steve2006

Personally I would have another non fob key cut, just the blade and the black handle, at least then you will have a spare key if the original breaks or gets lost. Buy yourself an aftermarket remote central locking system for around £25.00 and wire that in, OK you will now have a key and separate fob but it worked for me on the old 94 I had. If still available I remember Amayama sold the OEM keys but then they have to be programmed to the ECU….. think in hundreds of ££££s.

Hello Maelo and welcome to the LOC They tend to be sold in pairs and if you read the description for the eBay seller’s listing it does say “pair” Just make sure your bonnet is well supported with a piece of wood and another person around before removing the struts! “What we have here is a pair of BRAND NEW struts which come complete with new ball joints ready to bolt onto the car - Fitting is very simple and merely take 5 minutes - simply undo the 2 bolts holding each old strut.Then screw the new struts onto the car - simple straight swap.”

From past experience on my previous 94 LS400 I know it is motor failure in the lock mechanism that causes the problem. They are fitted with a small brushed motor and the brushes wear to the point they no longer firmly contact the commutator. At the time I purchased a few motors from the usual sources and repaired one of my actuators successfully, removal is a bit of a faff and there’s a lot of grease to contend with but for the cost of a few £££s repair can be done. When it comes to the LS430 there may be differences regarding the soft close doors but I would think the motor is similar and still the likely cause.

Just spotted this on Fleabay, admittedly it does look immaculate with exceptional history but at nearly 11K could you justify paying that much for a 24 year old car. https://tinyurl.com/4ez3xhu4

There is normally a requirement to have a “smart” meter too. Having now retired from working in the power distribution industry I haven’t kept up with domestic tariffs but understand the two rate (E7 and E10) tariffs have gone. Most suppliers seem to be offering only 5 or 6 hours of early morning “cheap” rate at around 8p/KWh but with the average 7.5 KWh charger will that provide enough charge for your required mileage. I would also imagine the daily rip off standing charge would also increase with EV tariffs as E7/E10 tariffs did. When I began my career normal rate was 4.1p per KWh and cheap rate was 1.9p per KWh most of which came from coal fired power stations.

How many hours labour have you been quoted for the job, if it takes 1.5 per corner that’s £100.00 an hour! Fortunately mine came with a Strutmaster conversion kit already fitted.

Interesting in that my 2004 JDM Celsior is taxed under the old system so over 1500cc presently £325.00 a year less than a same specification UK LS430. I would assume that a JDM ISF imported into the UK would be the same rate? On the other hand mine is not exempt from ULEZ charges whereas a UK spec LS430 is. I ain’t driving anywhere near London!

The cam belt was the only job I didn’t DIY on my previous 1994 Celsior, when the local garage gave me £100.00 labour quote I purchased all the parts and let them do it. Took them nearly 2 days but they honoured the price. Fortunately my present Celsior had the cam belt replaced shortly before purchase along with the air suspension conversion to springs, a factory stainless steel exhaust as a bonus and various new suspension/ brake components.

Hi Deen and welcome to the LOC. I owned a 1994 JDM Toyota Celsior (Lexus LS400) for 16 years and now own a 2004 Toyota Celsior (Lexus LS430). If they are already in the UK that’s a bonus as all the taxes are paid, they meet UK requirements e.g. rear fog lights and also registered. If buying from a dealer you also have consumer rights. If possible ask to see the Japanese auction paperwork as these show the “Grade” of the car (1-5 where 5 is immaculate) and there is a diagram of the car showing any damage or marks and importantly the mileage in KMs. If the speedometer has been converted to MPH make sure the odometer reflects the KMs to miles conversion. JDM cars are generally well looked after and in good condition (no road salt in Japan), most of the flood damaged and irradiated ones were scrapped years ago. You will be very lucky to get a Japanese service history with the car and if you do unlikely to be able to read it so checking for service items like cam belt changes is difficult unless there are stickers. Oil services usually have the stickers on the driver’s side A panel inside the door. Where there is no history of a cam belt change I would request replacement before purchase or budget the job in the sales price I.e. haggle. The 3S-GE Black Top engine is fairly solid but check for any oil consumption or blue smoke in the exhaust, good replacement engines are hard to find. Check for suspension knocks and clunks during the test drive and that the brakes pull you up straight, seized brake callipers are common if not serviced correctly. Check the MOT online, I would not expect to see any advisories. Have you got an insurance quote yet as mainstream insurers tend not to touch imports? Finally be advised JDM cars are not ULEZ compliant so avoid London! P.S. what are the mods on one of them, please don’t say lace seat covers 😀

