hammo400

Hi Playa! I don't know if th repair was a direct cause of the malfunction with your CC, but here are a couple of other things to check that may lead to another source for the problem: Does the CC light come on on your dashbaord? iS YOUR AIRBAG LIGHT ON? iS YOUR horn working? If you answered N/Y/N to the above, you'll need to replace the "spiral cable" within the steering wheel - $300.00. The above 3 happened one-after-the-other for me with the CC intermittently going on/off first. It may also be a fuse. Look in your Owner's manual to find which fuse is for the CC and check it .

'91 LS 400 backlit center console radio / climate control button issue Briefly, I've had some of the buttons that are backlit on my radio / climate control panels gone dark. Not all of them, and not the brighter green light above the button that comes on when the button is pressed - e.g. on the LO fan control button. I just got off the phone with Lexus. Not surprisingly , they said you DON'T replace the bulbs behind the buttons on the center console that go out and you would need to replace the entrie radio and climate control unit. Is this true ?? or are they trying the LexusDealer-hands-in your-pocket-with-a-smile-on-their-face routine ?? Hey Chubyball ! you had a fix, please pass it on!!!

Sorry for not clarifying make and model I have a '91 LS 400 Since my posting below, more backlit buttons have gone dark LO & MED fan buttons FACE only & FACE/FEET buttons The above are in a 2x2 block SCAN & radio preset buttons 1-6 TUNE / SEEK button It's like a virus ! before long , the whole center console will be black. What's the fix ??? HELP

Here's a rookie Question ! How do I post a pic of my car on my mailbox ?? Like ToddLS400 G

Thanks Joe ! Good info. I'll look to Big Jim for the how-to on the LCD.

I'm with Todd ! There are V6's on much lighter cars pulling 260BHP (new Acura sport sedan). For Hyundai to have a car this heavy with such little "OOOMPH!" is sad. It would be passed on the highway by a MINI ! There's only 1 Lexus - the way Daimler Chrysler builds their Benz's today is also a joke. I'd rather have a '92 LS400 with low miles than a new S500 ! For that matter, I'd rather have an older Lexus than a newer one- just something that carmakers do to a successful car line once it has achieved "celebrity " status. They know people with buy it for the name / status and can cut corners without fear of loss in Sales. Newer Lexuses have more flash and less substance- perfect example, New RX330 - the plastic center console rattles in the '04 model ! Sheesh! I guess I'm not a NEW car guy. It boggles the mind to watch 15-20 % fly out of your wallet the minute you drive the new car off the lot. For those that find good quality older LS models, well done ! Your patience has been rewarded ! '97 is a good year - surpriseingly - for ALL cars. This will be my next LS400. In 2006, I'll look for a good SC430. In 2 years, for the price of 1 new LX470, you could have excellent pre-owned Lexus-certified SC430, LS400 and RX300 if you wanted. The defence rests ! G

Hi MJJ, Thanks for the great pix. Good digital camera (5 MPIX??). I looked for your Friday post on the replacement of the LCD, but theres a wipe out between Sep. 15- Nov 22 from the server crash. Any chance of giving the instructions again when not so bushed, please ?? Many thank you's, G

Hi all, I guesss my last question went the way of the dod when the server crashed. I'll put it to the forum again. Is there an easy replacement for the backlight that illuminates the TRAC and RIGHT HEATED SEAT buttons ? I notice when I have the headlights on that all else in the radio/ climate control panels of the center console is backlit, but not these 2 buttons. Even the LEFT HEATED SEAT button is backlit (the seat with the radiant 'heat' waves rising from it and the letter "L" to one side). Thanks G

SRK, Thanks for that bit of info. I plan on switching oil and filter to Mobil 1 at next change. I'm curious as to why you put the 5W-30 - which is for newer engines - in your 92, and not an oil specially formulated for higher mileage engines, like the 10W-40 blend ?? I don't recall this faint rhythmic 'ticking' from my previous '91 LS 400, but maybe I wasn't paying that close attention. This noise was brought to my attention by someone else, and then - of course - it's all I hear!

