GoldfingerLS

I've been thinking about this a little more. Depends on what one means when they say manifold. The exhaust manifold or the intake manifold ? In any case: Exhaust Manifold: - I can't think of any valves that would be located on the exhuast manifold. The oxgygen sensors are the obvious ones but they won't 'stick' if they are faulty. They would probably throw up a fault code or Check Engine error message on the dash display Intake Manifold - on the intake manifold one valve which is connected to it that is known to stick is the PCV valve. This sometimes gets stuck or cloged up with carbon and gunk. It usually is more of a problem on any car which spends most of its life doing lots of start - stop short jouneys. You can test if it is stuck by taking it out and see if it rattles or the blowing air test. I replaced the PCV valve on my LS400 last summer. It probably didn't need doing coz the existing one seemed pretty good, but after around 60k miles just for good measure I did it to make sure everything keeps on working tip top and faultless for the future. The PCV valve was £18 from the dealer and I replaced it along with the air filter and cleaned all the air intakes at the same time.

Do we have any more detail on what this valve is called ?

Thanks for the feedback microcat. If anyone else has tried them would be good to get their feedback aswell.

These seem too good to be true for that price. I did a search on the US forum where people have tried their control arms and struts and given feedback. At those prices i'd imagine they would be re-manufactured not new ? http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...showtopic=39257 http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...showtopic=40306 http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...showtopic=38358

This is very useful. Thanks for posting this, i'm sure it will help someone in the future.

Hey Chilworth good to hear you got it all fixed and for so little cost too. For reference what year / reg is your LS400 ? Thanks.

What sort of caliper wind back tool are people using when replacing pads on the Mk3 and later LS400s since these have 4 piston calipers at the front, 2 on each side of the caliper. The tutorial on www.lexls.com shows the case for the 2 piston calliper on the earlier LS400 which won't work for the Mk3 and later ones. I'm guessing if you try to push one or two pistons in using the old plier method the other two will pop out ?

T-cut can be very harsh on your top coat lacquer. Often detailing clay can get rid of overspray. You can pick up a pack of Meguiars clay bar and lubricant spray from halfords. Its a lot of hard work but at the same time you can get rid of all the other tar spots and bonded surface elements leaving behind a clean smooth finish. You'll have to re-polish/wax the parts you have done afterwards.

I still have the original 1999 sat nav CD in my Mk4 LS400 (ver 2.1 of that year). In London it works quite well. However on many occasions when travelling to a destination up north which is slightly out of town / off motorway when entering the road name it is able to find it on the database and directs you. However all is well until about 1 or 2 miles before your destination it says "You are now in the vicinity of your destination. Your route guidance will now be discontinued" and you are dropped off in the middle of nowhere. Is this due to a weak GPS signal or is the problem solved upgrading the nav disc ? I wish to purchase a 2006-2007 nav CD anyway and I have tried http://www.lexus-mapupdates.eu/ but it doesn’t list the LS400 under vehicle list. Is there a contact phone number for them ? I went to Lexus Woodford and asked them if I was to order a new disc if it will be 2006-2007 (as per what is on the website above) they said they were not sure if would be 2007 but “it would be the latest one”. Could anyone confirm what version Lexus dealers are supplying if anyone has purchased one recently for their Mk4 ? Thanks

Does anyone know who makes the LS400 brake discs and pads for Toyota. Is it anyone like Brembro, EBC etc ? Thanks.

do you mean the corner lights on the wing/headlamp corner ? these are the front indicators or do you mean the corner lights on the bottom of the front bumper next to the fog lamp ? you must mean the ones on the bottom of the front bumper. If you take it off its just an empty shell which you should drill a hole into and fit a running light (couldn't see any obvious spare power connectors hanging). I'm not sure if its legal to fit additional running light ??? I often think to myself that if i was to prepare a track ready Mk4 LS400 i would take out these blank lights and the fog lamps and replace them with mini oil coolers :)

Thanks Graham, i've signed up. Sounds well worth it to me for £25.

As far as i know if you need to jump start it you can never 100% be sure that a current/voltage spike wont damage anything. To be on the safe side always switch off the sat nav screen, audio system, lights, climte off etc etc before you jump start it to minimise risk of damage. Thats what I would do. If you disconnect the battery on a Mk4 LS400 the engine will not start when you re-connect the battery. AFter re-connecting the battery you need turn the ignition to the 'ON' position and leave it there for 6 mins and then turned to 'OFF' before attempting to start the car. Otherwise the car wont start (anti-theft device) and you may get a message which says "Check VSC". You may need to do the above once the donor battery has been connected to your terminals.

