up untill a couple of years ago. The current owner has only done 700 miles in that time and changed the oil. Also sadly has a few minor scratches and scrapes but that is not a problem to resolve as a last item in the project and a minor dent in one door. Am i mad, perhaps i should have bought one without these problems? anyway will sorn it next week and tackle the pulling to the left and brake issue first and go from there. Also need a set of wheels if anyone has any suggestions i would be grateful. Will keep updated in this post with photos etc as work progresses. Assuming i don't find a terminal problem all will be done over a few months. Likewise any input as to what could cause the pullimh and brak banging would be appreciated. Cambelt is a concern too, i don't want to drive it and risk it braking while i sort other jobs but likewise dont want to spend the money doing it and find too much other expense to get it up to scratch. As i say will update with progress and photos as i go. Cheers, bob

Thanks i will bear that in mind if i can't find a suitable replacement.

Thanks, i did enquire about that one. As you say it needs a cambelt though.