Titch LS

Andy, a lot of owners on the U.S. forums say they've seen a marked improvement to mpg figures, plus, better overall engine performance by replacing the Coolant Temp Sensor. If my mpg drops way down it's what I'm going to replace. Cheap and easy fix in my book.

Andy, It's most likely to be a failing Coolant Temperature Sensor. Once it fails, so down go your mpg figures. The reason is that the engine thinks that it has not warmed up and so the ECU sets a permanently richer mixture, hence the 'drinking problem'. The sensors are quite cheap and fairly easy to replace I believe.

I always use the key with the solid fob to start my car. That avoids the usual black 3 button fob key from disintegrating like Anthony's did. You must have the 2 keys on the same keyring though so that the transponder can operate.

Chas, welcome to the forum. I can echo Piers' recommendation for Japex. They are an excellent garage to deal with. Having said that, replacing a radiator on your car is a pretty straight forward job, not hard at all. Depends if you like tinkering and saving some pennies at the same time.

Phil, your main concern should be oil pressure. If the oil pressure gets low it will show up on the dash BIG TIME ie Warning Message/flashing light and audible warning tone. Before that happens it will show up with a LOW ENGINE OIL sign first. You get plenty of warning. Also, is the red warning light you have showing a brake malfunction sign? If so, I woudn't drive it if I were you.

John, disconnecting the battery can cause the VSC light to come on. Once you drive a few miles it will go out. Don't forget, if your car is a 2000 Mk4 LS you need to leave the ignition key switched in the 'on' position (one notch before 'start') for 6 minutes or the car won't start. DON'T press the accelerator either. Hope this helps.

I've seen 6.7 seconds quoted for the Mk4 before now. It's less than 7 anyway, and that's quick for an old 'waftmobile'.

Mark, I've never driven a 430 so I can't compare my Mk4 to one but I'd settle for Bose suspension any time. I've seen that clip before and every time I see it I'm impressed by it. But, as usual, like lots of great ideas, it turned out to be prohibitively expensive to fit commercially to production cars. Real shame.

Has the 'Shift lock over-ride' button (next to gear shift) been pressed at some time and now stuck down? If so try and free it up. Also, as Phil suggests, wiggling the gear shift might allow the key to return to the 'off' position so you can remove it. I think the problem is that the car doesn't think it's correctly in Park.

The Mk4 is the pinnacle of development as far as the LS400 goes. I wish my one had air suspension though, that would be the icing on the cake for me. (Expensive to fix though).

It's sad to see any of these great cars neglected like the one mentioned in Chasdad's post. I think some owners simply don't appreciate how well put together the LS400 is.

Stuart, I've not had one sleepless night since owning my Mk 4. In fact I've never enjoyed owning a car so much as this Lexus. Yes, I've replaced a few things to keep it running nicely and they weren't always cheap either, but every car needs some TLC now and then. Enjoy your LS while you can I say. Many modern cars you ride in nowadays shake your fillings out and have more problems after 5 years than my LS has had in 15. For me the LS is easily the best car by far, in every way.

Is it the George medal for bravery?

Blimey! You could grow tomatoes in that !! Looks like a miniature allotment.

Martin, you should have gone for an LS400 mk4 instead. The LS430 has more known potential expensive faults (as you found out, unfortunately), and it seems like the 430 design faults are now beginning to show up. My 400 is not perfect, but, certainly more 'bulletproof' than anything else I've driven over the years. In 43 years of driving, nothing has come close to giving me the driving pleasure that my Mk4 does and that includes big American cars and Porsche.

Well done. Looks a very neat job and a handy gizmo to have on a big LS. My only reservation is with the words "cheap Chinese". I hope you keep a fire extinguisher in the car. (I'm not joking).

"Officer, take him down".........

".....but the compressor was a couple of grand" and "got it in the States for a couple of hundred". These two statements sum up why this country is called 'Rip-off Britain' and 'Treasure Island'. Makes you want to spit. Why can't you get one here for £200?

Bob, Are you sure the battery is now fully charged? I say that because even if it is slightly under, it will cause electrical anomolies to occur like the one you mention. A trickle charge for 10-12 hours is better than a short 'booster' charge. You might find a new battery will be your cure all. Hope this helps.

John, as Jake430 says, the air-suspension, although giving a cloud-like ride, can cost mega money to fix. About a grand per corner. The good news is that conventional shocks and springs can be retro-fitted for far less money. I believe the ride comfort is not quite the same though.

The point is I've only ever heard of this being a problem on LS430's (and on some Land Cruisers, I might add), but never on an LS400. This can only be due to differing design and manufacturing processes on the production line from 2001 onwards. Putting it bluntly, it's a design fault.

Why waste your money on a replacement radiator on an LS 400? No known cases of coolant in the gearbox. LS430 problem.

I've only ever heard of LS430's having the potential 'coolant in the gearbox' problem and needing a replacement radiator as a precaution. I've never come across anyone owning a 400 doing that and remember, all 430's are younger too, which points to a manufacturing process decision.

Adding Ethanol to petrol has come about due to EEC directives not the oil companies. Sneakily though, oil companies have not been forced to tell us 'gullibles' about it. There is ethanol in all unleaded that you buy except 'Super unleaded' (for some technical reason). I always fill with Superunleaded now. Ethanol, especially at the higher concentrations now being phased in over the next few years, does NOT do engines and fuel systems any good at all. Oil companies have specially adapted storage tanks for it and only mix it with their petrol when it goes into the tanker. Its corrosive and reacts highly with oxygen and is known to break down seals, gaskets, rubber, some plastics, copper, brass and will rust steel as well! To add to that, mpg is also affected detrimentally, even if only slightly as it contains 30% less energy than petrol. Only newer cars are built to properly cope with it. The EEC 'green lobby' has got its way in the name of 'renewables'. Hurrah! (not).

I much prefer its earlier sister---the Toyota/Lexus Soarer. Have you ever seen one? There's only a handful in Britain. They're fantastic. Best looking Lexus/Toyota ever. And has the LS engine. Even Jeremy Clarkson praises it on Youtube, it's that nice.