BlexusGS

I agree!

Thanks DCFISH. You suggested iridiums in your previous post; should I go with NGK or DENSO. What about performance plugs such as Torque Masters - a waste of time or beneficial?

Nick

I like the overall design of the lights however, I'm still undecided if I like the LED's better than regular bulbs. If I had the $$$ laying around I'd probably buy them; but as for saving up - I'd try to get my hands on a PI torque converter and suspension work first! I agree that the car needs more go first... especially with V6's that are pulling same HP figures as our GS4XX @ a lower vehicle size/weight. IS350, Maxima, Altima SER, G35 Etc. But the lights do look nice and clean though!

Nick

I pulled the plugs the other day and noticed they were pretty black and had "wet" oil on the base of the threading (by the nut). The center electrode looked grayish brown in color ( a little more on the gray side). Is this normal burning or should these be replaced?

Thanks, :)

I just turned 80K mi. on my 2000 GS400. The car runs fine but I was wondering if a lot of people here changed their spark plugs prematurely and why. The dealer says they are good for 120K mi. Doesn't the efficiency of the spark plug decrease as it gets closer to its 120k mi. replacement point? For those of you who changed your plugs what kind of plugs did you use and did the car drive better, smoother, more responsive etc.?

Thanks,

Nick

There's also free 24-hour towing service that comes included with most standard auto insurance policies; Usually arrive within the hour. I have 19's on my car, I don't even bother with a spare.

Thanks for all the input guys. SK, Your right about my title... it says nothing. Next time I will be more clear in my heading.

Thanks,

Nick

No replies or suggestions at all..... c'mon guys I won't criticize any suggestions you may have. Just want some constructive feedback.

Hello,

Just looking for some opinions and/or advise. A while back as some of you may have read I have made my K & N FIPK intake (Like SRT) into a CAI by dropping the tubing and filter down into the wheel well. It sounds, looks and works great however I was thinking how I can feed more air into the area in my wheel well where the filter is?

I decided to try to fabricate a type of ram air (BFI) utilizing the stock air scoop that was located behind the grille with the stock setup. I had to cut this air scoop almost in half (horizontally NOT vertically) so I can fit it in the original location (between the grille and my K& N intake piping going to the throttle body). Now I have to fabricate some type of tubing/duct to go from that air scoop down to the wheel well where my filter is now located. Do you think I will benefit from this DIY? I just figured that now I have the filter away from the hot engine bay air... now I need to direct more air to it. Initially I was thinking of making this "ram air" with a scoop of some sort coming through a fog light port or lower air dam, however I read that the best "Stagnation point" (where air velocity is at a maximum) is at the center nose of the vehicle; the grille/bumper right underneath. The lower air dam is STILL effective but not as effective as trying to utilize the incoming air from the grille... however it will be a lot easier and LESS duct to run from the lower air dam to the wheel well. What do you guys think... is it worth it? Should it improve power?

Thanks,

Nick

Back to the drawing board! :-)

I bought an IPOD FM modulator for my NANO and it works great while it charges my IPOD. The manufacturer is "Monster".

I'm almost positive I weighed my stock wheel w/tire and then the new wheel w/tire and there wasn't a tremendous difference. Check this out, I just looked around on the internet and found that...

Weight of my 225/55/16 Pirelli PZero tires are 26Lbs. each(Edgeracing.com)

Weight of 1999 LS400 stock 16" wheels are 25 Lbs. each (Lextreme)

These have to be similar to my 2000 GS400 stock 16" wheels.

Weight of my new 245/35/19 Toyo Proxes P4 tires are 23.8Lbs. each (Edgeracing.com)

Weight of my new 19" Ace Trend (NOT CHROME) are ???

Now... the stock setup is running at 51Lbs. each corner. If you subtract the weight of my Toyo's you will have about 27Lbs. left over for my new 19" wheels. Add on 4 more Lbs. like I thought... now your at 31Lbs. Your telling me that my super light racing alloys are a lot heavier than 31Lbs. NO WAY! Go to Edgeracing.com and look at all the styles... you will find TONS of 19" wheels around the 26 - 30Lbs. range. I love that website because it posts weights of wheels and tires - very helpful. Thanks,

Nick

I appreciate the reply but the overall diameter is the same as my stock 16" wheels. The only difference is that I have morre wheel and less tire. The weight difference is only about 4lbs. more at each corner. This is why I'm not too sure about your particular theory. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Nick

Shoe,

Thanks for the reply, I do plan on changing the spark plugs soon; any recommendations. Aslo, I had my timing belt serviced about 5 mos. ago.

One other thing I forgot to mention in my initial post, when I hit the gas (WOT) I hear a kind of "tin" noise at higher RPM's almost like air but I don't think it is. It is too loud and too noticeable to be my intake sucking in the air. The sound of the engine noise at high RPM's I would think would drown out the sucking sound of the intake. What could this be - something having to do with a seal or valve leak like you suggested??? Thanks.

