New LS400 purchased - let the fettling begin!

[Razor61]

Jobs planned for over the Easter weekend:

Fit new washer level sensor - purchased from Amayama - maybe the sensor is sticking or something but it's getting a new one.
Fit new drivers door check assembly - purchased from Amayama - the arm is split on the body side where it fastens with the pin.
Oil and filter change
Check all front suspension and make sure all is tight and nothing slightly loose - car has developed some suspension noise over speed bumps.
And then the biggy and most important...........................check if the transmission fluid cooler is built into the radiator or is separate and take pictures🙂

[Razor61]

 Oil and filter - done

Fit new drivers door check assembly - done with new pin. Door card and speaker removed to do the job. Plastic at the body end was broken, pin was cut down so someone has been there before. The inner core is metal so door wouldn’t fly away.

Washer level sensor started working again so left that for another time, truth is I forgot to do it when the wheel was off to check the suspension😀

Check all front suspension - done. Can’t find anything loose or worn.

The biggy and most important...........................check if the transmission fluid cooler is built into the radiator or is separate and take pictures - done. Trans fluid cooler is built into the radiator. Pic below, sorry about the rusty bits with paint coming off. This will be rectified as soon as possible.
 

[cruisermark]

So the trans fluid setup is exactly the same as the LS430 - but the LS400 never suffered from the problem the LS430 does.

[Chris Skelton]

It’s going to be interesting if I manage to buy a(nother!) LS400 (ser 4).

Reading this string……not sure if I’m put off,or educated!

Brilliant.

[Razor61]

47 minutes ago, cruisermark said:

So the trans fluid setup is exactly the same as the LS430 - but the LS400 never suffered from the problem the LS430 does.

Correct, why the LS400 didn’t suffer the same issue is open for debate. I have never owned a LS430 so can’t comment on why LS430’s suffered from it. Maybe it’s down to the make/type of radiator or where the connections to the radiator are located.

[Razor61]

Took some pics of the door check assembly. Looks like the door check assembly isn’t ’handed’, the same assembly fits RH and LH. There is a plastic cover over the bracket on the body side, didn’t notice this was missing until I looked at the passenger side. Another bit ‘missing’ which I will purchase of course.
 

Drivers side after new assy and new pin

Passenger side

[Razor61]

1 hour ago, Chris Skelton said:

not sure if I’m put off,or educated!

You shouldn’t be put off, get a ‘good one’ while you can😉
What I would say though, rust/corrosion is the #1 enemy. I know from experience the places to look for signs on the series 2 aka MK3 and series 2a aka MK4.
A ‘good one’ doesn’t guarantee it will be trouble free though, it may be trouble free if it’s just ‘run’ but time will catch up. Chances are the suspension and brakes will need attention whatever car you buy and will cost a bit depending on how far you want to go.

[Malc1]

Paul thank you for this.  The oil coolant gizmo stuff…. might it be coz yours is a Mk4 Ls400 ? 
 
otherwise I’m going to be double worrying to eternity ( having 2 older cars ) …….. OR I just accept the inevitable idc and pray it might never go “ pop “ 

Malc  …….. U could have come up with a better answer for me 😂

[Razor61]

6 hours ago, Malc1 said:

might it be coz yours is a Mk4 Ls400 ? 

Nope, they are all the same design as far as I can see. The early cars may have separate couplings on the radiator for the trans fluid pipes.

[Malc1]

4 hours ago, Razor61 said:

Nope, they are all the same design as far as I can see. The early cars may have separate couplings on the radiator for the trans fluid pipes.

Thank you ………. so it’s best to just leave it all alone in peace ……. there’s no likely sensible preventative maintenance with this do you think ? 

Malc 

[Razor61]

8 hours ago, Malc1 said:

there’s no likely sensible preventative maintenance with this do you think ?

New OE radiator if you want to prevent anything but people will have reported any ‘LS430 type issues’ with the LS400 I would think. It’s a good idea to replace the radiator anyway and flush out the cooling system with an older car. The radiator on my car had been replaced otherwise I would have replaced it.

[Malc1]

Oh dear …….. deeper pockets needed then ……. double with 2  x  Ls400s ……. I’ve never, however,  seen anyone reporting this on this Forum of course ……. might their cars have gone pop and just been scrapped ……. for the sake of a new radiator and oil cooler 🤔

Malc 

[ambermarine]

Covered the washer sensor subject ten years ago the doughnut gets waterlogged just remove the sensor from the bottle and place it in the airing cupboard for a few days until it is dried out then coat the doughnut with laquer this seals it and mine is still working ten years on.

[Razor61]

2 hours ago, ambermarine said:

Covered the washer sensor subject ten years ago the doughnut gets waterlogged just remove the sensor from the bottle and place it in the airing cupboard for a few days until it is dried out then coat the doughnut with laquer this seals it and mine is still working ten years on.

Nice one Phil, I may coat the new doughnut with lacquer before I fit it. I'll follow your method on the one I take out and then I'll have a spare or sell it.
iirc a new one in the UK is around £100 I think, £30 from Amayama and I ordered it along with other bits like the door check assembly and some clips. I wish I'd noticed the door check bracket cover missing though, I've ordered a new one from Lexus Bolton.

