Mike_Mac

I may have a 3GR engine arriving on Friday… just sayin’ 😀 (be a while before I get ‘round to it, though).

I found what I think are the pinouts for that connector, and pin 6 is a 12v Battery feed: https://pinoutguide.com/Car-Stereo-Toyota-Lexus/Toyota_2003-2011_CD-MP3_m_pinout.shtml As there's a constant 12v at the input wires to the radio (green wire) as you've said, Colin, I can only assume there's a break somewhere inside the radio where that feed is meant to be sent to pin 6 of the other connector. Suspect it's new (to me) radio time!!

I’m going from what Grom have said, which is that pin 12 on the socket I highlighted is 12v (live) while pin 11 is 12v (ign). Pin 11 is definitely ign 12v and all the other voltages are correct on that connector (per what Grom have said they should be) - just no 12v live at pin 12. as I don’t have the pinouts I’m not even sure if that actually is meant to be 12v or not, and if so, why it’s dead.

As per the title, I'm in the middle of installing a Grom VLite unit, but have found that the connector on the back of the radio that is providing the constant 12v from the battery is dead (12-pin connector on the top row, second from the left). Radio, nav and headunit all work fine still, and I've checked all fuses, which are fine. Can anyone help - is this a dead element inside the radio, or am I missing something basic? Stumped!

Not sure - mine is an Auto, so Rev Hang's not an issue.

Yes - bit of a pain! I’ll take the whole thing please (parcel shelf) - just let me know how you want paid and what postage would be to Devon (unless collection is an option?)

Interested in the front section of the Rear Shade (if the car has a rear blind?)

Chris at Phoenix Engine Management can remap the GS ECU, and, I would assume, can do the IS ones too. If not, then RR Racing definitely can, as I've just put their map on my own IS250 (does make a difference). THey may be in the USA, but I had no issues. There was another Coy I was taking to who could do it in the UK too (can't remember their details, though).

I thought those that've done this before just swapped the bare engine in and used their original 4GR ECU, Coils, Injectors, Intake etc? There are companies that can map the GS ECU to remove all the Auto functions, so i'd imagime they could do the same to an IS ECU, though.

That look superb Normski - thanks! Now that my 250's going to be a daily driver for a while I think i'll do this myself - the seats really let the interior down!

Peeling trim on your IS's windows letting it down? Vinyl Wrap it:

IS wheel is better feeling to me too!

The problem is that some of the wires for ACC and paddles overlap at the clock spring (IIRC). I was going to install my own switch and wire it in, as there was a way to do it that I’d found, but in the end it wasn’t worth the effort (although the ISC wheel is an interesting point…

Yes, they are - not because the gearbox is doing anything different - but because it’s a far quicker action to flick a paddle with your hands already on the wheel, rather than reaching down to the shifter and then physically pushing/pulling it repeatedly! The wiring’s also actually quite simple - just some splicing and crimping.

Back to more GS-related things, a long time back now I installed OE flappy paddles, and they actually work perfectly - see here:

Decided a while back to do something about that autobox... so made it a bit better!

My Dealer experience is a bit unusal, as I'd be very unliekly to bother the sales staff for a new car, do all my own servicing and therefore am usually just ordering parts. However, the amount I've sent downrange in just parts is not insignificant. I've found the dealership staff overall to be friendly and helpful, and the parts desk people (especially those I dealt with when rebuilding the GS) got to being on first name terms and not having to say my name when calling as they knew who I was 😄. They also seemed to genuinely try and get me that extra bit of discount, which was really helpful. Recently, though, although at the face to face level it's still good, the biggest issue is getting to talk to someone; calling in I've lost count of the number of times that no-one is available, but 'will call you back' but have NEVER done so. At least ten times now, I've had to either go in, or just keep calling until someone actually answers from the parts dept. Not sure why, may be lean staffing, but the 'I'll call you back' followed by crickets is one of my biggest pet hates!

That’ll be interesting, and should be a fairly straight swap (same engine mount locations and all that…). Look forward to seeing how it goes!

Nope - neither of those two things… 😇

Thanks for the comments guys, and yes, the main lack is more power (why did Lexus leave the IS350 outside the UK market!?). However, the next project (not on this car) should sort that out… 😉

Now the car's done, a final drive and review, and that'll probably be the last video on this car (although another, much more ambitious project is on the way...).

Thank you! Quite a few times the thought ‘just effing scrap it’ did cross my mind… 😉

Latest video now out, and it's finally done! (or as done as it will be, anyway...). It's been an interesting journey and will pave the way for a far more interesting project that i'm busy cooking up now. Until then, the next video will be a Review drive of the IS250, then catch-ups on what I've done with the GS430...

A bit of a random one, but can anyone provide the dimensions of the IS220d's RA63 Manual Gearbox? As many as possible would be ideal, but I'm primarily interested in the total length from the bellhousing to the output shaft. Anyone?

Yeah - it was a pain, but luckily everything swapped over pretty easily. 😄