ALAN MCK

Serviced the old girl 2 weeks ago. New filters, oil and spark plugs. While i was under the bonnet i noticed the coolant in the expansion tank was low. About 30mm below the low level mark so i topped it up.

The rear screen smashed 2 days later so it been laid up inside for 8 days.

While the new screen was being fitted today i put the battery on charge and noticed the coolant is down again. So i topped it up.

i started the engine with the car still in the garage. Lots of water vapours and lots of water blowing out of the exhausts.

As it warmed up the amount of water blowing out reduced but the vapours are still there. The gases also smell funny.

Could this be a blown head gasket? i thought these engines were bullet proof.

Any ideas???

There was also a whining noise when the engine was running. I put this down to the PAS pump though.

Engines are strong but a head gasket can easily go.

Do you have any water getting into your oil? It will be emulsified, white looking if it is.

Do you have gases bubbling into the rad when engine is running?

The two cables from each rear disc seem the most likely culprits, these go back to a pull rod

above th prop. shaft.

The rod and the cables all have adjusters

The parking b/pedal should return easily, not slow, linkages might just want some oil...

Thanks for that, I'll check it all out tomorrow.

Oh another thing, how do I locate the idle control valve?

Idle is 1100 on cold startup and settles to around 750 when warmed up, this seems normal (revs go up a wee bit when aircon is used)

I have found though when driving around 50mph at steady revs the cars stutters a bit, a quick press of the gas and it evens out, like it's running lumpy, best way I can describe it.

I intend to clean the throttle body and change the air filter soon.

Can I adjust the handbrake cable on my 92 LS400? I fitted new shoes to handbrake yesterday but couldn't get them to adjust properly.

I clicked adjuster round with handbrake off until hub stopped turning, clicked it back a wee bit until shoes were only just dragging and pulled on handbrake, no joy.

I think the cables are stretched or out of adjustment.

I ran out of light so I will have a look tomorrow at cables.

Any advice or info is very welcome.

Can I adjust the cables? I'll need to get back under tomorrow and have a good look.

well I got and fitted the handbrake shoes today, cleaned everything up and adjusted brake., no joy, I need new cables now, seems they have stretched because handbrake was on during storage.

The handbrake peddle is rather reluctant to come up, it rises very slowly if I hold out the release lever for a while. New cables?

Why would they fix the damage and not accept responsibility? Makes no sense.

yup, I found front and rear pads but not handbrake shoes, got quoted £50 today from local motor factors, is this about right?

Looked for Lexus Forum on Google.

Cheers, so is my car a MK1 then?

Thanks guys, already asking for help on the 400 forum, getting answers too! very helpful and friendly lot you are.

Thanks ROYT, new there would another fuse box somewhere!

thanks for the info on the dimmer Mybikesacx500, as I said a niggle, not a worry, the way you explained it makes sense.

Am I as well going to toyota for parts or is there somewhere else I should be looking, brake parts etc.

I'm a vehicle builder (buses) and all vehicles leaving out factory before VOSA inspection must have a sticker attached confirming that all wheels have been torqued properly.

I would be very surprised if there wasn't a similar system in place at the dealership to avoid things like this. If thety have a system and it's not been adhered to in this safety

critical area then someone is gonna get a bollocking.

I have introduced myself in the new members section but I came here for help with my LS400 (how good are these cars!!!!)

Well, I love the car, so smooth and well built, really chuffed, got her stupidly cheap too.

I'm getting her ready for an mot.

Problem 1.

I think the parking brake may be sticking a bit (car was dry stored for nearly 4 years) I can't hear or feel anything when moving the car, when parking brake is engaged

It really does nothing when I put it on (getting about 4 clicks on the foot pedal, is this normal?), car can easily be driven forward.

Can anyone help with info on how I can adjust/repair this problem.

It may need cables/shoes/pads, not a problem to fit for me, where can I buy what's needed.

The parking brake light stays on at the dash.

Problem 2.

The electric mirrors are being really stubborn, when I first got the car they didn't work at all, then after lots of try's they did work, both of them and adjusted properly

I unlocked the car with the key and the alarm went off and engine wouldn't turn over, but I noticed the driver mirror doing a wee dance and making lots of clicking noises.

I replaced the 3v Battery in key, unlocked car and everything worked except the mirrors. could it be a fuse, where can i find this fuse if it is?

Problem 3. The dash dimmer lights only work sometimes, I'll try to describe the problem.

Start car, normal dash lights (dimmer set about half before full illumination click on dash knob) put on sidelights the dash only sometimes dims, put headlights on the dash always dims but

only after a few seconds have passed. Today it wouldn't dim at all, switched off car, restarted car and dash lights dimmed.

Thank you in advance for helping this noob out, great forum. cheers Alan.

Hello everyone, what a great forum, I've been doing a bit of research on my latest car, an LS400 31/03/92 (does this make it a MK1?)

I bought it very cheaply as it was SORN and had been dry stored for nearly 4 years. I went to see it, gave it a general check over, dipped the oil etc and put a Battery in and she fired up first turn of the key!

The car wouldn't idle straight away but after a couple of minutes she was purring away nicely, loaded her onto a trailer and brought her home.

Car is in surprisingly good condition, it drives very smoothly and everything seems to work except a few niggles which I will ask about on the relevant sections of this forum.

I'm still pinching myself when I consider I only paid £350 for it! bargain!! :D