Hey SRK ! Well done on the Great buy ! I bought a 1991 LS 400 last October with 96 K miles when purchased - all records going back to mile 8. Interesting about the Mobil 1 . I had began using Quaker State 5W 30 Full synthetic at my first oil change. I change every 3K like clockwork. I have heard of Mobil 1 as a really good oil. With age and use, any engine - even the Lexus - will need some extra TLC. As I now have 107 K on the clock, I was thinking of switching to Mobil 1, but the 10W-40 synthetic blend for higher mileage engines (>75K). Is there any harm in switching from a Full synthetic of one brand to a different weight synthetic blend from another brand ???? I notice that there is a faint, yet noticeable rythmic "ticking" when my engine is running. I think this may have to do with the lifters and wonder if there is anything to do to quiet / eliminate this noise without a major engine overhaul ??? The timing belt was changed at 60K by the previous owner (documented), and I'll replace it again at 115K. I've tried Prolong - which helped with mileage / horsepower - but not with lifter noise. Any suggestions anyone ????

Hey BG LEX, Keep the plactic shield. It protects from flying road debris. It is connected to the underside via 3 or 4 (I forgot which) threaded bolt screws. I used the same size ones your license plate is secured with - got them for free from the local Lexus dealer. They're very accomodating about little things like this, they want your loyalty so they can haul you in for the big bucks jobs. Take what you can from them if it's free !!! You want to fix this ASAP or you may 'catch' it on something and rip it right off !

ToddLS400 I had the tranny flushed and re-filled. It was 1/2 quart too full. This should solve the minor smoke problems at high speeds, though I don't know when I'll be able to get it into the 120's+ again. I don't have a track close by to do a 1/4 mile run, but may take the car to one when the weather warms up. For the hot months, I put Mobil 1 10W 30 full Synth oil in the crankcase and Mobil 80W-90 LS full synthetic in the differential. An interesting note: The tranny flush and refill only used 2.2 quarts of the Type T-4 Toyota tranny fluid. The mechanic told me that the entire tranny holds 12 quarts and that to flush the entire system was called a "Full Transmission flush" and would cost around $275.00. I knew there was extra fluid in the torque converter etc., but not 9.8 quarts !!! I will have to get this done at the next 60 K check. I have already bought 15 quarts of the tranny fluid from Toyota at a substantial savings than through Lexus - all I have to pay for is the 40 minutes of labor. I would do these routine light maintenance things myself, but if you get Lexus to do them, they give you a 12 month warranty. This, to me , is worth the labor cost if I supply the materials. I have already purchased all fluids, belts, hoses, plugs, filters, pads and valves for the 60 K check. All they will charge me for is labor - 5 hours at $80.00 / hr. This major tune-up should keep her happy for another 12 K (except oil changes). Under $500.00 for this is MUCH better than the $1,100.00 a local dealer wants for the 60 K check-up. Any word on the kick-down switch under your pedal ???

Hi All! Just had the problem I was having with my Cruise Control not working solved, though it wasn't cheap. Turns out the Spiral Cable in the steering wheel - it's the device that allows the wires for the electronics controlled from the steering wheel to "turn " with the wheel - was shot. This explained my SRS light on, my Cruise and Horn not working. Replacement for this 'rare-fail' was $280.00. There is no way to get a similar Toyota product , nor an aftermarket one. When this goes , Lexus is the only game in town - or so they told me. Were they right ?????

ToddLS400, That may be my problem. The fluid level being too high. I added 8 oz. of an additive for older transmissions to an already full tranny. I might need to drain a little. I checked the dipstick HOT and it's right to the top. The EXTRA may be what's causing the 'burn'. It can't hurt to flush the entire system. Glkad to hear you got the power back and the smooth shifting you expect. Yeah! They do got some serious balls! I timed my 0-60 in the low 8's, not too shabby for a 13 yr. old automatic !

Patruga, I wasn't 'stretched ' at all. My pedal had a way to go before it hit the floor. I've had my prior '91 LS 400 easily into the 140 range without strain. The only scary thing is that if you don't look at the speedometer, you'll never believe you're at such speeds ! The windnoise does increase above 100 mph - not surprising. The problem may be a seal that at high driveshaft rpms leaks some fluid , which, being in a high temp area, creates the minor smoke issue. I'm getting ALL the seals checked tomorrow and I'll let the Forum know the outcome.

