nc211

I sort of follow you.... From what I've heard from the other guys who have cleaned their throttle bodies, the carbon buildup is pretty tough to get off of the metal. I know Blake nearly wore his finger prints off when doing his. I also think www.lexls.com mentioned something about "be patient, it takes a while" to scrape off all of that stuff. Where the dremel tool comes in handy, is that with a wire brush attachment, it spins that crap right off of there, and it gives you the ability to stick the think inside of the throttle body housing and scrape that stuff off to. It's tough to get your hands inside of the housing. I used a craftsman all-in-one cutting tool with a 24 inch flex shaft attachment, which acted like a writing pen with the wire brush on it. As where I have heard that it takes several cans of cleaner, I only ended up using 1/2 of a can, and that was to wipe it clean. am I warm?

I'm not sure.... I thought about, and posted up the question of synth or dino for the diff. fluid a few months ago. The verdict I got back was to use normal dino. This is strange, but very true. I recently cleaned the snot out of my throttle body. I used a dremel type tool with a wire brush head and cleaned the throttle butterfly plate, and was able to clean out the inside of the throttle body housing too. The car runs a lot smoother, but one of the things it did, and I kid you not, is that it smoothed out this lurch thing the car does. I can't explain why this would do that, other than computer related signals of actual throttle position, air flow, whatever. But honest to the big guy upstairs, it really helped out.

They shouldn't, it would be a violation of FCC regulations, or was a few years ago anyway. Believe it or not, it was a regulation with the FCC that if they use a new device to check your speed, you had the right to "purchase" a device that would notify you of such a device being used against you. Now that doesn't mean that you have the legal right to "use" it, as some states have outlawed radar detectors. But that doesn't mean you don't "or didn't" have the right to purchase the device.

I almost bought a 97 Q45 back in 2001 while living in Birmingham, AL. I test drove it, and it was very nice! Would put your butt in the seat, that's for sure. But upon running carfax, found out it had been T-boned TWICE in Florida....and get this, within 6 weeks of eachother too. Talk about a case of bad luck...

Thanks SRK, I know exactly what part you're talking about. Two shiny silver plates within the caliper housing for the pads, on the ends. My first set of replacement pads on the front, the mechanics did just as you said, they threw them away. I recently replaced them with a set of raybesto ceramics that had the shim kit, but not the fitment kit. However, they're completely quiet now, no more screaming squeeks. I'm finding that the clicking noise is fading a bit too. I think it's due to the heat expanding the pads within the housing? Whatever is causing the click to fade is fine by me! I'm freakin' broke now thanks to my tire fiasco!

Kewl, you're not leaking any coolant are you? You don't see any sitting on the top of the plastic under engine cover do you? The reason I say this is because I've been chasing around coolant leaks lately due to pulling off hoses here and there. I've found that these hoses over the years sort of develop a "memory" of their seating, and when you disturb that memory by removing them, they sometimes leak. I just went through this when cleaning the throttle body. I bumped "tugged" on a hose, removed it, then reinstalled it, and it started to leak a little. The dealership put on a new clamp on the old hose, and it fixed it. $1.50 part. But, are you leaking?

We ran a thread on here a few months ago about this white smoke problem too. I think it ended up being water condensation that had built up in the fuel system. A bottle of Heat fixed it if I recall. I would suggest starting with a $1 dollar bottle of heat before proceeding forward. Who knows, might be the best $1 dollar you ever spent. White smoke is an indication of water in the tank, as well as the other suggestions from the guys.

For the money, I think it's pretty tough to beat a 2001 Q45 these days. Depreciation has killed those cars. Bad for new purchasers, great for used purchasers. I agree with the guys on the comparision between the Q and LS. Two totally different platforms in my opinion, with two totally diffrent goals in driving characteristics. I think the Q is more "sports car" inspired, and the LS is more cruising inspired. I haven't driven one, but I would like to. I hear they haul!!

Thanks amigo! Yeah I think these will work just fine. These Continentals that I have on there now are just too hard to be comfortable. I'm sure as they wear in they'll soften up. They're not horrible tires in general, just not right for the LS400.

