New Owner Introduction, And Questions

Jacques Wood · October 20, 2015

After years of wanting an LS400, I can finally afford the insurance!

I'm not yet clued up on all the model allocations, but it's a 1995 pre facelift car.

I did have a few questions, I hope people might be able to direct me to threads that can help?

1. The car is an incredibly dark green, almost black without direct sunlight. Can anyone identify the paint code? as there are some areas I want to touch up.

2. The ABS kicks in just as I come to a halt, quick research suggests giving the ABS sensors a good clean? does it pick up on a timing gear?

3. Drivers window has a twanging sound that sounds to me a like a frayed winding cable, any thoughts?

4. Where is the OBDII port?

5. Gearbox jolts when selecting D from P, is this a a sign of anything? Or have I just been spoiled with smoother, more modern auto's? It goes up and down through the gears smooth as silk.

6. Has anyone reduced the height of their seat runners (cut and shut mig welding)? Even with the drivers seat at it's lowest, my head is still in contact with the roof.

7. Is there any upgrade or modification that you owners can recommend (later model parts etc.)? Any parts that are better over OEM? Online workshop manuals?

I hope to have many years happy ownership, and i'll do all I can to contribute to the forum with any tips/tricks I find/figure out.

Thank you for any help.

Jacques Wood

SHELLDRAKE · October 20, 2015

Welcome to the club Jacques, you will find the blokes on here a friendly bunch, the knowledge that they have is second to none, the only thing that I can help you with is when going from "P to D"press the brake pedal down, this stops the car from trying to move also when going into "R" hope this solves one of your problems Photographs and let us see your Lexi Please

donald-trump · October 20, 2015

Your paint colour may be Regency Green metallic. Not heard of a jolt going from p into d before. How many miles has the car done? Seat height should be decent for most 6ft plus guys but if your 7ft then I would see that being an issue perhaps. The best upgrade may be a newer set of wheels such as the DHP 17" model which does look more modern and fills out the arches. Enjoy the car.

Ruud · October 20, 2015

Hi Jacques and welcome :)

-The paint code is probably the same as my celsior and should be 6N9. ( you can check this on the VIN plate in the engine bay)

-The jolt you feel when putting into drive could be due to a worn gearbox mount. The ls400 has one of the smoothest rides on the planet so something is def wrong. Then again....when the RPM is a bit high you can feel what you describe.

-OBD port is under the dash driver's side.

-My '90 400 has lower seats than my '99 - Probably to accommodate for the stereo amplifier under the driver's seat.(I'm 6ft6 and am ok. just)

-Re window - just take the door card off and check everything for free movement.

-A common 'upgrade' is clear indicator lenses at the front. They were readily available a few years ago, but seem a bit harder to find nowadays.

Hope this helps a bit

Jacques Wood · October 20, 2015

thanks for the help guys.

I do feel I press the brake all the way, the jolt is forward motion by what I assume is the selecting of the gear. It pulls away smoothly, it's just that selection process.

The car has 137K on it, it seems genuine, but I only have history to 122K, it's having a cambelt this coming week.

As some stage it's had an offside impact and the driver door has very slight evidence of repair (evidence of orange peel, door shut line not consistent, but not touching anywhere.

sadly it's had a set of after market wheel put on it at some point, they could be a lot worse, and to the untrained eye you might mistake them for OEM (16" OZ racing 6 spokes), but they need to go.

As for the seat, i'm 6ft 7" and broad shouldered. I refuse to compromise my driving position by leaning the seat back, so i'll get another seat on eBay and experiment with cutting and shutting.

I'll get pictures up this eve.

Thanks again.

Jacques Wood · October 20, 2015

Ruud,

that's exactly it, when the car is cold and the revs are up I get the jolt. I hadn't thought of that, that makes sense, am I just experiencing gear engagement?

Ruud · October 20, 2015

As long as you don't hear any clunks it should be ok.

Bluesman · October 20, 2015

Hi and welcome to the LOC, we are a
friendly bunch and some of us even know how to pull them to bits and
put them back together again, with of course the one bolt and washer
left over.

We recommend you spend a couple of mins
looking over the rules of the LOC, we will be asking questions later

I cant help with your present queries
but I'm sure someone will be along ASAP.

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/terms-conditions/

Regards Mike.

Jacques Wood · October 21, 2015

Just a quick update with a picture, Ruud was right about the paint code being 6N9, which is nice to see in the flesh, as I plan tin import a Mkiii Supra in that colour next year.

The interior is a bit grubby, but it's proving to be a fantastic daily. It's having the cambelt done at Coventry Lexus tomorrow, along with a "health inspection".

I'm still none the wiser as to why I get a little kick from the ABS when I come to halt, no codes flashed up when I plugged in the OBDII and the bulb lights up and goes out happily on start up.

Ruud · October 21, 2015

Sometimes it has to do with the ABS ring. Maybe Lexus will pick it up tomorrow.

A nice enough car you got there Jacques. Hopefully good for 1000s of miles trouble free motoring.

