Malc

That's a new one for me Steve, thanks ....... in case I get another pas problem !! Malc

The upper control arms are frightening to replace costwise BUT you might be lucky with yours. Mine's now done 160k and the MOT tester confirmed there is absolutely no play in them at all ( yet ). On my Mk1 I replaced them at 150k miles and even then they cost a fortune, £250 each if I remember, years ago now but simple to fit. But I did live at the end of an unmade track and that abuse might just have prematurely aged them of course. Malc

Ah well, I still remember with affection the Morris Oxford and variants .... I even had a Wolseley 6/110, 3 ltr straight 6 ...... lovely car but died as they all did, from rust usually. Can't seem to get it out of my head that I'd rather spend my money on living than updating to a newer car ........... the same problem I had when I had a car sales business, could never understand why people wanted to give me their money and their quite good trade in car for another lump of metal that more or less did the same as the one they were giving me. ........... it's my age you know, I still remember £ notes !!! not white fivers tho' ......... hehehehe Malc

Might be that after removing the air filter cowling and covers it reveals everything to make it much easier to work on the power steering pipework. 1.25 mtrs did it on the main cooler pipe run and 10mm comes off a roll of copper tubing, it's that flexible. yep, had it " gone " two months back I would have been in trouble but I daresay someone would have been able to sort the problem for me somewhere ............. people are generally quite resourceful when one's out and about journeying. Malc

Guess most Lexus owners don't come on to this Forum and just enjoy perfect trouble free motoring ......... or NOT and just pay ( if and when they have to ) !! I think they may actually be common problems but hey, how would we know Malc

Feedback or not, it's the car that's the issue and whilst it might be absolutely fine today, one day into your ownership might be the day it starts to become expensive !!! Malc

snap !! Malc

Forgot to mention the mild steel exhaust too on the Ls430 ......... limited longevity, no one has ever mentioned on here about replacing a Ls400 exhaust pipe, just sorting out that flange thingy , a £30 welding job, well, that's what mine cost and it's lasted 12 months now and showing no signs of deterioration. Malc

I guess I'm lucky to have found my mechanic chap in Margate who has been looking after our cars now for 6.5 years. I have every confidence in him and that's why I had no hesitation transporting Lexii to him. Now, all that I read about the Ls430 problems fills me with dread. Specifically the air suspension and the oil cooler leaking thru' into the radiator and sodding-up the gearbox. Breaking down of laminated double glazed windows and the aircon issues at the rear which cost £1k to sort out. And the mention of the rusting thru' of the doors from the inside which you only get to see just after the 12 year warranty has expired ! Now, that's enough to put me off. OK, maybe it's unlucky for some owners alone BUT I wouldn't want one of them to be me So there we have it, my reason not to change to a Ls430. I know of no major issues like that with the Mk1, Mk2 or Mk3 Ls400s. The manifestation of the vvti engine problem on the Mk 4 is causing me doubtful thoughts on that too now. BUT I guess you have to be really really unlucky to suffer that one ! I'm happy with my Mk3 ........ long may it last eh ! Malc

Oh, plus the £100 transport cost of Lexii to my guy in Margate Malc

The end story ................ got Lexii back today, all finished and ok. The leak was from higher up the pipework and all pipework now renewed and used my 1.25mtrs of 10mm copper tube for the cooler section. Used flexi hose of the appropriate quality as the original steel pipe bends were a silly waste of time to try to replicate. While there I had a new MOT ( no advisories except front tyres to replace quite soon ) and a full service. As usual I supplied the 10/40 semi synthetic oil ( Wilko ) and new plugs, Toyota one's which ACLex kindly left in the box of goodies for me when I bought the car 3 years ago now from him....... and 55k miles on from the last plug change too. New air filter, oil filter and bits and bobs, haven't got the itemised bill yet but all paid and I'm happy. Total bill incl. the MOT and service parts and repair and service labour .......... £220.03 plus of course my £3.11 for the copper tube and the oil costs from Wilko and the free !! plugs that came with the car. Excellent result methinks. Malc

