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

[Bluesman]

You shouldnt get any hesitation when changing gear its all very smooth and almost imperceptable that she has changed gear.

[danbobnix]

Hmm something ain't quite right then

[danbobnix]

Ok so, had the belt and water pump changed, new spark plugs, aux belt, air filter, cabin filter, fuel filter. Brakes stripped, checked and cleaned/re-greased, along with a 'health check' which pointed out i need a couple of new tires come mot time.

Noticed a definite improvement already.

I did ask them to look at the transmission but it appears they haven't or completely forgot, i needed the car for a few days so took it from them and parted with quite a bit of cash.

I'm going to check the transmission fluid when it is light tomorrow and see where that is and what colour it is, hoping it's low and in a horrible state to explain the poor gear changes and erratic behaviour of the gearbox, thats only been in the car for <10,000 miles.

Any other things i can check that would affect the gear changes?

They are quite jumpy from 1st upto 3rd and the revs will fluctuate when cruising, almost like it's kicking down when I'm cruising at about 50, and then changes up again (with no extra pressure on the accelerator). Usually starts behaving when the engine is warm but the gear changes are still very noticeable. It's the only thing that I'm a little concerned about upto now.

Any info from people who have had similar problems would be appreciated :)

Thanks all

[Malc]

I'm a little confused here ................ you do have a Ls400 and not a 430 ?

The 400 gearboxes are bullet proof ( ah but don't tell Shelldrake that ! ........ he's the guy with the disaster ? are you ? have I got that right ? ) and the 430's might be a little susceptible to freaking out on a bad day.

Summat ain't right if it's a 400; and your garage doesn't seem to have bitten the bullet and done the core activity, sorting out the kangaroo effect.

Ok, everything else is done and you're probably the best part of a grand spent ...... maybe, if the gearbox is a real issue you should seek a specialist auto box guy to advise ! Does seem really odd that this is it's 2nd auto box tho' .......... maybe it's nothing to do with the auto box at all but some electrical or cabling gremlin that no one's yet bottomed.

Malc

sorry, my thoughts are probably of no damn use at all .............apologies.

[danbobnix]

I'm a little confused here ................ you do have a Ls400 and not a 430 ?

The 400 gearboxes are bullet proof ( ah but don't tell Shelldrake that ! ........ he's the guy with the disaster ? are you ? have I got that right ? ) and the 430's might be a little susceptible to freaking out on a bad day.

Summat ain't right if it's a 400; and your garage doesn't seem to have bitten the bullet and done the core activity, sorting out the kangaroo effect.

Ok, everything else is done and you're probably the best part of a grand spent ...... maybe, if the gearbox is a real issue you should seek a specialist auto box guy to advise ! Does seem really odd that this is it's 2nd auto box tho' .......... maybe it's nothing to do with the auto box at all but some electrical or cabling gremlin that no one's yet bottomed.

Malc

sorry, my thoughts are probably of no damn use at all .............apologies.

Thanks Malc, responses always welcome - an idea is a potential problem solver.

I'm an LS400 driver, yes.

Potentially - i've read bits and pieces on the capacitor issues (can't remember if it's the uk forum or american one) but may look into that if todays fluid check doesn't give much.

Hopefully i'll know more when i check the fluid, like i say, it's just a delayed change and a bit of a shunt when it changes. It also has a bit of a delay from me selecting the gear and it engaging in the gear.

If i find anything i'll be sure to report back. Where do people buy the toyota type 4 fluid from? or is it as simple as - toyota only?

Thanks all

[Rupert Dubreaux]

Daniel hi, I have bought T4 from these people online before ,it is about the right price and delivered free.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321353751075?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Be carefull at your local Toyota dealer my local one tried to sell me Dexron 3 and insisted that was what they used .

Make sure you check the level when car is hot and with engine running to get the hot level .

I hope you get it sorted

[danbobnix]

Thanks for that eBay link, I'll be sure to get some ordered.

Well on the way home tonight the car stalled at some traffic lights after coming to a stop, which kind of made me panic a little, ha. But she started up again and got me home.

Getting home and immediately checking the transmission fluid showed me this :

Halfway down the hot part, what is recommended level? Does the colour look ok?

The coolant is also near the bottom of the reservoir. What coolant is recommended for these engines? Or is my mechanical knowledge just that awful that when got the reservoir will drop it's level, naturally.

Sorry for all the basic questions. Thanks for all your help again!

[Rupert Dubreaux]

Looks a bit low Daniel , for the coolant only use Toyota long life red ,mix 50/50 with distilled water .

This is the one I use, works out a lot cheaper than using the ready mixed stuff .

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Toyota-Long-Life-Red-Coolant-Antifreeze-Concentrate-5-Litres-0888980014-/221480963080?pt=UK_Vehicle_Oils_Lubricants_Fluids&hash=item33914b4c08

[Mybikes a cx500]

The symptoms are consistent with bad caps in the engine ECU, Both Rudd and I noticed smoother shifting after doing ours, Although 2003 seems very early for them to be going.

Transmission specialist, I think. It's not a Toyota box.

[Malc]

The coolant level is a real puzzle ............ . you have just had the car serviced and the level checked in the expansion tank I presume ? .......... should be at the marker level and not really deviate from that much at all. If it has dropped then that tells me you are losing coolant somewhere ........ and just having had a new waterpump !!!!! summat not right at all ..... back to the garage that did the service and the work methinks............. is the expansion tank cap not fitting well I wonder, perished washer maybe, I had that on my Mk1 at @170k miles and 15 yrs old ... yours is a 2000 Mk4 ............. and that just might be a cause.

