lexusdriver

Hi, I think the problem is with your batery. Have it tested and I think you'll find it has one or more cells failing. I went through similar experience with my LS 400. Hope this helps. hi can any one help my ls400 (1994) will not start. when i turn the allarm off open the door put key in egntion turn it too start nothing happens, not even a click click from the starter motor. then after about 10 secounds i can hear a realy clicking on the passanger side, this carrysone for about a minute after ive loocked the doors. is the imobliser loocked on somehow if so how do i unloock it. had the battery off a few times about a month ago when the alarm kept going off. replaced sencer under bonnet. no probs since untill now! at first thought battry flat so recharged it but still same problem. replaced battery in fob about 6 months ago. tryed in neutral. checked all the fuses under the bonnet and under the stering wheel. tryed looking on this forum for instructions to turn off the immobiliser but could only find instructions for the MKIII

Hi, I'ver recently has my LS400 Mk1V converted to lpg and did not have flashlube included - I was assured that it was un-necessary. I've checked several other information sources that confirm this.

Hello, I have an LS400 Mk 1V - the only towbar that I could find suitable was from Watling Engineering of St. Albans. It was expensive (£391 fitted) but included electrics etc and was done very well.

Hi Mike, I posted re snow mode query a while back and I thought that nobody had taken any notice. Assuming that your experiment was in answer to me; thank you. Do you think that using snow mode, all or most of the time, could do any damage to anything? I assume the engine switches to a higher gear sooner than normal cutting performance but saving fuel. Also, there's been alot of talk about changing transmission fluid of late. My '98 LS400 Mk 1V has nearly 99K on clock - I'ver noticed lately that acceleration from stationary, when first starting up, a bit strange - similar to the clutch slipping if it were a manual geared car. It then seems o bite and from then on is OK. Could this be a sign of fresh fluid being needed, or someghing more serious? The car hasn't had it's timing cam belt changed yet - should I get tat done soon? Thanks to anyone who might read and/or reply. I do enjoy reading all the postings and assume we're all learning something from someone - thanks to you all.

Hello to you all, During the past few weeks I had occasion to use the snow mode (surprise, surprise). Allthough I haven't made an accurate check, it appears that I use l;ess fuel in this mode - when switching mover the read out on the fuel consumption improves ie greater mpg. I have a LS400 1998 auto'. I assume that the engine goes to a higher gear sooner than it would normally. Has anyone else experienced this and do you think if I used the 'snow mode' all the time it would be ok - do any damage? I'd apprerciate any of your views/opinions on this. Thanks.

Hi, Merry xmas....The battery charger is probably not powerful enough. Try charging the battery , and I think you will find its OK. I have had the same prob, and when I charged the battery it started OK....Cheers Roy. Should'nt need anything else. everthing should be OK. Hope you've had a good Christmas - probably too late to help you but I had identical problem before Christmas. It was the battery - one cell was dead. It could just be entirely flat, of course, just needing a long charge period. Once yuo get it going get the calls checked out just in case it's that. All the best to you and all Lexus owners/drivers for the new year.

Hi to all; I've had a 1998 'R' plate LS400 for 2-3 months an love it but know virtualy nothing about technicalities (is that the right word!?). I must admit I'm confused by the exchange of tyre information - my car has Pirelli Asimmetrico 245 50 ZR17 99Y all round. This size tyre hasn't ben mentioned. Have I got the wrong tyres on? They're certainly very big tyres - when I need to replace can I put something smaller on and hopefully costing less? Any and all advice much appreciated. Also, my car cost about £4,400, from memory - I'd like to keep it (99K miles now) and am thinking about lpg conversion costing about £2K. I thought, given the potential logevity of the the car it'd be worth doing and I'd get my money back after about 2 years @ 8K mile/year. However, a friend suggsted that converssion would spoil the car and my figures on pay-back weren't that solid. What do you think? I really enjoy reading the club comments ,advice and exchange of information - thankyou to all of you.

