steve2006

My 2004 Toyota Celsior (LS430) had fortunately been swopped out onto springs/struts before I purchased it from a fellow LOC member who used a Strutmasters kit from the USA. With regular wheel arch jet washing they still look as new and provide a comfortable but firm footed ride. I am so happy with this car given the price I paid and the money spent on it prior to purchase which also included the cam belt change I basically got the car for nothing!

Hi Emilian and welcome to the LOC. You mention the replacement seats are from a UK spec car and your profile says Kerry which I assume is ROI? Were the replacement seats “ plug and play” I.e. same sockets as the old ones? Airbag looms and connectors are always yellow for easy identification and warning. You really need a code reader to confirm it is the seat airbags that have triggered the warning light and you can also reset the system with this. Switching the ignition on with disconnected airbags can flag a code also. Given the SRS is a safety feature I would not recommend attempting to bypass any part of it with “resistors” A word of warning ….don’t start disconnecting or reconnecting any airbag connectors unless you have disconnected the car battery and then waited at least 15 minutes. They have a back up system and the last thing you want is an unexpected deployment of an airbag in your face!

Interesting 😀 Can you post up a picture?

Please be aware of the new pothole warning signs now being placed in certain areas giving advice to drivers.

Hi J and welcome to the LOC. Normally there should be no warning lights illuminated when the engine is running, with just the ignition on the battery light will be on and then go out when the engine is started same with the check engine light. The airbag light on the top of the right side of the instrument cluster should come on then go out after a few seconds. You also mention the brake warning light is this on or off when the engine is running? The transmissions rarely have problems and I’ve never heard of a timing chain failure on these engines with regular servicing of oil and filter. You can download the owner’s manual via the link below https://www.lexus.co.uk/owners/about-my-lexus/manuals Also be aware that you need to use Super Unleaded petrol in this car because of the type of fuel injection system. Any other questions feel free to ask.

Just been looking into this more and it appears there are 2 types of Caliper (probably solid or vented discs). One type has a separate carrier bracket ( I think for solid discs) and the other seems to have the bottom slide pin screwed directly into the hub, if this is the case with yours and the pin has sheared in the hub it going to need drilling out and the remains removed without damaging the threads.

So hopefully you’ll get away with new carrier brackets (hopefully the carrier to hub bolts aren’t seized). OEM are around £100.00 a side, aftermarket £30.00 and seized secondhand don’t bother. Also looks like there’s no shim kit fitted? I would imagine the slide pins seized due to lack of grease, the lower ones sheared off during removal attempts and out came the zip ties. Have a read of the link

I’ve got used to mine, every time I start it a nice Japanese lady tells me about my ETC (Electronic Toll Card), I listen to radio 2 as it’s the only FM station I can receive and resetting the clock to BST took 30 minutes. 😀

Hi Imran, Welcome to the LOC. Found this if the correct part you need, will require splicing in though. https://www.amazon.co.uk/SOCKET-HEADLIGHT-CONNECTOR-ADAPTER-REPLACEMENT/dp/B0B6GWSNMF/ref=asc_df_B0B6GWSNMF/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=641811723023&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6705338454376645991&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046413&hvtargid=pla-1931311972273&psc=1&mcid=83375985d6213a649ea523e6ffc71e5e

Hi Joseph and welcome to the LOC. I’ve seen bodges in my time but that takes first prize! Was this a private sale or dealer ? If the latter I would be straight back there asking questions! It’s not very clear from the pictures but you say the top bolt was in but the bottom replaced with zip ties? Is the lower calliper slide sheared in the carrier bracket or just missing? Apologies that I have more questions than answers but need more information to help you.

Hi James and welcome to the LOC. Nice choice with the IS300h, at 10 years old still in its prime 😀 Feel free to post up a few pictures of the car. As for your virtual garage I’ll have the same please although I do already have a low mileage JDM LS430.

Happy Easter everyone, strange thing is all my clocks are wrong this morning 😀

Not sure if it still applies today but in Japan if you break down on a busy road you are required to ignite it and place it behind the car to warn other drivers. Both mine had them removed before export but the holder is still there.

But the 1994 Celsior C-F spec I had did have a screen, OK it was really bad but never the less had one. Other extras include A fender pole, a windscreen washer rinse reservoir, a flare tube, a sat nav that constantly tries to take you to Tokyo and wool seats that bleat when you sit on them

Hi Adomas and welcome to the LOC. Personally I wouldn’t fit them and they probably wouldn’t even align with the studs being 2.4mm out. ”Wobble nuts” and wheels aren’t a good proposition. You could get hub adaptors but again I wouldn’t simply on safety grounds, I like to know my wheels are secure and the correct type of nuts are torqued to 76 lb/ft

Very true with this “Where’s there’s blame, there’s a claim” Not much point having a Lexus V8 noise though, pedestrians don’t hear my 4.3 litres creeping up behind them either 😀

I can just see this as an MOT advisory. Minor faults. Section ivv “Unable to check hybrid engine noise generator as partially obscured by gaffer tape”

When I worked for a large utility company, their fleet insurance costs became so high they decided to “Self insure” so basically they covered any claims themselves and driver training helped minimise those. Obviously that needs a fairly decent fund probably in the region of a multiple rollover Euro millions lottery win so basically we remain at the mercy, profit targets and shareholder dividends of mainstream insurers. If mine increases dramatically next renewal when I also get my free bus pass the car will go and I’ll take full advantage of said bus pass with taxis used as needed which will still work out cheaper than than the grand plus a year it costs to run the car.

I’ll give you £1 13/6 cash 😀 Also look on Autotrader for some guide prices or the Cheshire Weekly Chronicle classifieds.

You’re most welcome Malc 😀 Rumour has it you put a deposit down on that new Lexus super boat?

No they’re the power steering cooler 😀

It was only a few months ago I got rid of 2 LS400 radiators one from a 1996 the other a 1999 model and I cannot remember any transmission cooler outlets on either. However I do remember a cooler looking device behind the front crossmember below the power steering cooler pipe on my old 94 Celsior The picture I posted is for a European spec model not JDM. Volunteer required to get under their LS400 with camera phone or endoscope 😀

I would assume that insurer “approval” is gained on the price they pay and not the quality. I notice that some Lexus windscreens may have 3-4 different tints so is this also taken into consideration with an exact replacement or do these “approved” suppliers only do clear glass?

I landed in Jobo once, the engines had been stolen before the seatbelt sign went off

I feel being bonded windscreens are more liable to shock damage as unlike the old rubber ones there is no cushioning between the car frame and glass. Obviously insurers have already noticed this given the rise in the windscreen excess which has gone from around £50.00 to £75.00 and now into three figures.