runsgrateasanut

I bought my car for that price - same year - same colour. I've spent £2,000 so far in getting it to the state I am happy with and still some way to go. Replacing rustingbrake pipes and tired hoses, and some rust on the underbody. I've said it before, I spent far less on my W140 S Class - but the rust on the Merc was just too much to bear. On Lexus only Drivers side wheel arch bubbling but glad its not that rear wheel arch as that is likely to be more trouble to deal with. They are still great cars for peanuts - but hey doens't everyone moan about spending their hard earned on cars? Funnily enough my own was owned by someone who had a Caravan site - no connection but too much time left over grass.

Personally I like to remove my garnishes, as I find that Seagull poo being lime Sand and Chip Fat just doesn't improve the surface of my paintwork.

"Old Bill" was a creation by the Artist / Soldier Charlie Bairnsfather in the First World War. (He was known as Charile but first name was Bruce)

Same colour I hope?

Thats Old Bill isn't it?

Hi Colin, Just come off the phone ordering one of those Boots - £11.34 lighter in the wallet, as sent RD. Will put it on the spare just in case. If you have originals and you find you have a tear in one let me know and I'll send you one of the two that I took off my OEM(?)'s Regards Stuart

So, a good job the bully boys on the Lexus forum here have made you look a bit more into the issue and may have saved you from the Skoda ride - although a friend in France goes back and forth to Swansea (800 miles) in his seriously abused (he's a Plasterer) Skoda and loves it. Bully boys in the nicest sense of meaning. Can't see the images and so can you put a complete link in, or should I be doing something else to see the problem part. Daresay it will come my way, he says ominously!

DC176K is the exact size for these Chinese UCA's. I've just removed the original and measured. The two circlips were flimsy wheras getting the OEM ones off was a struggle. Have to find out how much these replacements are. Hope I don't have to order in bulk. Can only assume that the OEM UCA has a stem that is wider at the ball end and then steps down to the narrower size.

Very nice looking LS for sale and with history. An early model. My black Merc could look green or blue depending on the light. Did Lexus make a similar chameleon colour as it does'nt look very green to me. An odd thing. I noticed the expansion tank looks empty and on the display the Radiator symbol is on the Rev counter side whereas on my own with just ignition on, its under the Speedo. Perhaps changed, as my car is '93. Lovely looking engine bay - someone has spent some time on this. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-LS400-/321821420787?hash=item4aee0d2cf3

Thanks Colin, I'm hoping next year will be an expense free year. Drove car today and smiled at the smooth ride and quietness.

Thats the secret Malc. My mechanic takes so long to send me the bill I usually can't recall what it was he did to the car? (April bill awaited!) - it is mentioned to remind me . He is very reasonably priced - only problem being for that he is so popular Brake pipe replacement is now set for the 17th August and i daresay he'll find he has to put it forward - not always his fault when you only have two ramps and parts turn up that are incorrect - hence my sourcing them in advance and having controlled patience.

Thanks Malc sounds like the way to go. Can you tell me, is it possible to remove the reservoir without taking off the serpentine belt and pulley? It may well be that rubber washer beneath it needs to be replaced. Was going to buy a Seal kit but seeing the amount of work involved in taking apart the unit don't think I''m up for all that. I'd get a replacement if needed. As usual looking for the minimum amount of work I can get away with! oh! the hose does it have a psi rating? BTW Amayama can't get a Radiator should anyone need one, as they are no longer stocked.

Delighted to say she doesn't have to go on SORN, like apparantly so many are according to DVLA. So, new Borbet wheels and tyres on, next week me thinks. and now to tackle all those other issues. I've never had a car take up so much of my time. Scotty Kilmer say don't buy a Mercedes and I tend to agree if its after 1998 but I have not had anywhere near the amount of heartache as with this Car. Fact is, once bought they just feel rather special and so the romance goes on irrespective of cost. Just don't please hit me with a Starter Motor fail or it may tip me over the edge of sanity.

So quite a bit of pipework /hoses to replace - did you buy the complete part set from Lexus, or sourced from elsewhere or got in a Plumber as a lot of twists and turns. ? Dare I ask the cost of parts? Agree Brian, change of ATF a good idea. My ATF is not as red as I'd like but doesnt smell burnt. I'm not a kickdown sort of driver., in fact I'd only use it if deperate to get out of a situation.

