steve2006

So sad to hear of John’s passing and please pass on my deepest condolences to his family. Usernames tend to be remembered more than personal names but behind every username is a real person, I joined this forum many years ago and at the time knew very little about anything Lexus. It was people like John who was always there providing help and advice even to some of my own stupid questions which must have either raised a chuckle or a sigh of despair but always received a polite and informative response. John you are already sadly missed but will continue to be remembered.

Yay...how much did you put on that result? 😀

OK I understand now, we do have a USA sister site but you’re welcome to hang out with us Brits 😀 You also have Rockauto.com for all your parts requirements, the link below shows the gaskets mentioned previously, parts from Lexus dealers are a lot cheaper in the USA too than the UK. https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/lexus,1997,ls400,4.0l+v8,1187524,engine,valve+cover+gasket,10710 There is a very good tutorial site for maintenance lexls.com http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/engine/valvecover.html The synthetic oil may have resulted in the leak or they may have used a thinner oil, might be an idea in the future to buy the correct Toyota oil and filter then get a shop to replace.

After a good nights sleep I have decided not to bother with the DHP wheels as I have found some DFS wheels. The DFS wheels come in a variety of sizes and styles with no deposit interest free credit over 4 years with nothing to pay for the first year and surprisingly are on sale at the moment with a “double discount”. The quality of the wheels is second to none and fully endorsed by Wallace and Grommit. I can also go and view the wheels before purchase at one of their showrooms, Darley Dale is the nearest for me.

Yes, I’ve seen the set and alignment buttons under the dash so assumed it was fitted and active, crumbs look at that baguette now. I’ve been checking the tyre pressures manually but then thought “it will tell me if there’s a problem”. 18” it is then........I also hear there’s a set of DHPs on ebay 😀

Just watching a Youtube video and this got mentioned, amazing what Lexus offer over the pond when they start replacing trim FOC. Meanwhile UK owners with dash issues get some strategically placed double sided tape 😀 https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10145764-9999.pdf

I did one once in mine for another member locally, bought some ribbons and mirror bows, washed, waxed and interior valeted the car. Drove 15 miles to pick up the groom and best man, drove them to the church and left them to it. A little disappointed in that I never got offered a penny for fuel or the trimmings I bought but did enjoy it all the same. What you have to be careful with is insurance, some companies will cover the occasional wedding like they do with track days. Obviously you’re located a long way from me otherwise you could have had a choice of cars but perhaps a more local member may offer if you cover the expenses.

But not as good as Toyota wheels though Phil, I was thinking of swopping the 18” wheels from my 94 onto the 04 with them being dark grey but then realised that the TPMS would throw a code. So after hitting myself on the head with a baguette they are staying where they are.

Hi Erik and welcome to the LOC. Firstly you mentioned you had the alternator and battery recently replaced, if the old alternator was covered in power steering fluid you may want to get the pump situated directly above it sorted as they often leak wrecking the alternator below. ”Jiffy Lube” I don’t know which country you’re in but it sounds like a fast fit joint. Regarding the oil leak and the smell of burning rubber I would be looking firstly at the camshaft cover gaskets, these are known to leak and the oil drips down onto the exhaust manifolds resulting in the symptoms you describe. Finally the “car shop” you took the car to with “no tools” .......please don’t ever go back there, the camshaft oil seals can leak but it’s not an engine out job to replace them. If you have any pictures of your car please feel free to post them up

They won’t be if you need them delivering to Ireland. Have you asked the seller if they are a member on here and maybe do a deal?

Here you go.

There are a couple of breakers on ebay, one headlight from Lithuania ( no good if LHD) and a stupid price one from Oz. Price new is around £800.00!

If we can ever get back to GC we’re stopping there this time 😎

Second question yes it’s not a legal requirement but same tyres on each axle is best practice. First question is personal choice, all I remember about Michelin tyres is back in the late 70s when I had them on my works van XZX was the type. Great until they got to around 4mm tread then useless in the wet and never considered them since. Technology moves on of course so all tyres in the 70s were probably crap compared with those of today’s.

This particular one appears to be part of the evap system, other vacuum lines control the EGR system and provide brake servo vacuum on older cars.

Although for a GS450h ( couldn’t find the LS600h) it may help. Welcome to the LOC as well.

Apparently it is legal but you need to disclose you are not the owner or registered keeper of the car. That and a new 18 year old driver will probably push the premium further through the roof though.

No problem, if you do decide to change the diff oil just make sure the fill plug comes out before removing the drain plug....the last thing you want is to drain the old oil and find you can’t refill it!

Looking at the parts list it appears that they both use the same differential part number 41110-53171 final drive ratio 2.474:1. Must admit I’ve never heard of a diff failure on any Lexus model but wheel hub bearings yes.

Oh Boy.....now it gets more complicated, when my OEM audio system packed up in my 1994 Celsior I had to hardwire a replacement in which involved tracing every speaker wire, running an aux output from the head unit to the sub amp positioned in the boot and finding 12 volt supplies. Fortunately at the time you could buy a facia bracket for either single or double din which at least looked reasonable. My 2004 Celsior still has the Japanese Sat Nav.....it’s staying that way too. There are always some differences between JDM and the rest of the world models, circuit diagrams if you can ever find them are in Japanese making any jobs extremely difficult. Personally I would leave things as they are as once you start it’s difficult to go back and the last you you need is a blank screen or a cloud of smoke.

Here you go Herbs, In Japanese too 😀

They have now 😀

I’ve always been weary of Cruise Control mainly because I never feel I am in complete control of the car without my foot on the accelerator pedal and being almost an instinct/muscle memory moving it from there to the brake pedal should the need arise. Also where do you put your right foot when cruise is activated, left foot has a nice rest area but right doesn’t. So flat on the floor then hope you hit the right pedal in an emergency situation ( mine is not radar BTW).

My 1994 Celsior suffered from low washer jet pressure a while ago, Japanese versions have both a washer tank and a plain water rinse tank so there are 2 feed pipes into the check valve (highlighted) and then 2 out to the jet nozzles. Diagnosis confirmed the valve had failed which is a sealed unit but having obtained the part number were coming up at around £3.00. Unfortunately they were obsolete from dealers and Amayama. Got around it eventually, being an MOT failure, by using assorted T pieces and single non return valves. If anyone needs a valve I ordered 10.

The MOTs from 2011 show around 120,000 with very little mileage between tests, 2014 unreadable so probably when the dash finally gave up. A structural failure on the subframe mounts would put me off as it depends on the quality of the repair as to the longevity which the next MOT will no doubt highlight. You do of course have to take into account some these cars are now 30 plus years old and few have led a cosseted life. It is now becoming very hard to find a “good” example of the early series LS even as an import plus around £12K to get one after purchase costs. Another factor is spare parts, apart from the extortionate prices more parts are becoming obsolete by the day. OK very few would have paid the £500.00 odd for a new Y pipe section but you can’t now anyway. There is no “Lexus Rimmer Brothers” selling new old stock parts for cars from 1954 unlike those with a classic MG so we get around it with custom made Y pipes or repairing that smoking PS Idle up Valve. I don’t think you will ever see an LS400 take part in the London to Brighton vintage rally and if it does happen I will hopefully be watching from above. If you do want one get one soon before it’s too late.