blake918

I can't see a thing in that picture! lol Do you see that tube in this picture (the tb is flipped, so is that it on the bottom?)....

Where you able to salvage your gasket? I sure wish I would have gotten those results when i cleaned my tb!! ;) 007

Sweet, it sounds like you've done your homework! I would bet that a good transmission servicing would smooth out the shifting. However, I'd be scared to take on a car that has drivetrain irregularities since you are searching for a needle in a haystack. Pretty much all of my bushings are gone (suspension (most of the front and some back parts), flex couplings, diffy cushions, etc.), but I can sit on the gas all day long with no drivetrain vibrations. Maybe your mechanic could inspect the car for you before you do the paperwork? He can get the car up on a lift and tell you what's good and what's not compared to our speculations. The price seems a little low for a low mile 95? The antenna can be fixed with $45 and 1 hour of your time. ;) LSs are great cars, but that doesn't mean that they are going to have problems. I suppose "issues" would be a better word choice since the problems that they face will annoy the hell out of you rather than leave you stranded on a dark interstate. My '95 has 270,500 miles and is just as reliable as can be although it is time for all of the rubber bushing and power steering work. Keep us posted and good luck!

I've heard all of that crap about Lexus copying MB, but I've never been able to see any noticeable similarities. I wish they would have released better photos with more clear shots and not all of those goofy angles. You've got a good eye by spotting that third brake light!

Oh no, I'm sure they didn't copy, but the similar shape and color caught my eye! I wish they would have kept the unique column and row taillights that have been on the first 3 generations (they make a verrry interesting look when they are lit up! You can spot a LS from miles away at night!). The back end has always been my favorite angle of my LS because of those cooky tail lights and hidden dual exhaust. I'm just noticing how much the front looks like a '04-'06 LS430!

I saw an Odyssey in front of me this morning, and I couldn't help but notice the tail light similarity :whistles: :chairshot: ....

I agree 150% with David and Steve that MXV4s are excellent tires! I have have over 50k miles on mine with about half tread left. The only complaint that you'll find about the Energy tires is the cost, but once you step back and look at the $$/mile, it all equals out or you come out ahead...with their long tread life and none-low maint. costs. I'd recommend the H rated tires since your 430 is governed to 130 or so. ;)

Hahahaha

I guess it's time for thicker glasses because I can't see a damn thing in those pictures!

The only stitching I see is on the console, and that's not too special. I looked at pictures of an '03 UL, and I didn't see any dash stitching, maybe I'm just blind. Here's the car: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/IT-HAS-EVER...1QQcmdZViewItem . Maybe there are better pictures (lexus.com had nothing worth while)? The interior of the S600 is stitched to hell and back (dash, airbags, center console, etc.) granted its price is about 2:1 to the LS. lol http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2003-S600-V...1QQcmdZViewItem

You and me both!! I was thrilled to see buttons, buttons, and more buttons! :D I really like the SWB model. I'm not really liking the way that the center stack flares out at the top. I love the wood that surrounds the CD slot though-that's cool. The real test for me will be to see if Lexus finally decides to accommodate the 5% of drivers that are over 6'1 (and I'm not holding my breath either since they haven't done so in the past 16 years.). I hope they stitch the dash on some of the models, especially if they want to but heads with the V12 German competition. I'm sure it's going to be a big hit! PS I'm really suprised that all of the spy shots posted on LOC are nearly identical to the press photos. :)

Sheesh, and we think we have it bad here in the States! Maniek, how much cheaper is diesel?

