New to GS300

runsgrateasanut · January 30, 2021

Hi All,

Bought an old dog of a GS300 last week and already set about improving it.

Need a few Q’s answered.

Does this have the dodgy Radiator? (year 2000) Need change or add an oil Cooler. I have the latter but no idea how easy to fit or to where.

Could this also have ECU problems at some stage?

Got a swimming Pool in the passenger side boot. Likely the Sun roof Drains blocked or something else? Mat not wet so probably not Boot seal. Lots of rain recently. Can see a plastic tube up the corner.

No hard panels each side in the Boot to support the folding Mat. Should there be panels?

No panel covering the rear parcel shelf Speaker Why do people treat their cars like this?

It was driven to me 8 miles, but yet to drive. Awaiting 1^st Feb to Tax.

Battery to be de-sulphated as car only driven 10 miles + delivery since previous owner bought it – not sure how long ago. /waiting V5c. Batt Reg 12.08v yesterday. Will link M/Cycle Battery to Pos terminal before removal to charge in case Radio coded.

Wheels and Tyres are 18” Lexus, but in poor condition. Front Tyre already gone flat since Car arrived. Doh!

Just bought some very nice replacement 17 inch Wheels with Bridgstone tyres. Pleased with purchase. Toyota wheels but no idea from which Car. Photo's eventually.

rich1068 · January 30, 2021

Ooo! Looking forward to this one!

I'm not aware of inherent radiator issues or ECU issues on the MKll GS.

Could be sun roof drains. Rear ones exit both sides via those tubes and should stick out behind the back wheels.

Folding mat (iirc) just rests on the side structure with the spare wheel in the centre with a round storage thing. I think.

Don't forget the key and immobiliser can take an age to talk to each other if the Battery is disconnected.

runsgrateasanut · January 30, 2021

That's interesting Richard.

Hence the Motorcycle Battery wired in parallel to the terminals before I take them off the Battery to remove it in doors to charge with the de-sulphating process. Not sure of the CCA for this Car but will check this Halfords Battery to see if up to the task.

rich1068 · January 31, 2021

Don't forget Stuart, pics or it didn't happen

runsgrateasanut · January 31, 2021

Ouch - as if!!

Had a nasty health scare last night - may have been to do with lifting the new wheels in doors.

Here's a photo and photo's glamorise so I'll let you see reality sometime next week.

What I can tell you is that on the UK Car statistics site this car has only had 12.5% faults against my Corolla 21.1% (four years younger) and my LS400 27.8% faults (seven years older).

rich1068 · January 31, 2021

Same colour as my old one!

OldTrout · January 31, 2021

Stuart,

I had a 98 model. The radio was coded and it lost its code one dark night in the wilds of Warwickshire when the Battery died and had to be replaced without the benefit of keeping the power to the radio.

Nobody had recorded the code in the manual and the previous owner could not help. The specialists who can deal with code locked radios said this was one they could not do. After an exchange of letters with Lexus HQ the service manager from Lexus Oxford came to my house (suit and LS) to remove the radio to take it to be fixed. After a week or so I drove to the dealer for it to be refitted. They said they would send an invoice but never did. I don't know if the service manager agreed with me that it was silly of Lexus not keep a record of codes to cover this not unlikely event of code loss or if it was a real administrative oversight. Whatever much better PR the Lexus HQ.

John

rich1068 · February 1, 2021

Odd. My facelift MKll GS never asked for a code. Disconnected the Battery many times.

:edit:

A thought though. Maybe one of those optional things like on my 96/97 LS. No code from the factory but the owner can put one in. A previous owner may do that and a new owner would have no idea until the Battery is disconnected.

OldTrout · February 1, 2021

Richard,

After attention by Lexus my radio was code-free. The Battery was changed many times - I had a fault I never found which flattened the Battery. I carried a spare and got very fast at swapping it in.