Nick

I have a 2000 GS400 with 79,000 mi. It has a K & N intake (modified downward by the wheelwell) and a Borla Exhaust. I realize that the 19" wheels and the 75lbs. subwoofer setup in the trunk has an effect on the performance but the car does NOT feel like a 300+ HP car! I got a throttle body cleaning from the dealer as well as a transmission flush, however it still has original spark plugs.

When I modified the K & N intake as a "cold air" setup by the wheelwell - the first time I took it for a ride (right after I cleaned the filter again) it seemed a little slower off the line but it boosted so hard at around 3000 RPM that it was unbelievable; it felt like the car had a little turbo very fast and happy with results. I don't know why or how I lost this performance feeling? Now it's slow off the line and when I mash the gas to the passing gear it just feels like it picks up a little NOT like how it used to. I want to do a PI torque converter but before I do that I have to find out what is wrong with my car; it's not right. The car does NOT have a rough idle or anything like that, it seems to be riding fine, just SLOW! :( :( . BTW my car idles at 400 RPM while in drive w/ the brake on.

Please someone help me, shed some light on this subject. Any suggestions or advise would be extremely helpful.

Nick

I have Brembo Cross drilled/slotted rotors all around on my 2000 Gs400 for over a year now and no problems at all. They work great! Purchased them on EBAY for $269.00 for (4) new rotors and $79.00 for (4) AXXIS Metalmaster pads. Installed myself; very easy. Excellent products. Just my 2 cents.

I have a 2000 GS 400 and just had my ball-joints and strut bar bushings replaced from the dealer; Covered under warranty - good thing because it was over $1,200 worth of work!

BTW, that was an excellent tutorial. I did this last weekend and no more sound coming from my dash!!! Thanks who ever wrote it, I'm not sure if it was you dcfish.

OK, first off I have a 2000 GS400 with about 76K on it. It runs great however about 2 weeks ago my passenger HID headlight went out. When I turn them off and back on again they both light up but again.. the passenger headlight goes out after about 2 minutes. I brought it to the dealership to see if they could assertain if it is the bulb or the ballast. They explained that if it were the ballast that the HID's wouldn't go on at all; contrary to what I have researched here on the forum. I believe that I do have a ballast problem but the dealership just doesn't want to pay out - I have a warranty still in effect. So the dealership told me they couldn't check the ballast because they are rated at 22,000 volts, but they said they put a new HID factory bulb in there and it ran fine; didn't say how long they ran it for though. So they suggested I buy a new bulb; dealer cost $360.00 ea., no way... I went to my friend's shop and got a pair of aftermarket HID's for $200 (D2R, made for factory HID harnesses). I had the dealer install them because I couldn't get to the driver side, hardly any room. Low and behold the same s$$t is happening only sometimes the driver HID cuts out and/or the passenger HID cuts out, in any event when this happens if I turn my lights off and then on again they stay on... no cutting out at all. What gives???

I'm at my wits end. I need serious advise big-time. Can it be a connection problem? Should I disconnect the negative battery terminal to reset everything. Please help. :(

If anyhing, the Tanabe will be louder than the Borla! I have read this statement all over the internet. I was actually a little disappointed initially with the Borlas because of the low, quite tone. Under WOT I only really hear the intake and engine. I heard it takes a couple of weeks/months for the exhaust to fully break in; it is supposed to get a little louder and deeper I think I will like it even more then.

Nick

I too was looking into the tanabe, but keep in mind a couple of things:

1. Not a chrome finish like Borla

2. Exhaust tips don't have a finished rolled edge like Borla

3. Almost the loudest exhaust on the market (from searching and reading write-ups from people)

4. If you have the stock rear apron (bumper) it will stick out about 2 - 3".

Just some more FYI.

Nick

I have a 2000 GS 400; about 2 weeks ago I converted my K & N FIPK intake into cold air down into my wheelwell. Just last Saturday I put my Borlas on, I really like them a lot. I was a little hesitant at first just like you because... an American exhaust on a Japanese luxury car??? But I tell you, it is a sweet exhaust and it sounds great. The look is quite a bit larger than the 98' to 00' GS stock exhaust outlets and is only a little larger than the 01' and up GS models. I feel a little more power and better highway passing.

Nick

I have 19" deep dish wheels on my 2000 GS400. I have received many compliments on them and the ride is great.

Rim size is purely preference. If you want more attention but don't care about performance and racing - get 20" chromes (chrome is heavier than other finishes), if you still want a good look (a lot better than stock) and might want to mod your car in the future for more power - get 19" silver/alloy wheels (I got the hyper light finish; similar to the finish on the "M" series BMW's). BTW, I also heard that the structural integrity of chrome wheels are weaker due to the chroming process of dipping the wheels; Hope this helps.

No problem, as soon as I can take pics and upload them, I will!

Went to the local dealer to check out the new GS430; hot car! But, if you want the power but can't afford it. Wait until sometime next year. The dealer told me that there will be a all new GS350; more sporty and with a 6 cyl 302HP engine. There will be no more GS430's next year, they will be replaced by the GS450H (hybrid) which is upwards of $70K; but the fastest production lexus ever made! Just what I've been told from the dealer.