is200 Newbie

VIDEO0029.mp4 Video posted above - compare them both .... The video I took was when the car was cold - had not used the car for 7 hours. Although loud, all you can hear are the injectors. The video mic makes it sound noisier in the specific areas - when standing by the bonnet (bonnet open) then there is little noise and no noise in the cabin except for a low hum. Hope this helps

I have just video'd mine - from cold, and it sounds very similar although standing by the engine with the bonnet open its quiet - when I have put the camera where you have indicated your noise is and played it back its quiet loud. Guess its the sensitivity of the mic. I have no issue with mine yet on play back its as rough as a bears a@*e. If I figure out how to post a video on the forum I will

Listen to the voices in your head ..... and Steve !!

Nice one - one to remember ... I have painted my calipers black with a small Lexus logo applied to the fronts (rears are too small to stick a logo on) - not too "garey" but stands out when you know its there - calipers are dirty at the moment but when clean its very discrete but I think it looks ok. As they are black then they clean up well, and don't show up any chips or stains from grease etc..

You should definitely see it get up to temp within the 4 miles. The only issue I can see is your exhaust not getting up to temp to burn off the excess condensation and rusting quicker (not before your eyes but sooner than normal) Try driving it using the paddles (manual mode) as it will heat up quicker, the coolant cools the auto box also so should help to heat engine up - you should notice a difference if not then you may have an issue. Not sure how effective coolant is whenit needs changing, would have thought in time it would breakdown and not be effective in cooling the engine which is the opposite from what you are experiencing....

Noise could be due to the introduction of new oil into the engine - maybe heavier oil was in it before masking the noise? Correct grade gone in this time?

As Linas - cant hear anything through the noise of the injectors. Sounds normal to me but I would check your oil though.

Nice job on the wheel centres What were to prices looking like for the pins (new) from the US?

I kind of think that the mpg is irrelevant providing that its reasonable, its the enjoyment from driving the car and the presence of it on the road (like a needle in a haystack compared to some brands where you will pass 4 or 5 same models in a row!)

I have altered the exhaust – have a bigger bore pipe from the centre resonator to the boxes and have twin boxes fitted (4 exit tailpipes) so I have improved the flow of gasses exiting the engine, albeit from the centre box. Before I done all this I fitted an oiled K&N panel filter (have done this to all the cars I have had as it does give some benefit in performance) so I have increased slightly the air into the engine also. I have not gone down the full route of converting the intake, just changed the filter to a lifetime one. If I was looking for a bigger power output (which I am not) my next step would be to have it tuned but it can’t be done on these engines anyway but I am not worried about that. The filter is expensive at first compared to replacing a normal one every year but it has been in the car that long now that its paid for itself. No noticeable difference in noise between the K&N| one to stock one. I clean it every year – it states its good for 100k before cleaning – can’t see how they can claim that as they don’t know the environment the car is being driven in. Once a year is no hassle as while the filter is drying out I put the original one back in if I know I am going to be driving it in the meantime. In doing this I can compare the differences between both filters and can say that there is a noticeable difference between them both – the K&N one makes the car more responsive and initial acceleration is better but after a while with the K&N one in you can’t tell the difference until the next time its cleaned and you can do the comparrison. Always wondered if the ECU compensates for the change immediately? I would recommend the filter – but I guess its personal preference really. As for the exhaust – I didn’t set out to make it a twin pipe but I found a set of boxes that fitted perfectly so went with them – what’s been about 6 months with it on – I have only had one issue with it in I noticed a weeping weld which I sorted. Still to put the diffuser on but have started to mod it so it can fit over the twin pipes (It was only for a single pipe exit both sides so have altered it to twin box exit on both sides) Will get it painted and placed on the car next along with a front splitter which will be painted at the same time. I must say how easy it was to do the exhaust and it worked out peanuts cost wise to an OEM or even a stainless one. Still got the stainless one which I need to clean up and may sell. I wont go down the route of stainless again as it seemed to drain a lot of the power from the can and make it uncomfortable to drive due to the drone. I can easily replace this with another mild steel one as I have the pattern for it so it wont take long and the hassle is gone from guessing what the angles are etc ...

