runsgrateasanut

Hi Andy, Good question, on the installing a replacement ECU. Not too sure myself as didn't do it in the end. I did remove and refit my own after the Caps had been changed. There's a useful link to removing the ECu but its not completely accurate for your model. Others on this forum know the answer or perhaps try a US forum via google and see if you can find the answer. Just put the Q into google for your Car model and age. It seems a pity to sell the Car as scrap when you've enjoyed it so long and it doesn't sound as though its terminal. Did the previous Mechie tighten up the throttle body or do the job properly. Did you see it after cleaning and before re-installing. I'm a cynic. Yes the ECU is on t'bay I only listed it last week. To get a decent car (and who knows with older cars what will not be a money pit (though glossy on the outside) you'll have to spend some money. Better the Devil etc. especially if its good in all other respects, tyres and a nice interior etc. Short journeys which you mention can cause difficult starting, but as you say there are lots of other things to consider. I've not read on this forum of a MAF sensor failing but once again put it into the forum search box or let google do the walking by putting Q's into the search line. A lot of reading but may find some useful clues. Frustrating for youI understand.

Afterthought - did you leave the handbrake on?

Quote The next day I started the car in the morning and it started perfectly, but when I put it into reverse to back out of the drive it stalled. It would not re start-the engine was turning over ok but just would not start. Unquote This seems to be the most worrying aspect of what you've said in your threads. This may suggest that the ECU is at fault, unless you stopped the Car before reversing, which starting again can overfuel and clog a newly started car. ? You can look at the Air intake plastic part that connects to the Throttle body to see that the small bore rubber pipe is not split and that it is still OK going in to the main black plastic body. Suggest worth taking a look yourself and ruling out as a possible cause. My Mechanic has never bauked at doing anything to the Car and at a reasonable price but there are Cowboys out there and sounds like you've experienced a few. Perhaps give your location (Cheltenham?) and ask members for a recommendation? ps I recently listed a 1993 ECU for sale on ebay, as surplus to requirements, condition explained.

Additional to my last reply you may want to check the rubber pipe to the IACV or it could be MAF sensor related. Have you changed the Air filter in recnet times? On my Car the connecting small bore tube next to the the throttle body aperture where the IACV rubber hose clamps had almost broken free, thereby enabling more air to be sucked in, post MAF sensor. Here's another link for you to consider as possible cause. https://www.carsdirect.com/car-repair/how-to-tell-if-you-have-a-faulty-mass-airflow-sensor

Don't know if this clip may help you or you can make sense of it? I seem to recall replacing some sort of sprung device by the Oil dip stick once. 'Fraid my memory doesn't tell me what it did or does, but near to the part referred to in this clip. Whatever it was I doubt it actually needed replacing. Sorry can't help. https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=where+is+the+EGR+valve+on+a+lexus+ls400+engine&view=detail&mid=20659664EF169EFFA6FC20659664EF169EFFA6FC&FORM=VIRE

Malc, Back in 2003 a Jim Walker made the following comment in a Post entitled "Air Conditioning problem Ls400" " i am an electronics engineer so I decided to explore this problem and I found that the glass liquid crystal display itself is the part that fails, as opposed to an electronic component that drives the display. These displays are custom made for or by Lexus so you can't just go to the neighborhood Liquid Crystal Display store and by a replacement. Lexus won't sell them, they only sell the whole climate control unit. " He then went on to say he was going to get 100 made up. You can buy RHD versions from Tannin Electronics on t'bay USA $99.99 + $13.99 shipping, plus import charge whatever. Its not a lot but I can't really be bothered with going to the trouble of changing it. Getting lazier every year that goes bye! Last years Alternator and Power Steering pump was enough for me - or was it the previous year?? Blimey daren't blink these days time is going so fast! I think that Mr Doofa would have wished he had read the thread before buying into Lexus. I sometimes think I should. May have stayed with the S Class, albeit Scotty's nightmare. The Cars mentioned were only ten years old then. My own is now 25 years and I think I've dealt with most of its failings but pray that the Air Con stays as great as it's been. Don't of course know its history. but I always use it at least for part of every trip however short, to ensure the seals don't dry out, etc.

I didn't think it was a question of aging solder but if it was I could only wish that I had this experts touch to soldering. Thought it was owing to the LCD's giving up the Ghost. ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uiroWBkdFY

Standard buttons. Non standard Facia panels. Clock, because I just can't bring myelf to buy a new LCD strip from America for RHD which they price at three times LHD. Happy to pay import charges but... As I used to collect real Movement Watches and have about forty sat in a box (unloved, unviewed and unused) I thought it time to find a home for a Quartz which doesn't quite go with these and also not require daily winding.

Having lost a wad of money importing a beautiful Steering wheel which was not for a '93 vehicle but a later model I decided not to bother changing it. I spotted this, which is not one of those full wrapped round leather and pretend wood with chrome divider sew on covers but (IMO) a better alternative. For under £17 I thought it worth a punt. Part of the reason is that I occasionally suffer from Carpel Tunnel on long trips and so this makes for a wider diameter wheel grip. The part duly arrived just before Christmas and I decided not to remove the cover over the 3m sticky quarter inch strip as I found it was secure enough when put on. However, for the '93 each part was a bit too long. The longest by 25mm and the short parts which fitted ok but were not flush enough because they were too close to the frame, I cut off 7mm. Chamfered the edge and with some Walnut quick drying paint tidied an end. Invisible to the eye. Admit I didn't add varnish. If anyone buys one they need only pm me and I'll send a small sachet of Walnut matching paint and a pipe cleaner to tidy the end if you decide to cut off. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Walnut-Wood-Steering-Wheel-Cover-for-Toyota-Land-Cruiser-Lexus-Camry/283240957147?hash=item41f27a04db:g:SD0AAOSwimZbhXah:rk:36:pf:0

Bought one from the States similar price - seems to be working OK. Its the pipe issue that may cost. Find out the part number and ask Lexus Direct what the pipe costs.

