VBdenny

Hey Lextreme, been on your site and it' s great but kind of technical for me. I saw another post asking what a Isuze or whatever your post title was (which I can see right now, sorry) meant. I'm kinda thinking that it is the engine? Thanks, Denny

Hey Brooklyn, with the on board tools in my tool kit when I was in Essex, NJ (my wife works there) I encountered a brake problem. After I felt the wheels (and about burned my hand on the right rear) I popped the trunk, used a piece of conduit over the factory lug wrench to removed a majorly torqued lug bolt, I jacked up the Lex. Using the 14mm wrench in the Lexus tool kit in the trunk, I loosened the top bolt and rotated the pads out. I did and OSI and determined they were really worn, man the metal was almost into the rotors. Apparently, at some point the caliper stuck. I put it back together and took my other car over to Warnock Lexus in Livingston and bought new pads. I went back and rejacked up the Lex and removed the wheel (which was a whole lot easier since the bolts weren't stuck) . I cleaned it out then compressed it with a c-clamp I bought and a hoe (a real one) and compressed the piston. Put new pads on and so far so good. I still really worry about it sticking again. I don't mind relacing them but if someone knows an easy way to rebuilt these, I am open. I've rebuilt GM calipers previously.. Thanks, Denny

Since I've never seen this topic breached, I'll throw this out and see what happens. Although they are in excellent condition, I find the the seats in my 1990 LS 400 don't offer much support. Nobody has ever mistaken these seats for racing seats because you seem to float around on them. I mean they are comfortable but when I throw the big Lex into a corner, the car holds, but I don't. Luckily, I always wear my seatbelt. I also find it rather difficult to get the seat adjusted just right. Found this kinda strange considering that it has about every adjustment imaginable. Whaddya think? Denny

I haven't taken mine apart because they are still fine. I did look at it and decided it would be a royal pain because it usually comes down to taking the inner door panel off. Well in the Lexus you can bet there is a million wires and connectors. All that stuff will be packed with sound deadening. I'm sure I could get it apart. Getting it back together is another story. I've done them on Chevy's and stuff but never on the Lex. Door panels drive me nuts! I'm replacing the interior on my 66 Cutlass and even on that, the door panels are frustrating.

Excellent photos, my compliments. I'll have to be more diligent in the future with the digital camera. Hey Brooklyn, I think you got a great buy on the stuff. Maybe if you get a chance to post the invoice with the parts numbers we'd all have a nice shopping list. I need some of that stuff. Anyway, your cat seems to be guarding the parts so I'll check out. I've been waxing my truck and it's 2:05 in the AM. I've found some awesome wax, I'll post info on it later. Denny

I'll have to assume that in 1990 the L S 400 didn't have the emblem on the back. I bought mine used and it doesn't have one, and it doen't look like someone peeled it off. I have seen other Gen 1 400's around with and without. Was 1990 the only year that didn't have a L S 400 emblem on the car? Also, why are some gold?

I think if the whole car shakes between 80 and 90, it probably isn't due to wheel balance. Did you notice it after you put on new rims and tires? In my opinion, you might have a suspension problem if the whole car shakes. I noticed mine has a very slight vibration between 80 and 90 or so and was told it was due to "weak" upper control arms. Since the ball joints are incorporated into the wishbones, they can only be obtained as a unit. I replaced the struts which also go bad. Hey, I know what Brooklyn streets are like and they definitely work a suspension. I damaged an idler arm on Ocean Parkway in a Buick once. Of course I shouldn't have been doing 60, but that was then. If you know a place that does a good alignment, cruise over there and have them do one. Maybe they can give you a idea.

I'll check the newlexusparts site. I decided that I better start doing the work on this myself. I've had the shop manuals for other cars and they really are good to have. They do annoy me by saying "Special Tool J-00345" or something but i can usually fabricate something. Yeah Brooklyn women are the best. Brooklyn is a very cool place and they have the best pizza in the world (especially in Bay Ridge).

Is the sunroof open?

Thanks Brooklyn! Hey, my wife if from Brooklyn. I'll probably go over to the dealer with my credit card on Monday. There are many things I like to do. Be sure to check out the ground short repair lextek wrote. I may go ahead a repair this wire before it breaks.

Does anyone know where and how much a factory service manual is? I'd like to buy one and have seen several references to them posted. I'll assume you can get them through the dealer but I didn't see them on the Lexus website. Thanks for your suggestions. Denny

Just out of curosity, how much did Uncle Lex charge you to do the balance?

Hey Kevron, I most certainly would use synthetic oil. I have used it in all my vehicles for over ten years without any problems. I have never noticed it caused any oil leaks but I guess since the stuff is so slippery it could. For those of you in the great white north, synthetic oil is really good for very cold start ups. I use Valoline full synthetic 5W-30 year round. The stuff doesn't gum up when it's hot so you don't get much sludge build up in the engine. Luckily, the guy I bought my Lexus from used synthetic from day 1. I have also used sythetic in my brand new vehicles even during break in without any problem and I believe it's approved for break in as well. The stuff is just plain awesome. With Interstate driving you can easily go 5K miles between changes just don't use a cheap filter. I recommend a Fram Duraguard which is about ten bucks. Denny

My wife said the same thing after driving the Lexus. What I did was go around a put my hand on all the wheels to feel the temperature. Sure enough, the RR was very hot. Check to make sure one of your calipers isn't sticking, that's what was wrong with mine. At some point I read about changing an "O" ring on the caliper but I couldn't find it again.

