ToddLS400

Do the gen 1's have variable valve timing? If they do, they WOULD be interference engines. Yep, the gen 1 LS400's are interference engines. Change your timing belt now or your engine later. My timing belt was changed 8K ago by previous owner. It actually looks like all Lexus/Toyota V8's are interference engines. It looks like the IS is the only V6 interference engine as suspected. Please don't waste one of these Toyota V8 powerplants because you didn't change your timing belt. These engines can virtually go forever with the proper maintainence. It's documented. These V8's are so underpowered it's nuts. I bet you could build the old school 4.0l V8 to 400HP and it would be just as reliable (or close to) as stock through it's lifespan? Here it is> http://www.skillcentre.com/lexus.html LEXUS Engine Interference Recommended Interval 2.5L NO 60,000 Miles 3.0L V6 NO (52) 3.0L Inline 6 (1992-97) NO (26) 3.0L Inline 6 VVT-i (1998-01) YES (26) 4.0L YES (26) 4.3L YES (26) 4.7L YES 90,000 Miles Notes: VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence). (26) On 1995 & prior models, replace at 60,000 mile intervals. On 1996 & later models replace every 90,000 miles or 72 months under normal service, or every 60,000 miles in severe service. (52) On 1990-95 models replace every 60,000 miles. On 1996-98 models except E5300 replace every 90,000 miles or 72 months under normal service, or every 60,000 miles in severe service. On 1996 & later ES300 replace every 90,000 miles or 72 months. On 1999 & later RX3OO replace every 90,000 miles if vehicle operates under severe conditions such as low speed driving for extended ranges, door-to-door deliveries, taxi or law enforcement situations. Sum more> http://www.autoref.com/lexus01.html I believe Variable Valve Timing is used to achieve maximum power (HP) with higher compression engines. That's why we can get all of this crazy power out of these small V6's and even 4 cylinders (Honda S2000) these days. Honda calls it V-Tech and Nissan calls it VVT. Look at the inline 6 in the Supra. Have you seen or read about the inline 6 in the Nissan Skyline (Europe only)? You can build the stock twin turbo inline 6's to about 500HP with simple bolt on mods. Computer technology (precise fuel management) with fuel injection play the biggest role in the amount of HP we get out of our cars with efficient gas mileage. Jeez, we're getting 22-27 MPG on the highway with these fairly large V8's. That wouldn't of been heard of in the 60's - 70's. These engines have more power to boot... Technology marches on...

Jim Walker is 4 weeks out from getting 100 new LCD climate controls for the '90 - '92 LS400. Get this, $150 unit. He had them custom fabricated in China. I'm all over it.

Great article. I will request Mobile 1 oil filters from now on. The extra $5 is worth it especially when you're doing synthetic oil changes. Thanks.

What did you build the shield out of? I was thinking of doing the same thing last week. Can you take a digital picture and post it here. I'm very interested.

Thanks. That thread is very helpful...

Yikes! $440 for the part only? Jeez, this Lexus is killing me... Hehehe....But I love the ride...

I'm glad to see you got it fixed. How much did it cost you?

AWJ, do you have a turbo in your SC? I was looking at your pics on the other site.

NEVER have worked done on your car at a Lexus dealership unless it's warranty work. Find a good local mechnaic that has worked on Lexus' before. Yes, you're going to have to do a little researching but it will save you tons of money. Jeez, brakes are straight foraward actually. You could of went anyhwere and had that done. Ask the vampire Lexus shop manager exactly what they did if you don't understand it in detail from the invoice. I suspect they turned all 4 rotors with that 600$ price tag? But with 20K? Do you drive aggressive with a lot of hard stops? If it was just brake pads, I would raise a huge fuss and complain loudly. That is robbery, to say it lightly. Shops like Brake Stop will switch out brake pads for $99 - $199. Depending on the pads. I actually go out and buy the pads and bring the car to a local, trusted shop or I do it myself if I have time.

I've now accepted the emotional detachment... We must move on with our lives... Hehe....Good debate SW.... I learned a lot....

I got a Mobile 1 synthetic oil change at Wal Mart for $27. You can't beat the price of a Wally oil change. They even vacuum your car! But did you bring in your own filter? ;) No, Wal Mart uses FRAM. The Wally oil change includes a new filter as well.

http://carstereohelp.com/repairDoItYoursel...xusRepairAC.htm Switching out climate control lights.

http://carstereohelp.com/stereoremovalLexu...xusLS400str.htm

I used Mobil1 5W/30 synthetic in my last oil change a few weeks ago. That's my first oil change since I've bought the car. My friend swears by synthetic and he says his '99 Tahoe runs much cooler since he switched to it last year. Cooler = more power.

Jeez, the dash lights haven't come on over the past few days. Maybe it's some kind of electrical issue? One thing that baffles me is when the dash lights would come on, the cruise control would turn off on the freeway. I felt no loss in engine power or anything like that. I've been driving the Lex and burning my own gas when I should be driving my company car with free gas. Gas prices have shot up. Oh yeah, I put more coolant in the system after seeing that orange light. I didn't add that much though. It looks like the only place to add water or coolant is at the overflow reservoir? I didn't look all the way under the plastic shroud that covers the radiator though. I haven't seen the light since.

