Tinonline

Oh…that’s not what I’d expect from Lexus Parts at all…I wouldn’t have been happy with that…🧐

That doesn’t sound right…was it presented in the OE Toyota parts box?

Have you tried Lexus Parts Direct in Swindon…part of a Lexus dealership? They post etc and have the OE at good prices so you get the top quality and ceramic content etc…

Well good, as these cars are criminally undervalued. But it’s the last of the line 400 for me for the performance and relative easier maintenance over early variants.

I had a big couple of blows from my Y section and further up…nothing deemed an MOT failure which I found staggering. They were proper holes. I’d recommend fixing the exhaust…maybe an O2 sensor is failing… My LS400 failed an MOT 2 years ago on emissions at idle. I replaced the air filter and ran Cataclean through on 1/4 tank of fuel. Passed on retest and no further problems. Y section was a later issue.

Ah so you’re at the same car/similar mileage age etc. as my car. Lower control arms can be trouble. If I get any more knocking or noise it will be the UCAs. They seem to be ok though…

I’ll let you know. I’m coming to the probs obvious one that 22 years in and with some mileage…those bushed parts just need replacing and us drivers get used to a drop off in performance although we might not be happy about it. We really get it when we get the car back to original spec… But it’s that juggle of what to replace and when…mechanic I used to know said if it ain’t broke don’t fix it…that might be too reactive but we don’t want to waste time and money doing pointless work when the objective is effective cost control and sustainability…the latter is not appreciated by government…keeping an old vehicle on the road is absolute sustainability…optimisation particularly if their mileage is low. 🧐😁

It’s that Lexus front end journey we are often are all on. 😶‍🌫️ I had the lower control arms done with pressed in OEM bushes, new lower ball joints and a wheel bearing driver’s side. The front anti roll bar bushes have made a big difference. The problem is the MOT just does not pick up wear when we as drivers are hearing and feeling it… Get a bar under the wheel and check for movement for UCA…but what is your mileage and age of vehicle? We are lucky we’re not running Jaguars…they need suspension at 30 to 40 k miles not the the 80-100 + where we are at… I need to road test more but my creaking seems to have gone with the anti roll bar bushes…maybe less stress and strain on other components? No idea…

Thank you for your kind comments…I attempt to make up for poor patience and ability in the attempt of fixing the car and I’m pleased you liked the write up. 👍😁

Now the sun is shining... I've had a pair of front bushes in the cupboard for ages now and it was time to fit the new anti-roll bar bushes. It's a simple task but can be fiddly. I removed the front under cover and it didn't take long to realise the small side covers would need come out too. This is simple but essential to get full access to the bushes. Releasing the bushes needed some persuasion as the bracket was not going to pop out, I was beginning to wonder whether the bushes were fine after all. I levered them out with a long screwdriver. Fitting them and the bracket and then getting them to align with the bolt holes was a swear and jiggle. I realised that I'd have to work on them as a pair and not do one side up as this left zero room for the other. More swearing and jiggling and added taps with my heavy mallet and extension rod to tap things home in addition to pushing the things. The passenger side: the second to be fitted was a real squish and push to get the bush around the bar and seemed to take ages. I tightened all up bit by bit and finished off with a torque wrench at 28 NM. It was a job worth doing for sure as the old bushes felt and looked on the thin side and showed 22 years and 98K miles of wear. Unless mistaken, the front feels better and sounds quieter, less vibration etc. Might as well look at doing the rears too. Next job though is the Transmission mount replacement. I've ordered one via Ayamara, Lexus part 12371-50060 at £36.52 including postage. These kind of jobs are definitely cheap quick wins.

It's amazing how broken the under bonnet. plastic bonnet release can be and still function. The plastic becomes brittle over time and just gives up. I've avoided attempting the replacement over the colder months as there's nothing worse than frozen fingers butter-fingering a bolt and dropping it into the deepest recesses and inky blackness of the engine bay. It's an easy swap out. I bought the new part (bracket 53540-30010) from Amayama: genuine part from Japan at an amazing cost of £27.00 all in. The bolts I bought from Lexus Parts in Swindon. I had to tear away and break apart the old unit. I didn't realise the mounting bracket it is fixed to is plastic too otherwise I would have taken more care. But no damage done. This left the bolts with their very stuck screw collars in place. I could then hold the collar in place with vice grips and undo the 10mm bolts. I could not get purchase on them any other way and the collar inserts just rotated inside the remnants of the handle. I attached the handle to the metal rod first as it as was easier. Then offered up the unit to the mounting bracket. Fitted and tightened up the bolts and job done. That was it. Happy motoring!

Thanks Malc👍

Oh OK so smacking the dash will be an "intermittently required driving procedure". Done it again... Is it worth sending off for repair? Whom to?

Hi Steve and thanks everyone for contributing and/or enjoying the post. I have indeed smacked the dash. All is well with the LS’world and the speedo is behaving normally. 🤪 Case closed with great relief. 👍😁

Hi Steve i haven’t tried that yet. The green light on the cruise control comes on/off correctly and the mileage is illuminated…unfortunately couldn’t do a check on them during a busy short journey in a hurry…so don’t know if they are functioning.

Thanks. I’ll give this a go. 👍

Thanks. I’ll give this a go. 👍

The speedo is not working. All dash lights are ok. Car drives ok. All other dials working. No fault lights showing. Any ideas? 🙂

Still looks like a big project…👍🤭🧐

I’m not advertising and my friends here will attest to my long standing membership of following and contributing to the forum… I’m in a new job (at my age👍🤗🧐😂) and it’s rock and roll: really exciting. Time to start looking at shifting my 2000 LS 400. Projects to do are: Refurb the wheels Repaint front bumper Rear wheel arch small dink and dink to rear bumper Front wing dent Maybe front under engine cover replacement and rad cowl. At 97k miles with a folder of work including Lexus parts for brakes all around…not going for the song they used to. Fair yes, I always play fair. I thought of a Bentley but they are so up their own pipes and fussy as… J Clarkson wrote if he bought a pacemaker it would be made by Lexus.!😂 Aston? Second hand…only buy new if you own a company…nope. Alfa Guila Veloce it the quadri 4 cheeses oh yesZzx The Maserati Grandturismo 4.7 oh yes not new but a serviced 2010 would be fine. Battery or hybrid? Not yet. It’s time. A move that I know I will miss and regret. 😢

That’s a project car all right…lot of work?

Sorry my error…the part was the ignition switch so a gasket for the fuel float likely to do it. 🙄🤭

Unlucky but a new gasket should do it. ambermarine says it’s a generic switch…so is the right fit? Is it a bite the bullet future proof action of getting an OE part? Ayamama could get a good price from abroad or the parts direct division of Lexus Swindon worth a try.

Very nice car: looks better than mine with its flakey front bumper paint and shot wheels…and dings… I’ve got black interior and feel it ages better or at least appears to… I’m sure once the niggles are done with you’ll get hooked…the MK 4 really flies too and is a really good car. Might be worth checking the fuses are clean and pressed home, electrics are clean and WD40’d, battery terminals are greased and engine Earth straps\bolts clean. I’ve had similar systems off, once in reverse in the Lexus (came straight back on) I did a switch off and on again…all fine and in a Merc C200, only the once in either vehicle with no subsequent issues. Nuts 🤪