pops

"If it wasn't for bad luck. I wouldn't have no luck at all! " I needed a reliable, comfortable car to go touring in. After reading all the reviews, I decided on an LS400 (naturally). I found one - a '94 model - full Lexus service history - private seller - nice guy - car looked 'au naturel' - no 'dealer glossed' tyres etc. But I'm no mechanic so I employed a car inspection expert recommended by a well known motoring journalist, (both of whom shall remain nameless - at least for the present) to examine the vehicle. It got a clean bill of health and I bought it. Now 6,000 miles down the road, I'm facing repair bills of approximately £3,000. (brakes, cat, suspension, etc.) Dur! - what do I do now, folks? Seems to me I need a cheap repair shop and a lawyer!

my Lexus has this loose heat shield problem - corrosion around rear bolts means they flap loosely causing a rattle. I've been meaning to have this fixed. Is just removing the shields a good idea>

I have the same squeak happening on my 94 LS 400. Feels like a rear suspension glitch. The suspension generally feels a bit too spongy. If you do get it investigated, could you post the results?

Thanks to everybody for this information. I'll get the shims checked out and copper greased and report back.

I've got squeaky brakes - diagnoses and cures please you experts.

I'm told that on the US site there is a report of a million - yes, I said one million - mile Lexus - a Soarer not an LS400 but same motor. Considering that the Soarer is only about ten years old, the owner must have literally lived in his car and had it mobile most of the time!!

Thanks. Just a few chips on front edge of hood. I tried a wax "crayon" thing but it looked fine from one direction - lousy from the other. I'll do as you say. Any thoughts on shot-blasting/re-laquering wheels?

Good, then it's official - the aircon. Thanks moddy - and to everbody else who contributed. As I say, I had it happen on my Merc, so it must be a common phenomenon. I wouldn't have mentioned it, except for the fact that the Lexi engine is so smooth otherwise. It is one of just a couple of niggles I have with the car - the other being that I don't seem to be able to get a touch-up kit that matches my colour - champagne. anybody know where I can get this other than going to Lexus?

Thanks for the info. The speed up in revs seems to be of short duration - maybe a couple of seconds at most - thats why I called it a blip - but I imagine it must be the aircon compensation thing you mention. I found myself pressing the brake a tiny bit harder a couple of times to prevent creep. I don't see this as a major problem and I'm relieved it doesn't mean some megabuck problem with my particular engine.

I've just bought a '94 LS400 with 153,000 miles on the clock and can only echo other contributors' praise on performance, ride, etc. Only little niggle so-far is occasional slight "blip" or "power pulse" when stationary at lights. Anyone think this is worth worrying about? (I had something similar on a Merc E320 with faulty ignition coils but changed the car before I could find out exactly what was happening). Anything more than basic mechanics goes over my head - so gently with the high tech stuff please. Nice to be here by the way.