MLW

There are some good videos on You Tube that suggest that most of the problems stem from a £1.50p white nylon plastic cogged wheel. As usual, you cannot buy it separately.

I am happy to leave the motor in and accept the up down movement when I get in and leave. Is it possible therefore to just remove the panel, screw the square nut out so the wheel moves away from the dashboard, and leave it at that? I will disconnect the battery for 2 hours just in case any electrics plus the airbag cause problems.

This response is amazing, and typical of good car sites where people are like minded and care. Any further advise is much appreciated.m

My LS 430 may have the dreaded steering motor problem. On the square joystick to the left of the column the steering wheel goes up and down OK. It also goes up and down as one gets into and out of the car (on the ignition key). However, it will not go in and out. One can hear a motor working but no movement. Any ideas, apart from a massive bill at Lexus. It is livable with, but I would like to come out about 2 inches from the dashboard. Is it manually adjustable?

UPDATE I went with this outfit for £30. http://satnavdvd.co.uk Took two days to arrive by normal post. Like an idiot (and with no instructions) I thought it went through the stereo! You Tube had a Lexus video. I have since popped it into the SAT NAV box in the right of the boot and all seems well. It has updated OK. Will have to see how it performs. It is the 2012 version. Wish it was newer but it is not at Lexus prices.

The problem is if you crash it or it is stolen you will only get the 'market price' plus maybe £750 as it is a minter. Say £2,750?

I'm in the same boat. My offside rear 5 years ago was said to be 'misting'. The car has since then done few miles, but my philosophy is to carry on till trouble arrives as the car drives beautifully.

Tyres do advance. The Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance are a Which magazine best buy and pretty reasonable priced. Also very quiet.

Good point, but in my experience bushes degrade over 10-15 years, and don't just 'go funny'. I feel something more fundamental is at fault here.

When they say 'for US models in effect' does that really make a difference as all Lexus Ls cars were really made fro the US economy anyway. What, with a US sticker on it, would not fit a UK car?

I agree. This is a very 'normal' set of data, i.e. before it is out, and then it is set up correctly. American Hamilton alignment machines have taken a lot of the guesswork out of setting up a car. The computer says 'what should this car be set to?'. It then finds out what it is set up as, and finally after adjustment, shows you in green that it is spot on. I can't see what more they can do but get it pretty well 'spot on'. It might be a very very slightly binding brake. A tyre swop around might also help.

Just looked up Rockauto and as usual USA prices are amazing even with postage. Anyone successfully used them? Some parts say 'for USA cars' but I assume that spark plugs, wiper blades etc are common.

However, in my experience, a good independent who is a 'spanner's man' not a 'fitter' is to be highly valued.

Not sure about the cost but I am a great believer in changing gearbox and diff oil. It seems to have fallen out of favour in recent years. My old Mercedes W124 needed auto gearbox changes ever18k mikes and an oil change and filter change ever 36K miles. When I sold it at 147,000 miles the gearbox was silky smooth. The question is this, The gearbox costs to replace £5,000???. An oil change is peanuts in comparison. Why not change it? What will you loose?

Apparently Cadillac said the same thing.

2002 LS 430 on the original factory sat nav data. I know the answer is probably £175 at a Lexus dealer, but is there anyway of updating it more cheaply. My £85 Gamin has free updates for life!

I agree. When a car starts shimmying under braking it is usually because the discs are 1/2-3 mm out of true centre. Solution is to replace the front discs and pads and see what happens. If that does not fix it go to the back brakes, but 70+% of braking is on the fronts, so start there.

I did get some Autoglym leather cleaner and leather balm in a kit from Ebay. As the leather is ivory/cream it was a bit engrained on the driver seat and especially the driver's right bolster. The Autoglym stuff is amazing. It cleans really well and the balm gives it a satin protective sheen. I reckon I will get about 9-10 goes out of a bottle.

The anti-freeze looks very pink/reddy but I will change it as we get into September. Underneath the bonnet it all looks tip-top.

Got it for £4,500

In my experience an auto-electrician is a class apart. They go straight to the issue and are not afraid of electrics as many of us are. They can also work out miles cheaper than a main dealer or even an independent.

Being debt free is a wonderful thing, and the feeling of freedom is well worth lowering your sights a bit. If you have £2,000, I would be tempted to get a £2,000 car in the sense that a car has a natural/market price. Going for a Mercedes or big Lexus is maybe trading outside this zone. If they go wrong a bucket of money is needed. I might suggest a strategy of looking for a car that will give 2/3 years good service, till your finances improve and savings accrue. I'd look at a SAAB 9-3, or Toyota Camry. Get a low mileage one from a private buyer. Remember 'rough people and rough cars ' go together. When ringing up ask about 'the car for sale'. If he says which car.....he is a dealer. Ask if the log book, car, house, and owner are all at the same address. This is because 'normal' people buy a car, park it outside and register it at the DVLA. If he is 'selling it for his brother', walk away. That is not normal. If you can service it, that is great. Allow £200 and do all fluids, brake pad/disk check, and a cam belt if needed. Plugs and filters too. Get a petrol as they are less trouble and I think diesel will soon be hunted down by the government. Get it HPI checked for £20. Absolutely critical.

3 pictures as requested. How easy is it to adjust the handbrake. It is very powerful. but maybe clicks on a few clicks too many for my taste?

Many thanks. I have always been a 'spanners man' and hope to service this as much as I can. Love the satisfaction of doing the job oneself. I have had SAABs, Mercedes, and a Prius; all very good, but this car is a different league...... we shall see after 2 years.

I bought it! I have been looking for LS 430 for sometime, but having had a Prius which was amazingly reliable, I was a bit reluctant to take a chance. I think the car is a cracker. I've only done 400 miles in it but everything is spot on. It was owned by an elderly gentleman who died, hence the low mileage in recent years. His son was reluctantly selling it, on behalf of the estate....he and his sister. It was bought from Lexus as a demonstrator in 2003 (one year old) for £45,500. Before he sold it to me, he fitted a new battery, had a cambelt change done at Lexus, and had it MOTed. It drives beautifully on a set of 4 match Yokohama tyres, which have 6-7 mm on them. I have all the paperwork, all the service history, and all the old MOTs. It was stored in a double garage out of the sun and weather. I am a great believer in 'rough people and rough cars go together'. The seller was a real gent.....straight a die. He even delivered it to my house so I could SORN it till I sold the Prius. It easily passed an HPI check, which was a waste of money, but I knew I had to do it. I plan to clay-bar and wax it, but the bodywork looks like a 3 year old car. I will have the steering tracked as we have an American Hamilton machine near here that is amazing (only £25). I'll also have the brake fluid changed (£39). The only iffy point (which he was honest from the beginning about) is a 'slight misting on one rear suspension unit' noted 5 years ago and occasionally commented on. It does drive and lift perfectly. If it needs doing, that is OK, as I plan to keep it for years, as having driven it, I can't imagine driving a 'normal car' so wonderful is it. Hope this site will help me in the future. Would love a good workshop manual.