"Are the ECU capacitors replaced? Bad / leaking caps can cause gearbox issues as well" Its on the listhaving just purchased a desoldering iron - now added pollen filter change to the list. Keeping me busy this car!

You mean "the latest " of course!! Slight fluid leak could be ATF or could be Pwr Steering. Not discovered exact location. Had another look under the bonnet and may be wetness on part just below Reservoir. If that is the Control Valve (Idel off Switch according to Scotty Kilmer) I have a bill Jan 14 showing it to have been replaced £99.07. Maybe its the hose/s. Will have to inspect from beneath sometime later in the week. Will need drop the tray I suspect. Symptoms, selecting reverse at cold not liked by the car and did have an unexpected change down about a week ago, when car hot. Power steering, slight noise at drive off. Level cold was at bottom of dipstick - should it be half way up the cold mark? did put a dribble in, as have done to the ATF.

Sorry I went slightly off topic. That cabin fliter is amazing.

Thanks for input. Anyone who's had one go bad will know what anxiety it brings. I looked at the Nissen and other brands and reviews, and my own choice would be a Silla at $87 imported - lifetime warranty from what I've read. Checked whats in the Car and its a Toyota 5009 part 422130 -6460 3n Japan. I'm not too sure if this is original as I have a problem with my Air intake plastic conduit not fitting precisely over the top. Unless car has an accident history or is out of alignment. Read some alarming threads on plastic top rads exploding. This one is plastic top. I hope I don't have to change the Rad as its not a job I'd want to do again. My coolant is red but I put half a cup of distilled water in when I had a 600 mile return journey last June. Bought some Toyota Red when I got home. Red ATF/Red coolant fluid, not too clever by Toyota. Isnt it yellow somewhere?

Must check mine if my 93 car has one? Worst filter I ever saw was the air filter on my G Limited MR2 I owned until sold 2013. I couldnt believe it, when my mechanic dropped it on the ground there was a cloud of dust like a home hoover bag being dropped. (Well in my home they are like that!) Such an awkward thing to get out it probably was in there since manufacture, in 1993. Replacement did wonders for the emissions levels. ps You could have used that to start the bar-b-que given this wonderful weather.

Reviving this thread, for some reason I thought early LS400's were immune to this possible problem as I must have assumed the Power steering pipes at front were Gearbox cooler pipes. Doh! At 21 years, looks like another part I need to replace to feel sure of no catastrophe, especially as I've almost rebuilt this car with new parts!! Another sleepless night, and 3.00am Rock auto parts scan for Rads, as I had the Autobox pipe literally fall off the Rad on my S Class a couple of years back, fortunately without killing the g/b. So, check out the six or seven alternatives and read the +/- comments and scratch your head as to what to go for. Denso or Koyo (not sold by Rock) Plastic or Brass or Ali top, then there's the fact that Rock don't show the EU flag against all brands, so is American Rad set up different? Will check Amayama price. I keep telling myself all this expense will be worth it in the long run, even if just to keep me in this most friendly of forums!

Reading this old thread as the "leak" mentioned in the MOT is likely or not from the Power Steering system. It had a new control valve just before I bought it (if that is a power steering part?) Not leaking from front cooling tube or rubber connections. Don't know if you've ever been amused by the Scotty Kilmer Channel on vutube but came across this which members might be interested in.Could it be the answer? Will have a better look tomorrow ps Must get my CS3E running its been in storage now about fifteen years. I serviced the Carbs last year but never got to trying the machine. Always something takes me away from the jobs I start.

why am I always ten years behind the trend!

Parts fitted today but turns out that the Gaiters (boots) from previous UCA's (OEM??) are no good as the bottom hole needs be only 13mm and not 17mm. Strange, and can't explain not having kept the old Arms to examine. Having measured the spare I see thats absolutely the size needed. Fortunately mechanic had a spare. So MX5 size boots good for these Chinese and Taiwanese Arms - Here's hoping the bushes last longer! Retest Wednesday - fingers crossed.

Scratching head - as have on the floor a Facia and a Sony Xplod to eventually put in. So you replace Radio with tablet and listen to Radio through Tablet which is like Radio on a mobile phone? Don't need a CD player as you download all your music to the tablet. Is this what its about? (being a total numpty as regards techno ICE?)

see this thread for photo of the Nearside arm rubber which matches this Chinese spare. http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/98084-quality-of-non-oem-parts/