Hi ! Depending on your State, you may not have to put a front plate on. You only really need it when you get the car inspected annually. It looks much better with it off. When you Do get the car inspected, clean the bumper and use 2-sided tape to hold it in place. Remove when inspection complete and out-of-site of inspector.

How can I join the Gold Club Membership ??? Is there one in the USA ??

Hi ! The power / normal switch by the gear shifter is the ECT POWER button for the engine. Gives you a little more get-up-and-go, Use sparingly, gas needle drops when overused. If you have the computer-controlled air-ride suspension, you will notice under the hood a black protrusion from the top of each suspension mounting tower. Whether yo have it or not, it's the best riding car ever made ! Invest in an owner's manual. Try e-Bay or any online car book site. Enter "1990 LS400 owner's manual" in GOOGLE and see what pops up ! Have fun !

Hey Lex, Re 1) Dealer replaced ANYTHING will cost you. Shop around on the web for parts sites. A lightbulb for your buttons from a dealer will be $10.00 each and $80.00 / hr. for labor. If you love your 'new' baby, get a Service manual, little things are easy to do and fun. You'll learn about your car. If you must go to a dealer, go to a Toyota dealer, many Lexus parts are way cheaper if you get them from a Toyota parts place. For your LCD clock / temp screen look at Jim Walker's mail in this forum OR contact, as suggested by the Moderator, MIKADO Corp. in San Francisco, CA. They may sell you a replacement. Again AVOID the dealer for this !!!! Re 2) Speaker wire may be loose, You can remove door panel and have a look. Again, Dealer will replace for $40.00 + $80.00 / hr. labor My advice is this: You're young and hopefully have a little spare time between highschool semesters. Buy the Service manual at www.books4cars.com (2 volume set for $160.00) or a Chilton's Service manual for about $100.00, find places to get inexpensive parts and have FUN doing-it-yourself! Just an aside: When it's time for oil change - DO IT EVERY 3K MILES!!!! - Buy the oil yourself & a filter and get the local garage to do it for $10.00. If you go to a Lexus dealer, it will be $75.00 ! Also, make sure it has had it's 120K full service check. Get the dealer to do this. It goes to liability issues if anything should go wrong with major mechanical systems.

Jim, I'm in too ! I'll buy a couple for the next 10 years !

If you don't need an factory original, get a Chilton's service manual for around $100.00. If you NEED the original, you can get one (2 volume set) here for $160.00: www.books4cars.com

