runsgrateasanut

Can't help but first and only thought is, did you buy the Car locally and did the previous owner keep back a key?

That "mod" seems to be on a Nakashimi model given the final photo of the rear. 

My '93 Pioneer I found that the Cage could not be opened in my bid to replace the "Rubber Band"  which I assume is the cause of my Tape Deck not working.  Can you get to your Tape Deck "band" in the later model, Howard?

The "Beast" arrived back after its 600 mile jounrey on a four wheel Trailer behind a 3.8l Range Rover which has over 230k on the clock and is run on LPG.  A miserable journey raining all the way and glad it was not me who had the task.  Too blustery to go out and remove a few things from the Boot and will have to drive as carefully as possible to my Mechanic on Thursday and he will replace the rear Strut.  He will also do the nearside possibly but I don't have a replacement Bush or Bolts  (expected pre Christmas) if he manages to remove the bolts and existing Bush without wrecking them.   Doubtful, so another job later.

That's interesting.  From memory the Tape deck etc is all "caged" and so will require careful cutting to "open it up" or  am I wrong here?  Been a long time since I took my unit out.

I'll watch this thread with interest.

On 10/1/2021 at 9:48 PM, londonlad said:

I have a 94 LS400 which requires a Throttle position sensor part number 8945233010 would appreciate any advice on sourcing one. Or if anyone is breaking this model That maybe has one for sale

Did you find what you were looking for?  Apparantly this item costs £180 from toyota is they have one! 

Update LS400 in France

Just had a text "Car all loaded, ready to set off. See you tomorrow Morning". 

Great news, as I've been worrying that it would not start after three weeks + 14 months prior. 

I left a power cable and charger in the Garage so the guy could give it a boost but hopefully he didn't have to use them.  Will know more tomorrow.  Expense coming up, Insurance cover and I guess if I can get it repaired and MOT'd during 14 days I can cancel the cover if I decide not to keep the LS and  stay with the GS. Don't want two cars but it had to be got away from France as property on the market..

Spotted this on F/b so may recover my costs if worst price scenario.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/443296277184950/?ref=search&referral_code=marketplace_search&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3Aabd183c4-1352-44f8-9af0-5ce43273fc13

1 hour ago, Malc said:

I know he checked all discs and pads etc and proclaimed all to be well and good for another year AND he does always check out, on the annual service, the callipers for efficiency of operation ...  and to date I'm not aware of any replacement of callipers or components at all, ever .......  in 26 years

Malc

 

That's amazing Malc. What sort of mileage do you do?  Is the Car garaged?  I seem to always need to replace Calipers on toyota and lexus cars that I've bought.  Just been unlucky perhaps?

This thread interests me.  Having driven on two six hundred mile journeys,  only once did I worry about breaking when I came up behind a stopped vehicle and for a moment I thought I had to apply the Brake pedal harder than usual.   This said, I had been experiencing the Car make a vibrating sound upon left turn of the steering wheel outside my house when  just pointing the car in a different direction at say 3mph.

I'd had VSC lights stay on a while back pre MOT and a CEL which was cleared after replacement of a down bank Lambda sensor and not long after the VSC light issue seemed to clear itself.  

I will have to check the front wheel sensors for any build up of crud.  Not sure if this 2000 Car is a Post- facelift model? How can I tell? Car reg 01/01/2000 but manufacture date earlier.

Also, I suspect the Hubs are different for later model GS's.  Is there a Reluctor (exciter?) ring on the Hub that I should check for damage?  Have seen photo's of sensor described as looking like  Hedgehog with filings. Where do they come from as the sensor surely doesn't make contact.?

Any images of the hub might help. Thanks

ps I've not had any warning continuous noises from inside or under the bonnet so hopefully a complete Brake fail or needing a new Actuator is not on the cards. Fingers crossed.

ps the Sony covers AAC and MP3 (which I recorded most of my music on to).  It also has a single CD changer and the Amplifier is internal - or that's my understanding.  Can get a linking Connector Harness to original connectors but need to carefully check that they are right.