Wow..tough call on this one my friend. I've had this delima too, and am currently thinking along similar lines, minus trading in my LS for the GS, but rather trading in the Mrs.'s Honda Civic for a used GS400. If I had to make this choice though of getting rid of my LS for the GS, I would probably have to check into a mental hospital because I'm sure I'd go nuts trying to make up my mind. I think that if the most driving you do is cruising on the highway, then the LS would be my pick, as it's such a perfect highway cruiser. And, they do have a V8 after all :) . But I also understand that little speed demon in us all....got one too myself. I just think you get more physical materials with the LS model, and over time, keeps it's classical looks. Not to say the GS doesn't look classy, but I think the LS commands a more "dominating" appeal. How about a LS430 with adjustable suspension so you can set it to "sport" when that demon shows up? Just set aside $4,000 in an interest CD somewhere to repair the suspension when it goes.

This is correct. From my understanding, there is a throttle cable that connects to the transmission that tells the transmission computer what the pressure should be. There is a tiny plastic piece on the transmission connection point that can break as well. My car was shifting hard into the gears when I first got it, and the dealership concluded that there was not enough slack in this cable, which was telling the transmission computer that I was applying more throttle force than I really was. So, they adjusted it with a tiny bit of slack, and it's never come back. The clunk maybe one of your two rear differential mount bushing being torn, usually the driver's side one gets torn. Or, in your drive shaft, like one of the two, but in your case, sounds like the rear, flex-coupling piece that connects the driveshaft to the differential.

Oops...my bad...sorry amigo! My hooked-on-phonics hasn't arrived yet.

I've decided to go with the Michelin mvxg plus tires. They seem to be the one tire everyone can agree upon as one of the top tires, and were the ones on the car originally. The tech at the dealership says they're the best for the car, as does sw, blake, etc.... Plus, I feel that I would be doing me, all of you, and the dealership a disservice if at the very end of the wobble process, I decide to "skimp" on the one major part that makes or brakes vibrations....the tires... Besides, you should see what Blakes old. bad Michelin looked like!! I'm still suprised the thing didn't blow up! The tread had completely seperated from the shoulder of the tire, by about a centimeter in length, all the way around the whole tire!! Truely amazing.

Ahhh....welcome to the one and only "official" recall issued by Lexus for the LS400....the starter...I'm not sure if your 97' would qualify for it, but my 95 did, and the starter was replaced under the recall by the previous owner. I'll try and find the recall notice TSB in my files for ya'. Edit: Opps, reread your original posting....you've already replaced the starter...my bad...

Knowing you and your determination / ambition, I have a feeling that will be a Limousine....Mr. President.

Yep, that be them. I'm actually going to talk with the senior tech at the dealership "same one who works on my car" soon about his recommendations. He told me the original tires that use to be installed on the early LS400's were Goodyear GA's, but said Michelin's have never given him a lick of trouble in terms of balancing or servicing them. I'm looking for a very quiet, comfortable tire that will be safe in the rain and give a nice, cushy ride. I'm not really into performance !Removed!' on this car. I just cruise on along, nice and easy. I tell you what, I don't know who writes those reviews for tirerack.com, but I don't trust them at all anymore. These Continentials had awesome reviews!! And, they suck! Everyone says Michelin's are the best tire to have, yet those reviews on tirerack say they're no good either....what gives?? Anyway, thought I was getting a good deal and saving some money with the Continentials......wrong...lessoned learned along the way...again.. In all honesty, with all of the repairs I've already done to this car bringing her back to new status, I feel a bit cheap in trying to cut corners on the tires. So, I'm probably going to just pony up the coin and get the right Michelin tires for the car...the energy tires that everyone swears by, and what was on the car to begin with. Edit: What is the difference between the Michelin Energy LX4 tire and the Michelin Pilot XGT H4 tire? They're both $117 at Sams and can't figure out which one is better for the LS400??

What's yall's opinion about the Michelin Symmetry GHX tire? Anyone had them, like them, hate them...etc...460 tread count, SR speed rating "115 mph" and such. I don't need a fast, high speed tire as i never go that fast anyway, and doubt I ever will.

well....it's the tires....ALL OF THEM! Do yourself a favor, don't listen to my posts about how happy I am with my continential premiurcontact tires......no more dealing with tirerack either, too much of a hassle with all of this shipping back and forth. Apparently when the Continentials warm up, that's when they start vibrating. Going with Michelin. I know I know.....let me have it guys....I'm ready for the "I told you so" treatment So, do we like the Michelin Symmetry GNX tires? Their SR rated at 115 mph, and good god, when on earth would I ever go that fast? I get freakin' scared at 81 mph to be honest. I can get them installed tomorrow for $107 a tire. They have a 460 tread count. The continentials on there now have a 600 tread count, which is too hard for the car I guess. I'm trying to keep my budget under $110 per tire.

