LS road runner

9 minutes ago, steve2006 said:

Good question regarding the insurance John 2 I was asked if the car had been “modified” when I took my new policy out.

Regarding the speed signal location this may help.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-3rd-gen-2001-2006/925413-vss-speed-sensor-tap-location.html 

 

Thanks for this but I need the speed signal wire going into the back of the speedo.

At this point, its trial and error, conncted the ground and 12v and cutting off one wire at a time to see which one will cause the speedo to not work and that will be our wire. 

2 hours ago, royoftherovers said:

Any effect in insurance if you delimit?

I have a trade policy so anything up to 6 litre or 250k in value

Hi all,

After having a 2002 Lexus LS430 which is seems to be getting tired I imported a Toyota Celsior from Japan which wasn't as well equipped as the UK Lexus but its very clean/tidy/unabused and feels crisp in everyway, the difference in the way the two cars drive is worlds apart with the 2002 Lexus getting ready for the scrapper and the Celsior feels as new. Very happy with the purchase apart from the 180 kph speed limiter.

I purchased UK MPH clocks for the Celsior taken out of a facelift LS430 from Paul Frost and they seem to be working fine but the car is still limited to 110mph (tested on a private runway strip). Also tried an engine ECU remap and the guy said he removed the limiter from 5 different locations on the software but that also hasn't took the limiter off. 

I read on some forums that the KPH to MPH chips which can be purchased from eBay can remove the speed limiter from the car and I am in the process of trying this out however I am unable to find the speed signal wire from the wiring loom on the speedo connector, does anyone know which wire this would be? If this doesn't work in taking the limiter off then I have hit a dead end.

I am going to be driving through Germany in the coming week so would like the speed limiter off, ideally I would like the limiter off and stick to UK clocks, in the event that is not an option then I can put the chip in the back of the KPH clocks providing that gets rid of the limiter.

Any input in this would help.

1 hour ago, talaipwros said:

please make sure that he is not stalling just to get past the 30 days

that wouldnt matter, the clock stops when you make the initial contact. 

they are treating it as a part exchange because there isnt anything wrong with the vehicle as such, keep fighting your case and surely they'd agree to take back at the same money if you are upgrading. 

On 8/26/2018 at 7:49 PM, RgrWynne said:

I run my LS 430 and my wife’s Honda 2.0 Petrol engine  on BP Ultimate and sometimes Shell  V Power and absolutely get not only better fuel consumption, but noticeable running smoothness in both vehicles. I also have a colleague who did an actual trial over 5000 miles with his own vehicle and kept meticulous records. There was a definite and noticeable improvement in fuel economy. Was it worth the extra cost ? His view was ..... it depends on the differential fuel cost. This was not a theoretical trial. For me it is incidental that the above fuel is higher octane, but more the additives in the fuel, which I personally prefer to use.

Roger

Please see below, 341 miles covered in just under half a tank, 38.5mpg on fuel which was costing 10p per litre, the car was down on power too as fuel quality was very poor. Due to sanctions on Iran they don't even have a proper refinery. There is still a pickup truck from 1970 which you can still buy new today (Nissan Zamyad) as they are not getting any new tech the line for this truck is still running. 

PS- Pic was taken by the passenger before someone decides to become internet police and comment on why I was using my phone whilst driving. 

1 hour ago, royoftherovers said:

Thanks, but are you not breaking the law in some countries ?

thanks for the concerns but consequences are our own to face should we have to 🙂 

3 hours ago, royoftherovers said:

Been watching your enjoyable videos on youtube.....why are you and your pals not wearing seat belts ALLof the time ?

Personal preference 🙂

I think Imran has been posting on youtube (blue accord)

I will be posting the videos I made once I am back

19 hours ago, Shahpor said:

Sorry, after reading my post I can see that it might have been misinterpreted.

I am actually Iranian so I know what you mean about the media manipulation.  What I was referring to was the driving standard, which at least in the cities, is awful.  The danger comes from people doing almost whatever they like on the roads over there, especially in Tehran.

Glad to hear you are enjoying your trip

In all fairness Iran drivers are good as gold when compared to the driving standard in Pakistan.

Trucks are carrying no less than 200-250 tonnes (not joking) and they dont have enough power to even move, most people drive with the full beam on, most motorcycles dont have working lights, buses and coaches dont have working lights, there is no right of way anywhere just each to their own, protect yourself is the theme here, it is normal practice to go wrong way on any road including motorways. 

I have driven 1300 miles in Karachi since being here and have averaged 15 MPG because the traffic is unreal, you get up to 40mph and a motorbike or a rickshaw will swerve in front of you. Karachi traffic is enjoyable at times in a small car but not in the 430. 

20 hours ago, MLW said:

It will probably go back to normal after a few tankfulls of good stuff. Might be worth popping a bottle of fuel injector cleaner in. At about £4, got to be worth a try.

Yes its getting better,

We carried 4 bottles of injector cleaner each - I had toyota genuine injector cleaner, all of which we used up in Iran

On 8/24/2018 at 7:04 PM, skyway said:

Hi John I and others i am sure would love to hear about your trip, are you going via a tour group or on a solo drive, I have always wanted to drive that part of the world however the media does a great job of putting you off.

Youtube LS Road trip.

Convoy of 4 cars:

LS 430

Honda accord 2.2 diesel

Toyota Hilux 2013

Audi Q7 2012 << Problem child along the entire journey

I have only got 3 videos on there so far as everything on route is on my camera - will upload the rest on my return to UK

On 8/24/2018 at 5:54 PM, GrahamG said:

Good to hear from you John.

Not surprised at what you say about the Iranians.

