Dr. Henry

Good Day, I noticed recently that a hose that goes from the big plastic air tube (the one that connects the filter element and MAF sensor to the throttle body in the engine) was broken at both ends (the other end connects somewhere below the power steering pum) and when i tried to fix it I ended with the hose in my hands, needles to say the damage is major because is the plastic tip that broke, not the hose, so I will have to replace the whole big plastic tube/cover. I dont even want to know what part broke in the power steering pump end of the hose. I guess I will have to replace a major part down there also. Someone told me that this hose is a vacuum hose for regulating engine RPM's when the power steering kicks in, so I just shut the little hole with electric tape. Will this affect my vehicle in any serious way in the long run? I eventually will fix this situation, but not right now. Now, I discovered another broken air hose connection, this one is a real mistery to me , it is located underneath the small central plastic cover of the engine, is connected to a little light blue kind of sensor, the plastic tip of this sensor (?) broke so there is deffinitely no vaccum here, the hose is one of those slim metal hoses that go around the top part of the engine I think there are three or four of them. Can anyone here please tell me what is the function of these hose and of these light blue sensorlike part. Its too bad my car is suffering from this broken plastic parts disease because otherwise is a perfectly nice, clean, really low-mile (35172), brand new-smelling and looking, one owner (elderly woman) 1991 pearl white LS400 that i just bought some months ago for $5000 dollars. All this time I just could not believed my good fortune getting this excellent deal. Now my wife is telling me that the problem is that this car is too old ( almost 14 years) and it is going to start falling apart. She wants me to sell it :chairshot: , but I just fell in love with my LS. Can someone please enlighten me on this problems so I can fix my fabulous luxury perfomance sedan and prove my wife wrong. B) Thank you.

Good Day, Pennzoil high mileage 10W/30 in my LX I live in very hot weather all year round.

Good Day, Had same problem with my wife's 97 LX 450 took it to the dealership they wanted to charge me $800 for a new starter motor. I said no way. Took my starter motor to a chinese tuning shop. They rebuild it for $35 bucks. That was more that two years ago when my truck was about 68 K havent had the problem again and the starter works like new. Now I am afraid to take my car to the dealership knowing that the will most certainly overcharge me for anything.

Good Day, I have the exact same problem with my 91 wanting to be in fourth gear all the time, but it sometimes downshifts when I floor it and sometimes it will just stay in fourth and accelerate slowly. I am breaking my head over this one problem, It seems to be some kind of pedal adjustment problem or maybe something related to the throtle position sensor or maybe something worst with 2nd and 3rd gear clutches worn out.... I dont know, but I do know that if I take it to the dealership they will tell me that it is the worst and most expensive.

Actually 10W-30 is the better choice. Unless you happen to live in maine or montana or alaska, always keep in mind that the less aditives the oil has the better. 5W-30 has more aditives than 10W-30 so it can perform better in colder temperatures, you should look at the second number, the 30, meaning that both oils perform the same in hotter temperature, only 10W-30 does it with more of a pure oil base. Pure oil burns with time, additives dont, they gum up the engine with residue. If the temperature in the area you live goes below 10 degrees in winter (thats what the W stands for), then stick with 5W-30. The owners manual recommends 5W-30 because it is OK for any Lexus sold in the US, from Maine to Florida. But for hotter weather you will be better suited with 10W-30

Good Day, There is some kind of electronic sensor inside the lockwork that "reads" your key when you insert it and deactivates the alarm. These get worn out with time, so the doors are unlocked with the key, but the alarm is not deactivated, thats why it goes off. You will have to use your lock/unlock button on the key or keep opening the door from the passenger side until you get that sensor worn also, and then you will have to replace the complete lockwork, I guess expensive but really dont know for sure.

Good Day, I own a 1991 LS 400 same problem with the speedometer not working, cruise control and odometer also out, the problem is the transmission speed sensor No. 1 failure. If your cruise control and odometer are working then it must be something else.