John

runsgrateasanut · February 1, 2021

The LS I seem to recall from somewhere had a 0000 code which could be removed or replaced. My LS didn't have a code. Doubt this has a code. No Manual, no Radio Booklet which would mention coding. Photo's in the wet always improves the look of a car. Empty fuel tank, only one key glued togther (managed to un glue and change cell Battery which only operates from about six inches away. Won't dare to leave the key in the ignition if filling with petrol and closing the door just in case Car locks itself. Pretty sure this happened on my LS but I had an extra key.

Binding brakes on just reversing in my drive. (only movement I've witnessed) May be just the Handbrake. MOT with no advisories. yeah right!! New 17" wheels photo - hope they fit! Cam belt kit and waterpump on order from Rock, just hope those bally Brakes don't need new Calipers. Doh!

TigerFish · February 1, 2021

The radio code is an optional thing. If it flashes up “SEC” when you’d switch on, then a code has been set, if not, there hasn’t been one set.

They are mk1 sport wheels that came on it (albeit without the wider rears), so a relatively rare wheel. I’d stick with those and get them refurbed if it was me. If you decide to sell, mention “Supra” in your advert title, the Supra clan love them, so you’d increase the market you are selling to, and with any luck, get a bit more for them 🙂

runsgrateasanut · February 1, 2021

That's interesting Rick. One wheel is particularly poor with corrosion. Daresay they would refurb up though.

I'm not looking forward to changing them, weightwise. Desigining a device to be able to rotate the wheel when at right height using one of my Sons's Skateboards upside (or just the Trucks) attached to a long plank.

All my tools left in my LS in France. Haven't been able to release the Centre plate with an Alan Bolt so far. Praying there is no wheel locks as no key found.

Tyres are also a mismatch I think. One on front is a 240 / 40 / R18 and I'm told the 240 should end with a 5, as the other three Tyres. Perhaps explains it being fiat and half can of Holts Tyreweld in the boot.

I hope to run with them for a few days to see how the car performs. Will use the remains of the Tyreweld.

Will check for the SEC messsage on the radio. Thanks for advice.

rich1068 · February 2, 2021

15 hours ago, TigerFish said:

The radio code is an optional thing. If it flashes up “SEC” when you’d switch on, then a code has been set, if not, there hasn’t been one set.

You put that much better than I did!

And yes to getting the Lexus wheels refurbished.

runsgrateasanut · February 2, 2021

On 1/31/2021 at 4:35 PM, OldTrout said:

Stuart,

I had a 98 model. The radio was coded and it lost its code one dark night in the wilds of Warwickshire when the battery died and had to be replaced without the benefit of keeping the power to the radio.

John

Hello John

I was thinking of replacing the Radio as I have a brand new Sony head unit with USB and Aux. However having watched most of this video on the subject I may not be brave enough to take that step. Pity because I so need the Aux. Not the same using one of those things that operates by FM frequency via the Cigar lighter.

https://youtu.be/aBCt0waGtSk

runsgrateasanut · February 3, 2021

More advice needed.

Tried to unlock the Boot with the key as the keyfob "unlock" rubber is no longer exposed but sunken. All hell broke loose with Car siren and flashing lights, much I'm sure to the annoyance of the neighbours and me having a meltdown. Somehow managed to stop the commotion pressing the "close" button on the fob as the "unlock" didn't seem to do it.

When I have unlocked the Car and opened a door, the car remains unlocked possibly until I decide to lock it. Is it the only way to switch off the system?

The car is boxed in and nothing of value inside, so could leave unlocked until a solution is found.

The keyfob has a rubber mat that seems to be stuck to the RF transmitter part. I bought a replacement blank key with a new Rubber mat. Can I cut off the original Mat and replace? or will that cause an issue with the keyfob no longer working. Anyone done this?

Don't have a Manual but seem to recall security switch mentioned in LS400 manual (also in b**ly France) . If I can cut out the lights from flashing this would lower my anxiety level. They don't on my LS.

Thanks