Thats probably a good thing they replaced the ECU and 2 new keys. Even if that one key was not broken I would feel a bit uncomfortable knowing that someone out there might have 2 more keys to the car lol. Chancing of it getting stolen might be slim but still..........

I replaced my batter 11 months ago. I bought a Bosch AsiaSilver 7AA battery from Costco which is rated for big Jap cars like the LS400, Honda Legend etc. Cost: Battery: £46.99 inc Vat Battery Terminal - £1 from my local auto spares shop. Labour: 10 mins of my time If the battery drains always best to trickle charge it rather jump start it. Jump starting still does the job but weakens the battery plates with excess heat. Car batterys are not really designed for deep cycling.

Is there is a list available of Lexus dealers which participate in the LOC Gold Membership scheme ? I am thinking of joining the Gold membership scheme If not I would be interested to know from you guys if there are any dealers in the London Area and how much discount they offer on Lexus parts if you are a gold member ? (my closest dealer is Lexus Woodford) Many thanks

Agree with Maneesh. The point of buying the LS400 was the quiet, creamy, silky smooth ride. Hence I wouldn't go for poly bushes which would give sqeaking and a harsher ride. I would be interested in replacements for the standard rubber ones, even though they would not last as long as the poly ones, the LS is worth every penny :) Having said that DHP owners might be interested ?.....

Nearest match would be an S500 from Merc or a BMW 745. With the RR or bentley, don't be surprised with big (when i say big i mean BIG) repair bills. They are mechanically no match at all in anway for the Japanese and Germans The S-class and 7 series compete well in terms of reliability, mechanical technology, finish, performance etc. The general consensus amongst people is that none of them is as quiet as a lexus ls, but each offers a different twist.

Hi, If the fuses are ok then it is probably a case of broken wire connection. A common weak point on the front socket of the 95+ LS400s is the socket wire when you have to push the ashtray and it slowly swivels open. Overtime this swiveling action gently tugs and bends the wire connection behind the socket and it needs to be re-connected if the conducter inside the sleaving is broken. To ge the ashtray out I think you have to remove the whole centre walnut trim. I will try to see how this is taken out. I plan to remove mine to clean the gap in between the walnut wood and the centre console edges.

Welcome to the LOC. If your car is a 98 model and nobody has changed the nav disk, then it probably the V2.1 disk which came out in 98/99. I might be mistaken but if your car is '98 model then it is probably the CD-ROM based unit instead of a DVD based unit. To take it out, you have to put the key in the igiton in the acc position i think and then open the boot and slide the tab and wait for it to come out. You will have to tilt the unit up first by releaseing the clamps. The latest version of the disc is v4.5 if it is a CD-ROM unit. For the electric window, its difficult to say but here is one possible cause. This 98'LS has a feature which if anyting gets stuck in the electric windows while they are shutting, it will stop right there and lower itself to release the object (in case its someones hand or something). There might be a bit of the window rubber which has creased and is stopping the window going all the way up and stopping it while it is closing.

CarPlan Klean Air seems to have done the trick. Bought a can from Tesco for £5. Thanks for the info. :)

For engine coolant and transmission fluid make sure the genuine toyota fluids are used. They are expensive but these cars tend to fall ill with any other aftermarket fluids.

I found this, but i havn't tried it myself: Lexus (GB) Ltd Great Burgh Heath Yew Tree Bottom Road Epsom Surrey KT18 5XS Tel: 01737 363634

So for £2500 + VAT they will take off your heads and tell you that your head gasket, some seals and some sensors need re-placing, you already know that for free. I'd go with Alex, no harm in calling Lexus GB.

Hi, Could anyone recommend a good body repair place in north/east London. I just want to get my front and rear bumpers, bonnet re-sprayed because of scuffs and stone chips etc and also get a supermarket trolley dent on my rear quarter panel taken out. Also should I make sure the body shop uses genuine Lexus paint for the job ? I am paying for this myself (not on insurance) so somewhere reasonably priced. I already got a quote from Lexus and it would basically require me to take a mortgage out on the car. Many thanks.