SRK, can you give me some advice on how to install a set of front pads so they're tightly seated in the caliper with out the fitment kit, so they don't move around when the motion of the car changes direction? Follow me? Like when I go in reverse and push the brakes the first time, the front pads shift and make a slight clanking noise. Then forward, first time on the brakes, and they shift forward and make that clank noise again. It's just one time, the first time in each direction, but it's annoying as hell. thanks amigo!

I recently replaced my front rotors due to poor design characteristics of the cheapo' rotors I put on last time.....no centering screws.....when I put on the new, correct ones....my front pads sounded like I was killing cats! They did not have the shim kit or fitment kit at all, and it was horrible! Bought some Raybestos last weekend that did have the shim kit....no more kitty-killin' noise. I do need a fitment kit as the pads are a little loose in the caliper housing and shift around a little....but not bad enough to make me want to mess with it now. I also made sure everything was propertly greased "back of pads" and so forth...all is well....pads were $45, ceramics. Old ones were half metalic...and blew more dust than a drug dealer.

If I don't get out of this camry loaner car, I'm going to wreck my perfect driving record.....I've grown use to driving a big ole' haus cruiser. This Camry is so lite and peppy, I'm having a tough time keeping it within the legal limits......fun little car! The future Mrs. likes it too, which makes me smile, because she's been barking about wanting a PT Cruiser, of which I just can't wait to have to repair..let me tell ya'...don't let the enthusiasm fool you....i'm really looking forward to having a PT Cruiser.. :( Might as well put one of those Garfield window toys in the window. My neighbor's riding lawnmower has more power than one of those. Guess it's about time to hand over my "Duke Boys" still waiting for the new tire to arrive....she's sitting at the dealership, being used for high arial bombing raids for the birds....think I'll have chicken for lunch today.

Ark, That very well might be the case...I don't have a code book for your model year to tell you what exactly your CEL code means....but a 93' and an O2 sensor being bad doesn't seem too far fetched to me, especially if it's the original O2 sensor. But I do advise that you don't fill up anymore with the car running, as this will also trip your CEL like the other guys say. Or, it should anyway. If it's not, then maybe that is a clue to a pending problem? I though the 420 code was O2 sensor related? But that just might be for the Gen II LS400's. Have you called the dealership and asked what the code means on a 1993 model? I'm sure they'd be more than happy to tell you. But either way, I honestly don't think you'd be wasting your money on replacing the O2 sensor, even if it's not the problem. They just might be so old that they're ready for replacement anyway, and maybe you'll be heading off a bigger problem down the road by doing a "preemptive" strike repair. Oh man....I need to change my avatar, I'm starting to sound like him.

I'm not very familiar with the electricals of these engines yet, but to me, it sounds like a voltage regulator problem. I thought my battery was the problem, so I put in a haus of a Die Hard, the best one I could buy, and....still does it. All of my battery terminals are clean with excellent contact points. To me, it just seems like some sort of voltage regulator somewhere in the chain that's bad. Have you fixed the way your CD player is hooked up yet?

Hahahaha!! :cheers: I just have to make sure that I kill it, before it kills me, or we crash and burn together. Right now, I'm like Rocky in the 6th round....cut me Mick...cut me. Craig: I feel sorta' bad sayin' this, but I think in nc's case, it's more like the other way around.............. I think his LS has kinda' kicked the crap out of him lately :chairshot: However, He's shown probably the biggest "Kajones" of anyone on this board and he pulled himself out of a "moment of weakness", is back in the game and is the "League's Highest Scorer"............

I think it was more of a "phasing it out" decision instead of halting the option on the current models that are still being made with it. I can't seem to find it when searching for it. I tried to find it under my name, but good lord, I've got now 17 pages of threads ....I need to get back to work!! Hahahaa. It was a link that one of us posted up from a autonews magazine article about the decision that technology has increased so much that the normal hydrolic braking setup actually comes pretty darn close to the electronic one now...or at least close enough to decide to phase out the electronic brakes and save money on the recalls. Maybe one of the other guys can find the thread under their names, or remembers what I'm talking about... Short term memory is fading with my age....