[Razor61]

Regarding the door check assembly, the drivers door never shut correctly and when closing it ‘normally’ it bounced - no matter what I did adjusting the striker plate. It shut better after replacing the door check assembly though, I’m not saying it should be like a Rolls Royce but should be better. So this morning I adjusted the striker plate again, this time I got the door to shut correctly no problem at all. It wasn’t a major issue at all but rather a very annoying issue and chuffed that it’s sorted.
Issue was the door check assembly itself, I couldn’t see how the broken bit on the body side could cause this so I removed the rubber boot on the old door check assembly and there was broken bits of plastic, a couple of metal plates detached and the end of the metal arm was bent. Looks like one metal plate in the picture but it’s 2.
I guess in the past the wind has caught the door and damaged the assembly at the door side and the body side. Fixing one issue at the door side (the cut down pin and broken plastic) with a new check assembly has fixed the door closing issue, now I know it’s all related. Passenger side has the same door closing issue, body side pin and cover is fine but it may have the same issue at the door end. I’ll order a new one next time I order some parts from Amayama.

[runsgrateasanut]

On 3/29/2024 at 7:37 PM, Malc1 said:

Paul thank you for this.  The oil coolant gizmo stuff…. might it be coz yours is a Mk4 Ls400 ? 
 
otherwise I’m going to be double worrying to eternity ( having 2 older cars ) …….. OR I just accept the inevitable idc and pray it might never go “ pop “ 

Malc  …….. U could have come up with a better answer for me 😂

I've had a Nissens 64756A for 1990 Lexus) sat in the Garage for a few years now.  I seem to recall I paid £45 for this new item but prices have risen as you can see. If you want it I can't promise to courier it as its in a large box.  Happy to sell for same price. Not sure my old Gal will be on the road much longer. What could go wrong with my "cunning plan"? Its definately gone wrong on two fronts, but... if the waether hold out, we'll see.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304868376589

[Malc1]

Stuart ……. I’m thinking you’ll be getting her together again for “ another life” 

Not sure you’ll ever need that replacement radiator though ……. hope I don’t either 😄

Malc 

[runsgrateasanut]

17 hours ago, Malc1 said:

Stuart ……. I’m thinking you’ll be getting her together again for “ another life” 

Not sure you’ll ever need that replacement radiator though ……. hope I don’t either 😄

Malc 

You are right Malc. but having had the Trannie pipe drop off the Radiator of my S140 series Merc  just as I arrived home once, I bought the Rad just in case.  It was a problem with a certain manufacturer which I may have mentioned before on this forum, Well known to Merc owners. Earlier Lexus didn't use them but had their own Rads which G willing will last to eternity. Only frontal impact or external corrosion likely to require replacement.

Bl**dy weather - one day progress then two days Gales and wet! Doh!  

[Razor61]

On 3/29/2024 at 2:14 PM, cruisermark said:

So the trans fluid setup is exactly the same as the LS430 - but the LS400 never suffered from the problem the LS430 does.

Found this info from another post on here, makes sense and maybe the LS430 radiators were/are more susceptible to internal corrosion if the coolant isn't changed regularly than the LS400. According to the maintenance schedule, and I stand to be corrected, the coolant should be changed every 2 years or 30,000 miles but how many LS400/430 owners do this or have this done (apart from taking it to Lexus for the correct servicing at correct intervals) I certainly 'didn't' do this. Regular oil and filter change every 6 months, regular brake fluid change every 2 years yes but never thought about the coolant change every 2 years.
It was around 2 years ago that the coolant on my LS400 was changed when the timing belt and water pump was done, I should change it as soon as possible I guess. £23 per 5 litres of coolant won't break the bank.

Topic quote:

The secret to having no problems with the transmission cooling on an LS430 is to make sure the anti-freeze is up to strength and is less than 5 years old at all times. The anti-freeze contains the corrosion inhibitor that stops the cooling pipe in the radiator rusting through and filling the gearbox with water!

Topic:
 

 

[Malc1]

" Lucky "   could that be the correct expression  ........  all you lucky guys with the Ls430 rad gone " pop "

 

My Honda Legend 2006 Mk1V replacement aluminium rad seems as rare as hen's teeth and the least expensive I can find on-line is at £284  🤑

Re-coring specialists seem to regale at aluminium fixes ........  s'pose Old Rads on Classics are copper maybe  🫢

Still searching here so if anyone's got one hiding up in their garage space then do please shout

btw Honda Main Dealer thinks he can source one from Belgium he says at @ £900+  ..  wot a joke eh !

Malc

[BigBoomer]

Well if you insist on driving rare-as-rocking-horse-poop cars, then you will end up with these parts dilemmas. 😁
I have similar problems with some parts for my GTR1000's.

There are several radiators on eBay for £200 and up and you can also get one shipped from the USA via RockAuto.

[Malc1]

Seem to have found a 100 years young radiator business in Leeds that uses a Scottish company who, they suggest, subject to photos and measurements, manufacture one NEW for us for £195 incl vat  👍

let’s see 

my garage guy now needs to dismantle photo and measure the dead radiator…… she indoors is distraught at having to drive a Ls400 much longer …….. it’s unbelievable. 🤣

Malc