I have a new Sony CDX-GT45OU which has an aux and USB slot. It's old Hat by todays double Din type units that I suspect most people would fit.  With the early LS400 there is no seperate Amplifier.  With the GS300 there is an Amplifier which complicates matters.  I suspect your later LS also has a seperate Amplifier? 

This video may give you some help in deciding if to make the switch?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-59WBq3DshY

That would be the Nakamichi sound system an alternative to standard unit.  Here's a link which I've not read so may not be helpful.   I'm likely to replace either the LS or the GS with a modern unit with Aux in a plastic Surround which has sat for several years on my shelf. Can't be bothered with trying to botch an aux input.

https://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/topic/1419-nakamichi-stereo-vs-standard-unit/

On 3/15/2020 at 1:28 PM, jackzx10 said:

Hi.
So we travelled 125 miles and as usual no issues. Stopped the car. Got back in. Car fired on the button as ever but the climate control screen and the surrounding heater controls have all gone ‘dead’. A nice cold ride all the way back !! 
 Next day went through all the fuses under the glove box and all test good. 
Any ideas folks ??

 Thanks John 

Hi John,  Don't see the usual useful info from a Member in answer to the Question you raised.   Did you resolve the issue yourself?  The Temps on my display disappered during a long journey although the position image was still showing.  I know the Air con doesn't work but the Temp seemed to be working. It had been put up to 22 and down to 19 at various times during the journey.  Was set to Windscreen/feet  perhaps last change.  Could this be the answer, baffled at what to check? 

On 10/8/2021 at 10:02 AM, Mincey said:

Talking of knobs, I remember buying an aluminium Momo gear knob for my first IS to replace the plastic abomination it had fitted by standard. Sadly my Engineering skills, despite having a B.Eng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering, were not up to the task. I think it's still up in the loft.

Taking the subject of knobs even further, is there an aftermarket replacement for the volume knob in an ES? The standard one seems very toy-like. A nice aluminium one would look far better IMHO.

A have an Aluminium volume knob from an old Sharp music centre if of any use. internal diameter of push on is 6mm. Exterior 30mm. protrusion 16mm.

State of the Roads must have been mentioned. M20, M25, A12 diabolical. Pot holes galore. Real bone crunchers in some places. At night can't see far enough ahead on dipped beam to avoid. Thought they were going to do something about these roads?

1 hour ago, Malc said:

Stuart ...........  110% effort there then, well done AND of course you'll be keeping the Ls 

Malc

Both Cars have issues to resolve. The LS despite my ownership for seven years is perhaps my preferred vehicle but the GS surprised me how zippy it was, especially as it was well loaded with stuff owing to not being able to bring it back August 2020,  and included 20 litres of Wine !

PS We actually were overtaken by a GS450H on our return journey.  Rarely see Lexus Cars.

Thanks John,  Le Shuttle was a nighmare and the M20, M25 and A12 are in appalling condition. Nearly shook the GS to bits.  So different in France!!.

Not sure who/what WBAC is? but its a dilemma as to which Car to keep once I've parted with a Thou to bring it home.  Prefer the LS but may be open to offers for either and who knows may decide Lexus is no longer for me and return to Mercedes which I found did not occupy my every waking hour!    

Just early today we returned from France in the GS300 having driven 600 miles door to door.

Had the first chance to view the LS400 after more than a year (August 2020) and its being parked in our Garage which only has Mesh Security Doors. 

This is what the engine bay looked like which is a result of the open air.  This said, I removed the Negative terminal on the Battery before I left it last year and when checking for voltage it was 12.3V which for a Battery which experienced a total drain a few years back when the Altrnator stopped charging I was able to put it on “Repair Mode” charge and it rose to 13,6V.   Yuasa are the best!

The Car started on the Button and as less revs than the GS at start up I was not concenred about lack of oil in the engine parts.  Left it running for fifteen minutes after moving the Car up and down the Drive to establish that the Brakes weren’t locked on. Surface rust did make the Discs look unpleasant but she moved freely.

