michael Vercell

Hello again, no the garage I endorsed JPS auto services is the garage that saved me and who will without doubt keep the old car running long after I’ve gone. They are so proactive in all aspects , there only drawback is the waiting time as they are over whelmed with customers with very expensive performance and luxury cars. The owner actually rally’s and by chance uses the LS 400 engine as he says, they are unbreakable and we have tried in our rallying . I’ll try to put some photographs on here .

You are correct that I had a serious problem due to my garage of more than a decade let me down re changing a timing belt, which snapped. The garage told me the crank had snapped and the engine had no compression, all untrue. Simply down to unreliable maintenance where I was told belt didn’t require replacing.i was to trusting Fortunately I was recommended to an old school workshop who replaced all damaged parts from the timing belt letting go and found two areas of rust from rear wheel sills. All metal cut out and replaced with new. At all stages I was invited to review the cars remedial work and they also provided photos of all work undertaken. After this work , she started on the key first time and is running perfectly. I have no interest in selling her, I was curious , as to value , as I’ve been stopped twice in the street and asked if the car was for sale.

I’m curious to know an approximate value of my James 400. From New purchased in October 1997, and she has been fully maintained by Lexus initially, and then by my local specialist, workshop. She is in metallic silver with a dynamic handling package from New, which means the special large wheels. She’s completely free of rust and all functions are working. She has 297,000 miles on the clock and has a 12 months MOT. Perhaps someone could give me an idea of her value.

Thank you for your post re non functioning temp gauge. I’ve never had any problems with my LS in 27 years of ownership. One month ago my first bulb went out , headlamp near side. So I purchased a new bulb and attempted to replace I had to disconnect the battery and remove to fit the bulb. I did this though when we connected the battery , light worked but temp gauge spiked to the maximum setting and doesn’t function. Can anyone help.

Thank you all for responding , I’ve had faultless motoring in my old car, I’ve had her from new. This is the first component to wear out and I was amazed when Lexus informed me they no longer manufacture or can supply. I’ve sent a note to the company in Preston. Again many thanks for all your assistance. Michael Vercell

Hello all, my old LS 400 requires a new radiator. Sadly Lexus UK has ceased manufacture though they have given me the correct part number 16400-50150 . Can anyone help me in finding one , or maybe have one . Thank you Michael.

I hope this maybe of assistance to any of you owing an old Lexus like mine. I’ve owned an LS 400 since new for 26 years and over the last 15 years went to a local garage for maintenance. She is immaculate in all aspects and has never , ever let me down. Whilst the garage did the maintenance there was no pro active support for the vehicle ending up in the Cam belt going and causing damage to two cylinders. At this point all interest and support from that garage ended , actually providing me with completely incorrect information. By good fortune I was recommended to another garage by a good friend in the motor trade to his garage , a garage he has used for many many years. I asked for assistance from that garage and without fail in all aspects they have provided a first class professional service to me. Following the car being trailered into them , they immediately diagnosed the precise facts of my situation and advised me on a course of action , with costs , the journey I would be on, to retrieve my wonderful and totally reliable old car. I would like to let you all know this garage, for no other reason ,you will receive the same excellent service I received and I would like this garage to benefit for further Lexus work that might be out there. JPS Automotive based in Lancashire in a town called Burscough , John Stanmore is the proprietor and lead mechanic 0151 245 7444. I hope this note may help someone out there. Michael Vercell.

That’s one of the problems my garage is not keen to take on this work.

I have owned this car from new., full service history, from Lexus initially,now my local garage. The car stopped two days ago and investigation suggests a broken cam shaft with no compression in the engine. The car is immaculate all functions work, leather upholstery is perfect, the car was fitted from new with the dynamic handling package with the larger alloy wheels and tires. My question has anyone any experience of swapping the old engine for a replacement engine ? Is this a viable option ? As I said i have had this car from new and hold an emotional attachment to her.