Malc

[keybasher2]

I had to top up the coolant a couple of times when I first got my mk4. I put it down to the garage who had recently renewed the coolant not bleeding it well enough, would wait a few top-ups before thinking there`s a problem with cooling system.

Simon

[danbobnix]

I've let them know at the garage and they're going to check with who did the work.

Said it was removed when the pump was done and may have bled itself with the new coolant. I'll top her up in the morning.

Now for this damn gearbox!

Google and forum reading commences!

Thanks again guys, will have to get down to some meets and thank you all in person sometime :)

[danbobnix]

Right, bit of an update.

Was about to leave Blackpool to take the girlfriend out for a meal. Started the car and set to put the car in gear. Nothing. Waited for a few minutes- nothing. Waited for the car to get upto temperature - nothing. Checked ATF fluid level and couldn't see anything on the dipstick.

Got myself a funnel and poured in about a litre of fluid and noticed it spilling out on the floor- guessing I overfilled it a bit? and it was running down onto the ground, as this subsided after a few seconds.

Jumped back in started her up and engaged first time... What a difference, gear changes are so smooth, can barely tell it's changing gear.

Next on the shopping list, a filter and gasket for the transmission pan to get that done and hopefully solve the 'problem'.

Will also keep an eye on any fluids that may be escaping any pipes or joints on the transmission fluid lines?

Fingers crossed that it only needed more fluid.

[Bluesman]

Right, bit of an update.

Was about to leave Blackpool to take the girlfriend out for a meal. Started the car and set to put the car in gear. Nothing. Waited for a few minutes- nothing. Waited for the car to get upto temperature - nothing. Checked ATF fluid level and couldn't see anything on the dipstick.

Got myself a funnel and poured in about a litre of fluid and noticed it spilling out on the floor- guessing I overfilled it a bit? and it was running down onto the ground, as this subsided after a few seconds.

Jumped back in started her up and engaged first time... What a difference, gear changes are so smooth, can barely tell it's changing gear.

Next on the shopping list, a filter and gasket for the transmission pan to get that done and hopefully solve the 'problem'.

Will also keep an eye on any fluids that may be escaping any pipes or joints on the transmission fluid lines?

Fingers crossed that it only needed more fluid.

Brilliant. You do need to get the level checked out as the G/boxes dont like being overfilled. Mike

[cruisermark]

hope no permanent damage has been done due to ATF fluid

[danbobnix]

So, not much to update on the gearbox front, but to share my experience for any other members needing advice in the future -long story short, the guys I've been taking the car too can't see where the leak is coming from, they've had it a couple of times but need to take the box out fully find it.

I then mentioned after his quotation, finding a second hand box with proven history to just drop in to save labour, but got thinking- could be a 'better the devil you know' sort of scenario.

They have now quoted for having te gearbox fully refurbished for a little more than the original quote of remove-reseal-replace, which is what I think I'll do.

Once this is sorted I'll be waiting for MOT & tax time just after Christmas. If all goes well I'll be looking at LPG by profess :) that's the plan anyway!

Absolutely loving her, still can't get over the quality.

[danbobnix]

So I'm bringing my two year old thread back to life... Sorry mods, please do let me know if I need to start a fresh?

Hello again all, although I didn't meet anyone from the club I felt very welcome and was glad and very appreciative for all the help received with the LS400 I owned. Thanks again! I do wonder if it has cropped up on here since I parted with it? R298 0EE.

Since the day I parted with the Lexus I've not shaken the itch for them, since then I've managed to buy a house (with the Mrs!), and currently running a little 500 Abarth as a daily driver.

So two years wiser, selling some expensive aftermarket parts for the Abarth, I'm thinking of putting the money into getting an LS400 as a second car/toy. As such I'm not overly fussy about it being immaculate or needing to be reliable for the commute to work, which means the amount to pay doesn't become a huge premium, one hopes. I'm thinking between £1000-£1500 at the top end of my budget, MK4 of course.

The hunt is on.

Found an owner near me and noticed the car barely moves so may pop a polite note through the door enquiring about it - you never know. This being said if anyone is considering selling, I'm over here!

Although I'm not not a mechanic, I've dug out the workshop manual I bought last time and willing to get my hands dirty with the usual stuff if any work needs doing. As there won't be pressure to get anything done over a weekend! (Leaving complicated and safety stuff to the pros of course)

Looking forward to stepping into ownership again!

Sorry for the waffle!

[Malc]

............  why on earth limit yourself to a Mk4 ?

There are probably great value MK 1's,  2's and 3's out there somewhere and £1000 to £1500 is very limiting right now I'd have thought, especially for anything that's going to stop you putting you hand in your pocket for continuing and possibly long overdue maintenance.

I think there are probably very many really neglected " basket cases " out there so take great care.

Malc

[danbobnix]

Purely personal taste for the MK4 Malc, that's the only reason. Although I do have a soft spot for the MK3 in certain colours. There's one on gumtree at the moment, in Devon I think, looks gorgeous.

I think you're right re: the money, probably will end up spending a bit more, but yes I shall tread very carefully when buying.