runsgrateasanut

I use mine when I'm driving to France. Took my cue from Mr Beans Holiday (Cannes) - only way to stay awake! Do love that film but its like Marmite to many.

From memory its a bullet positive connector that when you've removed the Ash Tray and the unit, easily diconnects. Its just the centre post that holds the part together with a nut beneath. Check a thread for replacing the Radio to see how to pry out the Ash tray. no soldering or tape needed

Not too difficult. Its because it has an internal fuse ring if I remember. They blow if you use an air pump through it. I took mine apart and removed the internal part, but I am very cautious using the socket as it needs be tightened to stop the internal part rotating and possibly touching the negative. I just don't twist when removing the plug in. There is a utube video on it I beleive.

This is possibly the cheapest parts deal, though I haven't worked out the import duty. 8%? I bougtht genuine Lexus parts and you don't even get a water pump gasket with them. Over £600. £12 just for the centre bolt. Always change the Water pump and parts same time as my own was starting to weep at 113k miles. Just doesn't make sense not to change it as all the front is off. (IMO) https://www.ebay.com/itm/90-97-Lexus-LS400-SC400-4-0L-DOHC-Timing-Belt-Water-Pump-Tensioner-Kit-1UZFE/281137714959?hash=item41751d170f:g:5aUAAOxyi3FR5sGB&vxp=mtr#shpCntId

The Borbets which I have, and are standard on some older Lexus are also of German manufacture. Doesn't Japan make any decent Alloy wheels?

Thats it, you give it a good inside clean. Here's how

Is that number plate legal - space wise?

I rather like those Turbine wheels. When I wanted a set I couldn't find them but am v. happy with my Lexus IS200 (?) wheels

Number plate might have a value?

This is the Car we've been discussing under the thread title Bargain mk IV on AutoTrader It doesn't have an MOT unless you've already had it passed?

Envy !

Whats the betting its not a Dudley buyer??

Almost the same sound without the high cost - impressed!

I looked at it last night and thought do I want a second, just in case I screw the ECU Capacitors? Other than the error on MOT it looks a bargain and I also think it could be genuine by seeing the "old boy" with his walking stick standing by the side of it. What does it need doing for the MOT? Probably needs some expensive parts and a Cam belt change might be timely. Its a peanuts price

As these Services have been done by main dealerships I'd be surprised if they hadn't checked the Lexus timeline sheet and advised to have the Water Pump changed. Stealerships not known for encouraging frugality to my knowledge? The belt was changed in December 2015 for a second time, but the Water pump? Whats the redex additive all about? Is it Injector cleaner or a lead substitute? Any one use an additive to petrol?

I'd like this sound - but no longer available and a pair cost more than the car .

This is a nice looking LS430 but I'm a bit puzzled by the Service History which shows a break of four years and 46k miles between earlier services. Unusual? I also wonder if the water pump has been changed as the cost of the recent Timing belt change does't seem to be high enough to cover all the parts that are best changed by 150k miles. Still, nice looking car. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-LS430-4-3L-V8-Luxury-Saloon-2001-Automatic-in-Dark-Blue-Metallic-9-STAMPS/152749042418?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D46150%26meid%3De8521efa6957425f8a0ee57882ed120a%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D263259304565&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851#viTabs_0

My spare is held closed by a small screw from a light bulb fitting. Works OK as a substitute. Screw should be easily rmeoved by a set of Watchmakers screw drivers. cost £1 from most cheapie stores.

I agree John, £600 for tyres is unrealistic for a car worth maybe twice that sum. I didn't know about the low fuel economy rating but I will assume that its because Maxxis have better grip than Kumhos? I had a couple of Kuhos on the car when I bought it, and one was completely worn at one side. When I replaced the wheels with the Maxxis and had the wheels checked for alignment they said they were perfectly aligned. Perhaps the previous owner had bought cheap second hand tyres? End of the day its how good a driver you are at recognising the limitations of the car/tyres in any given situation.

£82 labour? thats astonishing. Watching some guy do the job on u-tube makes it look like a real p.i.t.a. ! Maybe I'll press my mechanic to fit the two I've had sitting around for more than a year. See what he says as to cost!

Personally John, I've got Maxxis on the front and Nexen on the rear. Should have got Maxxis all round, as the Nexens are wearing faster. Used to have Maxxis on my S320 Merc and very happy with them. Can't tell you how they perform against other more expensive tryes but I'm happy with my choice after what must be about 7,000 miles on them.

Thats great news. Problem solved and years of happy motoring ahead. We've just returned from a 1650km trip around South West and the Beaune region of France and car going well with only one exception which keeps telling me I must sort the Caps. Its the overdrive. Not sure that it actually kicks in, which alarms me. There's a judder but no noticeable change in speed which tends to alarm me when I'm a million miles from home with a weight of tools and stuff in the Car Just don't think it feels right, which could be a caps problem. Thanks to Rupert for sending me a set of Caps. Admit I'm having sleepless nights worrying about this solder job. Keep looking at vutube for soldering advice etc. . One guy doing a late LS seems pretty casual with the way he works. Putting a needle through presumbly from the Cap side before they are poked through seems to require three hands. I have an older Soldering iron with angled head.Its copper tip is nicely tinned but maybe not the best to use. Also, a Parkside pointed tip Iron and holder which I don't like the heavy cable and fat handle and can't seem to tin the tip too well. Today I lit a butane gas iron that I've had for years to see if it might do the job. Nice feel to it and no cables. It has a spade tip nicely tinned but only about 1.5mm and I think perhaps 2mm is probably the ideal size. Let me know what size tip and iron you used. I'd be interested.

Must say, I'd never heard the term "fettled" until watching early hours Shed and Buried. I've lead a sheltered life, obviously. Good luck with the project

Anyone with some knowledge on the subject - please reply.

Being short of one capacitor 63v 15uf I bought these on ebay. Marked with the name and also with PW(M) 0 degrees and105 degrees C Supposedly Nichicon and sent to me in a bag franked Semicon Ltd., Manchester m9 4pz Nos. 20 for the small price paid.! I do wonder if they are genuine Nichicon? how do I test? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20x-UPW1J150MED-Capacitor-electrolytic-THT-15uF-63V-Ø6-3x11mm-Pitch2-5mm/201795301444?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649