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Just wanted to give everyone a update for those who know me. I got a letter from the U.S embassy in London last Friday for an appointment on the 31st. This is the final step to getting my visa to live and work in the U.S and as long as i get the final nod i will have my visa on that date. Very excited but also nervous as well as i got a heads up they are quite brutal at this interview much like US customs if anyones ever experienced that you'll know what i mean! cant see any problems arising though as ive got nothing to hide. Taking the Lex for a final trip to the Yorkshire coast on the 28th of feb for a weeks holiday with my family, sad times for me, im gonna miss the car greatly and the great owners club along side of course (oh and my family lol) but hoping to make the next meet depending when it is, as im aiming to jet off April time. but might arrive in my mums ZR :shutit: (i hate driving it, its built so shoddy) I have looked at another Lexus in the U.S but ill be honest ive always had a love for American cars, used to be very much involved in the AACUK and even run my own U.S car group on FB, so im leaning towards a yank, which are in fact a very similar type of car to a Lexus which is why i like Lexus so much. had my eye on this for a while http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/4278389098.html they can keep the fury steering wheel cover tho :yack: Anyway ill give a update on the 31st incase they tell me to clear off lol

Hello everyone new to the forum and new to lexus. So nice to meet you lol. I bought a 2002 IS200 Sport on Saturday and drove it back 180miles and it ran fine (was into the minus temperatures at some point) stop a few times it started up no bother. Parked it up outside when i got home and tried starting it up the next day it just would not have it. Basically it cranks over and 4-5 seconds into it, it will fire and sometimes almost border line start up (that noise from the starter even kicks in) but just won't have it then will go back to turning over. Have tried resetting ecu also. If done a few times or using throttle it will give a smell of petrol. So seems to be getting fuel ok. I plugged in a code reader and came up with 02 heat sensor faults. Would this be to do with the "wire yourself" lambda sensors that were fitted to the front cats under the bonnet? I also have read maybe the coolant temp sensor could be to do with it as it is starting from cold. I'm getting 2 lambda sensors, coolant temp sensor and maf from the scrapyard going to try all of them. If no success ill take the plugs out and see what make they are as i also read they have to be denso as the rest cause problems. Any suggestions. Need it started really next couple of days and dont have fortunes to spend on it as it needs taxing and have work to travel to. Bit of a bad start to the Lexus brand haha

When I bought my LS year before last I noticed it was a little jerky when selecting neutral from drive when stationary. My Lexus expert checked the fluid and said that it was 'dead' very dark almost black and whiff of a burnt smell about it. It has been replaced twice now to ensure that as has been said that the torque convertor gets to see the new fluid. I have had silky smooth gear changes since with no other signs of any problems whatsoever.

Colin, my nearest Lexus dealer wanted to charge me £1,135 for a timing belt change, which included the belt, tensioner pulley, hydraulic tensioner, idler pulley, and waterpump. I politely declined. I ended up going to an independent garage who specialises in Toyoya /Lexus. I had it all done, including new coolant, for £625. So, I would say your quote was a very good one. Make sure it includes replacing ALL of the above.

I remember reading on here somewhere that it is strongly recommended NOT to change the gearbox oil under almost any normal running circumstances. Just top-up as appropriate. Malc

None use causes rubber cambelt, tyres etc to deteriorate & lose their flexibility. If its been parked for any length such as years I suggest whether due or not BOTH will need changed for peace of mind.

Although this had been stood for a little while apparently before i got it. Might try starting it just off the mercedes battery and not using it to jump it, thanks.

I'm busy using a massive Bosch battery out of mercedes to help jump it dont want to spend £80 on a battery and it not be that :/ I'll keep it mind though if all else fails thanks for the help

thanks everyone! Not actually surprised there are ex yank owners on here ;) like i said Lexus is the closest thing that isnt american especially on these shores and i too used to think they were american years ago. Some nice pasts American cars guys very impressed! :p Noby - Yes if you have close family over there you can use them as a sponsor for a visa application like you said. And i like the earlier Vetts, not big on the newer racier looking ones. Do you know much about the original ZR1? its a marval. It did 0-60 in 4.4 seconds and this was in 1991! it was so ahead of its time and also has prototype dynamic suspension on 25 of them. too are into the trucks, i want a Dodge Ram Cummins so badly. a real mans truck (but not for compensating reasons! lol) and so much modding potential. but as for the cars im very much into the big comfy boats and love the older styling and innovations from the 70s and 80s cars. The Muscle cars also, my top on the list a 79 Trans Am, uno the bandit car. but always wanted the 4.9 Turbo engine in the 81 with the little LED boost indication in the hood lol gotta love it. Gonna have to get something fairly newish to start with as owning a Classic is a bit of a commitment. GS430 is very tempting Yeah america so vast it really is all about the straight line performance over there saying that im not far from the famous Sonoma raceway if i did ever get something that went around corners lol Thanks again. Indeed exciting times

mmm ... take the battery connectors off and clean them and put them back on again? .... it does sound odd but if it works!! hehehe don't mind. I do think the battery is weak by the way.