That’s not far from me, had I known last week I would have dropped by for a look. Judging by the pictures you could spend half a day there looking at the cars on display, I wonder if they let you sit in that red racing car 😀 What did make me smile was when looking at the ISF there was a title further down the page entitled “Similar Vehicles” one of which was a Peugeot 208! If it’s still there when I next visit my cousin in early November I’ll call in and report. Having said that some LOC member will probably have bought it by then. Never realised it was £695.00 a year road tax! To save you all searching https://www.sarahcoxcars.co.uk/used-lexus-is-newark-nottinghamshire-5349265

It does sound that Lexus link had updated given it now displayed your name but I would as suggested above get your fob battery replaced by Lexus. Oh and welcome to the LOC 😀

It was only a few weeks ago another member having waited months for his new Lexus with white seats specified on the order received the car with black seats! I would contact your dealer without delay.

Can’t you buy them through the NAAFI anymore?

Been back into shed and found this, 99% sure this is the one you need Malc?

Too dark now, search will continue in morning 😀

Found the offside one straight away but still looking for the near side, got to be in here somewhere as I must have removed both. Malc just to confirm it’s for your 95 model?

I may have one, I know I have a set of 1990-94 ones and think I also have the outer sections for the 95-97 model. Shed check later 😀

Never had a sunroof rust problem on mine 😀

You didn’t mention the puddle light was also off as well 😀 I doubt there would ba. separate fuse just for the indicator and puddle light, there is a 30A fuse for each door but if this was blown your electric windows would also be out. You really need, as mentioned above, a multimeter to check for presence of the 12V and whether you have a good earth. It could be a broken wire where the loom passes from the A panel to the door but without a meter difficult to confirm.

The buyer will get the V5c green slip and a crime number from the dealer 😀

Even from Amayama the OEM indicator units are £60.00 plus shipping each so at £50.00 for the pair certainly a lot cheaper. If you do buy them I would suggest some clear silicone sealer around the joints before fitting them, from past experience with DRLs they tend not to be very waterproof out of the box They use the same units across a lot of the newer Lexus cars so should fit fine.

I think the advert says it has been hpi checked, the problem is that if the legit car shows clear the cloned one with exactly the same details will also show clear on checking

According to my database it uses a standard cap less bulb. Bulb Outer Mirror Lamp Assy, part number is 99132-12050 priced at £3.29 from Lexus although it is a standard T10 12V 5W cap less push fit bulb. Orkney Factors in Kirkwall will have one. Remove mirror casing, remove single screw from indicator unit and remove indicator, remove bulb holder, replace the blown bulb, reassemble, pass MOT 😀

Sadly when I see repeated MOT failures and advisories for tyres it really puts me off. If an owner can’t check tyres on a regular basis what else gets missed? Looking at those front seats I would order the big Furniture Clinic repair pack. For the money it doesn’t look too bad but difficult to judge the gold paintwork known for fading from pictures. Does have FSH which is a plus and no “corrosion” advisories but wonder if the belt has been done. Compared to the other offerings on the same site even if you spent the same again on it I think you would end up with a better car. Gold badges Malc, bonus but hurry up I hear your nephew’s second cousin twice removed is very interested 😀