brybo86

So I got started late this afternoon and this is what I found.... Quite possibly the dirtiest radiator ever? Ohh Shiiiii !!! I knew the timing belt had small cracks but I didn't know it had actual chunks coming off the back... this thing was literally on the verge of snapping. Shot showing RH cam time and crank time Shot showing LH cam time, ^^^ the RH cam has much clearer marks A shot showing my PITA P/S leak Overall getting this far wasn't too bad. Intake/resonator was practically glued onto the throttle body. The worst part was that blasted PS fluid on everything lol (what is the best way to clean that stuff off?) The water bypass pipe was a pain to slip the RH timing cover around.. I thought I was gonna crack it off. A few of the dumb little electrical connectors that slide onto metal holders have broken, mb i will put them back on and put a couple wraps of electrical tape on them? The alternator has a decent amount of PS fluid on it, Im not sure how much is condemning, ill get a shot of that tomorrow. Crank bolt came out with impact after about 4 hits. Just a stubby 1/2 drive impact. I didn't even hold the pulley. I was a bit worried but the crank/time didn't even budge. (my pulley holder isn't here yet...inpatient i guess) It doesn't come until tuesday and I guess i cant install the crank bolt without it. I have the crank bolt out as per the lexls.com tutorial ready to finish the removal tomorrow :)

I recieved the aisin TB/WP kit with tensioner yesterday. I have also ordered the otc 4754 pulley holder to aid in removing and installing the crank and cam pulley bolts. As well as the lisle 58430 seal puller. I was quoted $30+ per gallon for toyota red concentrate from the dealer, seems high but it is what it is I guess. I have found differing opinion on the use of red rtv sealant on the water pump gasket? Should I use the new gasket by itself or should I use the gasket along with extra red RTV? also is red RTV the best method to seal the themostat housing/water inlet housing to the water pump? I dont have a gasket for this. I'm am looking for the sizes of the crank pulley and cam pulley holding bolts. I have read that the autozone rental harmonic balancers usually dont have the right sizes.

So here is my most recent addition to the fleet. $3k, originally from Racine, WI. Must have been a summer only car given the condition. 1995 LS400 172k dark gray/Tan interior, moonroof, trac control, nakamichi sound, heated seats, (I think all the options except air ride susp) Garage kept 1 owner from 0-165k miles then sold Aug 2013 driven for 7k miles and sold to me Aug 2014 w 172k (lady said she didn't like how it drove in the snow with bald rear tires) The Good No Rust (hard to find in Chicago/Midwest) non smoker Trans shifts smooth, fluid is nice and red No sludge or cream under oil fill cap all fluids are at correct levels no smoking from exhaust Leather is in good shape no cracks Idle is butter smooth Engine has great power MPG seemed "good" on my 60 mile drive home with it (needle barely moved, I haven't done any formal calculations yet) Instrument Panel is nice and bright Power antenna works correctly Cruise control works correctly No CEL/MIL lights on (nothing stored in ECU when I checked with my scanner) The Bad 1. Starter seems to have a worn/tired bendix (sounds like starter isn't disengaging immediately giving me a high pitched "ching" for a 1/2 second upon starting, this happens when the engine is warm and cold. (new starter or lube starter bendix?) 2. Vibration upon deceleration from about 50mph and over. Vibration is slight if I slowly ease off the gas, but worse if i take my foot completely off it. (new tires for sure, possibly new rear shocks, diff fluid?) 3. Rear tires at the wear bars left rear tire has some mild cupping which I believe is contributing to and/or causing my above vibrations (new tires) 4. I get a sudden forward jerk/thunk when turning off the cruise control or suddenly letting off the gas pedal. (misadjusted throttle/trans cables, dirty throttle body? trans mount, driveshaft/diff bushings? or I hope not, new ECU?) 5.Squeaking in right rear moonroof when driving over certain terrain, it goes away if I push up in RR behind moonroof (I read something about adjusting rubber gaskets/seals in the moonroof and mb some lube? 6. Coolant gauge doesn't move at all. (with engine warmed up my bluetooth OBD/torque/android scanner says coolant temp is 181F/83C so I think the temp sensor and ECU are fine, inside fan runs constantly with drive belt/normal viscous fan? and secondary outside fan comes on and off periodically, normal? it is either the gauge caps(plz no) or temp sender/wiring) 7.Right rear taillight has a hair line crack in it (no moisture inside) 8. plastic cover over front spark plug wires is missing as well as cover over wiring harness on right side of engine parallel to spark plug wire/TB cover 9. Plastic nub on air intake pipe has broken off see pic below (credit marlon)( im not sure if this has anything to do with my P/S leaking, turning the wheel feels fine at all speeds) 10. I have a decent power steering leak coming from directly underneath the fluid reservoir (im thinking it is the orings? or broken plastic ACV valve connections? I don't have any smoke coming from exhaust) 11. Lightbulb illuminated on dash (tailight or blinker prob?) 12. broken left rear ashtray cover, (seems to be integrated with power window switch) 13. CD changer error ( I forget number exactly) 14. Timing belt and serpentine belt have cracks in them! My Game Plan, rockauto and sewell with CL discount 1. Aisin/mitsuboshi/koyo Timing belt/water pump kit TKT030 2. Cam and crank seals OEM 3. distributor caps and rotors OEM? (spark plugs and wires were replaced last year per owner) 4. new thermostat and orings/gasket OEM 5. new temp sender OEM 6. new serpentine belt bando OEM, maybe i should get new idlers and tensioner as well? 7. Power steering, I ordered the reservoir o ring, hopefully this is my problem 8. new air filter, and oil change at some point 9. clean TB and adjust throttle cables/TP sensor 10. I am fearful about cracks on TB so after I do that I will address trans/throttle adjustment, starter, vibrations, tires, change trans fluid/oil/diff/brake fluid, etc etc I am confident i can do the TB myself, I have the service manual downloaded I am pretty mechanical and do my own maintenance, brakes, fluid changes, valve adjustments, moto carbs, clutch replacement, new pistons/rings on 2 strokes etc On the other hand this will definitely be the most complicated maintenance/repair I have done. Thanks,Bryan