Hey drool400, I really like the forums on the Owner's Club website. My answer is rather long, so bear with me. Re your question: With proper regularly scheduled maintenance, a 90-94 LS400 is good for 250K easy -maybe more. Not many cars ever built can do that ! I bought my previous '91 LS400 with 202K and it drove great until I sold it at 208K. My newly purchased '91 LS400 has 105K and drives as if it were new. It's quieter , smoother and more powerful than any late model car I've been in - Chrysler / Chevy / Ford / Cadillac . Things do wear out over time, but the LS400 was overbuilt when they came out in 1990. They were certainly better built than they are now. The reason they were built so well when they first came out was to compete with the S-class Benz's and 7 series BMW's of the day. Needless to say , the Lexus blew their doors off!! Most 12 year-old German cars are in the scrap yard ! As with any car purchase, ideally, you want maintenance records for the life of the car. When I got my car, it had service records from Day 1 and everything done to it until now. I change the oil every 3K miles religiously, I'll be taking it in a few months for it's 2nd 60K mile check-up (new timing belt, filters, fluids, plugs etc.). The timing belt should be replaced every 60K miles. It's expensive ($300-400), but it will save big engine repairs. Do a CARFAX check also. It's not foolproof as it only checks REPORTED accidents and mishaps. Many people pay out of pocket to 1) Keep insurance premiums down and 2) not have an accident reported so they can omit telling someone at resale. When looking over the car, take along a list of items to check. CHECK EVERYTHING from nose to tail, every switch, knob, dial, gauge, general appearance (uneven gloss to paint and hazy areas , mismatching paint, body work, note ALL dings and scratches), under the hood (dirt, leaks), under the car (rust, leaks, dents/scrapes), does it have a trailer hitch ? (BAD!!!), check the glass / light covers for cracks, check the door sills (same paint as exterior ??), turn all power items on / off, look under the carpet in the trunk for rust / wet areas, check interior wear, wear on drivers floor mat where shoe heel rubs (if there's a hole, the car was really used a lot!), check AC (quick to cold ?? Grinding noise from blower??), check radio / tape player / CD before test drive. The list can go on and on and on, but necessary to avoid any surprises. During the testdrive, turn the radio OFF and have all the windows up and LISTEN CAREFULLY TO EVERYTHING like engine sounds, transmission sounds , steering sounds, any wind noise at lower speeds (may indiacte a poorly fitting door = result of post-collision straightening / reseating on hinges), too much 'play' in the steering wheel (a little ( 1/2") is expected in cars of this age ) , any rattles or whines or hums or buzzes. If the car is from a dealer, tell them about items you want fixed after you've gone over the car with a fine tooth comb. Start talking about price. Whatever they're asking, offer them 30% less and go from there. For a 90 LS400 you shouldn't be paying any more than around $ 6 - 7 K. 178 K isa little on the high side for a 13 year-old car. Ask what type of miles they were, highway ? constant stop-go? NEVER "settle" for anything the dealer says, ask questions and watch their eyes as they answer; if they're hiding something , you'll know it ! If you ask if the car has ever been in an accident, and they say they don't know, that's BS. Any dealer's collision center can tell if there has ever been any work done on a car. Are you in a State where they have "Lemon Laws" ??? Also, bring a camers and take a lot of pictures inside and out. If the car is from a private seller, you'll get it cheaper (no dealer mark-up), but you'll get no warranty (dealer car should give you at least 30 days / 3 K miles) nor any minor fixes. Good Luck with your test drive. Look at 5 or 6 of the same type of car to get an idea of good VS. bad , NEVER get the first one you see, there are plenty of good ones out there. Take your time ! Hope this has helped. G

Hi, Does anyone know where I can get a Technical Manual for a 1991 LS 400 ? I'd like to know all the parts for the car and how they go together without having to pay $80.00 / hour for a Lexus Tech to tell me .

Alexmiami, I have a 1991 LS400 with the factory Pioneer tape /CD. I think the motor on the tape player may be going and I've thought about an aftermarket replacement too. All a dealership can do is remove the broken unit and replace with a REFURBISHED unit of the same type - cost: around $500.00. The advantage ? You have an original system for your car - only important if you want as much original as possible. The sound is as good as any unit on a luxury car. If you want mind-numbing wattage, you need an after-market system. They're cheaper - a good one can go for aroung $300.00 , but the fit / finish on the dash won't be that great (I did the "aftermarket system on my last lexus) and you may have a Stereo guy !Removed! around with your electrical system. You will also have to upgrade all speakers to accomodate the higher wattage, as well as possibly having to install other expensive electrical add-ons. In the end, it's a matter of interior aesthetics VS. blood coming out your ears. When I need to replace my unit, I'll go with the original for a replacement.

Hello, I'm new to the Club as well. I have a couple of questions about LS 400 transmissions / electrical system. I have a 1991 LS400 with 105,000 miles. I have noticed - or this may be my imagination - that as I'm at speed on a level highway that when I take my foot off the gas that the speed seems to reduce quicker than expected. I've checked the brakes for rubbing -NO. If there were something rubbing in any part of the tranny, would I know it ? I don't hear any noises when shifting nor feel any slippage and the tranny shifts smoothly and quietly. Could it be as simple as the axles need greasing ? I also noticed that on the highway when I was at 120 mph that a little smoke seemed to be coming from the gearshift console. It went away at sub-100 mph speeds. What could be rubbing as the driveshaft rotates faster ? Again, no noises. Also, If there is too much transmission fluid in the transmission, what are the effects ? Could this be the cause of the tiny bit of smoke? Could something be burning /melting on the driveshaft - undercoating, maybe ? The car is insulated so well, I could have a bon fire underneath and not know it. Re the electrical system. My cruise control has stopped working. No light comes on the dash when I press the button on the steering column and the system doesn't engage. I'll check the fuse, if it's not this , what else could it be ? Any comments would be much appreciated . They can also be sent to my regular e-mail : <gregehammond@yahoo.com> Thanx