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Anyone know where I can purchase a starter under the price given to me of 277.00. The labor to replace it was 441.00 at a local NTB shop that checked my battery to see if that was the problem for it having trouble starting. I'll call the dealer today, but I'm sure they will want more than 441.00 for labor. Lexus Satisfaction told me the recall work was performed in July 1998 for my starter for the campaign they did on the 1995 through 1997 vehicles. I guess it was done because the 1998 was built in the end of 1997. I'm starting to think that it's a defect with their starter on the LS because I've never had a problem with a starter on any of my previous vehicles. Then again, my previous vehicles had problems with everything else. Except for my Camry which only ever needed a new coil through it's lifespan before my honey totaled it.

I'm not particular into asking thieves about my vehicle, but thanks for the tip anyhow.

Does the 98 have drls? They don't come on in the daytime on my vehicle. I noticed if I put the parking lights on that the regular headlights, well one of them comes on very dim, shaded like.

Question, is your would grain by your gear shifter a shade darker than the wood grain on you window controls. Mine are, and I'm like hmmm.

Sorry pal. The picture can be clear. I put my 98 LS400 on 153mph and my steering wheel didn't even have any vibration in it. The other picture that was blurry may have needed an alignment. Or considering it was the first generation, it was a four speed automatic. I can put my Acura on 135 but it gets some vibration.

I had the same problem. The washer fluid container bolts have fallen out. I had Midas put new bolts into mine for about forty bucks or you can do it yourself if you know how to take off the front fender. You figure that Lexus rides so smooth on the inside, something has to be absorbing the hit from the pot holes in the road. Must be the Washer Fluid Container.

Dang, I feel dumb! The mirror thig is exactly as you (and the book!) say-the mirror adjusment cannot be in the middle as I have left it on past cars. Thanks for clearing me up! (This kind of goes with my telling my son when we picked up the car to, "just bang on the headrests to put them down." Took us five minutes to give up and check the book and find out about the power switch!) :-) On the gas readouts--that is what I had concluded on the Current readout--totally useless in my book. Sorry for the dumb new owner questions, I have been driving, shall we say, lesser cars for a LONG time! ← lol. It took me about five minutes of messing with the controls to figure out how to move the headrest to.

Anyone know of a good place (besides the dealer) to purchase brake warning sensors? I knew it was time to change my brakes, but I tried to wait until Friday before I got under the car and the warning just came on today. Man. Oh well. Also are they relatively easy to replace? The old sensors that is.

Oh my, you pimped your ride. Man that is sooooo hot. I agree, I like the factory windows also. I had tint on mine when I purchased it and took it off. The original color effect from the factory window is outstanding to me. However, I can't seem to figure out how to get the rear window un-sticky. When I started using a razor to get it off, it started tearing the rear window lines for the defroster. So I left it sticky. Oh well. If you see a bunch of flies, ants, and mosquitos on the back of a Lexus rear window, you'll know it's me.

Since we're talking daytime running lights. Why don't I have any or are they blown. 1998 LS400. I notice on other models like mine, the DRL's are located where my highbeams are. My highbeams work but the lights are not on in the daytime. I'm Confused.

Wow. Thanks for the info. Where did you purchase them. I had to have mine replaced for it to pass MD State Inspection last year. However, I noticed after driving long distances, I hear a squeaking noise as the car is rocking, or if you get out and push down on the front end back and forth. What in the world could that be? Heated rubber squeaking?

I noticed you stated something about your starter in the topic column. Are you having any problems starting your car. I had a problem two weeks ago with starting my car. I thought it was the battery. But someone said it sounded like my starter. Because after a few turns of the ignition I could get it to start turning. He said something about the solenoids in the starter, or something to that effect. It hasn't done that at all recently so I just ignored it. I'm at about 110,000 miles and it's past time to change my timing belt and w/p. I believe the 1998 engine doesn't get damaged from timing belt breakage, correct me if I'm wrong.

http://us.lexusownersclub.com/albums/shows...oorsA.sized.jpg This pic shows the true change. Notice the rear light looks exactly identical to the streetlight above. Great enhancement to the front door in the pick. Man that's tight. I gotta order some of those.

I'm almost at 110,000 miles on my 98. I think it's about time I purchase a belt and take it to midas to change my timing belt. Man, I need a water pump too when I change the timing belt don't I.

You ain't never lying.

So your saying you're one of the three who can't?

Throttle body cleaning should do the trick. I have to leave my a/c on ALL THE TIME to keep from getting that check engine light associated with the throttle body code. The dealer said 1300.00 to replace the throttle body. I'm still looking for someone who can clean it for me instead. So I run the a/c because it changes the position of my throttle and keeps me from having to turn the car on and off to get control of the vehicle again. That's some a/c system we got there. Hope I can find someone soon, winter's coming. Even though I know I can just turn up the temp control to hot but the a/c button still burns more fuel with it on.

You've got to be right. They told me at the body shop in the dealership that I have to get a new ECU to buy a new key with the remote. I plan on doing it soon since they said Lexus will pick up the charge for the new ECU. They must know the ECU were faulty but don't want to take the blame. Anyway, the key is $300 dollars. I'm willing to pay that to get a 1500.00 ECU replaced which is probably faulty in my LS also.