If you manage to spend £1000 on the car I'll be amazed, most costs are for little money and you will probably have a great car for the future ... the ATF radiator issue seemingly only manifests itself on the Ls430 ........... never on the Ls400. I know no more than that .. I'm not a techy, just know that from 12 years of owning a Mk1, Mk2 and now my Mk3, I have enjoyed blissful and economic motoring for a very long time. I have not long returned from a 5 week, 6060 mile trip thru France and around Spain and Portugal and back in mine, fantastic trouble free too .............. this past week, at 160k miles, I have a power steering fluid leak and keeping my fingers crossed that its nothing too serious and my mechanic can fix it ok. For at least another trouble free year of blissful journeying Enjoy your car. Malc

You've bought a 21 year old car with no previous recent history then !!!! not sure what you really expected. Perhaps a starting point is to check with the DVLA the previous recent MOT advisories ( you can do that on-line ) and then do these service items ( as you say, that's all they are ! ) and think that you will maybe have many many years of trouble free motoring and perhaps even an appreciating ( in value ) classic. If the cambelt was changed in 2003 ish then you may have a sticker somewhere in the engine bay to tell you and then have at least a little comfort from that. It should have really had its second one about now. 114k is no miles on your car, the pas leak has been fixed ? usually drips onto the alternator from the reservoir and knocks that out .............. but maybe it's been saved ! The radiator is stand alone from ATF fluids passing thu' too. So how much did you pay for your wonderful piece of classic engineering ?? Bet it was a bargain, hope so, give's you leeway to get it "right " and enjoy for the future. Which of course you will once the initial expense has been overcome. Enjoy your Ls400 ....... and prepare to buy your next one; once smitten you will never look back and wonder why you didn't start your love affair with Ls400s a long time ago. Malc

mine is silver BUT they tell me it's really Aspen Green in Lexus colour Malc

Quick up-date ......... the Lexus is being trailered over to my mechanic later today ..... 50 miles away ..... for repair, annual service and a 6 week early MOT. Thank you Steve for the exploded diagram, my guy says it will be helpful. I refer him to this site when things seem a bit awkward ! Thanks. Malc

Was at the Faversham ( Kent ) classic car and bus show at the weekend and wow, have you ever seen how cavernous the boot space is in a Mk1 Cortina ! bigger than the Ls400 methinks. Malc

....... and have babies .................. :outforcount: Malc

I can see it now ...........thanks Steve. I think it's maybe my internet provider is slow ......................a bit like me ( most days ). Malc

Steve, I can't actually see the picture, is there another link ? maybe my computer just isn't man enuf these days ! Thanks. Malc

Just looking at this problem with cleaner eyes and it seems as if the fluid is actually running down onto the rubber hoses which then connect to the usual corroding pipework ( bugger ). So i think its into the local garage for a review ... sad. Let you know the final outcome as soon as. Malc

seeing my plumber tonight to put the bend in the 10mm copper tube I have just bought ( off the roll ) .............. 1.25 mtrs ........ £3.11 incl vat ......... not a bad result thus far eh !! Malc

Rupert thanks, HPS Plumbers ( opposite Asda Sittingbourne ) stock it and will sell me 1.5 mtrs ok. So I'm off there now ! Thanks so much for your help. Malc

ok guys, looks as tho' I need 125cms of 10mm copper tube and two new clips. each length is about 60cms and the bend another 5cms across at the end. Looking at finding a plumbers merchant to find 10mm copper tube seems nigh impossible ! 8mm is the micro bore used these days. Malc

Oh. ok. thanks Malc

Thank you so much guys ...... just phoned my plumber and he's told me where to get the 8mm plumbers micro bore pipe and he has a pipe bender so we'll sort the issue out tomorrow. Thank you. You're stars !!! Malc