I agree with the colour, it's very nice. When the sun isn't out it's black.

steve2006 · October 21, 2015

All your other questions seem to have been answered but regarding the ABS you need to check the reluctor/toothed rings behind each hub and carefully clean between the teeth with....a toothbrush. Also check the ABS sensors mounted on each hub for grit pickup, they are magnetic so tend to attact magnetic particles so clean any off.

Scribe · October 22, 2015

Welcome Jacques, and congratulations on acquiring your Mk.3. Five and a half years ago I bought an early Mk.4 (January 1998) with the same miles on it that yours has now, and it was one of the best purchases I've ever made.

I'm not as tall as you but I do find the cabin a bit cramped. Park the Lexus next to a modern small car and you'll see why: although it's longer and possibly wider, it's lower and actually looks quite small in comparison.

I have what sounds like the same ABS problem on my smart car. Like Ruud, I think it might be a damaged or corroded ABS ring (a common smart problem). It's worse when the car is cold.

I agree that the aftermarket wheels could be (much) worse. Bear in mind that Lexus originals tend to need refurbishing after a few years because the alloys get corroded from brake dust. You'll be lucky to find a set that looks smart enough to match the rest of the car, but you never know... Refurbishing costs about £60-70 per wheel, I think.

runsgrateasanut · October 22, 2015

Congratulations on your new car.

I'd be interested to hear what you do about your front seat experiment. I'm not sure if the seats have changed in any way during the years? Had to repair my own for a common tilt back problem, perhaps later seats didn't inherit.?

I find with my Transmission if I start the car from cold and select reverse to get out beyond the drive its fine. If I put it back into Park whilst I padlock the chain across my drive when I get back in, the car does not like going into Reverse, so I now select Neutral to avoid the feeling that its having difficutly engaging. When the transmission is hot this doesn't happen. Don't know if there is a cure?

Will drain the Trannie at some point as have the necessary filter on my Study floor.

Jacques Wood · October 22, 2015

Thank you all for your input, it's so nice to be on a forum with people giving friendly advice and ideas.

Fun story, Lexus Coventry are picking up the LS for a Cambelt today, but need to keep it overnight as they're short staffed.

Apparently I've got an LS460 coming my way for a day!

Though I think someone higher up might raise an eyebrow when they see they've given it to a 25 year old!

Scribe · October 22, 2015

I think we'll all be booking our cars into Lexus Coventry now!

Jacques Wood · October 22, 2015

I'm afraid the fairy tale has ended. After picking up my car and leaving a CT200h (not the like for like i expected) they've contacted me to say that they can't change my cambelt, because "Lexus do not work on LPG converted cars, because a technician was killed 3 years ago".

I'm completely dumbfounded by this.

Can anyone shed any light on where they get their LPG converted LS's worked on?

I'm very capable of doing the cambelt myself, but it seemed cheap enough at the dealer to warrant getting them to do it.

Bluesman · October 22, 2015

I have never heard of this engineer killed by LPG, come to that I have never heard of anyone being killed by LPG. What details did they give you about the incident. Petrol is far more explosive than LPG. There are many good independents that will do the job. Mike.

PS Should have said there are Lexus dealers that will work on LPG cars.

alien1974 · October 22, 2015

mine jolts between P and R, i was told one of the diff mount bushes was worn, as the garage had it on the ramp to check it, the tranny mount was fine.

Chris Skelton · October 22, 2015

HOW? Changing cambelt doesn't involve the Gas! If the work done improperly, the car would react the same with petrol or gas....after all, petrol IS gas at ignition.

Gas+Go in Swindon are a bit far from you, but there must be others who'll do the belt.

Titch LS · October 22, 2015

Jaques, welcome to the forum. Just to let you know only U.S.spec LS 400's are OBD2 compliant, ours are OBD1 even though there is an OBD2 type port under the dash. Daft I know, but there it is. To read codes you have to 'jumper' either the OBD port under the dash (it is easily accessible) or the black oblong looking port near the fuse box.(has a flip up lid). You can use a paperclip to do it and you read off the number of coded flashes on the dashboard. As to a technician being killed by LPG (explosion?) I simply don't believe that story, sorry. I've never ever heard of anyone being killed by LPG. They are making excuses. If you are prepared to travel a bit, I would thoroughly recommend a small independent Jap car specialists called Japex. They are in Kings Langley near Hemel Hemstead. Best garage I have ever used. They know LS400's inside out and are happy to work on LPG cars.

PCM · October 28, 2015

Japex would get my vote too - give them a ring, see what they say ...

runsgrateasanut · October 28, 2015

Yes - I think they got scared, seeing your age. I wouldn't trust my Son of similar age with anything of value Car wise. (Golf Mk 2 owner and driver - well would be if he could be bothered to fix it) LOL

You say it was "cheap" to do, but I doubt that would be the case as you don't just want to change the Cambelt but also the water pump and tensioners as water pumps within the housing do begin to leak and the Tensioner is critical. Don't want to have the work done twice.

Parts alone from Lexus are over £500 but on eBay USA you can get a kit for $250 (? or thereabouts) So, before sorting a mechanic give this some thought.

ps No, my Son doesn't drive my Lexus as he loves to talk about drifiting!!!