I can beat that ... I can remember a few years ago (2014) I thought I would see what mileage I could get - I posted it on the forum titled "Tank Range" - I don't know how to link a post into a post but you can find it on a search for Tank Range I recorded the mileage done after changing sensors and after a service and doing the caliper pins etc so the car was running spot on with no issue - I thionk at the time I was also using the BG44 engine cleaner 1st time I got 483 miles driving on a mixture of roads and the second time I got 540miles with all motorway (with 9 miles left reported as the range left !!) and the third time I got to 586miles. The cars are totally capable of good MPG if looked after and driven like Miss Daisy ! I have not monitored it since but I am off to Bristol tomorrow which is usually around 300 miles each way. I usually do M56 / M6 / M5 going and M5 / M6 / M54 and the A roads coming back so I will keep an eye out to see if I can match the figures below but I am not running it so low as the the second time as that was just to see what was possible. I have changed the exhaust since which may make a difference and I am due to service it next month but I will keep an eye out for comparison. Will be a big day tomorrow as well as this will be the second Lexus I have taken over the 100k mark ... is there a special club for this? I have put the pictures below 1 - 483 miles 2 - 540 miles 3 - 586 miles

Snap ... also oil and filter change and MOT ... ready for all of this good weather we are going to get !! - need to give it a good clean as well - haven't done that properly for quite some time now. Expecting it to reach the 100k mark by next week also - and still no issue with seized callipers cos I regularly grease the pins

So I cleaned the MAF sensor tonight. This is the first time I have ever done it from owning the car at 60k miles - its now about to turn over to the big 100k. So that's 40k miles without a definite clean and I doubt it would have been done before unless its part of any service schedule so I am presuming its gone from new to 100k without a clean... Picture below is of the location of the sensor - 2 screws to undo and the electrical connection to release (as well as the drivers side engine cover to remove to get to it. Picture below with the electrical connection removed Picture below of the actual sensor before cleaning The cleaning agent I used is below So .... any difference ... I cleaned the sensor - noticed the liquid change colour slightly when I was doing this (went a bit cloudy) but not too bad. Gave the sensor a good clean inside and out - let it dry for 10 minutes then placed it back into the air intake. I left if tor a further 20 mins or so (went in for tea !!) Took it for a 5 minute drive and there is a definite difference - I would not say wow what a change but its definitely smoother and it seems to accelerate better. Definitely not a placebo effect. I will make this a part of the annual service I do on the car.

You are probably right, I was not sure of the year but knew it was around or after 2007

The battery light does come on when there is an issue with the battery. I have not long replaced mine after the light flashed on then off a few times but along with that it was labouring to start on a few cold mornings, something it has never done so I replaced the battery and now alls fine. When you replaced yours did you replace it with the right spec battery?

Auto fold on the pre 2007 facelift is a mod you need to do yourself. You will only have the option of folding in or out by using the button on the drivers door if you don't have the kit - installation of this is quite an easy one. Search the forum for this and you will find a member who is from Australia who can send you the kit. I must say its well worth doing.

If its from the glovebox area it could be a broken cabin filter door which is located at the back of the glovebox. Have your mechanic have a look to see if its closed. theres a procedure to follow to change the filter - if its not followed then theres a good change a system "flap" can be broken and lost in the dash area - it could be that that's rattling around?

It comes up that often it needs its own section !!

The design is ok - where the issue is comes from the fact that the pins are not regularly greased either by the service schedule via Lexus or by the owner. If you put your car in for a service through an indie then they will not be aware to do these as its not on any schedule - the only way they will do it is if you ask them to. The "hidden" pin is actually a bolt shrouded in a rubber boot (if that's the one you mean, the other one is more like a fixed pin on the carrier. Both of these are quite substantial bolts and should not snap unless - they can do if the caliper has seized and it snaps while trying to free it. Regular maintenance in greasing the pins will ensure the bolts don't need to be forced off.

What was the actually company called that fitted it?

Coming home last night I noticed a rattle coming from the back end - could not pin it down to any particular area when driving or could not see any noticeable issues when parked up at home. Went into the boot then noticed what it was when I closed the boot ..... number plate was loose on one side and causing a rattle. I am quite surprised that these are stuck on with what looks like adhesive tape. Is this a Lexus spec?

Any pictures of where this is located and any instruction on how to remove etc ...

I used start stop on my last oil change - haven't noticed any difference

I am pretty sure the level is indicated on the tank with COLD stamped on the tank. As a guide, use the jointed seam, seen in the second picture on the tank, as a guide level. If you overfill then it wont cause damage as it will expand out of the overflow pipe when running (make sure the overflow pipe is not blocked) I would not drive it as a precaution as you don't know how much coolant is in the system, you may cause damage. If no dealers near you then you can purchase the correct fluid and get it despatched to you. Try Lexus Birmingham on ebay or ebay itself - I would recommend you get at least 2 litres (topups come in 1ltr bottles) if any spare when topped up then you can use this if required while monitoring the levels.