V8 sir... Suits you sir!

[Redefined]

That above post was for last night but for some reason it didn't upload. This morning and the remainder of the journey done at standard speed limit speeds (you know). Hovering at 70 and mainly motorway. The road was flat and there probably wasn't much wind. Managed the 48 miles at a handsome 28mpg after resetting the fuel computer in the centre-dash.

This was getting me worried and feeling a bit stupid (at buying an LS430 for commuting long distances) but am happy I can achieve real figures in the 30s (+/- 4mpg). Will update again regards mpg after swapping out the air filter, ATF renewal and possibly some new diff oil (and anything else I can think of that could affect mpg).

Oh... and yesterday before starting the 150 miles test, I popped the tires up to 36psi. Not sure that excessive but the weight of the car does state 3500kg.

A bit of whining coming from the steering adjust motor and the side mirror when opening/closing. Hopefully a quick clean/lube might fix the problem....

[Redefined]

Now then... A few things I've concluded and found on the car that need addressing. In no particular order but I'll pop em down in case anyone has any thoughts on the matter before I investigate further (and  hopefully your input might help me proceed appropriately and at minimal expense).

1. The ATF oil is still red and at the correct level. For a 21 year old car without any history that's mighty impressive and I assume it's been renewed appropriately, 2L or so at a time. I'll probably give it another few flushes as there has been one time when the gears felt slightly crunchy. All other times the gear engagement has been silky smooth. I'll be to just get the labelled stuff from Toyota.

2. Rear nearside door won't open from the inside. I assume this is where the original 'rich man/woman' used to sit and hence always got opened from the outside. Might be a simple fix of fiddling about with the mechanism or flush some WD40 through the motor. I'll be certain to preserve the waterproof barrier if I do end up taking off the door panel.

3. Car smelt like it had COPD and I was starting to think deeply about getting one of them Ozone machines. But thankfully leaving the windows open for a few nights/days and a wholesome dosing of the air purifying freshener from Asda seems to be doing the trick now. I don't think mine has the under seat filter as it's the simpler version without cooled seats. I will swap the cabin filter out as soon as I get home (arrived from Germany in only 2 days or so).

Also Cruiser @cruisermark has kindly sold me some original mats that look in good nick. They'll do the interior some 'niceness'.

4. The motor of the steering wheel adjustment sounds 'whiny' and won't generally move up or down. Seems like a sticky motor as is the same problem with the offside mirror. Will try and open both to the motor and dose em with some WD40 or better (I think I have some eletrical freshening spray also from WD).

5. Found a few tiny rust patches. Worst of which is under the rear at number plate section. Not sure how I'll proceed but needs addressing before I'm stuck with a full-on rusting bucket.

6. This should have actually been at the top of the list. But it's not in order so... Gonna order that radiator bypass upgrade before I'm stuck with thw ATF and coolant mixing problem.

7. Timing belt!!! I'm only on 70k but it's a 21 year old belt now. No evidence of it ever being changed and it's a 100k interval between changes as per manual. Decisions, decisions 🤔

[Malc1]

11 hours ago, Redefined said:

but it's a 21 year old belt now

100k miles or  10 years if sooner ..........  needs doing with the waterpump etc whilst you're in there

Malc

[Redefined]

So... Item #7 hooefully getting sorted next month with it being booked in for the 5th next month with David at Lex-Tec. I know you're wondering, the price including labour and genuine Lexus timing belt and water pump is £525 plus vat.

#4, the steering wheel adjust system. Well I opened it up and its obviously been fiddler with before as the covers hadn't been put back together properly. The whining from the telescopic bit has gone after a bit of WD (well, PTFE equivalent). Then a generous dosing of WD (equivalent) and electrical contact cleaner with plenty of pushing up and down to free up the seizure of the metal rod-threads and I got it working (Alhamdulillah/all praise God).

But then (and during) I got a few sparks coming out the motor. Snap, bang, moving up and down, sizzle... and it's fried. At least it's not seized anymore and the rusty-whining has gone upon starting the car and the steering self adjusting for me.