Use premo ONLY in your car. Regular gas creates a lot of carbon buildup as well. Regular gas gives you less gas mileage than premo and I have a noticable less amount of power. I step on it a lot and I do notice the difference in gas. The increased gas mileage with premo just about washes out the extra money spent. Plus your engine runs better and cleaner. The worst regular gas is Arco. That gas is ghetto fuel. When I see people with nice cars filling up at Arco I just laugh. What are they thinking? They paid all of this money for a nice car and they fill up with that watered down Arco gas.

Hehe....ain't that the truth... ;)

I was referring to BG and BG only. It has no weight on our exchange of opinions. That is just an example of the 1st amendment that we enjoy in the United States. Too many rules have been set on gender, ethnic groups, religions in the past 20 years where it's really violating some of the beliefs the US was founded on. Mainly freedom of speech when it's used in a constructive manner. Why not get into somebody elses head and see it from their point of view for a few minutes? I think male chauvinists, prejudice people (white, black, brown, etc), feminist, overly religious people (fire and brimstone preachers), and anybody else that thinks they're "group of people" are superior need to go back to school and learn how our world is in modern times (NOW). I believe in realism. I believe in capitalism in every aspect. I believe in caring for one another. blah, blah, blah.... From my own experiences and few others in this community, I STILL believe MOST women can't drive....

You're right, it is the same thing that you were saying. Is it bad to think like a guy in these days and times? A lot of people try to make you feel ashamed when expressing your beliefs. Especially when they think it may not be "politically correct" where the majority will most likely back them up. Trying to play it safe even though they see the same thing. Why not express your true thoughts in life and learn something from constructive debate? Why not? It's liberating. Who is the regulator anyway? Who decides what's politically correct regardless of the obvious? Did somebody hurt somebody else's feelings because describing the obvious was too raw on their ears (eyes)? God Damn, most of us live in America or some other democracy on this planet! If you can intelligently debate your beliefs in a logical manner, your side of the debate should always be seriously considered by the other side for it's possible validity. That goes both ways of course... Not this> :chairshot:

Yeah, I know. It drives you crazy. The car was doing it all weekend too. It even did it this morning after starting it up. I got on the freeway then I arrived at the shop then it all of a sudden was fine. Huh? I just started it up about 15 min's ago and it now seems fine. What gives? I'm going to spray Simple Green on the top of the alternator to disperse the ps fluid like you said. I'm kind of dumbfounded to be honest. If the alternator is going out you would think it would be consistent? But going by your expereince with your Explorer, I see that it is not. I know it's that stupid ps pump leaking ontop of the alternator causing havoc. I need to know how to change out the O ring on that thing so it stops leaking. Thanks...

Yikes, sorry to hear that. Do you remember that incident last month down in LA with that older man and the public market downtown? He killed a few people with his car plus a few small children. That was sad.

I know, that's I what I'm assuming. But....I just went to the shop and they tested it and it came out fine, about 14 volts. Hmmm... The stupid dash lights didn't come on when idling either. He said if the alternator was going bad then the battery light would come on only. It always seems your car never shows any symptoms when you actually bring it into the shop? Jeez... The owner said the previous people that owned the car did just enough to keep it going. Not good... He said when they replaced the alternator (w/timing belt and waterpump) last year the dash lights still would come on once in awhile after the new alternator. He said to go have it looked at by a electrical shop when it happens again. I hate electrical problems. He also showed me on the work history how the starter began to go out back in 6/02. They drove it for over a year with a faulty starter (worn contacts). It cost me $560 to fix and replace the starter contacts(cheaper than most). A lot of labor fishing the starter from the bottom, back end of the engine. Has anybody run into anything similiar like this? Does anybody know of an electrical troubleshooting site for the LS400?

From my experiences, MOST women can't drive.

We both must have open minds, I agree. I'm going by my own personal expereinces which are real life happennings on my part. Your opinion still doesn't overcome the fact that I was hit 4 times by the same human gender. Let's look at the possibilities. If it's a 50% chance of something happenning, the law of averages will usually play out quickly. If it's greater than 50/50 (like 55/45) then the law of averages is in favor of the higher percentage (55). Have you ever gambled at a casino? The casino always has the advantage. If they didn't, they wouldn't be in business. Simple law of averages. I have a problem with what has happnned to me in respect to averages. I'm not even counting the # of times I've had to avoid a female driver that has turned into my lane while applying makeup in the morning on 405. I live in Seattle where the traffic is bad and the roads are not built to handle the volume of people that are living up here. That's a whole new thread. I know there are more male drivers on the road (your stats show this as well) so if there is a 50/50 chance of being hit by either gender, the % would go up with possible male at fault accidents due to more males on the road. So let's adjust it as so (conservative). 55% males on the road to 45% females. I have a 10% more of a chance of being hit by a male opposed to a female assuming males and females cause an equal amount of at fault accidents. So by my personal expereinces I am over 325% out of the norm with the assumption that males and females cause at fault accidents at the same rate.

I just went through my receipts from previous work that the ex-owner has done. The alternator was just replaced and reman'd a year ago (6/02). It has a lifetime warranty so I'm bringing the car back to that same shop. I just called them and the mechanic said that I have to pay for labor (R&R) though. The last time it was done it was 1.0 hour labor on the old invoice. After looking at the manual it does seem like a pretty simple job? At least something is easy to replace on this Lexus. I guess I'll just pay the labor and get another reman'd alternator? I wonder if he'll complain about the PS fluid ontop of the alternator?