Will there be a return trip?

to be decided - the car is there on a carnet at the moment. I want to ship it back and next year go to Pakistan again via china and Kunjarab Pass - Look this route up, its quite amazing. Will use the same car ofcourse 

On 8/24/2018 at 4:13 PM, Malc said:

mightn't the tips of the plugs be too sensitive to clean ?

Malc

perhaps, will give that a go along with cleaning out the injectors.

On 8/24/2018 at 12:00 PM, cornershop said:

I didn’t think higher octane fuel = worse fuel economy??

It should be more efficient, surely, if the fuel is burning more easily and less energy required for combustion?

Iranian fuel wasnt burning properly and i was getting incredible MPG, in a place where I couldnt care less how much the car was using 🙂 

Germany 102 octane was the worst in terms of mpg. 

Dont forget we covered 5300 miles in 11 days so we werent taking it slow. 

22 minutes ago, RgrWynne said:

Johnn, if you can continue to find v power or Bp ultimate, I think running on that will hopefully negate the need for further action. Enjoy your trip , hopefully without further problems, Rgds, Roger

I am using v power, its almost back to normal but I can just feel the slightest hesitation. 

Also used 102 ron Petrol whilst passing through Germany, economy on that was 22 mpg on a run but the smoothness was sublime. I didnt think 102 would be available anywhere in the world tbh

Just now, Shahpor said:

Driving in Iran?!?

Talk about living dangerous.

nothing dangerous about it 🙂

Dont follow everything the media tells you, Iran is the best country I have been to in terms of hospitality and general kindness amongst people. 

1 hour ago, ambermarine said:

John 

The misfire may have been caused by the engine ecu adapting to the poor fuel mix and subsequent changes after flushing the system .I would run it for a while yet before doing anything and see if the engine settles down it might be worth while changing the plugs.

the plugs were changed with genuine toyota iridium plugs at the start of this trip. i will get them cleaned. 

Here is a pic of my LS430 on 8th August 2018 in Iran en route on my road trip. the convoy covered 5300 miles in 11 days and this car was spot on and completed the journey without any hiccups. One thing though the fuel quality in Iran was so poor that I felt a significant decrease in power after around half way through Iran where the fuel system was fully flushed with their cheap fuel (£9 for a full 84 litre tank). Because the fuel was not burning correctly, I was getting 36-38 mpg too which I have never had from this car in all the time I have owned it. I am currently running it on V-power in Pakistan and the power is back to normal however when I floor it I can sense slight high pitched knock from the engine, it is very slight but I can notice it. Misfire? Should I get the injector rail cleaned out? 

7 minutes ago, Stevofoto said:

Hi everyone, my first post on here, although I’ve been on here reading plenty of threads before now but still can’t find a constructive solution to my problem! 

Ive had my current ls430 just over a year and it’s a dream but in order to get it through its last mot I needed to get the rear back boxes welded up due to leaks. 

All passed and I thought all was good but now there is an awful droning noise from underneath the car that just fills the whole cabin with noise especially speeds higher than 40mph. 

Took it back to get looked at as I was sure the exhaust wasn’t fitted back together properly but all looks ok. Went to another garage who confirmed this but they also test drove it and could hear the noise but couldn’t pinpoint the problem. 

Weeks later I’ve picked up a used good condition centre silencers and back boxes and had them fitted yesterday and alas the problem is still there. If nothing else I think it’s worse. 

I miss my quiet 430 and wondered if anyone had any experience of this. I don’t fancy a custom exhaust build or paying ££££ Lexus themselves. 

I thank you guys in advance and looking forward to any replies. Please not I am not a mechanic!!

Cheers

have you had the wheel bearing checked, droning noises normally come from there especially at speed. 

7 hours ago, LS road runner said:

in the end I just drained it from the sump, opened the sump took the stainer out and left it over night, we had around 6 litres come out, just topped the same amount back up. 

 

If I didnt have to take the sump off I would have done it by the above method.

 

And changed the radiator with the pipes from sump to radiator so we lost some fluid out of there too.

Topped up 6 litres, have done about 100 or so miles since, the car is back at the garage now for fluid level check. 

10 hours ago, Matt1986 said:

I did mine with 10 litres. Disconnected the cooler line from the transmission radiator into a container and pumped a litre at a time out running the engine. Then refill via dipstick tube. Ran clean after 10 litres. Little mixing of old and new oil and it gets the oil out of the torque converter.  Think I saw the tutorial on lexls.com . Hope that makes sense!

in the end I just drained it from the sump, opened the sump took the stainer out and left it over night, we had around 6 litres come out, just topped the same amount back up. 

If I didnt have to take the sump off I would have done it by the above method.

59 minutes ago, steve2006 said:

If you want to do the full flush and refill you are looking nearer 20 Litres, if you are planning the sump drain and refill method x 5 10 Litres will cover it.

just draining the oil, changing the stainer along with radiator and the pipes.

I am doing a gearbox service (oil/stainer/gasket), Radiator and pipes between the gearbox and radiator.

How many litres of fluid should I expect to use?

I have a 5 litre bottle which I think may not be enough

In all fairness weather its a Lexus or not has no effect on the MOT.

Tyres/ Brake pads/ Discs/ Suspension/ bushes - Those are the main aspects of MOT, they can wear out on any car lexus or not. Its just down to the owner.

Engine and gearbox is not checked under mot where being a lexus would come into play 🙂 

16 hours ago, The-Acre said:

Have you driven it yet, how does it feel?

main differences - steering response is much better, the car isnt rolling in the beds or corners, just feels tighter in general. Seems to have shaved years off the cars age.

I would recommend others to get them changed too if that havent already done so, gives the car a totally different feel.

havent tested the brake vibration yet as didnt take it on the motorway. The car is still at the garage, waiting for the radiator to arrive so that can be changed with the gearbox service and pipes.