Oh well 

[Redefined]

Opened the back door panel (well, undid it) using this guide but the back version - 

Couldn't actually get the panel undone and then realised its the beautiful solid clips that pull/pin everything together. Cicked the link for the front to check how the panel actually comes away from the door and it seems straightforward enough. Like removing a bike brake cable but a bit more fiddly.

Now that this (OS) is back together I think I have a good idea of whats going on with the side that's actually thw problem. I'll guesstimate that someone has had it apart previously and didnt quite get both (brake type) cables sat ij the slot properly. Will check that tomorrow or another day now and God Willing have it sorted.

In other news... managed to get 28mpg on a 200 mile commute the other day with a little aggressive (with the car, not other sensible drivers) driving to make up for the 40 minute wait. On the way back and hovering between 60 and 70 all the way and it's been 33 (eventually). Happy days 🙂

Oh... and I just realised that the LS isn't actually the one that's described as the Japanese Rolls (but better). That accolade goes to the gorgeous Toyota Century. Wonder if anyone on here has one!

 

[Redefined]

Rear door not opening from the inside, all sorted. Seems to have been opened before (by an idiot) as the 'put-together' clips hadn't been properly engaged at the edges of the door. There is 2 at one end (front or rear, I forgrt which) and 3 at the other.

Whoever had opened it before hadn't slotted the top cable back into place. Unless off course it has previously been used for kidnapping and this is thw seat the victim would be sat (sorry for the poor joke but I really cannot get how someone would be so stupid to not slot the cable (ball ended) into place.

If we take a Lex technician hourly rate into account, though it's actually a half hour job, I reckon I just saved about £70 😄 (All Praise God/Alhamdlillah). Next job, not sure but I'm sure you'll hear about it.

[cruisermark]

its satisfying when jobs like this get done

Are all your speakers ok?

[Redefined]

3 hours ago, cruisermark said:

its satisfying when jobs like this get done

Are all your speakers ok?

To be honest, I'm not totally sure. Been listening to a really old Quran (with english translation) CD and it sounds clear enough. Other day I was thinking the clarity was/is really impressive but then today - maybe in my head due to the amount of times I've heard about the subwoofer problem - I almost thought I heard a few crackles!

Hopefully they're fine and currently on a little mini-mission to ensure I have handsfree Bluetooth setup. The BURY/PARROT kits are about £80 and I'll be permanently connected to the speakers for calls, but then the wiring seems a bit of a chore and I'm unsure whether the kits come with thw appropriate harness for these 22 year old cars!

Just bought a second hand Supertooth kit from eBay for £20 after seeing a mention somewhere by Malc or Malc1. But not keeping my hopes up too much about the in-call sound quality at 70mph...

[Malc1]

19 hours ago, Redefined said:

Malc or Malc1

it's me, same person, just lost an original password when my desktop computer went " bang " ...... 😇  .  all ok now

Malc

[Redefined]

Now then, just a few quick updates. Cancelled the appointment to have the cambelt done at Lex-Tec after being poorly with a chest infect for the 5 weeks preceding new year. Decided that at 70k miles and 20 years of ownership, surely someone would have been kind enough to have had it done at the 10 yearly intervals at least once.

Will try and contact the previous owner for an update as well as start saving up for the camblet change in case nothing comes of it. Also the other day the CD player started playing broken. After much contemplation and feeling sorry for the self, I gave it a good old whack. Suddenly jumped back into existence and like Car Care Nut (YT Lexus Specialist in the US), "life is good".

Also had all 4 tires changed to some used but quality (Michelin, Pirelli and the likes) winter tires. At least about 6mm tread on em and really changed the confidence levels for this winter. I'll run em throughout the year.

Today, the second item I had booked got done. £180 all inclusive, I took it down to Paul Frosts mehc over in Darwen and had the oil cooler upgrade done. Hopefully that'll make a massive difference in it's way upto the 200k mark (125k left 😀)...

