LA1

I was going to pull the plugs yesterday but it is now blowing some white smoke so I decided to save a few hours work and call it a day. Thanks for the help. Levi

curiousB, Thanks for your input, I've been afraid it is a headgasket as well but thought I should ask about it as I haven't had to do anything beyond normal maintenance to this car and therefore don't know the ins and outs of the LS. I will have to check the water pump as it was last done at 135K but with the amount of coolant I'm adding I'm afraid it's not the pump. Sure can't be upset with this car as it has given me soooooooo many trouble-free miles and as it sits I only have $800 in her (other than an alternator and rotors) after a hailstorm but it may be time to trade her off. I will post back if I find it to be something other than a headgasket. Thanks again, Levi

Hello, I have a 92 LS400 with 275K on the clock. The car recently began consuming antifreeze and I can't find a leak anywhere. I put cardboard under it and it shows no signs of leakage. I have to keep topping off the antifreeze to make the heater work but it goes back to being intermittent after a day of driving. Sometimes romping on it will make it blow hot but it goes back to cool at normal RPMs; I assume this is from low coolant as it is less noticable right after I top it off. When topped off it runs at a normal temp so it appears the T-stat is working. It makes me think headgasket but I don't have any classic headgasket symptoms; it has plenty of power, no smoking exhaust as I've seen with headgaskets in the past, no oil/coolant mixing signs in coolant or oil, etc. In addition, I've read from several people on Lexus boards that they have never seen the 1UFZ loose a headgasket. Every once in a while it will smoke on startup if I haven't driven it in a while but I'm sure this is the power steering fluid vacuum issue that is so common. I should mention that it did get a little hot on a recent trip when it was warmer (about 3/4 way up the gauge) but I turned the heater on and it cooled right off and never got into the red (for what the gauge is worth anyway). I stopped as soon as I could get off the interstate and added some coolant and then it ran at a normal temperature, took almost an entire gallon though. I've been keeping it topped off since then but the next day there is never coolant in the reservoir which isn't showing any signs of leaking but was previously (a couple years ago) before I added that black hack job patch garbage. I'm adding enough coolant that I should see it leaking. I change my coolant every 2 years in my vehicles but the last time I did this car (it is due now) I used Dexcool as shown in the LS400.com website as I couldn't get my hands on any Toyota red at the time. Could this have anything to do with a headgasket issue? I know Dexcool is a no no in the Lucas and GEMS Land Rover world and is partially blamed for the high headgasket failure rate of the later Rover V8 with the Bosch engine management system as some very rover-knowledgable people claim it becomes acidic and eats the gasket material. Any suggestions before I end up having to take it in for a pressure check? I really hate to take it in as I do all my own repairs and the car isn't worth much anymore but I don't have the tools to do a coolant pressure check. I forgot about squeezing the upper coolant hose after a cold startup to check for a cracked block until writing this so I will do that in the morning when it is cold again. I also forgot to mention that I've put at least 1,000 miles on it since I first noticed the low coolant level and nothing seems to be getting worse. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

It is interesting you mention all of the brakes are on one circuit as I was going to ask about that. I found two broken wires, reconnected them and the lights in both sides of the center of the bumper work now but the ones on the outter ends are still not working. Looks like I will have to do some more wire inspecting when I get a chance but at least now I won't get pulled over or rear-ended. Thanks again for the help guys, I always appreciate it!

No, I didn't unwrap them I just wiggled them around with the brake pedal down. Thanks for letting me know they break! I am not up on the LS's issues because I've never have to do anything beyond normal repairs and maintenance. I will unwrap them this weekend and have a good look. Thanks again.

1992 LS400 Hello, I've searched but haven't came up with a definate answer to my problem. A couple months ago the bulb out light on the dash started coming on whenever stepping on the brakes but all of the brake lights were working fine. Yesterday, my wife came to pick me up from work, as my other vehicle is down, and I noticed that none of the brake lights were working except the top one in the back window. I should also mention that the taillights came on when I tried them but I forgot to try the hazards. I bought new bulbs and installed them last night but no luck. Upon removal the top brake light on each side was shiny black but the filaments looked good; I left the new ones in. I then checked the fuse (25A) under the steering column. The fuse was good but I replaced it anyway, still no luck. I inspected the wiring by the trunk hinge on the drivers side and everything looked good. I wiggled the wires with the brake pedal on to look for a short and couldn't get them to come on. I inspected the sockets for corrosion and nothing, they look very clean. I am planning on getting a test light and starting from front to back but I thought I would inquire to see if there was a common problem I am missing. I also read in a post that the black box (forgive my ignorance I don't know the proper name) near the aforementioned hinge may need replacing. Is this the right direction? I should also mention that it seemed to burn out brake lights quite frequently, probably once per year or so if I use good bulbs but if I use cheap bulbs they were going out more frequenlty. This includes both sides but the top left seemed to be the most common one to go out. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I posted this same question a few months back. I was going to go with the Brembo blanks and I could not find them for the 91-92. Even when a website said they had them when I went to order they didn't have them in stock. I ended up with R1 concepts drilled/slotted (which I read where cut from centric blanks?) and they made a huge improvement. $75 shipped doesn't sound too bad.

Every once in a while I will have a similar problem with burping fuel when filling my land rover. When it does this I will rock it back and forth a few times and then it will work; evidently it removes some back pressure. The problem does seem to occur more at older pumps though.