One of the original headlight bulbs on my 90 went out. I went on over to Advance Auto Parts and picked up a set of "blue" bulbs for about $25. They aren't gangsta blue, just not as yellow as the originals. I replaced both and they do look well..... not as yellow. The illumination provided is superior, and give improved night visablity. The only thing I don't like about them is that now the other smaller running lights on the outside look yellower. My fog lights are still yellow but I hardly ever turn them on anyway. I thing two regular replacement bulbs run under ten bucks. Maybe I'll try to get a night shot and post it in the gallery.

Here are some common problems with early LS 400's 1. LCD displays, lights go out, display turns black. 2. Power Steering pumps and hose. 3. Upper control arms (magnesium wishbones). 4. A/C compressors. 5. Suspension Struts. 6. Air suspension (if car has it). 7. Brake calipers which can stick if you let the pads get low. 8. 400's burn a great deal of premium fuel. 9. 400's can cause expensive speeding tickets. All can be fixed with money. Lots of money. Lexus dealers charge a fortune to fix anything. Other repair shops also charge nearly a fortune because many of the parts can only be purchased through Lexus. Many others on this website have posted valuable information on aftermarket parts such as irontoad.com. On the plus side is that the Lexus is such a well designed car that they are fairly easy to work on yourself if you are so inclined. I replaced my rear brake pads for $75 after the dealer quoted me $750+. Only took me 1/2 hour. Although everything is expensive, these are fantastic cars and with proper maintenance seem to have the ability to go nearly half a million miles. I paid a Jap repair shop about $1000 to replace my power steering pump and hose, parts were about $750 of that, but I have since seen them cheaper. Had I had the time, I would have done the job myself. I also paid the dealer $1500 for a 120,000 mile tune-up, transmission service, coolant flush, and to replace my struts which are long narrow bars which connect the front suspension. I was kind of disappointed when the dealer told me the transmission doesn't have a fliter, just a screen that can be cleaned. I have since seen filters for sale so maybe I was handed a line. All Lexus dealers can pull up any dealer service done to the car wherever it was done. They also do a fairly good analysis of the cars condition for about $75, however I did see another post that someone said the dealer missed stuff. Good luck. Denny

Luckily, the handles on my 90 400 are fine, I haven't noticed any sticking. Here is a suggestion, I looked at mine and other than the lock, the front and back door handles are the same. Perhaps you could switch out the handle mechanism until you locate one. Most people don't carry many people around in the back anyway. Just a thought. Denny

I just might try that. The compressor never actually locked up completely, but sometimes it seemed to grab at the serpentine belt and made a nasty howling noise. The reason I don't believe it locked up was because after examining the serpentine belt I didn't notice any damage which certainly would have occured in the event. I'm kinda at a loss. I had the Lexus dealer in Syracuse check it when it was making the noise and they declared the compressor to be at fault. I have the wire unhooked at the compressor and when I went to try reconnecting it, I can't find the wire. I guess it dropped down underneath becasue I can't find it now. Of course if I had a functioning brain, I probably would have taped it to something it's just that I never lost a wire like that before. I appreciate the suggestion to try a new clutch. Do you need any specialty tools to replace it? and can it be done on the car or does the compressor have to be removed? Denny

U-WRENCH-IT is located at 100 Sykes Ave. Virginia Beach, VA Open 7 days a week. Phone number is 757-417-0848.

Hi, I usually hang in the 400 forum but just wanted to add that I was out at U-WRENCH-IT Junkyard in Virginia Beach, VA this morning. I saw two 1990 ES 250's in the yard. Not heavily picked over either. Sorry I didn't take my digital camera but I didn't expect to see a Lexus in there.

Hey Todd, I know one time my battery light stayed on for a few minutes and those kinds of lights freak me out. I think it was because I had had the doors hood and trunk open for quite awhile. Perhaps it just shows a charge occuring? The alternator is under the PS pump so you have to watch it. The easist time to check it for leaks is when you are changing the oil. Since you have alreay removed the 13 bolts and the splash pan, it is pretty easy to see it.

I was in the same boat. My right rear caliper stuck on and wore the pads down very quickly. I figured this out by putting my hand on each rim and when I felt the right rear..... HOT! I'm not sure why it stuck but after doing the pads it seems okay. I guess you have to keep fairly new pads on these things.

Yeah, tires make a big difference. When I bought my 400 a year ago, it had brand new Goodyear Aquatread III's on it. Don't ever put them on a car you enjoy. I run Michelin X1 Plus tires on my 92 Caprice and they are excellent. I'll probably get annoyed with these Goodyears before long and replace them later this year.

Has anyone replace the upper control arms on a 90 400? I was told the are "marginal" by the dealer. Irontoad has them listed a $300 each and I've got a lot of tools. It looks as if the upper ball joints are manufactured into the arms. Thanks to no grease fittings they seem to be getting worn a little. I notice a very slight vibration between 80-85mph. I would appreciate any prior experiences. Thanks, Denny

Oh yeah, you need a C clamp to compress the caliper psiton.