Mikaelse

That happened to me on my 1998 LS400 when my battery was old and weak and was running low. Went away for good when I changed battery. Probably reset stuff at same time but seemed to me like it was the new battery that did it.

I have heard that the screws can become loose over time causing a leak. Perhaps seal settling over time. May help to just retighten them in that case.

I hope this helps as alternative. I bought from AMAYAMA.COM last time. One year ago. They still stock them. Before that ca 2016 I bought from a US Lexus dealer . They may be out now... Bought stuff from AMAYAMA several times. Seems only OEM stuff. Arrives promptly perfectly packed. CUSHION, STRUT BAR Genuine Toyota (4867440051) . Right now below 20 Euro each. Buy the bolt also . I needed new ones. The washers and the nut I also bought . Nice with new shiny things.

You can get the original OEM bushings from LEXUS suppliers in the US or Japan. I have replaced them on two LS400 . Paid ca 35$ each + taxes and shipping.

Yes exchange just the bearing should be fine. But remember that the central bolt is lefthand thread. Hence it comes out turned the not normal way. Clockwise....... I did not know and took it as a challenge to get the seemingly "seized" bolt out. It came out with the aluminium thread stripped away . Really embarassing. Bought a new one. But beware there too. The one I got for my 1995 needed some filing to fit. Had an extra "lip" compared to the old and did not fit I did not investigate that further when I got it working well with a file.

To get advice on this forum is a good idea. Dealer prices are often very high and you can get good parts for much less. It is also very easy to buy bad parts that will not last. Cheap parts are sold wholesale at very low prices. I am wondering where those parts end up and who pockets the profit. I buy brand stuff from German sites, Like BREMBO brake parts and the like. OEM real Toyota/LEXUS stuff can often be sourced from AMAYAMA (japan) at better prices. From some US LEXUS you can get some LEXUS OEM stuff at more reasoanble price. ROCKAUTO also supply brand name parts like DENSO, BOSCH, AISIN . Have a few times from them.

5W30 fully synthetic Castrol or MOBIL or similar. At 7000 miles

The LS400 does not suffer so much from mileage. If it is parked warm and dry out of the sun. Not worth this it in my opinion. For several reasons. You may be able to insure it for less then half is my guess with some persuation and a premium. A larger fenderbender and it would be scrapped. Descent price parts are getting difficult. However a really nice 100.000 mile one is getting hard to find.

I quite like the Good years I have been running for several years. Half thread left on them now. 225/55/17 Silent , round and well balanced, Acceptable cost, premium brand ,wears slow and even and good grip wet and dry. I have experimented with tire pressure and found that they run sligthly rougher at 2.6 Bar then at 2.0 Bar but gas mileage get noticeably better with the higher pressure.

Get a funnel and pour very slowly. when I change transoil on my LS400 I change what is in the pan every motor oil service. Ca 1.5 kg each time. I have started using a weight scale to refill with exactly the same amount of oil that came out. Makes the level checking much less of a hassle.

I have two cars with 9 years and 8 years on the batteries and no weakness at all yet on those. Maybe luck... I have not experienced less quality on batteries. These days I buy AGM types if available.

Hi there . Assuming you do not have a current leak... The actual capacity in amp hours is not the big deal normally . The big difference between batteries spec wise is three things 1. How fast they loose capacity when idle for weeks through internal losses. They age fast when not almost full 2. How fast they recharge when driving. Can differ a factor of 3 or 4 when cold especially. 3. The CCA value (Cold crank amperage). Will degrade when battery grows old . A good AGM ( absorbent glass Mat ) battery will do the job well. It costs almost twice compared to cheap batteries but they are much better. I use a 70 Ah AGM (with four year warranty) with 760A CCA in my LS400 and it works well even here in really cold sweden.

