robbyD

On 2/13/2022 at 8:26 AM, KayCee said:

Steven

isnt the strap holder for first aid and Locking nuts on Rhside my old GS3 was and the gs4 is in same place

On 2/6/2022 at 5:26 PM, Sherra said:

first aid kit

Sorted! First Aid Kit in the Boot + (UK) Handbooks & Locking Wheel Nut Kit in the Glove Box.

Check out Moog suspension parts. They are top quality, & will last at least as long as Lexus originals. I bought mine from US eBay.

I currently have a 2003 GS Owners Pack from the US which is too large to fit in the Glove Box...which makes me think SER II's carry the Pack in the Boot.

The UK spec Pack that's coming is a different shape and most likely will fit the Glove Box.

Suppose my question should be, what is the Boot Strapping for?

Dumb question, but where do you carry the Owners Manual Pack? Is that what the Nylon Strapping on the left side of the Boot is for?

My GS never came with original Owners Manuals but I've just sourced a used set.

Replaced the "Dome" Fuse & everything's back online. Ta!

Blew a fuse changing a Map Light Bulb in the overhead Dome. Now the Interior & Boot Lights, Wireless Remote Locking, Radio & Clock are all down. Can anyone tell me which fuse is likely to need replacing? 

Thanks Giles, handy to know. Since the previous owner had the whole regulator replaced, I thought it was the only option if it fails again.

Maybe I've been lucky covering 100,000 miles in my previous LPG converted GS300…haven't had any problems. In contrast, the system on the 430 has only been on there for 18 months / 10,000 miles and it's already on it's 2nd regulator!

The US LOC forums say the closest replacement shocks to original L-Tuned are the KYB's (Excel-G). I fitted a front pair to my GS300SE a few years back & they were a tad firmer which does seem to bear this out.

I take it the Excel-G's are the way to go for maintaining the Sports' revised suspension?

Lexus supplied me with standard SE front shocks which were promptly returned when I realised they weren't original Sport spec. Of course the original Sport versions have not been available for a long time. Their official position is to change all 4 shocks & springs & convert the suspension back to SE spec!

I'm tempted by a GS430, but my main feature would be a softish ride (in contrast to you younger folk!)

I realise that the Sport isn't that, but just how 'BMW' is it?

I've run a GS300 SE for 7 years & now have a GS430 Sport with the revised suspension.

They are different cars in the ride comfort stakes.

It depends how much you value the Sport's looks & handling over comfort.

The Sport is by no means uncomfortable but it is noticeably firmer.

Genuinely never lowered. Lexus withdrew the sport in 2000 due to complaints of poor ride quality and it took them 3 years to bring it back after a new revised suspension set up. Initially it was going to officially come out in 2001 but they couldn't get it right so a few models were just given the cosmetic treatment without the mechanical revisions.

So to clarify, there weren't any Sport models officially marketed from 2000 to mid 2003 but a few were ordered & supplied to customers regardless?

Another thing I'd love too know is whether the Sport's revised Shocks, Springs & Anti-Roll Bars were exactly the same as the L-Tuned options marketed by Lexus in the States?

Worth noting or the future, maybe.

I certainly will.

Under the previous owner, Lexus replaced the rad which ended up in a failed LPG regulator. Apparently caused by an air lock.

Well once again, it could have been so much worse, well done for spotting it!

Yep, to say the problem was tucked away is rather an understatement! Having maintenance skills that go no further than checking fluid levels & tyre pressures, I was quite pleased with myself :D

It isn't going to be a cheap fix like the LPG coolant pipework. The Lexus Pipe & Gaskets are over £100 & the Head on that side has to come off.

But we're getting there & without any major problems to report!

"Yes they may have access to "trained" engineers"

The problem with my local Dealership is that none of the mechanics who were around 10/15 years ago, & know these cars inside out, are still there…they've all gone!

At the end of the day my GS was put in for a Visual Safety Report, which was worth doing. Trouble was the £84 charge doesn't buy time for much else.

Update.

The LPG plumbing was sorted & although the coolant loss halved, it's still loosing.