[Malc1]

13 hours ago, Redefined said:

surely someone would have been kind enough to have had it done at the 10 yearly intervals at least once.

maybe there's an official sticker near the engine somewhere advising when it was last done etc ?

If not and a prior owner gives you info you can trust, then well, it's all down to you 

Cambelt going pop will just destroy the engine ............ reading many years ago that the " Bang " point for a Ls400 cambelt was 150k miles

Malc

[BMCWP]

You probably don't want to read this but my car had a full history up until 2 years before I bought it with no mention of the belt being done. Like yourself I assumed that maybe it had been done but something kept niggling at me (and after reading a few posts on here) I bit the bullet and had it done. At that point it had 86,000 miles on it and was 12 years old. When we got down to the belt we found the original one still in there and my mechanic says that it was a good job we did as it was really worn. I may have got a few hundred or a few thousand miles out of it but it was about to let go. It was not that bad money wise in the grand scheme of things (well the credit card didn't think so) but its done now as is the radiator. These are not cars to run on a shoestring (although to be honest I do) but it rewards you with literally trouble free driving as all I need to do now is normal servicing and tyres wipers etc as and when needed. (oh and put petrol in but that's a given) I strongly advise you get the belt done as there is a big difference between a bill for a few hundred quid and a few thousand for a new engine. 

[Redefined]

Thanks @Malc1and  @BMCWP

Its a job I'd on hold (and in the hope it might have been done - so plan/planned to contact the last owner) after sickness left me a bit short on the old cashflow. So thought I'd prioritise the oil cooler.

But having heard your reports/advice I'll get saving up again ASAP and get it booked in again as soon as I've got the half a k. Thankfully I never drive it with little petrol (except for when I'm seeking out a petrol station due to a long commute) and try my best to stick to the higher grade fuel (not that it makes a difference apparently for longevity on thrse engines.

Next stop, cambelt 😊

Oh, and Malc... Yes, I did indeed look for a sticker reporting the last change but sadly not found one...

[Malc1]

there's a glimmer of hope ......  in early times, had your car been serviced by Lexus ( as is likely ? ) the car just might have the original computerised service log with Lexus ( at the Centre ? ) and if so that might reveal summat useful 🤔

Malc

[BMCWP]

7 hours ago, Malc1 said:

there's a glimmer of hope ......  in early times, had your car been serviced by Lexus ( as is likely ? ) the car just might have the original computerised service log with Lexus ( at the Centre ? ) and if so that might reveal summat useful 🤔

Malc

Good idea and in some cases great reading as well - I have some of mine from 2011 to 2016 and spotted things such as a new electric sun blind, rear light lens and body, a complete set of new front shocks (at 2370 euro!) new boot gas struts, another rear lens (seems it was owned by an elderly gentleman who could not hear the "beeps")  a full new complete left hand door mirror (880 euros!) plus all the usual service items. I've sent an email off to see if I can get the early history from it was new to 2010 but I have heard nothing back yet. 

[Micholas]

This is literally like a repeat of my LS430 ownership 😀 it’s uncanny.

I’m pretty sure I was about to buy that one that you went to view and got your money back. He was going to let me catch trains all the way from London under the proviso of ‘rust free’. Fortunately I got him to send me a video of the car first and I saw the rust in the video! I was furious with him. 

Re. your car, all the repairs you’re doing on yours I’ve had with mine.. trust me you’ll have a lot more to do as the months roll on. However the first thing you HAVE to get done before anything else is the cam belt.. If it goes your car is scrap. It’s not going to be worth buying a new engine and transplanting.  

[Redefined]

So... Driving back from work, noticed the small chip in my line of sight of the windscreen looks a bit, 'shrapnelled'. So drove straight to Halfords to enquire on the proper repair after seeing the Autoglass price is about £220. John, there told me I'm better off with AG due to the method they use and my screen now being a bit 'delicate'.

Got myself booked in for Friday at a cost of £260 but not going via insurance due to religious reasons - I'm getting the tiny chip done too hence the extra £40. Then spoke to my mate aboit my drive to work of 150 miles round trip. He advised against it unless I wanted a bigger crack due to vibrationsb (happened to his daughters car even though they'd seemingly strengthened it temporarily.

