Ed Graefe

Hi

Does anyone know a good source for a tow bar for my Ls400 please?

Regards

Ed

Beautiful car ! I think the wheels are a tasteful upgrade. Leather can be repainted by specialists which would negate having to source and fit a replacement.

Thanks guys.

I'll investigate the boot light.

I had already started to turn off the remote locking but thank you for suggesting it.

Regarding the solar charger, that's an idea but ideally I'd like to rectify the fault. I know a good auto electrician but he's not cheap.

Many thanks for the suggestetions.

Ed

Hi

My Battery goes flat if the my '93 LS400 isn't used for a week. It was fine in France over the summer after I fitted a new Varta Battery but now it wont hold charge during the week so I can only conclude something is draining the Battery. Are there any common areas that should be investigated regarding this matter?

Ed

ps. I've always been a Mercedes man but this week I decided one of my two car had to go.

The Lex is still here ! :winky:

where is this garage plse? i may have an A/C leak. ALWAYS happens in ahot spell sods law

Hi

If you click on the link, there's the address and a map.

Regards

Ed

http://www.yell.com/b/Sam+Auto+Electric-Car+Electrics-london-E126SL-1680880/

Apologies for getting anyone's hopes up if you're not local.

Both leaks were just old O-rings.

I think it just goes to show that you can keep these cars on the road on small car money(ok, lets forget petrol costs).....most of the time.

Colin, you were right !

Today I took my car to a small independent garage to get the air-con regassed.

They found a large leak. They fixed it. They found another leak(using just soapy water in a spray gun), they fixed that(right next to the exhaust manifold). They charged the system with new gas and Hey Presto, the Lexus is once again a beautiful place to be on a day like today.

The cost...............£40 all in. I gave them more.

As per the title - can it bedone? I see that numerous 430 steering wheels have worn leather on the wheel which to me looks unsightly. So can it be repaired? Or is it a new steering wheel thats in order? And how much would that be??

"If it's made by man, it can be repaired by man."

I always chant this mantra when I think I've treminally knackered something :D .

There are kits you can buy from the Furniture Clinic( and other companies) or if you don't trust your own skills there are professional companies out there that will do it. Even if it means putting new leather on it.

That's extremely kind of you to offer Steve but don't go breaking something you could use yourself.

I do have an old cluster which has working needles so I may give them both to Chris Vince.

Many thanks

Ed

Many thanks Malc and Steve,

It's just the second half of the speedo needle that's not working.

I know it's not a major problem but I really want my LS to be without fault.

I'll give Chris Vince a call. Thank you.

Hi

I'm looking for a replacement instrument cluster to use while I'm getting mine fixed.

The problem is I don't know which years are compatable with mine.

I've a late '93 where the mileage is integral and digital, not seperate like the earlier ones but I don't know how long this version of dash ran for.

For example this one looks the same but difficult to say without seeing it illuminated.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LEXUS-LS400-1997-SPEEDO-INSTRUMENT-CLUSTER-/221074161026?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item33790bfd82

Any info is greatfully received.

Ed

you will get a code 21 if you perform the diagnostics outside of bright sunlight as it takes a reading from the sensor at the time rather than being a stored code.

23 is low pressure - either a fault with the pressure sensor, or more commonly actual low pressure through a loss of refrigerant

Colin, I much prefer your answer(as it's potentially the cheapest & easiest :D ). It was quite overcast when I checked it yesterday and I don't think it's been gassed for a while.

On a serious note, thank you to all who responded, all advice is greatfully received.

Ed

I just followed the fault code diagnosis above and it came out with 21 & 23.

Any ideas how I might go about rectifying these(fault 23 wasn't even in the list).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Ed

Hi Steve

That's exactly what mine did a couple of months ago. I gave it to a rcommended dash guy who struggled with it(although it was a dash only problem). I fitted a 2nd hand replacement dash in the end.

Ed

Quality report Will

Really enjoyed reading it. Nothing beats a good road trip. Everytime my wife mentions the South of France I take that as my cue to buy another Lexus. Like you need an excuse. My LS400 took me to my first marathon the other day.....in Brighton. Your trip sounded more fun.

Cheers

Ed

Hi Alan

Can you let us know how you get on? I've thought of using that company in the past.

Regards

Ed

Thanks for your help, I have decided to send it away for repairs to a company in Gillingham who seem to be very helpful and guarantee it for life for £150. Not cheap but at least it will get it sorted (hopefully)

Hi

It's time for it's first oil change(under my ownership) and I'd like to give it the best for it's engine so which oil do you recommend please?

Many thanks

Ed

"and if I can work out how to get mine out!"

If you do a search on the net(especially the american lexus sites) there are some excellent "How to" guides.

Ed

Hi

I sourced a 2nd hand dash from a breaker on eBay for £50(checking all was well with the dash first) and found a small independant to fit it(although there are some 'how to' web sites that show it's not difficult).

If you want to keep your original mileage this can be done by swapping the chip over.

Hope this helps

Ed

Hi and welcome

My discs were wobbling like mad at high speed. I bought a cheap set of pads+discs off eBay, had my local mechanic change them and they were perfect afterwards.

Don't get me wrong, buying original parts is probably better for the car but you can throw a lot of money at these cars on relatively minor things and you will never see anything like the return. It takes them from being a sensible, usable car to a money pit.

The last time my car was sold(before I bought it) it was sold for scrap as the owners were quoted rediculous prices to fix a few problems I've rectified with help from this forum and a few parts from eBay, and all for less than a minor service on a ford fiesta.

Hope this helps

Ed

Hi Gents

I had a look and the drainage whole at the front near side exit(where it leaked) and it was completely blocked at the top. The previous owner who sold the car for scrap was told it was an unsolvable condensation issue.

Many thanks once again

Ed

Fantastic advice and information guys. That really is a great help. I had no idea about the sump and assumed the sunroof was supposed to be water tight.

I'll have a go at clearing those channels/pipes.

Many thanks once again.

You've inspired me to take out Gold Membership(any excuse)

Ed

Hi

This weather is higlighting the fact that my car leaks if parked on a slight down-hill slope.

I have traced it to the sunroof seal. The sunroof opens and closes correctly but the rubber seal at the two rear corners does not reach the metal work. I can even see through the gap. I've tried leaving the sunroof to rest in a different position but the gaps still there(only about 1mm).

Has anyone else experienced this?

Would a new seal sort it out?

What are the seals like to replace?

Any help would be greatfully received.

Thanks

Ed

Hi

I'm thinking the best way to rectify my non-working Speedo and Rev counter is to change the whole instrument cluster, so I've bought a second hand one.

The thing is, my mileage is quite low, and I'm guessing the replacement clock will be out of a higher mileage car so,

Do the instrument clusters store the mileage from the original car?

and

Is there a way or adjusting this if this is the case?

It's a '93 car.

Many thanks

Ed

Well both the Speedo and Rev Counter have stopped again as of this morning.

Does this sound like just a connection or could it be more serious?

Where do these instruments pick up the signal(is it a common location or are they each different)?

Could it be at the rear of the intrument?

Any advice is greatfully received.

Cheers

Ed