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Well I've finally managed to finish off the job! Unfortunately my back was killing me and my head was still a little 'spinny' so I have to confess that I just ploughed on to get it done and forgot to take many photos. However, there are three below. The first one shows that just up in the passenger footwell where the carpet ends, there's a big rubber grommet that takes the existing wiring loom through the bulkhead. It wasn't too difficult to cut a hole in this grommet to take my conduit out the same way. From there I just ran it along under the carpet and took the centre console trim panel off to get it in behind there to where I wanted it - nothing can be seen and no one would know it's there. The second photo shows the wiring at the engine bay fuse box. Technically I should have used the 12V post under the red cover as that is the dedicated jump start connection, but the yellow insulation on the ring terminal made that quite difficult and it was easier to 'break out' of the other one. They're both permanently energised and a direct connection back to the battery anyway so it doesn't really matter. Because my new wires will be permanently connected to the battery it's essential to fuse the circuit, so I installed an in-line fuse-holder and put a 15A fuse in it. This will be plenty big enough to handle the jump start current but is small enough to protect the cable that I've just installed and prevent a fire in case of a chafed wire/short circuit. I connected the negative (or earth, if you prefer) wire to one of the bolts nearby. The final photo shows that it's all working and if I ever need to jump start her then I'll be able to do it from the comfort and dryness of the cabin, no matter what the weather's doing outside

It's no LS!

I agree. Originally had a 98 LS400. Thought it was the best car I'd ever driven. Some time later got a '95 LS430 and to me it was a big improvement - in looks, gadgetry, quality of materials. Now back to another 98 LS400 which I love but was only because I couldn't find a similarly mint LS430 within my budget. If the 400 ever falls apart (which I hope will never happen - it's a stunner) then it'll be another LS430 for me if any decent ones left. I'm personally not that keen on the LS460 onwards, though they're getting cheap now 🤔

It was a full change, 7.9L of Toyota WS ATF Ended up costing £205. I got the price a bit wrong before, it would have been £360 for the full change plus filter. In an ideal world I would have changed the filter too but given the corrosion and potential for other things to brake during the job I think I am happy with what I have had done.

Looking for advice & recommendations for servicing and any repairs that I may have in the future (but fingers crossed not too many). I live just outside Leeds, but willing to travel a bit for the right reliable & trustworthy garage. Being a Yorkshireman, I don't want to pay main dealer rates. Thanks, Richard

Fob wouldn't open door. Removed key thing, opened door. No lights on anything. Googled and read manual. When the 12V battery is flat or dead, nothing works. You can't push start a hybrid. You need to have second car and jump leads. There's a big grey fusebox on right side of engine as you look from the front of the car. The plus terminal is in there covered by a red hinged plastic cover. There are two sprung grips which you undo at back and towards front. Then there are three plastic clip things which you need to wedge open with small flat screwdriver to lift cover up. Wear rubber gloves just in case. Pull red cover up and clip the red positive jump lead on the terminal. Clip the other red positive on the Plus on second car. Then plug the black on the negative of the second car and finally the black on at bare metal part on the engine etc on the lexus. IF you've chosen the second black properly your lexus dash will light up. Then start second car and rev up a little for 5 mins. Then leaving that running, press the Push on the lexus.. when the Ready light lights your're in business. Now, unclip black lexus black second car, red second car and lastly red lexus. In that order. Leave lexus on and when everything restored go for a drive for a few miles. With a little luck you'll be fine. Bring jump leads with you just in case! If the problem doesn't recur the battery is okay. I'm sure mine is as the car was hardly used for weeks. Second problem. Next day, couldn't open boot. From inside car or with fob. Solution. When you open the glove compartment there's a boot release button on its right rim used to keep boot closed for extra security. I'd somehow pressed that during my various manoeuvres. Press that, end of problem. This may be useful to someone. The instructions on attaching and detaching jump leads are fairly obtuse in the manual. Reverse previous procedure... How can you keep that stuff in your head?

Just in case anyone is interested, I used this company for the badges: https://invictaspraychrome.co.uk/ It cost me £60 for all five badges, including VAT and postage, which seemed very reasonable to me, especially since the only other quotation I got was £140.

Quick update on my situation, dealership was amazing, saw my photo of soot round cylinder 8 flange which gave some indication of a potential crack, however, needed to strip it down to confirm (at my cost of no crack found) l. I have an extended warranty so if it was indeed cracked all costs would be covered. Upon inspection it was confirmed it was cracked, and proceeded to get warranty involved. my service advisor was great, they initially declined it due to light corrosion in the joint where it connects to Mid pipe, But that wasn’t where the fault was, so they accepted the crack as the fault (which it was) and Honoured replacement. managed to get both manifolds Replaced as the Dealership Argued that it one side Has cracked the other may well crack soon, and whilst it’s stripped, would be daft not to do it, so that was accepted. Few days later, all replaced, and sounding great again on cold starts. Ticking gone! Can’t thank Shaun at Lexus Edinburgh enough for his negotiations with warranty company. quick video attached with before and after. So glad I took the warranty @ 2 years for 1, certainly saved me £3700! Phew 😅 Video below ... Ignore my commentary haha IMG_0922.MOV

Weird I just don’t get a choice to click options,it’s just not there.

welcome BUT if you're restoring her then you def won't need the silly clear lenses ........ original is brilliant Malc

The Lexus Service Schedule for Plugs on the IS is every 6 years or 60,000 miles but they ( OEM Denso ) can easily still be serviceable after 100,000 miles!

Thanks. It is now No 8 on the list.

Welcome to Europe's Leading Lexus Club! Please Enjoy!

I changed my plugs myself on the drive. It is a bit of a faff but it simply takes longer than an average plug change. It's only nuts and bolts after all. The manifold is just a big plastic lump, nothing to be concerned with, I didn't even change the seals as they looked perfectly fine and have been fine for the last 30k miles. I would suggest if the receipts or history do not specifically say the plugs have been changed, I would assume they haven't. My old plugs looked good to be fair after 100k and no evidence they had been changed before. I can't say I noticed any difference to the drive after changing them.

They plug to lines to the gearbox.

To open the boot when locked, there's a key you can pull out of the key fob, It fits into a keyway on the boot lid.

I think the gold logos go well with the darker paints on LS's. Looking good and not too blingy 🙂

I don't know but have a look here.

Herbs! Of course! (Doh! - I hadn't considered that) - but will now purchase an OBDII plug and fly leads! Many thanks - - (this has been a salutory lesson in "Think before I type") Cheers!

Gen give it some time you might just get used to it 8 years ago i bought my 430 to replace my 98 LS400 - I started driving my 430 whilst i have my 400 for sale - I did'nt find it as quite or smooth as the 400 and it probably is not - in the meantime my 400 sold and i still was not happy with my 430 Then a 400 same up for sale at a garage just down the road - i went and bought and spent some money on it to bring it up to my standard - in the end i was persuaded to keep the 430 and sell my newly bought 400 I now would not go back to a 400 the 430 has modern and ageless look It is well planted on the road seat are more comfy and you dont slide around like in the 400 I would miss the keyless entry and soft close hope this helps

The Michelin Cross climates I had fitted to my car last year transformed it for the better from the Dunlops it came with. However, in tests it said that the further you got up towards Scotland where they have more heavy snow, the recommendation tipped towards the Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons. I did ask Lexus at Cheltenham what was recommended and was told the Michelin Cross Climates were becoming the most popular choice and this seems to have been borne out by recommendations I have seen.

Quick update, new pads seem to be absolutely fine and zero squeal. Happy 👍