mike213735

Yes, your LS400 for the next 10 days :) Manc, I took your comments on board. I have a '98 MKIV with 213k on the clock and it drives like a car with 20k on the clock. It's due for an MOT on Monday and I'm thinking, even if it fails on £600 worth of work, where can I get a car that drives like this, with a years MOT for £600? Thanks and good luck Alan, the 10 days will fly by, hopefully :)

Thanks for the info... Yes, I did pull out the sensor and look at the end and it was OK. I even unplugged the sensor and shorted the the plug on the car together, still to no avail. It's really beginning to get on my nerves now.... Still, it's got an MOT on Monday, so if it passes, I'll go all out to sort this problem, if not, I'll probably strip it, depenant upon what it fails on :) Thanks Mike

Yeah, let me know, and I'll get some extra tea bags in :) I think you'll need to buy a new disc. To add to the woes, I'm sure that around 2001-2002 they changed it to a DVD disc which means your 2000 model will have the CD. I am not sure if you will be able to update it to beyond the change over to DVD. Mike

Alan, Well done mate and welcome to the joy that is owning an LS. I think the cambelt is due at 80k, but I am sure someone will be along that knows the real figure. The person I bought my car from bought a cambelt kit from Camberley Motor Factors for £127.63 in January 2009. However, he did not replace the water pump, which I believe is recomended too. He specialises in Vauxhall Omega's but the said the Lexus cambelt was much more difficult than the Omega...Again, I'm sure someone will be able to confirm this, or not. Anyway mate, good luck with the car..Come over and collect it ealrier and schedule in a trip to Reading and pop in and see us whilst you're here :) I look forward to the pics. Thanks Mike

Alan, Sorry to hear that mate, I was looking forward to seeing somw pics of the new car :( The leaky boot seems a common fault on the LS, I have one too. With the Vauxhall Omega, you could change the steering wheel as long as you disconnected the battery first to eliminate any possible Air Bag errors. What about this? http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201031364812657/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-to/3000/price-from/1000/model/ls/make/lexus/radius/1500/page/1/keywords/gold/postcode/rg28az?logcode=p Although it's not a 4.3l, just a 4.0l. I wouldn't worry about the mileage either. I have a '99 LS400 with 213,000 miles on the clock and a friend of mine took it out yesterday and said it drives like a car with 30k on it. If you ever pop over here, give me a shout, and I'll show you mine. Keep us informed of any progress on the hunt. Mike

I'm away (in Wales) from Christmas Eve until the day after New Years Day, so can we make it sooner rather than later? Thanks Mike

Hi, and welcome! Hopefully you'll be s impressed with your LS as I am mine. Mike

Alan, I've got a '99 LS 400 MKIV and that doesn't. Wasn't the LS430 the first one with? Mike

Thanks for that. It's just a bar that joins one of the rear suspension arms to a sensor that senses how low the car is sitting at the back and adjusts the beam accordingly. Mike

Hi all, I am not looking forward to this at all. I don't normally keep cars long enough to have to worry about MOT's but the LS has me hooked. My car is going in for it's MOT on 04th October and I'm already starting to panic. It's only done about 7,000 miles since the last one (before I owned it) and the only advisory was one of the headlamp sensors at the back was broken (still not repaired). Anyway, wish me luck!!! Mike

Isn't that giving someone "the bird"? LOL!

Yes, I would be up for this. Whilst I can't remember the "good old days" myself, my dad often tells me stories about the RAC saluting members. Let's use the power of the internet.....So is it a wave, or a flash? Thanks Mike

Alan, I'm not sure about the interval, but I am sure someone will answer soon.... So, did you collect it at the weekend then and is it all you thought it was? Mike

Wood was there when I bought it, however, yours (soon to be) has the wooden gear knob and steering wheel that mine doesn't. I also have wood on the door where the seatbelt height adjuster is. Not sure of the spec, but mine does have auto hedlights, but not rain sensitive wipers. Thanks Mike

Nice.... Snap! Mike

Alan, I'm going to add my little bit too. I ALWAYS change cars about every 2-3 months. I bought a 1998 MKIV with 211,000 miles in March this year. I still have the car, and despite looking on the Autotrader website, can't think of anything that will beat it. I have had about 4 7 series BMW's and, despite having twice the mileage, the LS blows them away. The car drives like it has 30k on the clock. On a recent trip from Reading to Gatwick and back, I averaged 35.2mpg (according to the OBC, which was reset before leaving). My dad owned a '93 LS a few years ago and he told me, "once you've driven one, you'll never want to drive anything else". I thought, come on dad, I drive a 7 series, it's equally as good.....how wrong I was. In summary, the LS is a brilliant car....and that's my unbiased opinion :) Thanks Mike

OK, Put some dates up when you're around and we'll get this thing moving, shall we? Mike

Anyone?

Hi, I am now the proud owner of a 1998 MKIV LS400 (after being a Vauxhall Omega driver)and wondered if there were any other Lexus owners in / around Reading that would fancy a meet up? We had some pretty successful meets on the Omega Forum, including a day trip to Southsea that was brilliant (in my opinion) so I thought I'd give it a go here :) Would be nice to meet some like minded peeps. I have had my LS for nearly five months now and I must say, it knocks spots of any of the 7 Series' I owned.... Thanks Mike

I know its been a while, but I have, at last got round to checking the pad situation. Well, the front pads are fine and the sensor intact. The rear pads are fine and the sensor is missing. I plugged in my new sensor and still the "Brake Wear" remains on the dash? I could see no breaks or damage on the wiring, and bear in mind that the ABS sensor shares the same plug, so a break in the wire could well show a fault here too. The car is a 1998 MKIV. Has anyone got any ideas? Thanks Mike

Cheers, thanks for the replies. A job for the weekend then me thinks :) Mike

Hi, Sorry about the typos in the title :( I have read so many conflicting conclusions on this, that I thought I'd best just ask the question directly. Is it possible to replace the UCA of a 1998 MKIV LS400 WITHOUT removing the suspension strut? I did read one point of view that said it you loosen the the nuts at the top (under the bonnet) there is enough movement to get the bolts that secure the UCA out, but this was on a MKI. Has anyone replaced them without removing the strut, or does anyone know that it is possible? Thanks Mike

My '98 LS400 did this too. Eventually, after no end of warning lights appearing, the engine stalled and that was it. I placed my meter on the battery and it read 8.7v, I jump started the car and it read even less. I considered this to be a knackered alternator, changed it amd all has been fine since. IMO, your alternator is shot and needs replacing. Thanks Mike

My MK IV is also showing "Brake Wear". The previous keeper had a new set of rear pads fitted, but the did not have the locator for the sensor. There was no sensor present either. I have purchased a new sensor (£55) for the back but when merely plugged into the plug, the warning remains on screen. I will fit the new rear pads (with the wear indicator locator) soon, but I am now thinking it's the front pads. Do these have the same sensor and if so, can I just short the wires on it together to get rid of the warning? Thanks Mike

Yes, welcome. I too am a first time Lexus owner and was shocked by the smoothness of it all. I'm local to you too :) Mike