Not wanting to risk it I had to take leave from work explaining my problem. Moral of the story... Don't wait for that tiny chip to become a tiny crack. A replacement screen is pretty much over a grand... then the labour!

[Malc1]

8 hours ago, Redefined said:

A replacement screen is pretty much over a grand... then the labour!

and subject to your religious reasons ...........  it would be an insurance claim with a £75 ?? excess maybe

Malc

[Redefined]

I actually specified the maximum excess during buying the insurance Malc. So not sure if it might be more like £500 or something like that.

Got the insurance for a fraction in return though at about £450 I think. Hopefully having theee two chips repaired, I'll see about some sort of extra protection for body and windows to keep em going for a good few years longer.

Lovely cars 😊

[Redefined]

Just to add. The chap that's come asked about pricing (what I'd paid) and next was the usual, "why not go insurance" etc... Then it's an, "why didn't you just use Halfords" and I explained how Idbeen advised by them to use Autoglass due to the extent of the damage. "Hmmm, a bit strange" was the reply.

He indicated that there's apparently not much difference between his repair and that from Halfords. Asked about the lifetime warranty on the repair that the website stipulates and I'm informed that he has to sign it off first. There's also the risk that it could crack whilst he's impregnating the resin into it and then it's a full windscreen jobby!!

He obviously doesn't realise these screens cost about the 1k mark as he quoted me, 'about £200'. There we have it folks (aside from the lifetime warranty on the particular repair), you're better off going to Halfords 🤗

[BigBoomer]

Your windscreen Excess is rarely the same as your accident/theft Excess. Most insurers it is between £50 and £100 for windscreen repairs/replacements.
Check your insurance documents.
I had the screen on my first Honda Legend (98) replaced and it cost me £70 for a new windscreen that is rarer than Golden Goose Teeth 😁 (it had to be shipped from the USA).

[serbarry]

I had the windscreen replaced in my GS in June and it was completely covered by my insurance.  

[Malc1]

17 hours ago, BigBoomer said:

I had the screen on my first Honda Legend (98) replaced and it cost me £70 for a new windscreen that is rarer than Golden Goose Teeth 😁 (it had to be shipped from the USA).

when I had my 2006 Honda Legend screen replaced ............  last year under warranty of course with £75 excess ? .  it was there in a flash BUT maybe it was the one and only left in the UK and they were pleeeeeeassed to exit it from their stock holding maybe .....  as you say, Honda Legends are as rare as whatever .  so few ever sold in the UK and  brilliant cars too  ........  otherwise I wouldn't have one methinks 

Malc

[Micholas]

I got my windscreen replaced by the main dealer via the insurance. Cost £900 fitted, had to pay for it and the insurance company sent me a cheque for £800, minus my £100 windscreen excess. It’s got a lovely little Lexus badge in the corner of the glass. 

[Redefined]

Excellent news (kind of). The chap from Autoglass came and was perplexed as to why Halfords told me to use AG when they only charge £40. I told him that the Halfords mech said that AG use a much higher pressure to inject the resin and that Halfords wouldn't warranty the work and hence advised me to just go to AG from the start.

Lovely chap (lets call him Brian) then asked me about, "do you mind me asking how much you paid" after he learnt I wasntgoing via insurance. £260 was quickly converted to £220 by him as he said he'd not bother doing the 2nd chip, "it's only minor surface scrape". Then after doing the job he tells me that he cannot guarantee it.

"Might last a day, might last forever", cos it had already been drilled and repaired previously (goes to show why you should get it done properly first and not go 'backyard'. Then Brian (the legend) tellse that he'll get the office to return my money.

Called them yesterday and they claimed they knew not what's happening. Called again today and they said they've returned the money to my (wifes) card and that it might take a few days...

So essentially a free windscreen repair job the other day (this post was supposed to be up a few days ago but it disappeared).