VBdenny

found this from 1990LS400 in an old post. Posted 26 November 2006 - 08:16 AM For the record, the driver side headlight bulb replacement procedure for gen 1 (90-92) LS400 outlined in the U.S. spec gen 1 owners manual does not require the removal of the battery. The gen 1 LS400 uses 9004 bulbs in theheadlights. The gen 2 U.S. spec LS400 (93-94) use 9003/H4 bulbs in the headlights. But replacing the drivers side headlight bulb without removing the headlight unit works too. Replacing the bulb per the instructions in the manual requires following the instructions exactly -- otherwise the side light can break when removed and the headlight aim can be messed up. I once replaced the headlight bulbs in my 90 LS numerous times in one evening while testing the effectiveness of various bulb brands and wattages. Once I understood how to do it per the instructions in the manual, I could replace the bulbs in both headlights in about five minutes.

You can change the bulb, not terribly difficult either. I believe there is a tutorial on here but anyway if you are able to figure things out, it will be easy. Lift hood (secure with a board if you have not replaced hood struts) Factory struts WILL drop unexpectedly. Remove screw holding parking lens in place (use magnet so you don't drop) Look carefully for correct screw. Remove parking light cover by pulling on it toward front of car. The lens slides into the body. Be aware, it is very easy to break this lens as it pulls the tab off one of the attachment points. If it happens, just glue it back on. They stick because the tab slides into a grommet type slot. Detach bulb and remove. Not sure if 94 had fog lights but if so, remove them next. To replace the bulb, you must remove the assembly. 4 bolts hold this in which sounds easy but there are several other screw looking things which are headlight adjustments. Take your time and study the configuration and identify how. It is obvious upon careful inspection. After removing the assembly, observe how the bulb holder attaches. It is imperative that the new bulb be properly seated and secured or water will infiltrate. Regarding the bulb itself. Be VERY VERY careful NOT to touch anywhere near the glass on the new bulb or it will cause the bulb to burn out in short order. Seriously, wear clean gloves making sure to keep the bulb glass virgin. The oil will create a hot spot on the bulb and blam. Re-install everything in exact reverse order or you will get to do some segments twice. By far the hardest part of this entire process is the removal of the parking light lens. Suggestions 1. Take picture or video of everything, noting the sequence. 2. Do both sides. The second side will take you 1/4 the amount of the first and by the time you do it again, you will forget. Good luck, make your son do the work and supervise. Denny

Yeah but seeing that V-8 in a rat rod is priceless

That is just wild. Of course it is a sweet 4.0L A beautiful engine in and out.

That is great that you got it resolved. Always love a good ending. Of course I felt like an idiot after I heard what it was. I assumed (yes) that Lexus shocks would never fail. Then after hearing your report I thought back to "bouncy" rides of the past when shocks were terrible. Had a friend "Hutch" with a 67 deVille convertible that the rear shocks were gone. At traffic lights the back would bounce up and down. How we forget the simple and obvious sometimes. Enjoy that sweet new ride.

This may sound weird but I only have a few choices for color. I like white, black and just about anything in between. My favorite of the toned is certainly your color. There was another car at the dealership that was that color but, in the south, white is still the best option for me. I love black but black cars because nothing looks better gleaming clean. Even the President has a gleaming black car. Black cars are work, and a lot of it.

North or South, the Vega was junk. My friend bought (what he thought) was a "hot" Vega GT. Hot alright. Thing overheated, warped the aluminum cylinders and then smoked like a North Carolina ancestor. Of course then with the road salt, the fenders, and everything else rusted big holes through. After 3 years, his classic investment was about done. The cars 73-early 80's were the worst. Imagine a Corvette V-8 getting 167HP. Why my IS250 would smoke that!

They have a Spring Show at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex every year where you can bring any car. Haven't seen anything for it this year but it isn't spring yet here for sure. I'll take my IS down and hang around. I'll even be able to take it to stores for a little while if the weather clears. My ortho guy gave me a temporary HP pass until I'm off crutches. While there are obviously many disadvantages to being handicapped, parking is not one of them. Ever see a handicapped car with door dings?

I still get "Car Warranty" notices for my 2004 ES330. Seriously?

