designit

From underneath the car, on a lift preferably, but good enough stands should do....but you are lying down and cannot generate the force needed to crack some bolts.... on that subject, when i had my gaskets around there changed, the bloke had to heat up the bolts and they had a nightmare getting them out....i left them to it after becoming uneasy at the site of a flame gun under my car A 99 model should be a bit better but will have similar issues with old rusted bolts Thanks Manc If you dont mind my asking, what gaskets did you have changed and what was the approximate cost?

Thanks for that I may try to have a go at this next week. Any advice on how to access the manifolds with the engine in place? It looks very tight to the body. Where can you access the bolts from? Also for interests sake, where can I get high flow headers?

Thanks It seems to be coming from higher up than that but I will check. It doesn't get any better when it warms up. Possibly even worse

The LS400 is a wise choice. My mk4 gives around 30-35mpg on a motorway run according to the display. Expect a minimum of 400 miles per tank on the motorway between 65-70mph. It really is rather good. A full tank costs around £80 so I guess 70litres or so hope this helps

Hello All I seem to be having a slightly blowing exhaust and am having some difficulty tracing it. The car is a 1999 LS400. I initially suspected the EGR valve but having researched this is would seem that the VVT engine doesn't have one of these???? It seems to be coming from around the manifold area and I was just wondering if this is at all common? I've had a garage have a quick look but they weren't sure. Only a small pin hole just after the cats but that didn't seem to be it. Also, is there any way to access the manifolds without MAJOR work...Maybe even including removing the engine? Thanks in advance

If he doesn't I will. Thanks

Oh I see. Thanks for that I think I'll be replacing all of them so hopefully it'll notice even less if there is a difference in brightness.

Superb. Thanks for this. I'll have a go at this during the week or next weekend. If you could just clear one thing up for me though...... The bulbd from Maplins in your link are white and they dont seem to have green ones available. Does this change the colour of the backlight? Many thanks again

Excellent. Waiting with great anticipation for the result

That's what I guessed. Thanks for the info though but yes, space is probably a real problem. Wondering if I do this whether to go for Blue bulbs instead (throughout) as I'd probably make a day of it and change them all Thanks for all this info. You've been incredibly helpful with a problem that I didn't know how to start going about.

Actually I guess this is because LED's are 5V and need a resistor to use a 12V supply.

Any reason why a standard 3mm LED shouldn't work? Thanks again. Excellent Help

Fantastic help so far..... Question is, do I want to do this.... Hmmmmm. I'm OK with a soldering iron and I guess it looks do-able. Is it just 2 led's per display? I have the right hand temp, and centre display out. How many is this going to be? From what you're saying I'm guessing that none of the backlights on the unit are easily replaceable? Thanks very much for this. I've been looking for help with this for a while

When I replaced my battery I had the car unlocked andd the doors open. I dont remember the alarm going off, although it did when I reconnected the battery. Just have the key ready when you plug it back in. Press the unlock button when it starts going off. I've opened a post about these temperature displays. I'm not so sure they are LED's but please let me know how you get on as I would love to get mine sorted.

I guess I'm not the typical LS owner either, but I already knew that. I'm 23 with no hair problems.

Hello All Well I'm almost there with the small niggling faults on my 1999 LS400. However there is one that I seem to be struggling with. On the centre console, as part of the navigation system are 3 small LED displays for temperature on the drivers side (right), passenger side (left) and a clock and outside temperature in the middle. The displays work absolutely fine and are easily readable during the day. But the backlight on the clock and driver side temperature are out. So at night this cant be read. I've had a look around and seems it's not that uncommon but I cant seem to find a solution. There's loads of info on the display of the earlier LS's. Please dont get this fault mixed up with that one. Before I take it out could someone advise me whether or not this is fixable? I seem to have picked up from elsewear that they are not just bulbs behind the displays. Can anyone confir either way? It is irritating in an otherwise excellent car. Thanks in advance.

I thought this might be a possibility. It says that most will not for up to 12mm but we'll see. Not too bad a job if they do need doing though I hope.

Sorry I cant help but just thought I'd register my interest with this too. Mainly just because I think the screen looks much better when in night mode. The clock is set through the menu option on the navigation screen though, so that's half your query Matt

Thanks Mat Your car looks great, I've been considering the Chrome Grill kit and I have a black car. Looks great on yours but I think I'll get rid of my gold badges for Chrome ones Thanks very much for the info. I considered the RX8 wheels, but went for the lexus ones instead. I've found some 12mm universal slip on spacers which should give enogh clearence for £8 so I'll geive them a try, if not I think I'll follow your advice and change them. Regarding the tyres, I have a near new set of Kumho's in the original size (225/60/16 I think????) and was going to swap them over. I have confirmed that 225's will fit on a 6.5J rim without problems. Not as straight forward as I'd hoped, but mabe I'll get there. Thanks Matt

Hi all I have just bought some wheels (sold as off an IS200) for my LS400. Size is 6.5J, 16", 50 offset However, they do not fit as they dont clear the break caliper which is apparently common however I thought a 50 offset was OK. These are what I've bought. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWNX:IT Can anyone confirm what car these are from please? as I was told IS200 wheels would fit the LS400. They need around 15mm of extra clearance. Can anybody advise somewhere cheap to buy spacers? Thanks all

Took it in today. Fault code b1141 indicating side airbag sensor malfunction light has gone off after reset. Does that mean that it's solved? Thanks again for all the help.

This one ought to do it. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LEXUS-LS430...sQ5fAccessories

Ahhhh that's the one:) I remember someone talking about a combination of lights on/off....... Thanks again Matt

Hi all I have a 1999 LS400 and I've heard a few references to 'Unlocking' the navigation unit on it. I've had a look on google and here but cant find what this actually is, how it's done or what it does. Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks in advance Matt

Thanks again. Yeah I dont think I'm gonna be masking over the fault with tape or removing the bulb. Getting it looked at today so I'll let you know how I get on