Hello - I too have had similar problems. Started with key not working remote locking and after using key manualy the alarm went off. Soon after, the steering wheel stopped returning to position, wing mirrors stopped woorking. Checked the key battery - it wasn't that. I'd already had a new battery on the car 2 weeks previously, so assumed it wasn't that!!!!? .... but it was the new battery. One cell had died, leaving only about 73% of the battery working. Got new battery on warranty and all seems to be fine now. Good luck!!?

Mark, Where did you get your lpg conversion done - BRC or what, & do you mind saying how much it cost, please?

Hello there, I too am new to a 1998 'R' plate Mk 1V LS400 with 97K on clock. I was told the same by the Cambridge Lexus dealer ie that in the next service, which is imminent, the timing belt would need changing or ought to be changed. This is one of the largst services apparently, costing £870. I think that it's not a thing to be ignored as the possibilites of damage are high if the belt fails. I want to find a 'high strret' sole-trader mechanic to work on my car, not the Lexus Dealer, so if yuo hear of one, please let m know.

Just reading about the guy in Milton Keynes finding a local garage, which has rasonable charges, to work on his Lexuxs. Does anyone know of a garage in the Cambridge area who is competent to work on LS400 Mk 1V and has reasonble charges? Lexus main dealer charge well over £100/hour. I may need to sell my Mk 1V if I cannot find a cheaper repairer. Thanks, in anticipation and thanks also to all who contribute to this club. It's excellent!

Have '98 'R' plate LS400 - when I reverse with full lock, right hand full down, there 's an awful noise from under the n/s front wing. I obviously am avoiding doing this!!? Anybody have any ideas as to what it might be, please?

Hi Mark, I see you've a 98, Mk 4 - is that the facefift model with Xeon/crystal lights, sat. nav etc? (I'm a bit confused with which mark is which ?) I've also bought one like that with 96K on. Just considering whether to go ahead with LPG conversion. Best quote I've had for a multi-point is £1500 + vat from LPG Car Co., Covntry, £1595 + vat from local small garage in Meldreth near Royston, Herts. plus one £1700+vat P'boro, £1995 +vat from GasTech & £1850 +vat Herts Autogas, Knebworth. An advice - go for cheapest of what appears to be reputable business- ie not a small local garage. What do yuo think? Aslo. ith your '98 car, car mpg do yuo get with lpg? Ta, Lexusdriver. Hi 39buss If your looking for an ls400 already converted to gas you may have a long wait. You will probably find that its better to buy a good example & get it converted yourself. You can pick up a really mint mark1 or 2 for under a grand a mark3 for around £1500 & a mark 4 for around £2500/£3k. If you are looking at one already converted You will find the mk1&2s have starship enterprise mileage going for up to £1500, A good lowish mileage mk3 in excess of £3k, & a mark4 in excess of £4k. I looked for 18 months to find my Mark4, I looked at about 40 cars & must have phoned over a 100 only 3 were converted a mark 4 for £3500 with 278,000 miles which had been re sprayed by Ray Charles ( one of the worst cars Ive ever seen) a 96 mark 3 import celsior very nice condition low mileage on ebay it sold for £3400, ( it was well over due a cambelt change & had a single point conversion which wasn't set up correctly) & a white 95 mark3 which had 105k on the clock ? no mot/tax looked like it hadn't turned a wheel for 6 months or been cleaned inside or out for 5 years, tryes were all odd / cheap & worn unevenly suspension was shot on the rear, really abused & from the hole in the drivers seat bolster 300K + For £2200. In the end I bought a 2 owner full lexus history 98 mark 4 ex MDs car black with grey leather 132k just had its 2nd cambelt change with water pump & idlers + full service for £2350 including 6 months tax spent £1750 on a brc multipoint lpg system with 2 years warranty. The car stands me in £4k but I see it being worth about £4300 ( I wouldn't sell it for £5k). Just my pennys worth, its just how it worked out best for me. Good luck with the hunt, but my advice would be dont rule out a goodun without a conversion, or if money is tight a starship mileage mk1/2 on lpg is probably the best value. ta Mark