I found another leak where the heater matrix pipe goes into the engine…was difficult to spot.

Sometimes it's better to look in the dark with a tight beam LED torch, because that's how I found it.

There's a metal pipe that comes up from inside the top of the Head casing that mates with one of the Heater Matrix Hoses.

The Pipe & Gaskets are on order and we should have the coolant problem well & truly nailed in another week or so.

Yup, I can now sit back & enjoy this fabulous motor car!

Of course we shall get the leak attended to & the whole LPG system checked over asap, but boy am I pleased

Panic over! The leak is coming from the LPG plumbing...and it's pretty easy to spot.

Not impressed with Lexus & their Visual Safety Report. The job stated the car was loosing coolant & I was assured they would pay special attention to possible causes & that would include the LPG plumbing. Turns out, the leak was staring them in the face & they missed it.

The is a small amount of water "sloshing" from behind the dash when revved.

There is still some air in the system then. As has been said, it can be difficult to get all the air out.

The whole cooling system has a capacity of around 9 l on the GS430.

Yes, I'll be looking at that next. Also, the system probably has a litre or two more with the LPG plumbing added.

Thanks guys…the suggestions have been most helpful.

Thanks for your reassurance.

What makes me a little paranoid about the coolant loss is the previous owner had it for just 5 weeks & during that time spent out on a full Lexus service, new Lexus rad, lambada sensor, wheel alignment & LPG regulator. He cited change of circumstances as the reason for selling & I've been a little worried that an expensive engine problem was the real reason.

As luck would have it, I'm meeting up with a good friend of mine today who's up from Cornwall. He's a brilliant trouble-shooter and is getting a name down there as the go to guy for sorting out car & bike problems nobody else can. From what I've told him, he also thinks it isn't the Head Gaskets. Same goes for the ex-Lexus mechanic I use.

There may not be an exhaust gas test but my man reckons his nose is a very good diagnostic tool :D

I've been wondering whether coolant is being dumped straight out of the header tank overflow.

The rad doesn't have a cap, just a blanking bolt at the top, but a new header tank cap wouldn't be a bad idea, thanks.

Thanks Phil, but the Block Test I had done is the same kind of thing & it returned a negative result.

I think the next step is to make sure the system is properly full with coolant.

Already checked the ATF & all looks fine.

I was hoping to eliminate the possibility of internal engine leaks by analysing the exhaust gasses, but it seems no such test exists.

The rad was replaced about 3 weeks before I bought the car.

I've been hoping the same thing, that the coolant level will soon stabilise...but after covering 850 miles & pouring in about 4 litres of Red, there's no sign of it levelling off.

The car has been LPG converted and the Gas Regulator packed up & was replaced after the new rad was fitted…supposedly because of an air lock.

I first noticed something was amiss when the heater blew cold & the LPG system wouldn't cut in.

I found it odd that I could only get 1.5 litres of coolant into the system…I expected it would need more from those 2 symptoms.

I've done around 100,000 LPG miles with the old GS without any problems. Occasionally had lowish coolant levels but that never affected the heater or the LPG system.

The is a small amount of water "sloshing" from behind the dash when revved.

I've been topping up the header tank with the engine running.

There's no white smoke as such, but quite a lot of vapour. It's difficult for me to gauge as the car does a lot of short journeys and it has been colder of late. To be fair, my old GS300 emits similar amounts of vapour…but no loss of coolant.

I was wondering if the exhaust can be tested for the presence of coolant in a similar way the block test checks for combustion gasses.

Thanks, that's a nasty I didn't know about. Presumably Lexus would have checked the fluid when they gave the car a Safety Check this week but I'll have a look just in case.

I did cook the engine a bit on my old GS300 when the rad failed but there was no damage done.

Have a horrible feeling the same thing happened to the 430 and it also cooked the Head Gaskets or worse

My recently acquired GS430 is losing around 1litre of coolant every 200 miles.

No obvious sign of an external leak.

Engine Oil & Cap look healthy. Recent new rad fitted by Lexus.

Block test was negative.

Can the exhaust be tested for traces of coolant with a Gas Analyser?