When I went in to buy my IS250, I told them up front that IF they tried to sell me ANY extra stuff, I would walk out. They didn't say a peep.

I've never been in an organized type of run. I have run with some of my boys on back roads over the years. Of course back then we knew all the cops and they just yelled at us. Now you have to be really careful as everything is a federal offense.

Steve, saw a sweet IS like yours this morning going to Lowe's. Of course I was in my truck so didn't get a glance. Roads nasty here so it is what it is. I do like the color, especially in the sun. (sunny and 16F here).

Yeah, that certainly was an obnoxious era for cars. Maybe the most pathetic of all was when the put Road Runner stickers on a Plymouth Volare in the late 70's. Oh yeah, the Vega GT with the decals. Well, they did cover the fenders which rusted completly through in 18 months. Vegas crumbled in clouds of oil smoke and rust in 3 years. Totally the worst car Chevy ever made. While the Pinto rusted and blew up if you smacked it hard, but the engines lasted more than 2 years.

Regarding the tires, here is exactly what I did recently. My wife arrived back in Boston one evening and took a taxi home as usual (I don't like her parking at airport @ $25/day) and needed stuff from the store having been away 3 weeks. She goes to the garage and drives her 2013 RAV4 Limited to the grocery store with the front right tire completely flat. When I say flat, I mean flatter than a Canadian pancake. She stops at Sunoco (calling me in VB annoyed) and pumps so air in but the damage was probably done before she hit the end of the driveway. I drive up the next day to deal with the tires. The boys over at Sullivan tire in Rockland took one look at the (235/60-HR-18) tire and declared it cooked. Of course the car had obsolete tires which they would have to find one to kind of match somewhere but said that was a really poor option which I of course knew. Jimmy suggests replacing the front two as an option. Again, negatory, the current factory (Dueler H/T) tires had 15,000 miles on them and with AWD the last thing I want is mismatched tires. Rather than !Removed! foot around, I had them install 4 new Goodyear Assurance tires. I even got a $60 rebate from Good(ft)Year. Yeah, a very slow leak cost $1000. Lesson learned. Make the dealer replace all the tires or return the car. Even my Lexus dealership would never pull that kind of thing.

You better believe it. When my brother sold cars he said dealers make their biggest profits on those extras. Paint finish, extended warranty, tire plans, bumper-to-bumper this and that. I will say I never heard of a dent plan. Run and run fast and get your money back. Take that money and save it for your next set and you'll be far ahead.

Other than Burt Reynolds in a Screamin' Chicken, black 455, I too am unable to think of a use for pinstripes for cars. In Brooklyn in the 1970's seriously everything (except my cars) seemed to be pinstriped. In fact, some people went wayyyy overboard with all kinds of swirly things. Ugly, ugly, ugly.

No they did not all come with pinstripes. I have hardly ever seen a Lexus with pinstripes and assumed they were aftermarket. Pinstripes belong on Yankees, not vehicles.

Time is growing short to get your $900 back. Like others I NEVER buy any of that stuff. Didn't on the RAV4, didn't on the IS250. When the dealer started the warranty thing with the RAV4, I looked at him and asked if he was selling Fords now? If I wanted an extended warranty, I certainly would not buy a Toyota. Welcome to LOC where people and cars merge.

Yes, best to wait for spring for "test" runs. I already have a couple boys with 2015 IS350 F-sports that are open to some "suspension testing" on the back roads. I prefer Carolina as radar detectors are legal and sometimes you can be surprised without them. With Becki in the greenest state in the land of the free, maybe a Tail of the Dragon?

Now to figure out how you posted this tomorrow evening?

Hi Lexux, great to see another Virginian on here so welcome. Regarding fluids and all, I make it a policy to always change the oil and filter on any used vehicle I buy, first thing. I only use full synthetic and go 10,000 before oil and filter change, sometime less. I also use K&N oil and air filters. When you buy a used car, people won't change it and dealers will put in whatever cheap stuff they have. A prudent safety precaution for your Lexus. If you see a white IS250 blow by you on 264, you'll know who. Denny

Clicks usually mean battery or electrical connection issue.

Since all my chrome matches, it is fine.