Calster17

Sorry for the bump, just an update. Never needed a battery, power pack or anything. Decided to give the battery I'd left in a try and fired up first time, only thowing the VSC light up, which went away after I drove from the barn to the road.Great to be back with the old girl, effortless power and refinement! Only problems was the first few miles, treating it like the Abarth 595 and forgetting the length/width of it, but re-accustomed myself with it again. Currently in getting a service & timing done, as well as track rod ends and prop shaft seal's. Originally just in for the service & timing, but advised for the seal & track rods(Know about them both admittedly, just waiting until they needed done...).

Took all the precautions when I laid it up for rest. Up on axle stands, wheels off, park brake off, unlocked, covered etc. So should okay on that front. Problems with rodent's shouldn't be a problem either, the owner has 5 cats all of which are farm cats so hopefully that'll have stopped anything nasty. And to top it off the car is quilt literally 'mothballed', scattered moth balls around the outside and under the car, before covering it. Hoping it'll have done the trick. Hopefully shouldn't be any mechanical problems from this, had my old Honda Civic Aerodeck parked up on the parents driveway for 8 months and all it needed was a jump start and was ready to drive away again. I've got a second option for the battery, I'm hoping my friend who has a '94 LS400 will let me borrow his battery for the day. Means I can get home and then put my one on charge. If not I'll be buying a power pack. Here's hoping for the best. :)

Sadly, my LS400 has been parked up in a barn for the past 3 months due to me not having space to keep it locally at the moment, and now using an Abarth 595 as my everyday car .Now thankfully I've booked the car in to get the timing and a few other bits done at Aberdeen Toyota, so will be taking her out of storage. The bad news is I never fully planned ahead. I disconnected the battery and left it in the car and it's only just occurred to me that it'll likely have gone flat when I go to start it up. of course need to disengage the immobilizer by leaving the key in ignition for 5 minuets before starting up. My current plan is to get one of them portable power packs I've seen at Halfords, as read they wort a treat. Been reading up that the 'Sealey RS1 12 V 1000 Peak Ampere' is good for starting up big engines so would plan on getting that. Has anyone used a power pack of any sorts to start there LS400? Or is there anything else I need to consider? Dont have access to the manual to check myself, as it's inside the car... Thanks in advance! :)

I've been eyeing that up all week! A bit vague the description but could be bargain of the year? Oddly, someone in the comments has on PH has found this on eBay.Could be the same car just the seller's slapped an extra 500 onto the price?

Thanks. Never thought to look for the dealers and such! Used to just hoping on eurocar parts or asking the local dealers/suppliers for parts. (Well, other than for the Cappuccino) Did see Lexus UK have a link to there eBay on the webpage but only had a few bit's on offer for the 400. Will be buying the service parts later today, not just for myself but also my friend who bought his '94 LS400 last month! :)

Thanks guys! Can't think of any local Toyota/Lexus specialist's but going to ask around, but quite a few garages around that I friends & family trust. I did think of the old Aberdeen Lexus dealer, as it's now just Toyota, but is run by Arnold Clark so avoiding it like the plague! Anywhere I can get the manufacture filters online? or would I have to call up Lexus and have them send up a set? Again, thanks in Advance.

It's been 15,000 miles since the car was last serviced by a garage, at least according to service history, so it's long due to be done again. Never realized it had gone this far or I had covered 12,000 in 11 months! I understand that access to the oil & fuel filters is easy enough, but can anyone recommend what brand filters to get? Also the same again with what oil's to use for the engine/diff. The serpentine belt also look's as if it's not been changed in a long time(or ever), I understand this is a somewhat easy job so will be getting done as well. Finally, I've also no idea what or if the timing belt has ever been done (At 105k miles just now). Did have a service at Lexus Glasgow at around 60k miles but it is just the stamp in the book. So would it be worth getting it done just to play it safe? I would be tempted to take it to a Lexus dealer to get it all done for peace of mind, but the nearest dealers are Edinburgh or Glasgow (270 mile all round trip to Edinburgh) and unless I took time off work I'd have to drop it off one weekend & pick up the next and of course would need a car for the week. (doubt they'd lend me one for that length of time?). Also if they would work on an older model? Thanks in advance! :)

Been reading and it does seem to be 90% likely it is the immobilizer has kicked in. Have read several ways to reset it but haven't tried any as of yet due to the time of day (most says I have to put the key in the door at some point, which set's the alarm off on my car. The neighbor's would love me even more if I did that at this hour). Is there a definite way to do it for the later model LS's? Also, if for whatever reason one of these resets failed to work, I'm guessing the next step would be to call Lexus and see what they say/can do? Hopefully it'll be sorted tomorrow, otherwise i'll need to find a push bike for work next week! Edit: Crisis averted. :) I'm friends with the last owner and said to him the problem. He laughed and told me what to do as he had the same problem when he fitted the new battery this time last year. :) Was the put the key in the ignition and turn 2 clicks, wait 5 minutes(Dont open any doors) then take the key out. Started no problem.