I switched to Valvoline Full Synthetic once my dash started saying Low Engine Oil Pressure. Now I can run it for about 2800 miles before the dash starts to display that again. To me it seems my engine is very hot. Even when I go to check my oil level, the dipstick is so hot I have to pull it up with a napkin attached. I assume it's from all the covering on the hood and under the car that keeps the inside so hot. I believe my engine needs more air, because when I cut it off and come back a while later, it's still hot. So I switched to Valvoline Full Synthetic to hope it could handle the heat because I don't want sludge taking my engine. I know Toyota and Lexus has an 8 year warranty for sludge on a lot of their models, but I didn't see the LS400 on that list. I'd better check with them because eight years will be next year for mine.

I never said anything about 80 being slow. I said slower, and 80 is slower than ~100: If you were cruising in the right lane, he would of never swerved in front of you and been riding your tail. You could have easily prevented this entire situation. ← I personally get frustrated with people doing the speed limit in the fast lane. 80mph I don't think is bad for the fast lane unless their is no traffic in front of you and you are directly beside the vehicles in the lane next to you traveling the same speed. Then that defeats the purpose of the left lane. Also, city cops that pull you over when the highway starts. You can see the speed limit sign for 55 but it's about two blocks in front of you in distance. 63 in a 45 what he said. I said yes I know how fast I was going. He's fusing at me, why are you going so fast. I'm like, is this your first day on the job or something, stop yelling at me. He was acting like I was doing 90 or something. Anyway, I took pictures of the sign from where he set up his little speed trap maybe not even 2 blocks before the limit changed to 55. Oh, and Lexkid630, man are you hiring. Zam, you must be rich, all those Lex's.

In the professional review, the New Mercedes Benz beat the Lexus slightly in ride softness on the road. But not by much. However, you noticing the engine noise level being higher in the MB is nothing strange, because Lexus measures there noise level to the 1/1000 not 1/100 like other makers. However, I would like to see for myself whether there opinion about ride smoothness is correct. So I'll have to ask someone at church to take me for a ride in their S500 sometime soon. He use to have a 93 LS400 and got rid of it. He told me after church about a month ago he regrets it and it was a big mistake.

Ok, I am sort of guilty on the road rage part. I say sorta because I don't usually get mad at annoying drivers. But there is always that one time. Three years ago, I wanted to get off on an exit a half a mile ahead. I placed on my right turn signal and the person in the Jeep Cherokee speeded up so I couldn't get over. I slowed down and they slowed down. I'm like what the heck. So I speed up, get in the left lane and go around a car and get in front of the car in front of the Jeep Cherokee. The Jeep Cherokee starts sounding its horn. I'm like maybe this person had a bad day. The Jeep Cherokee then gets around the other car once we were off the exit and literally ran me off the road. I mean it tried to ram me, if I didn't turn off the road it would have been a bad collision. I catch up at a stop light and get the license plate. I notify the 911 operator of the incident and they're like, really. They did, then asked me for my license plate number and started acting like I'm calling in the incident to prank them. So I gave it to them and took matters into my own hands because I knew I would see this car again eventually. Two days later I spotted the tags on the Jeep and followed it. When it came to a stop light buy a gas station I pulled in the gas station and got out my car with an all black coat and hat and walked over to the Jeep with my hand in my jacket and asked why she ran me off the road Tuesday night. I could see she was really scared so I took my hand out of my coat when she said she didn't mean to run me off the road if she did and she didn't remember. So I left it alone and walked away without causing a bigger incident. Yes sometimes I think, what if she was packing heat, I would have been in trouble, but at the time I was upset because she was trying to kill me with her SUV.

Hard to say, the new Avalon is hot. I haven't driven one yet but I search the websites for features, info, and pics and this one is a woozie. I won't say it beats a 2001 LS430, but man I would take either and cruise in the wind.

Man. When I seen that first pic it was love at first sight. My favorite color Lexus and the rims are all heads turnin', cornea in ya eyes burnin', from the sunshine off the chrome ya blind. Wow, I live in Maryland but my LS has no modifications, I would be embarrassed to show up there. Although I would love to go see the other vehicles. Man would I. Wish I had the funds to get mine painted that color and add some 18's.

Ok, here's the deal. I've researched certain problems with low oil pressure and come up with SLUDGE. Engine Sludge is usually the culprit for the low oil pressure reading in Toyota Sienna, Camry, and Lexus ES 300. Now my LS400 is reading low oil pressure more frequently starting today. Engine sludge comes from the extreme heat causing the oil to gel. This has been a problem I noticed on a lot of websites with 1997-2002 Toyota's, Volkswagon, and other makes. When I check my oil level, I have to use tissue to pull up the dipstick because it is so hot to the touch. That seems abnormal to me. Most of the websites say the engines are subject to hot spots because of faulty design. I am starting to believe it. I am switching to full synthetic oil tonight and using engine cleaner to try and remove the sludge before my engine is damaged because I heard Toyota is blaming the customers for negligence to oil changes. Bull, I don't wait 7500mi, I change my oil in 3500mi intervals. I'll let you know the outcome.