Couldn’t replace the Strut Bar as not enough room on jack stands to get leverage and no room for an Impact Driver. Did cobble the Bar to the Rubber Bush with Jubillee clips to stop it dragging. Hoping to arrange its collection in coming fortnight.

As to the GS300 I took a chance with the Car which had its last Cam belt change in 2008 at 69k. Now on 140k but the genuine Toyota Belt looked sound to me though I have all parts for a complete overhaul. Not something I will do, but pass it on.

Strange happenings with the GS which still doesn’t endow me with confidence. Having (unnecessarily) changed the Steering Ball rods, I still get a strange feeling when driving this Car.  May have an issue with the front ABS sensors though light not on.  Definate noise when v. Slow movement. This may be the reason for jerkiness in cornering. New Tyres and wheels balanced/aligned.

The Radio control knob doesn’t usually make any change in volume. Playing with it, it decided to get louder whichever way it got turned and we had to push the button or be deafened.  Whats that all about??

The Temperature on the display disappeared on the journey home after 200 miles.. Only the image of the vent positions and the outside temp was showing.  Same this Morning when I checked. Air con does not work and no idea as to if the Temp will still change.

Final strange happening, the Wireless Reversing Display has on two occasions shown the Road behind as we are travelling along. !!!?    Assuming its picking up a signal from someone else’s Wireless ??

14 hours ago, Ala Larj said:

This I find really irritating. I wasn’t aware that my car had failed an mot until I checked the gov website. The dealer obviously fixed it but didn’t mention it to me. Why fail it then fix it and then pass it? 

He added Air and didn't charge? but an extra charge to "pass" it from a fail.  From memory £7 ??

2 hours ago, Phil xxkr said:

Were they originally in a yellow tin? Or am I confusing it with another? 

Box made of Card the earlier "fives"  but maybe now more ornate. Google images.

9 hours ago, LenT said:

Another pleasant daily smoke, as I recall, was - and probably still is - the Swiss brand Villager.  Even better, but less widely available, was their half corona called Brannif.

 

Oh! I forgot to mention a five pack of Villigers in the Box.  Needed a rectangular hole in the mouth for those!

5 hours ago, steve2006 said:

 

I also assume your mechanic did not check the condition of the advisory parts again before removal and just replaced them as requested.

Yes certainly irritating but there’s no going back now, Halfrauds or Kwik Fit for the MOT by any chance?

Yes, I gave him instruction to replace irrespective and let me have the originals.  I may try to sell them as they are good and someone may want a cheap pair with plenty of life in them.  . 

I also had him replace the lower ball joints once again just to satisfy my fear of a crisis fail, even though they also were in good order, apparantly. 

No not a Major player but a rather shoddy place which was the only one that wasn't pre booked up to the 20th.  My MOT would have expired by then. Won't go there again.

If you've ever tried to fold up one of those rear Screen things you will know just how whippy the metal is.  Its stainless steel which is what these Caliper springs are, I believe.  

I had the two Steering Rods with Ball joints replaced today as the MOT suggested a need, as an advisory.

My Mechanic had not seen a problem but I assumed he may have missed it.  Not really felt any wandering in the Steering but did have some concern for some inexplicable reason.

Imported parts from Rock Auto and the job was done. However, Rods removed have absolutely no play in them that I can feel.  Not as tight as new but certainly not able to feel movement.  An expense and anxiety for nowt.  Perhaps the Centre was hoping to get a bit of business.  It would have been the last place I'd go and I only went there because a fool at the place I'd booked, told me on timely arrival to come back in half an hour as he muched on his Sandwich chatting to people. When I returned he said I should have left the Car and keys and now couldn't do the MOT for ten days.  He didn't ask for the keys.  What a  Plonker or is it me?  No point in having a go unless I wanted to guarantee a "fail" next time!    Doh!

I had a need for a slightly different pattern one of those, and I took the Wire out of one of those flexible Rear Window See through Shades and bent it to shape with pliars.