92 ls, 250+ hail damage, salvage title..... opinion.. 1000. if you are in an upper tax bracket, it might be worth more to give it to a charity group to reduce your taxes... Thanks for the input. I was thinking I might be able to get 1500 but wasn't sure. It was in good shape; the insurance adjuster thought it was an 02 until I told him otherwise. I was looking to trade it in and one corner lot dealer told me he thought it would bring 1200 if he sent it to auction (this was with a broken windshield and sunroof) but he was also trying to sell me an A4 Avant minus whatever it brought at auction. I probably screwed up buying it back from the insurance company but I couldn't find anything satisfactory in my price range within their timeframe so I ended up keeping it. I came out okay considering I got 700 less than I paid for it, had it for six years, and put 100k on it; but in hindsight I really should have let it go (it has just been too good of a car though). Good thought on the charity tax but I am certainly not in an upper tax bracket so that probably isn't an option.

Thanks Steve, I didn't think that it was but I wanted to be sure.

Hello, Is the 1uzfe is a non-interference engine? My 92 ls400 is due for its' second timing belt change but it got hailed out a couple months ago so I don't want to put any time or money into the car as I am planning on driving it another year or so until I get something else. Sorry if this has been discussed before (I am sure it has) but I couldn't find anything with the search. BTW Any idea what a 92 ls400 with ~240k and a salvage title from hail might be worth? It is in overall good shape except for a small rust spot about the size of a dime above one of the rear wheel wells. I have been working on the hail damage with a paintless dent hammer and it looks ok, not fixed but a lot better than before. I replaced the sunroof and windshield after the hail.

I am still not sure what you are doing (r12 or r134a) but if you do end up needing a r12 hose that hooks to a can I just saw them at autozone on my lunch break. You shouldn't need an adapter unless you are converting to 134a. The kit from Toyota probably has the correct fitting for the high pressure side; I've used two retrofit kits and neither had the correct high pressure adapter but I didn't need it so I didn't care.

I just saw that you were in Canada. Can you still get R12 there? If you are filling it with R12 a regular set of refrigerant gauges should work if you are filling it with a jug of refrigerant. If you are filling it with a can of R12 I believe you would need one of the old hose adapters. I have jerry rigged two different fittings together by cutting lines and splicing them with a barb and hose clamps; it is not ideal but the pressures are low enough you can get the job done. It might be easier to convert it to 134a, but you should pull a vacuum on the system. I am still not quite clear on what you are doing since you mention a kit that you have. The kit I mention from walmart is a r12 to r134a retrofit kit. It includes a few different adapters for different vehicle ages/types.

When you say R14 I am assuming you mean R134A and not R12. You can buy the retrofit adapters almost anywhere (autozone, walmart, etc.) for ~$10. They come in a pack with a few different pieces for different applications.

Have you tried the pulling on the needle trick? If it isn't working you don't have much to lose. It is what I did on mine when it was acting similar (not working, staying at the highest rev point that is lower than it should be, showing 500 rpm while driving 65, etc.)and it is working fine now....knock on wood I posted this a couple weeks ago but just in case here it is: While holding the needle -pull the needle out until it makes a light pop or click -turn the needle right until it makes a click -move the needle back to zero and let go, it should stay there -move the needle up and let go and it should fall back to zero

I found them here for $54 each. http://www.lexuspartstore.com/catalog/?N=10991+4294963727+1656+9179+832 They aren't slotted or drilled but that doesn't bother me. I did notice that it says 92-93 but below it says 92 all submodels.... I inquired about them being for 91-92 before I order and haven't heard anything back yet. I also looked them up for a 91 and it shows them being cheaper and mentions that some 90s were retrofitted.

The closest dealer is ~3 hours away and I do all of my own work. Anyway I found a good price on Brembos so it looks like I will go with them. Thanks for all of the replies.

Thanks again for the replies. I generally try to avoid anything made in China, especially automotive. I appreciate the reminder to check before I buy them! I am embarrassed to ask as most automotive items on ebay are junk, but has anyone tried the sets available on ebay? The USA made ones like such: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/91-92-Lexus-LS400-Drilled-Slotted-Brake-Rotors-F-R-/250599200664?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a58e05798 I am fortunate enough to have great parts sources from enthusiasts for my Rover (it is great to have your parts sources know you by name, willing to help with any mechanical questions, and unwilling to sell junk) but I don't have to do much to the Lexus so I really don't have a parts source and don't know where to look. Any recommendations?

Thanks for the replies, I am wanting to go with a cheaper set (rockauto.com had some good prices) as $$ is tight right now and I wasn't sure if it was okay or not. Thanks again.

Hello, I am in need of new front rotors for my 92 LS and I was wondering if there is a specific brand(s) that people recommend or any brand(s) to avoid. I have searched but didn't come up with much. Thanks

I put one in because it went out when I was out of town (otherwise I would have had it rebuilt)and it lasted about a year. I have had the replacement in for about 10 months now and I will probably buy a used one and have it rebuilt sometime and keep the autozone as a spare because it really bothers me to have one of the most reliable cars ever made relying on an autozone alternator.

With my wife's 92 the tachometer would work intermittently or react very slowly, sometimes sticking. Per the advise of someone here, I opened the gauge cluster and pulled the base of the rpm needle out until it made a slight pop; then I moved it up (clockwise) until it made a slight pop; then I moved it back to zero and let go; then I moved the needle up a little and dropped it and it went back to zero; reinstalled the gauge cluster and my tachometer worked again. Hopefully this helps, but try it at your own risk!

Found one at the zone for $100 but I had to find it myself. Thanks again for the help.

Thank you. Any suggestions where to buy. I only found a couple online around the $150 range.

What year is your LS400? Sorry, that was stupid of me. I am used to a land rover forum where I have my vehicle in the signature. It is a 92.