It keep's flashing. I'm guessing I've got to disconnect the battery in a certain way otherwise it think's it's been stolen and the likes? (Did cross my mind after i'd taken it out)

Hello. What I though would be a simple job of replacing the sidelight bulbs has turned into a bit of a nightmare. Long story short, but I removed the battery to give me more access to the light N/S sidelight bulb. then hooked it back once I'd fitted them. Checked the new bulbs (much brighter) and everything seemed fine. So went inside and though nothing of it. Half a hour ago I was away to head to pick up a friend, start the car and it just keep's turning. Tried it again and same thing. Check the battery terminals to see there tight (which they were). Car opened fine, aerial went up as normal, screen came on and all the lights, etc are just as bright as normal. So I'd rule out a flat battery(It's also just a year old). Tried a 3rd time and it threw up a VSC fault on the dash. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Sorry for bumping an old thread, but though better than starting a new one. Found this on eBay just now while looking for parts... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-LS400-GS300-UK-Sat-Nav-Disc-2007-2008-/262015698760?hash=item3d015a4748 What do you guy's think? I'm tempted to get if it's the correct disc and such.

The litter was bad there, and never helped every bin was overfilled. That's the down sides of meet's like that sadly, as alot of the people going are the average snap back wearing 'yoof' with no regard for things and annoyed my no end seeing people just dropping a bottle or bag. And most people who go to things like this wounder why people don't like it? Personally I just put all my rubbish in a carrier bag and put in in the first bin I see. But thats another story. It really is't to everyone's tastes the car, and is too low for my liking, even with the airbags fully up it was low! Personally a 10-20mm drop would be okay and keep the car looking somewhat original.

Though I'd seen this somewhere... Was down in Dundee for a car meet last night and could't believe there was another LS! Funny to see the differences between the factory & #Stance look of the two! The owner was nice as well and like me could't believe another LS was going about. Only bad thing is now my friends want me to get mine lowered/air bagged..

Thanks for the links! Going to need that in the near future so saved me asking here for info! Sadly though, I've booked it in to a local garage thanks to just not having the free time and the dodgy weather we've had when I do have the time. The good news is least it'll be one less worry for when on holiday, but a bit annoyed I've not been able to do it myself.

After long last, I've finally ordered new front upper wishbones & lower suspension arms.(both sides) Just a quick question of: Are they easy enough to change your self or are specialist tools required to change them? Thanks in advance for answers. :)

The other week for the 'Crathes vintage Car rally', I arrived just as some of the cars were coming back from the drive they do...got waved into another line and asked if i was part of the tour by the marshal. Told the truth but meant I got to skip a 10 car que that my friends got stuck in. Giving me ideas to show the Lex insted of the Cappuccino in any up coming shows.

Do agree that the current one's suit the car, but admittedly i'm not the biggest fan of them. :( The other night while down at the local with a mate, he suggested OEM alloys from the Mk4 Supra, as are likely to be a direct fit and would't be 'in your face' like other alloys. And look like a more curvy edition of what is on the car already. 16" in size as well, and after a bit of searching I've found them to be exactly the same for PCD, offset and center bore. I think that the center cap's off the Lexus would likely fit as well. Really tempted by them, and a few for sale for good prices.

Been checking about and seen a few other rim's from Lexus that tempt me, but sadly none for sale locally, full sets for sale or it's a case of 'pickup only'. Saying Evo 9 wheel's fit on had me thinking what an LS would look like with WRC spec wheels and tyres on! :D Is there a page or thread on what wheel sizes are okay without having any adjustments (Spacers, etc). I've found a few after market ones that take my fancy and are sized between 17x7.5 up to 17x8.5 but wanting to play it safe before I buy anything.

Hello. I've been thinking about getting some new alloys for the 2000 LS400 to give it a more modern look(currently have the original 'oh so 90s' chunky 5 spoke 16" ones on), and wanting to keep it to official Lexus wheels. I've seen that wheels from the LS430 fit on with no worry's, but was wondering if anyone knew if IS, GS and other LS wheels from different years would be okay as well? I rather like some of the wheels from the IS range, but not sure how they'd be, such as clearing the brakes, width, etc. Thanks in advance for any help! :)

I'll hopefully get a chance to give it a good clean in the weekend. Here's hoping it's just the valve. Here's the pictures I managed to get... - Seeing the second picture, it does look like it's coming from the top. But I'll check everything properly asap! Thanks!

I managed to get a good look under my 400 today, and thankfully everything seems to be fine, other than the rear differential. Around the front it's leaking, not constantly, but the front of the differential is damp. It look's like it's leaking from around the propshaft. I'd guess and say it's just needing a new seal. Haven't checked the level yet, but haven't experienced anything different while driving, everything feels smooth. Is it a common problem? And has anyone here done it them self, and if so is it easy enough to do at home? (or best to have a ramp or need to remove the diff?) Thanks in advance guys, i'll post pictures later when I can get photos off my phone.

Jason Plato, Edd China and Chris Harris would be my personal choice, as a host of experience between them all in different fields of motoring! Or just get good ol William Woollard back! :P

A few of my friends & colleagues think I'm a drug dealer thank's to the car...I'm 21, night shift worker and running such a massive car! And the other half of my friends think I'm over compensating for the Suzuki Cappuccino I have! (little and large to the extreme in size!) Still laugh everytime somone comments about the car & my age!

Thanks! :) I though the button was for the cassette player for some reason, so never touched it! Must have knocked it when taking the ipod adapter out of it!

Hello, I know this is likly a very simple thing but i can't for the life of me figure it out. :eerrrmm: I've managed to set the radio so every time the traffic reports come on for BBC Scotland it always brings it on, be it I've a CD in, using the cassette with my iPod or listening to another station. I'll be honest and say I've no idea how I turned the setting on, but it's starting to really bug me as you can guess... Thanks in advance for advice on how to turn the feature off! :)