runsgrateasanut

Ooops! sorry if I seem to be going against advice - Unintentional. I assumed that older model cars which stated in the manual "fluid type T-II or equivalent" meant Toyota Dextron 2. Was I wrong? If not, my trying to get to grips with this issue suggested Toyota labeled Dextron III must be an "equivalent" but no info as to if 3309 compliant. The price is what caught my eye. Yet to buy, so I guess I can try to engage my brain once again around this issue in due course. ps What specific parts in an auto box vary from manufacturer to manufacturer in terms of the material used?

Yes - I think they got scared, seeing your age. I wouldn't trust my Son of similar age with anything of value Car wise. (Golf Mk 2 owner and driver - well would be if he could be bothered to fix it) LOL You say it was "cheap" to do, but I doubt that would be the case as you don't just want to change the Cambelt but also the water pump and tensioners as water pumps within the housing do begin to leak and the Tensioner is critical. Don't want to have the work done twice. Parts alone from Lexus are over £500 but on ebay USA you can get a kit for $250 (? or thereabouts) So, before sorting a mechanic give this some thought. ps No, my Son doesn't drive my Lexus as he loves to talk about drifiting!!!

A salutary reminder that corroding brake pipes need more than a bit of Hammerite to cover up for the MOT inspection. Have had replaced most of mine, one I see goes right around the back of the engine bay. Also had added s/s hoses. Absolute confidence now in the brakes which when I got the Car were UNBELIEVEABLY DANGEROUS. Never experienced such poor brakes on any other car I've owned and yet it had an MOT.. Interesting that you mention can buy pre-shaped brake pipe. If I'd known I might have have saved my mechanic some work. Ps Exhaust never corrodes?? - aren't you forgeting Steve that the flanges are mild steel, rot away and are a PITA.

See Genuine toyota ATF Dextron 111 from Shop Toyota £9.36 a litre with free delivery on thE bay. 3 litres should do me, but 1200 mile drive before its booked to be changed. Pity, I'd have liked it done before the drive.

Well with four hours to go and only one bid of a fiver - anyone in Edinburgh or nearby must get a bargain. The Cats for scrap must be worth £60. Like the lexus emblem over the pipe ends. Not sure they will enhance perfomance. Most probably do very little. The Y pipe looks as bad as most do. Put the pipes on the end of existing standard exhaust for fun look. Not keen on the noise it made but for parts if I was closer I'd take a punt.

Personally I like a good old fashioned Antimacassar to keep my Brilcream off the headreast - Hahahahaha!

Just been looking at what atf to buy and notcie in the Handbook under "Specifications - Automatic Transmission " Fluid capacity drain and refill 1.9L (2.0 qt. , 1.7 Imp qt.) " "Type T-11 or equivalent". Surely this can't be right? Always assumed it would need about 7 litres and read on this thread someone used 12L !

Congratulations on your new car. I'd be interested to hear what you do about your front seat experiment. I'm not sure if the seats have changed in any way during the years? Had to repair my own for a common tilt back problem, perhaps later seats didn't inherit.? I find with my Transmission if I start the car from cold and select reverse to get out beyond the drive its fine. If I put it back into Park whilst I padlock the chain across my drive when I get back in, the car does not like going into Reverse, so I now select Neutral to avoid the feeling that its having difficutly engaging. When the transmission is hot this doesn't happen. Don't know if there is a cure? Will drain the Trannie at some point as have the necessary filter on my Study floor.

Impressive as it is, and I suppose it compares to the money, time and effort Mercedes spent creating the W140 series, how do the Japanese square the fact that the seat size is not American butt, but Japanese butt? Headroom also, has been mentioned somewhere else on the forum and is just a tad too low. Not a fan of the front seats. Lovely car and I don't see the argument that it has no soul. Now I've passed the point of no return parts costwise with my key of the door Car, its growing on me daily. So much smoother since I cleaned the throttle body and reset the Acc. position sensor. New tyres also give it a quieter ride.

I had one put in my Austin Ambassador and before it went to the Army for target practise I removed it (fifteen years or more ago) and sold it on ebay for 80 quid earlier this year. I did at one time contemplate putting it into my MR2 and even purchased a nibbler to do the job but lost the courage, and the MR2 had to go. Nice little sunroof with grill to diffuse sunlight or remove panel altogether.

You are right - I assumed that they would be like the front UCA's but having not yet unpacked the tightly wound polythene off the Ball joint I find no nut, and no place for a split pin. At the price paid you would expect to at least be given a new nut FOC. Not so. There is no obvious place to grip the ball joint shaft to tighten or loosen other than gripping the thread beneath the nut. About an inch in old money. Should be fun after so many years exposed to the elements.

Can be frightening reading!

possibly nothing to stop it rotating hence the need for a split pin in the Castle nut. Daresay a socket and bar hit with a sharp hammer blow will free up the nut after extraction of said split pin. Another thought is to chip off the cap on top and maybe there is a Screwdriver slot in the Ball? Makes sense - to me anyway!

I still have nostalgic thoughts about my S Classes from 86-98 though the Lexus is very pleasing. Wonder who will get Brian Sewells SEC 560?

Have you got the ebay link? Bound to relist it.

interesting - are they welded on?

What price have you paid for the UCA / UCA's? (pending the further import taxes) Can't believe that they have gone down in price? That would be a first!

Just don't ask the wife to get the ticket. My dear lady got confused as to the Reg details and when went back to buy another ticket is wouldn't allow it. - Month later Penalty Notice for £72.50 duly arrived and of course the damn receipt for the original ticket and the attempt at correction somehow either left in France or whatever. Managed to plead our way out of paying but I do the buying from now on!!

Plays havok with my knees that one. I've turned it hopefully off, especially now winter is almost upon us!

Why did the song words "moonlight becomes you, it goes with your hair" spring to mind?

As you say not a job most would want to tackle - hence my not having done so, yet. BTW are your rear springs on advisory? My own have been for a few MOT's and so I've bought new springs. Seems sensible for about £50 more to replace the tired old springs if they are originals. Ah, I hear you say, and what about the struts? are they near their life end? If I see some cheap OEM's ever, I'll buy them. Otherwise, I just have to stop shelling out all this cash. ps. Managed to get a single side button keyfob and a replacement expansion tank (mine has ever so slight leak) yesterday (s/h) for £20 - to join the list! Never had a car take up so much of my time. Bless it!

this is the link I was thinking about

If you could send me the link to that vid it'd be great - I can't seem to find it. Thanks again, R Sorry I didn't save it to favourites and I now can't seem to find it myself. It may have been a video replacing the Springs which could be equally useful to you as they go within the UCA's

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your needs. The part you are quoting Colin is a Lateral Control Arm Bush if I check this on Bing. Surely not an Upper Control Arm.

ps to last message - there is a vootube video of the UCA being replaced on a Lexus if you want to see work involved. Yes they do take a few days/week to come back as to stock availability. You pay or you don't get! pay via Royal Mail - advance notice via Post.