steve2006

Top priority for me is a dry but not necessarily heated garage to keep the car inside from the elements, a jet wash to remove all the salt underneath and inside the wheel arches after winter and a smart charger to ensure if I do need to use the car it is going to start.

This is a bit like “Who wants to be a millionaire” We have “Ask the Audience”...... LOC members ”Ask the host”......Lexus UK I’m 50/50 on this at the moment but may phone a friend for further guidance.

The only time my Celsior got above 28MPG was on the AA recovery truck after the airport broken rear spring episode 😀

A very good point there Toby and welcome to the LOC.

Cheers Phil, I never knew that and there’s me hoping for years a stock disposal sale would eventually happen and they’ve dumped the sewing machine instead.

I’m assuming that the “big” service including spark plugs was done at 6 years rather than mileage based (60,000) so if that is the case no biggies again until 120,000 or 12 years. https://www.lexusofsarasota.com/lexus-rx-450h-maintenance-schedule/ The biggest cause of wear on any car in the UK is the poor road qualities we all pay to have maintained!!! So suspension components, as you have already discovered, are the prime failure area. Wishbones, ball joints, ARB components to name a few. Everything else is generally reliable 😀

I put my 1994 Celsior on there which finished last night with the highest bid of £3250.00 so didn’t quite make my reserve of £3500.00. I sent a Second Chance offer to the top bidder accepting the bid price but no response so far.

Here’s the main reason

Not mentioned and maybe obvious but also clean the connector with a wire brush especially the surface which mates with the earth point, the bolt also would benefit from a good clean or even a replacement if a standard size like M8.

Hi Sam and welcome to the LOC. You are correct in thinking the ML amplifier is problematic but before condemning it check in the boot area where it is mounted (driver’s side) for any water ingress and sort that out with sealant and a hairdryer. Secondly check the associated fuses for the amplifier supply, look for any fuses marked “Amp” Lexus audio systems are complex resulting in many professionals cringing at the thought of working on them but there are android replacements which can be fitted although I have no experience with them. Hopefully other members will have some solutions. The gearing issues again are well documented but there is some good news in that the ECU can now be remapped by several companies providing a much better driving experience with no turbo lag. Finally regarding the comment above the IS220d engine does have a reputation for mechanic issues, some were even replaced or rebuilt under warranty. However with regular servicing and maintenance the majority have been OK. As with any modern diesel with a DPF the occasional long run is required to allow regeneration and EGR valve needs regular attention

How have you connected the speakers up to the Kenwood?

According to the post linked below it is a known defect and Lexus were replacing the part FOC at one time. Have a read at the post first then ring up your local Lexus dealer to see what they say. If Lexus quote you £700.00 then get yourself a high tensile 30mm M8 bolt (please check to confirm) and get someone to fit it.

I’m no battery expert just bouncing a few ideas around but I bow to your superior knowledge in these matters 😀

Hi Colin and welcome to the LOC. There are a couple being broken on eBay but obviously you would need some detailed photographs to confirm their condition. https://tinyurl.com/y2hdyxvj You can only buy the complete section from Lexus with all the fittings and buttons but at over £200.00 a lot of money!

I wrote that sketch! Thought it was lost forever in the bowels of Broadcasting House. Forgot to ask GRJ if he wanted peak to peak or RMS on the amp output or 3 way active crossovers on the speakers.😀

Very true but if the battery won’t accept the charge say due to a cell failure which will reduce the terminal voltage it could drop below the minimum required voltage even on charge.

I recently changed the wheels on my Celsior from 17 to 18” but now find the tone arm keeps bouncing on the records, I have added a couple of pound coins to increase the weight but it is still doing it over pot holes. It’s a Pioneer PL112D record deck if that helps sat in the boot and has completely ruined my Mantovani “Music of the Mountains” 12” LP.😀

Hello and welcome to the LOC. A lot of weird “faults” on hybrids are caused by the 12 Volt auxiliary battery being on it’s way out, if the voltage is too low the computers get upset and confused so I would check that first. Even though no faults are displayed there may be stored codes in the memory if you have a suitable code reader. Finally all Lexus models tend to suffer from seized brake callipers generally due to lack of grease on the slider pins. If it does happen again check if any of the wheels are excessively hot by putting the back of your hand close to them or if there are hot brake smells.

Hi Daniel and welcome to the LOC. I can’t give much advice on the ISF having driven one only once at a Lexus Open Road Day (When I used to get an invite!) But imports from Japan I can.....I have a 1994 Toyota Celsior (LS400) and a 2004 model year Celsior (LS430). Both are brilliant cars, reliable and rust free but prices have recently gone through the roof with both purchase price and the massive increase in container shipping costs. Add in the Import duty, VAT, collection from the port, conversion to MPH and the UK registration and you could end up paying more than a UK registered model and all this without even seeing the car until it rolls out at the dock side. Insurance companies will also hit you with higher premiums as it is “an import”. There would also be no warranty and possibly service history. Keep your eyes peeled on here, they do appear occasionally in the for sale section.

Probably not, I would then be able to hear you from the next county south 😀

The funniest was beating 2 high powered motorcycles off the line at traffic lights in the 1994 Celsior, by the time I got to the next set I guessed they had not only recovered but were fully prepared......I then drove like Miss Daisy off that set causing them more annoyance 😀

In the past I have purchased stuff like the clear indicator units for the LS400 they won’t ship over here and brought them back in my suitcase but a complete car might raise questions at the check in desk 😀 I was waiting at some temporary traffic lights yesterday on my estate when there was a knock on the passenger window, mmmm doors are auto locked window down slightly. ”You don’t see many of these around nowadays .......a Lexus” ”You’ve probably never seen one of these before because it’s a Japanese version Toyota model” ”Oh so even rarer, it’s very nice” ”Thank you” Lights changed, foot to floor and left him in a cloud of tyre smoke whilst pulling the window back up. ( OK lying now).

As many of you may know I refurbished the front seats in my 1994 Celsior a while ago and they are holding up well. I did look at the time for some OEM replacement covers but the prices were horrendous. Just had another look (simply curiosity ) and yep same prices but when I put the part numbers into Amayama they come up as “No longer available” I doubt many, if any, have been sold (maybe a few fitted under warranty) so now I wonder...have these parts been sat in a warehouse for over 25 years and gone rotten sitting in their packing or having been stored in a leather friendly environment Lexus Japan had a mass clear out and dumped them. If the latter I wish they would have diverted a set to me FOC 😀

If you take a look at this video particularly from 5 mins 30 secs it may explain the problem you suspect given the bumper knock. Looks like Techstream as a minimum for diagnostics and hopefully just recalibration unless there is physical damage to the unit.

It gets stranger here in the UK, a post 2001 Lexus LS430 ( so based on emissions) costs £315.00 a year but my 2004 imported Toyota Celsior ( same car but Japanese model) costs me £280.00 based on engine size over 1549cc.