The 'usual' Ls400 Exhaust Leak

ChrisW · February 3, 2011

I know there's a few threads about the common exhaust leak between the cats and the mid-pipe but I'm looking for some personal experience from people who have fixed it. Replacing the gaskets didn't work for me because the flanges are too far gone. I've been patching it up with Gun Gum but I'm getting fed up with having to re-do it every month or so.

Has anyone had new flanges put on the mid-pipe? If so how much did it cost and did you get the cats replaced at the same time? I suspect my cats need doing because the emissions were near the limit on my last MOT.

Also if anyone knows of an exhaust specialist in Cambridgeshire that can do this sort of work, that would be very useful!

SteveLS400 · February 3, 2011

I know there's a few threads about the common exhaust leak between the cats and the mid-pipe but I'm looking for some personal experience from people who have fixed it. Replacing the gaskets didn't work for me because the flanges are too far gone. I've been patching it up with Gun Gum but I'm getting fed up with having to re-do it every month or so.

Has anyone had new flanges put on the mid-pipe? If so how much did it cost and did you get the cats replaced at the same time? I suspect my cats need doing because the emissions were near the limit on my last MOT.

Also if anyone knows of an exhaust specialist in Cambridgeshire that can do this sort of work, that would be very useful!

Here's a selection of the best threads

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=64149&st=0&p=701364&hl=flanges&fromsearch=1entry701364

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=66069&st=0&p=714725&hl=flanges&fromsearch=1entry714725

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=51624&st=0&p=559536&hl=flanges&fromsearch=1entry559536

At least one of them sets out all the options.

Dale_V · February 3, 2011

mine were blowing, ended up just getting the welder out and welding the flanges together. job done

ChrisW · February 3, 2011

Steve: Thanks, I wasn't expecting people to search the forums for me but there's some useful info in those threads that I hadn't found before.

Dale: Welding it all up is tempting - I'd have to get someone to do it for me but it shouldn't be too expensive. My OCD tells me it's not the 'proper' way to fix it though! :)

Dale_V · February 3, 2011

welding them is a permanent fix, if for what ever reason that you need to dis assemble the exhaust then a slice with the grinder will free it up, and at that point you can add new flanges and do it the 'propper' way. But chances are the exhaust wont have to come off, so welding it is all good and it lasts unlike the exhaust paste/gumgun that lasts about a month :)

ChrisW · February 3, 2011

That makes sense, and I probably shouldn't be so precious about a car that I paid less than £900 for!

Ruud · February 3, 2011

That makes sense, and I probably shouldn't be so precious about a car that I paid less than £900 for!

It's not your fault, It's a LEXUS. A very precious asset :)

floggit · February 3, 2011

Hi, I've had this problem , and was solved quiete easily by my local LONGLIFE branch. Here's wat they did..... My cats were fine but both flanges were rotten and crumbling. They cut them out and welded new angled pipe straight to them. The bit after the bend "sleeves" over the centre pipes and is clamped on. This allows the cat section to be removed still. Also because of the sleeve the lambda sensor fittings had to be relocated to the new pipe/sleeve. Cost was £100 per pipe. Quality job.

If you have a local LONGLIFE centre and there unsure what I mean get them to call the Plymouth branch , I believe the manager is called ZHEV. Top bloke, he will remember the job as he loved the car and called it THE SUDAN MAFIA HITCAR lol.

Hope this helps

Steve.

SteveLS400 · February 3, 2011

That makes sense, and I probably shouldn't be so precious about a car that I paid less than £900 for!

Best car in the world and even Clarkson was complimentary.

SteveLS400 · February 3, 2011

Steve: Thanks, I wasn't expecting people to search the forums for me but there's some useful info in those threads that I hadn't found before.

The info contained within this forum is mega. Most of us that are regular viewers remember issues; it took me 2 mins to find that lot. If you really want to thank me then enjoy being a regular viewer/poster. Your experience is as good as everyone else's and thats what counts

ChrisW · February 3, 2011

Awww isn't this forum great, I feel all warm and fuzzy now :)

It's not your fault, It's a LEXUS. A very precious asset :)

Yes it was only supposed to be a temporary car while I got the MR2 fixed, but now two and a half years later I've still got it and drive it much more than the MR2! These cars certainly get under your skin.

sir john · February 4, 2011

Awww isn't this forum great, I feel all warm and fuzzy now :)

It's not your fault, It's a LEXUS. A very precious asset :)

Yes it was only supposed to be a temporary car while I got the MR2 fixed, but now two and a half years later I've still got it and drive it much more than the MR2! These cars certainly get under your skin.