This from my '95 repair manual, so the '97 shouldn't be all that different.... As far as I know on the 95-97 you can't turn the keyless entry off. You can, however, disable the chirping sounds. ;) If I remember correctly, Wandawoods did a pretty in depth write up on programming the remote...did you try this one? http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...wtopic=9825&hl=

I'd guess that the mute will look a lot like the method that Jim devised for the second generation cars since all LSs are prewired for the car phone (I think?). This is what I have in my '95; all it is attaching the mute wire to the mutte pin in the harness for the Lexus phone:

You're right. I was just making a point since I'm getting ostracized for suggesting a supposed improper method when any method but the one including the SSTs is improper. ;)

Simon, you are so awesome!!! That email you sent was just superb!!!! At 233,000 miles we changed the timing belt on my '95. It's not a complicated task (nothing like that egr pipe), but it is time consuming. I didn't take the cam pulleys off when we did the belt, but the crankshaft pulley is notched allowing it only to go on one way. I'll send a photo so you can see the little groove. We didn't change the cam and crank seals (I'm not sure why) when we did the t-belt and have been kicking ourselves since. A leaky crank seal is brutal; the cooling fan is blowing the oil all the way back to the transmission. Once I start having to add oil between lube jobs, I'll start thinking about changing those seals...I'm hoping it will hold out until 330,000 miles so that I can replace all of the timing belt componetry at the same time.

Falciott, you can mute the stereo in your '90; Jim (1990LS00) can give the specifics to you since he had his old '90 setup to do so. ;)

My impact wrench worked just fine to get my crank pulley off. Literally, it took 2 seconds, and there's no probably about my comments since I've tried it and it worked beautifully. Alsalih, you're not recommending the proper method either. The proper (as in what's stated in the Lexus repair manual) way is to use SST numbers: 09213-54015 and 09330-00021.

You're right, but it's worth a try. I was shocked when I took my car in to have the fuel filter changed as a maintinance item, but they wouldn't do it. A Lexus dealer turned down service, there is a first for everything!! If you go DIY, the filter is only like $25, and I don't think it's too bad of a job on the first gen.

This might help with your gas needle so long as your mechanicals are in order although it sounds like there are some differences in the boards that are mentioned in that thread: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...22&hl=gas+gauge The phone is worthless. They are very old and work on analog service only (I can't argue with the power though). I tried extensively to find a carrier to activate the one that was in my ES300, but I never had any luck. I'd just get a carphone kit from your cell phone's manufacture. The Nokia kit I have in my LS is inexpensive and works very, very well. You can even get them to mute the stereo when a call comes thorugh. I'm curious about your small plan!! ;) I hope you have an impact wrench to get that crank shaft pulley off!! :D ;)

1990-1994 models have 250hp and 1995-1997 models only have 260hp. The 30hp jump came in '98 with the addition of VVT-i. ;) I couldn't agreed more. ;)

It sounds like you have done a great tune-up, so I would try cleaning the throttle body and some injector cleaner (maybe a new fuel filter too). If that doesn't help any, you just gotta lay off the throttle! ;) I don't accelerate past 2,000 rpms, and I see 18-20mpg in the city. ;) Your hwy fuel econ is directly proportional to a steady speed, whether it's 70 or 85, just set auto pilot and your fuel needle will hardly move! I routinely get about 27mpg on the freeway because of strict cruise control usage....

I was in the same boat after having bought piaa lights, so I just removed the bulbs from those corner lenses since there is already a set of orange parking lights. B)

Just copy and pate the URL like so...... <----- I'll change it in a sec!! ;)

I did some research about them that says exactly what you are saying as far as the energy is concerned, but I really don't think she is as energetic as her reputation holds (I guess I'm used to it since I grew up with a very entergetic Boston Terrier.). Maybe 2x a day she will go berserk for about 45min each time (she'll make laps around the house at like 90mph! I just sit back and laugh! lol); other than that, she is either sleeping or playing with some toys. Her herding instincts are pretty noticeable; she'll nip at my heels sometimes! lol She is really a well behaved pup for her age; I wouldn't crate her when I leave the house if she didn't like electrical lines so much. :D Thanks! She's a very, very happy--she's always wagging her tail! Once she is older I want to get her in to one of those programs where we go visit folks in hospitals and nursing homes. She loooooves people, and if she can make other people happy in the process, it's all the better!