Bet the age range varies considerably by Lexus Model, so average is not really indicative. Suspect the LS400 is way above that average or is it just me - oh and Malc? I don't put my age into any forums or sites if I can avoid it. Just a security thing not being astute enough to keep ahead of the computer crims.

Called Antimacassars https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimacassar

Likewise treated the pipe to Hammerite a couple of ears ago. Starting to show rust signs on it so must do it again. Its the underside which is the difficulty. I carry two lengths of 12mm copper pipe joined with elbow compression joints in the boot - just in case it leaks somewhere abroad. Not an easy job to replace I imagine. Headlamp removal necessary perhaps? I recently bought an oil cooler on t'bay for very little cash and thinking is it worth substituting or would it affect the Air con ability if placed in front of the Condensor??

Never had that pleasure, just the design makes me think of the Zil. Seeing vu-tube vids of Russian calamitous driving don't think I'd be brave enough to drive on their roads.

Reminds me of a Zil.

John, Just when I'd decided NOT to have installed but sell the LPG Conversion Kit with unused Torodial I've had knocking around it seems forever, you tell us the sort of MPG figure which makes me envious. Only Diesel i ever owned was a Renault Safrane briefly, which went into limp mode and has a non accessible Gearbox for checking level. New BoxSir? no thanks - it went to a Londoner who drives local and can only ever reach second gear most of the time. Comfortable seats but the smell of Diesel seemed to always be there. Not the norm I'm sure. Swansea too far away for installation so think Kit will have to go after Christmas. Wife will be pleased.

On a Mk2 there is an out and back cooling pipe which you can see when you raise the Bonnet. They can corrode and leak. Otherwise, the Seal between PSP body and Reservoir can begin to leak as it deteriorates. Also, where the twin pipe Vacuum lines go into the body of the PSP (underside regrettably and not easy to see, the seal can go and the plastic can possibly split. See Vutube Scotty Kilmer on this item. Other than that any pipe connection can leak from the flexi pipe or O high pressure line connection. Pipe under bonnet runs across Radiator ( or the Air con) and likely to leak the most I'd think

I bought a pair of 555 on ebay but they had to be sent to me from Australia. Cost a lot more than £20 from memory. They are good but I only needed to replace one at the time. Could try t'bay.au to see if any for sale. May be lucky?

Presume this is a result of a compression test or an "experts" opinion? I remember seeing an earlier LS400 for sale with over 300k miles on single point LPG

That's interesting Phil, but many times I go out of the house and open the boot with a key and don't unlock the Car with the button press. Its only on rare occasions that it sets off the alarm. I would think that you should be able to open the boot with a key without disarming the system. Sure I'm not alone in finding it tedious that you can't unlock the boot when the Car Engine is running. Times I've had to switch off so the Customs Gendarmes in Calais can check the boot - just a bit of an inconvenience. Do later Cars still have this system? Seems silly as you are not going to want petrol or to open the boot whilst the Car is in motion.

From what year were softer Valves used by Lexus? Whats the mileage on the Car you mention?

As David is sorted, can anbody tell me why my Car Alarm should go off when I unlock the boot with a key to open it - sometimes? The Car Alarm is "on" at the time. Would have to be extremeley sensitive if the action of the key somehow jolts the car, but I can't think of any other explanation. Also, with the engine running if I don't quite close the drivers door when I have reversed and got out of the car to secure my drive, the Drivers door locks itself, but not like soft closing. Have to go around to the passenger door to open the Drivers door from within? Just quirky I suppose - Merc Alarm systems for Nineties Car were notoriously fickle.

Correction - this image looks as though it has a protection coating. https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=Wa%2Fyq0nR&id=86E9F382A6F23A2E1A4005821F1751B0C2620201&thid=OIP.Wa_yq0nRUAFsaYtSI45z8AHaHa&mediaurl=http%3A%2F%2Fi.ebayimg.com%2Fimages%2Fi%2F221681113392-0-1%2Fs-l1000.jpg&exph=1000&expw=1000&q=toyota+distributor+rotor&simid=608018650032440998&selectedindex=20&ajaxhist=0&vt=0

The S Class of the era pricewise bottomed out a few years back. The W140 model pre Suspension upgrade was a cheaper car to run than the Lexus in terms of parts. The S320 was a bit more thirsty probably than the V8’s. What I liked, and which Lexus never despite their incredible outlay on research, got wind of, or really appreciate in the European and US market, was Soft Close Doors, Car Cabin Height and Car width preference. The LS400 seems small inside compared to the W140 but is suited to the average Japanese frame. Though designed for export they couldn’t perhaps face too much space around them Japan being what it is. I always feel it was designed specifically for Women in the US market. That’s not to say “its a Birds Car” if I may be politically incorrect. Later Models have covered these few areas I believe? Or does anyone else have to have an anti static bag stuck to the headliner on newer models? Time has shown that the LS has outlasted its rival. Proportionately import numbers and existing road numbers I’d wager hands down the Lexus wins the ratio. Well, a £1 on that statement anyway!

Thanks Phil, I'm pretty sure you are right that it is a protective coating. The seller doesn't know the reason but tells me he buys the parts from a Lexus Distrbutor. I have suggested he asks if it is normal. Having looked at Google images I've not seen a single Rotor with this on it and from memory Mercedes never supplied parts coated. Pretty sure it will remove easily but as weather very inclement and parts likely to sit under Boot mat until necessity forces me to do a bit of work, I'll leave on the protection.