I'm After A Bit Of A Steer, Please...

[Ruud]

Good stuff :)

May I ask where in Scotland this Ls400 was?

[danbobnix]

It was in Edinburgh, felt like it took an age!

[Ruud]

Ah nice - where was it advertised? I keep checking Fleabay for any Ls400 in Scotland, but they are like rocking horse poo :)

[danbobnix]

It was on Gumtree, Baroque red(?) with beige leather. Can't wait to get her.

Been quoted £275 and 4-5 hours labour at £55/hour for a cambelt + water pump change as well as a health check at a local specialist garage. Quite tempted to just go for it as they know the cars, but will hunt around for a few more quotes, in case I can't find any information out from Lexus. :)

[Mybikes a cx500]

[Ruud]

haha you been on the booze Ian?

[Mybikes a cx500]

Couldn't resist

[danbobnix]

Oh har-har.

Actually was pretty funny, and I didn't know that was another name for a Bull (technicalities). Everyday is a lesson.

Picking the car up on the 2nd... Very much looking forward to it

[Mybikes a cx500]

Oh har-har.

Actually was pretty funny, and I didn't know that was another name for a Bull (technicalities). Everyday is a lesson.

Picking the car up on the 2nd... Very much looking forward to it

You will love it. Every time I drive mine I'm amazed I have such an awesome car

[danbobnix]

Well, not much to report, effortless drive from Edinburgh over to Stirling and then back down to Blackpool on Saturday afternoon. Using all but half a tank of fuel, also added in a bit of pottering about today.

Trying to track down some details of past services from stamps in the book, and still reading bits of the manual for all the extra functions I didn't know about- I bloody love it already, just need to give it a good clean inside, smells a bit 'musty'.

Going to see how much money I spend on fuel for a bit and may potentially get it gassed- can see me driving it for a very very long time, and I'd enjoy paying 70p a litre!

Just a quick question- when I insert the key and turn it (not to start the engine-just when the dash lights up) 'check vsc' appears and stays there for maybe 10(?) seconds, probably less actually, with that red light and then goes off with no extra trace or appearance when driving, can't find anywhere if this is a fault or normal or what?

A very happy owner over here :)

[Ruud]

Hope you enjoyed Scotland :)

May I ask what towns you have gone through in Scotland? Or more to the point - in which towns/villages have you stopped?

[Malc]

the light-ups, then permanently off, sound quite normal to me

Malc

[goldtop]

I've seen a few posts here and elsewhere that suggest the VSC warning lamp can light up due to a Battery that's not in good condition.

(I'm an LS400 newbie, so I'm still rounding up useful info.)

[danbobnix]

Hope you enjoyed Scotland :)

May I ask what towns you have gone through in Scotland? Or more to the point - in which towns/villages have you stopped?

I pretty much went to Stirling straight away (picking up the better two thirds from a friends house that she's visiting from university) down the M9(or 8, can't recall) and she lives in Alva, nice little village. Saw the huge steel horses en route too. Just very wet and misty!

the light-ups, then permanently off, sound quite normal to me

Malc

Thanks Malc, I do wait for it to go off before I start the engine, hope it's nothing major but will try more searching.

Tempted to just start it while it's on to see if it goes away but don't want to provoke anything disastrous!

I've seen a few posts here and elsewhere that suggest the VSC warning lamp can light up due to a battery that's not in good condition.

(I'm an LS400 newbie, so I'm still rounding up useful info.)

Likewise, seems to be a few things that can cause it, when I take it for the belt/pump to be done I'll mention it before the garage give it a once over.

First job is to replace the bonnet struts, or rather, find a suitably sized piece of 2x2 timber, to let me change the struts!

[ambermarine]

The VSC indication light should go off after 3 seconds according to the manual but as that is when the car is brand new any extention to that is probably ok if the light goes out and stays out.

[Malc]

You don't need such a large piece of timber ........ I used a short length of broom handle on my Mk1 ................. rather more upmarket

Malc

[Ruud]

Ah thanks.

The reason I asked is that I saw an identical Ls outside a Chinese takeaway in Alexandria Saturday around 7pm. It was a W reg as well. Must have been someone else then :)

[Bluesman]

The VSC indication light should go off after 3 seconds according to the manual but as that is when the car is brand new any extention to that is probably ok if the light goes out and stays out.

No problem thats the way they are meant to work. Mike

[fred81]

I think there may be some confusion here.

If the display says "Check VSC" when starting, that is not normal - as this message is going away almost straight away, i'd suggest that it's probably not anything that serious. Get it checked if you can.

What *is* normal is the VSC light (ie, the yellow lamp of the car skidding) - this will display when starting as most of the other warning lamps do, in order for you to check that the lamps are operating correctly.