Hi guys. The ethanol contains less energy per volume hence the car will via the lambda measuring the correct mix increase the fuel delivered if it is possible. It normally is for small added amounts. It seems to be ballpark 40 % more volume needed for pure 100% enthanol for same energy content as 100% petrol. (An E85 running car seem to use about 35% more fuel which add up) Hence an increase blend from 5 % to 10 % in petrol will increase the volume used by approximately, (1.4-1) x 0.05 = 0.02 hence 2% . this will ballpark reduce the gasmileage by about the same fraction . Hence if you get 25 mpg it will go to 24.5 Mikael

YES I have also good experience with AMAYAMA parts. seem to be genuine OEM LEXUS/ TOYOTA Stuff if they claim it is. Bought several times from them.

Front lower bushes I have exchanged on two LS400 cars. A 5++ ton press fit job if you find the bushes. I bought OEM from US for 35$ each I have exchanged rear springs . Not difficult but you need to be careful and rear seats need to come out. The spring can kill you. I Bought swedish made springs from Germany . 45 £ each

I know what you mean . Mine was also severely corroded. A bit strange with very very corroded OEM rims and a spotless car. I like more open rims so you can see the calipers I am sure OP will like the car.

I agree with you. I own two LS400 for comfort. A 1995 for winter use. And a spotless 1998 for summer. both with around 110k miles on them

So for Mk4 1998 to 2000 it has ODB2 port also in europe? . I just checked my 1998 mk4 . Confirmed. It has a white connector marked ODB2 under the steering wheel.

I have a 1998 LS with when new delivered LEXUS 17" inch rims 8 inch wide for 235/50/17 tires . Those have ET 40 mm. Also form my winter tires I use a 7,5 " wide ET40 mm rim to clear the calipers. works well. It is often a challenge to clear the calipers which are huge in the front.

Is that really true?. I heard that that was only in the USA where ODB2 was a requirement from Authorities. Did not supply that in europe spec vehicles until later ?. My Europe speced 1995 LS has the older type connector .

Doing both is smart I think but probably not really needed. I Did it DIY. The spring were only 50£ each for Swedish springs (lesjofors) via Germany. Some of the work getting back seat out etc is then once only.

It is probably the strut rod bushings. they do not last. I changed these on a LS400 with only 100k mile on it and it fixed the klonk over road defects. The old ones looked ok with some small cracks but were not. Now changing on my second LS400 year 2000. same issue . Also "look ok" ca 110k miles on that one. I buy OEM Toyota/lexus bushings and press them in myself. ca 30£ each for the bushings shipped to sweden from AMAYAMA. Annoyingly the bolts are often seized or close to. A torch and compressed air tools may help but I cut them and bought new bolts. Another 40£

I recommend a aftermarket AGM battery . I paid 135 £ Self discharge much slower, accept charge much faster hence ok with short trips. Longer life and better cold start performance. Survives deep discharge better. 760 Cold crank amps and 70 Ah worked fine for me in winter here in sweden. I get 4 year warranty on it, Had to adapt fixation to fit though. Saved a few kilos.

I am guessing it is the controlarm bushings that are bad. Those can be had OEM for ca 25$ each from the US +shipping. I am in the process of changing mine. With two seized bolts it is not easy. I will spend a full working day total doing it. You also need tools to press out the old and in the new. I have done this before on another LS and made a tool. Total cost will be 100£ and a lot of work. My opinion is that if you try to run an old LS400 on a budget like I do it helps to have a another old car as backup to keep things less stressful.

Ouch.... Giving up on a LS400 because dealer part cost and labour is too much is not needed. You should at least sell it to someone willing to let it live on if it is otherwize ok. Parts for these cars can and should be bought for reasonable cost from Mailorder suppliers. Also OEM parts can be obtained that way less expensive. If you are not a "Car person" you need to find an independent mechanic that can also order good parts for you. Due to that finding, waiting for parts can take a while I have had a spare car to use if needed for the 3,5 years I have had a 1995 LS400. I had an extra old car and space for it. Felt too stressful to use a 20+ year old luxury car as a daily driver otherwize. After the first major service and preventive stuff was fixed need for a spare car was minimal. That may have been plain luck though. You were not that lucky