MLW

I've just bought a 'vacuum sucker machine' to suck as much out of the 2002 LS430 as I can, via the dipstick, and replace it with the same volume that comes out. It is true that Toyota oil in the UK is a rip off but the gearbox costs £4,000ish if is goes wrong! Lexus direct do 5 litres for £51.68p. Crazy price as Dexron 111 is about £22, but I would never not use Toyota or (Honda oil) for their gearboxes they seem so very specific. https://www.lexuspartsdirect.co.uk/parts/lexus-gs/lexus-gs-phase-i-1993-1997/lexus-gs-engine-service-kits/lexus-5-litre-type-iv-automatic-transmission-fluid/

I have taken electric window switches apart (on SAABs) and they often have burnt/pitted contacts, like old ignition points. I bit of fine wet and dry and once shinny, they work again. If the switch can be opened up, be careful, as springs and bits often fly off. The satisfaction of cleaning the contacts and having it all work smoothly again is amazing.

Method 3 seems logical. Pump new stuff in and let the old stuff never go back into the reservoir. Is it really 7 litres? It seems an awful lot of fluid. Will this be appropriate for 80,000 mile 2002 LS430?

Batteries use to last for ages. My old Mercedes had a real top up battery that lasted for nearly 10 years. I wish they still did them, as for those of us that know how to top up, and charge an old battery found they lasted far longer than gel ones. Given this lockdown I charged my LS430 for 48 hours on my AA 1 amp trickle charger. They do go down on this cars. I think it will be a 7-8 day regular ob, given the lockdown.

Be careful about OEM mats as they can be sourced from the USA and are for left hand drive. Do check.

Garage charged .7 of an hours labour, but it is so much easier up in the air. Also had an MOT (passed with no advisories and a brake fluid change at Formula 1 Autocentre. They do a good job at my local place, includes a 'free winter check up'. The magnet had some stuff attached, but not a lot really. Old oil was also pretty good. Went for Euro Car Parts own SAE90 hypoid API GL5, which is the Lexus spec. £10.18p for 2 litres. It took about 1.4 litres, so plenty left over. I had an old Mercedes E class that was supposedly prone to diff wear. Use to change the oil ever 30,000 miles and at 146,000 miles when I sold it, the diff was silky smooth and silent.

On my wife's Mercedes the independent garage tried wire etc, but found an air line over the petrol drain tube (which was blocked) worked a treat as the high air pressure shot out the crud.

Each?

Well said. 48 years ago on an A40 I removed the drain plug then tried the fill plug!!! Experience.....its a wonderful thing.

Make sure when you put the new discs on, the contact area/rims are spotless clean. A bit of corrosion here can cause them to not seat squarely and hence run out of true. Wire brush and clean up is essential.

The word 'tired' comes to mind. How much is a new one?

Ooh, just spotted that. My fault in mis-reading it as includes V8s. Just rang Lexus parts direct to check. It is actually Swindon Lexus that are running direct parts on the web as a side line. Lexus UK are a bit sniffy about selling spares etc this way. I suspect the like the 'exclusive' dealer contact, and no price discounts. More power to Swindon Lexus I say. In the USA genuine Lexus parts can be bought anywhere and their monopoly is much less. Anyway, the parts man (who was very helpful) looked it up and said SEA hypoid 90 is the correct diff oil, so that is what I will use. Cheaper too from Euro Car Parts. Thanks for the views and opinions chaps. So useful.

Mine was set off when I reconnected the battery. I just 'unlocked' the car on the key blipper and it went off and went back to normal. The key tells the computer it is you, and all is OK.