Same here. 2year old Merc went back at the end of the contract and the LS was a 1 month stop gap until i decided what to have next. £950 and 3 years later i wouldnt have anything else. Give me an 18 year old Lexus any day. :P

The-Acre · February 4, 2011

Awww isn't this forum great, I feel all warm and fuzzy now :)

It's not your fault, It's a LEXUS. A very precious asset :)

Yes it was only supposed to be a temporary car while I got the MR2 fixed, but now two and a half years later I've still got it and drive it much more than the MR2! These cars certainly get under your skin.

Same here. 2year old Merc went back at the end of the contract and the LS was a 1 month stop gap until i decided what to have next. £950 and 3 years later i wouldnt have anything else. Give me an 18 year old Lexus any day. :P

Well I think I've mentioned this before, I bought mine in September 2007 expecting it to last a year. It still drives like new and has had less problems than my 7 year old Vauxhall! 18 years old this year.

Mind you, I paid a massive £1,500 for mine!!!

runsgrateasanut · April 29, 2014

Can anyone tell me the bore size of the 93 LS400 ? I've just been quoted £32.86 for replacement gaskets, bolts and nutlock for the joint between cats and "Y" pipe. I already have s/s bolts and nutlock and at £10.95 each for the gaskets it seems a bit steep.

Sure I read somewhere on here that a guy paid £3.00 each for them from parts co. and I've seen 2.5 inch and 3.00 inch on eBay for only about £3.50 each. Trying to save some of my hard earned if I can.

ambermarine · April 30, 2014

Stuart

The thing you need to get used to with your Lexus is any spare part looks steep especially if you only want part of the kit,

The benefit of paying that steep price is that if it is a Lexus genuine part you won't need to replace it again.

runsgrateasanut · April 30, 2014

Thanks for that and I'll go for the package. Just purchased front and back discs and pads via eBay - the rear grooved and dimpled came with Mintex pads for £85 which is a great price. Had a bit of a trial getting the right parts for this car. Suspect others have had similar problem with changes in disc size and caliper manufacturer. Reminds me of problems with a 93 MR2 G Limited I once owned. Perhaps it aToyota thing?

I want the Lexus to be in top order before I part with my S320 which has one last trip of 1200 miles return to France before it is sold and the Lexus becomes my chosen chariot of choice. Fingers crossed all will go well.

runsgrateasanut · June 16, 2015

Hi, I've had this problem , and was solved quiete easily by my local LONGLIFE branch. Here's wat they did..... My cats were fine but both flanges were rotten and crumbling. They cut them out and welded new angled pipe straight to them. The bit after the bend "sleeves" over the centre pipes and is clamped on. This allows the cat section to be removed still. Also because of the sleeve the lambda sensor fittings had to be relocated to the new pipe/sleeve. Cost was £100 per pipe. Quality job.

If you have a local LONGLIFE centre and there unsure what I mean get them to call the Plymouth branch , I believe the manager is called ZHEV. Top bloke, he will remember the job as he loved the car and called it THE SUDAN MAFIA HITCAR lol.

Hope this helps

Steve.

I've just sent £20 to a firm I booked to have the flange/cat problem sorted but I can't afford the £400 quote they gave me so embarrassingly have canceled the job. This car has drained me financially.

Interested in your thread because seeing the flange which seems to be a sleeve turning upwards, I imagine that Longlife would have had to at some point unplug the Lambda sensors to be able to screw them in to the new pipe fitting, or did they screw in the lambda's before welding the female receptors to the pipe? If they had to unplug this its a carpets out job I'm told. Also, what always worries me about welding is the ECU being damaged especially if its polaxed by current via the Lambda which if the female part is welded with Lambda in situ ?? Happy to pay £200 but not £400. So still using the silicone sealant and praying it will go through MOT without an emissions problem. Did you remove the Battery termnial after the fix. Is this necessary to re-set the ECU diagnostics?

runsgrateasanut · June 16, 2015

ps photo would be interesting - please?

Chris Skelton · June 16, 2015

Well any other car it would be a rusty exhaust replacement, which I'm sure would be + £400?

Malc · June 16, 2015

............. if it's just the usual culprit on the exhaust system that's rusted through and needs fixing, well, it's quite well documented on this forum somewhere that it's a really simple ( if you know how ) welding fix which my indy guy charged me £30 / 40 to sort for the MOT about 3 ago now. ..... ( NOT £300 to £400 )

Others have had the same issues too and resolved similarly and also there's one LOC member that paid, I believe, £600 to Lexus for a new part !!!

Malc

Bluesman · June 16, 2015

............. if it's just the usual culprit on the exhaust system that's rusted through and needs fixing, well, it's quite well documented on this forum somewhere that it's a really simple ( if you know how ) welding fix which my indy guy charged me £30 / 40 to sort for the MOT about 3 ago now. ..... ( NOT £300 to £400 )

Others have had the same issues too and resolved similarly and also there's one LOC member that paid, I believe, £600 to Lexus for a new part !!!

Malc

I got mine fixed at a small garage down on Brighton £45. I can get details if interested. Mike.