Where abouts are you in Lancashire? If it's not too far from me in Manchester I could probably pop up and stick the car on the computer to check for any lingering codes or pointers.. :)

Regards

[Gbneil]

My ls came with a suitable golfing umbrella on the parcel shelf to prop the bonnet open...darn struts, you'd think they soiled stay tip top given how little times the bonnet needs to be open compared to the opposition....

[Malc]

On my 6060 mile trip around Spain and Portugal earlier this year you may remember I had to open the bonnet three times ( I think ) .............. to top up the wash bottle ............ one rarely, if ever, has to check anything else under the bonnet in normal motoring activity ......... these are amazing cars you know..... and even the dash light tells you when the wash bottle is nearing empty too .

I suppose the bonnet struts are a bit of a luxury really ................ you don't need them unless you're doing the engine checks and mechanics yourself

All oil levels etc. usually last right thru' till the next service.

Malc

[danbobnix]

The VSC indication light should go off after 3 seconds according to the manual but as that is when the car is brand new any extention to that is probably ok if the light goes out and stays out.

No problem thats the way they are meant to work. Mike

I think there may be some confusion here.

If the display says "Check VSC" when starting, that is not normal - as this message is going away almost straight away, i'd suggest that it's probably not anything that serious. Get it checked if you can.

What *is* normal is the VSC light (ie, the yellow lamp of the car skidding) - this will display when starting as most of the other warning lamps do, in order for you to check that the lamps are operating correctly.

Where abouts are you in Lancashire? If it's not too far from me in Manchester I could probably pop up and stick the car on the computer to check for any lingering codes or pointers.. :)

Regards

I turn the key, not turning the engine on, and the message 'CHECK VSC' is on the display, and the VSC OFF symbol showing with it. After that period which feels like a while, they both go off and i don't see them again. Will get it checked when I can. Thanks for clearing the two up.

I'm in Hambleton, 8 miles from Blackpool. Might be a bit far from you depending on which side of Manchetser you are. However i wouldn't bother about me making the trip down and meeting a fellow member and having a starting point like you say :) Thanks for the offer and I'll see what the health check brings from the service at the garage!

On my 6060 mile trip around Spain and Portugal earlier this year you may remember I had to open the bonnet three times ( I think ) .............. to top up the wash bottle ............ one rarely, if ever, has to check anything else under the bonnet in normal motoring activity ......... these are amazing cars you know..... and even the dash light tells you when the wash bottle is nearing empty too .

I suppose the bonnet struts are a bit of a luxury really ................ you don't need them unless you're doing the engine checks and mechanics yourself

All oil levels etc. usually last right thru' till the next service.

Malc

I need water in the bottle, thanks for reminding me, ended up smearing bug innards all over the windscreen before the heavens opened, whilst on the motorway.

I have them ready to fit so i'll be able to get my hands dirty doing them.

Just purchased a 'bomb' and new pollen filter for the air con cleanup to try and shift the smell of an unused air conditioning system.

Big thanks to everyone for the input and suggestions with all of the previous and above, what a top bunch you all are :)

Feeling very welcomed into the club and looking forward to a lengthy stay here!

[Gbneil]

Enjoy mate, these are remarkable machines. I had owned mine two days when i made a 650 mile round trip and such was the cars aura of competent quality, it never even occurred to me that it would not make it...not many sub 2k 'bangers' I would have jumped in mid July and made such a trip...2500 miles later, it's still to miss a beat!

I'm in a bit of a quandary with mine, I go back to uni in September and really don't need it. I buy 'treat' cars for the summer months then go back to being a poor student for the rest of the year...but I really don't wanna let it go....it IS on gumtree and I have tentatively offered it to a few members on here...but be warned....these cars GET to you...in a big way...

[Mybikes a cx500]

The only time I have ever seen my VSC warning on the display is after having the Battery disconnected. Odd things apparently happen when the Battery is dying, might be an idea to check the Battery connections or try another Battery.

Although you would think a Battery problem would show up cranking the car, this is appears to not always the case....

[danbobnix]

This is going to sound odd, noticed a teething problem- either that or I really need to get used to driving an auto more.

Noticed when the transmission shifts when pulling away from a stop in (maybe) 1st 2nd and 3rd, it tends to hesitate and shunt into gear. It's fine shifting down and picking up to overtake... Which by the way is brilliantly effortless :D

Checked through service history tonight and it had a second hand gearbox fitted in 2011, 10,000 miles ago.

I'm only wary as I'm due to drive it to Manchester on Thursday morning early doors to get us to the airport for our jolly's! Just hoping it gets us there ok- which I'm sure it will. I know it's hard from a poor description as above but but wondering if any of this has been experienced before?

Cheers folks :)

Edit: reason for failure was leaky pipes therefore lack of fluid in the system!