Actually Lexus synthetic diff oil is 75w-90. https://www.lexuspartsdirect.co.uk/parts/lexus-ls/lexus-ls-phase-v-2018-present/lexus-ls-5-engine-service-kits/lexus-genuine-75w90-gear-oil-1l/

LS430, 2002, 80,000 miles and I am having the diff oil changed. The manual says SAE90 hypoid API GL5. I can only get this in mineral oil as it seems a bit 'old fashioned'. I know thinner oils are now commonly used. Manual says 85-90w in cold climates. I would like to use this as it is easy to get fully synthetic which I assume is better. 1. Is it OK to use 85-90, instead of 90? 2). Any problems using synthetic, e.g. oil seals?

Its a genuine Lexus 5 litre sealed can.

No its all genuine Toyota stuff, all of it.

LS 430 Needed just a new air filter and Euro car parts only had Crossland which I never seem happy with (are they really cheap and iffy?), so I went on ebay and although genuine Toyota ones are cheap in the USA with postage and duty they can be £60! Lexus direct are doing an oil filter, sump washer, air filter, cabin filter and 6 litres of Lexus 5-30 oil for £79.68p including postage. 5 litres of oil is a 'promotion' for 1p. Not bad. Interestingly the oil is only SL rated, whereby ASDA have SN 5-30 oil for £14 for 5 litres this week, top spec too. Lexus oil is made in France, Elf maybe? https://www.lexuspartsdirect.co.uk/service-kits-at-lexus-parts-direct/

UPDATE Got it charged after about 2 days at 1 amp. It then read 12.8 volts and next morning 11.7 volts. It started on the button with plenty of wellie. Even after some cold nights it starts and runs 'normally'. Looks like I might have got away with it for maybe a year or so.

Back to the battery. Put my old 45 year old 4 amp battery charger on, (terminals disconnected). After 3 hours reconnected the AA smart charger- 1 amp. It worked and went to charging. I have heard of this before. An old charger...... 'gets it fired up'... and the new one can operate. When it is fully charged (probably 3 days), I'll measure the voltage and if it is low, I'll replace it.

Both are unique!

I'll probably replace it. A 5 year guarantee from Halfords is so good compared to one on the web which involves problems of sending it back (our Halfords is .5 mile away). That way I have 'faith in it'. However, I'll see where I am after a days 'sort of charging'. At my age £88 and all problems go away is appealing. The interesting thing is how much electricity these cars drain when sitting there. On a Hillman Imp it was virtually nothing!

I wondered how much maltreatment a battery can take. I know a flat battery is no good for the internals. But would two incidents in 4 years be so bad. Normally it is only Christmas that is a problem, as I do mostly 70 mile motorway runs. Solar charger might be good at an airport parking when 2-3 weeks stationary might occur. My brother swares by these new 'paperback' sized lithium jump starts. I usually jump start with positive and negative on the battery, and disconnect once it has started, but ECUs etc can be very sensitive to incorrect connections etc. I assumed that a 2002 car was old style technology and would be OK. Is that everyone's experience?

Lexus say £91.14p for a 70 amp 3 year guarantee. Nobody at two Toyota dealers answered the phone.

Left the car for over 4 weeks (yes I know, I did it last year too) over Christmas. Went out to check the battery today and it was so flat even the central locking would not work. Got in on the key and nothing on the panel lights. Hooked up my trickle charger and it would not charge. After a while it shows a bit of action. I'll leave it on for 24 hours (26 amps maybe) and see what happens. The battery is a 072 type Numark with 70 ah and 600 SAE amps. It is nearly 4 years old and has been great. Question is.... I usually give batteries one chance and then it it is iffy, replace them. If this one regenerates and I am in no hurry, so can charge for 3 days then I will give it a go. I thought of using an old fashioned 4 amp charger for an 2 hours to 'get it going'. If I do replace it, what with. I have always liked Bosch batteries but the web has a multitude of sizes from 45 amps upwards! Halfords have a huge Yuasa HSB030 with 75 amps and 640 power amps for £89 and I have a 10% voucher from Shell petrol so at £88 with a 5 year guarantee it looks good. But I have heard so so things about these batteries. Any advice would be useful.