VBdenny

How do you know it is shifting from 1st to 3rd? Unless you watch the tach, sometimes it is hard to tell when these shift. I guess it shifts okay before it is warmed up?

I like that DC, "a trusted mechanic" :)

Did you learn the part about the wire disappearing into the hole the hard way? The switch in my 90 does this sometimes so I need to do this. The alarm has never gone off though.

It really isn't all that hard but if there is a junkyard near you, I'd go and practice on a Camry and learn by breaking junk rather than your own.

I have to agree that a pinned link is needed for this issue. I see this simply, easy fix problem resurface often and even after all my years on here, I still can't ever find much with the search.

I don't think Lexus has ever been known for seats. My 90 LS are still pretty good but flat as described about. My 04 ES are like new but still not all that comfortable compared to something like a Saab.

Tough choice. My wife was driving my 90 LS400 to commute about 100 miles a day so I picked up an 04 ES330 a few years ago and she racked up the miles on that instead. My LS has about the same milage as yours and like you I worry about the thing having huge expenses but... then I drive it and I just love it. I have the opportunity to buy a 1999 LS400 from a friend of mine and it only has 86,000miles on it. If I do, I will probably have to sell the 90 since I am accumulating to many vehicles. Tough choice for me to. And oh yeah, you are going to need the Lexus if you commute. Imagine commuting that distance every day in a Volvo and that should set you right. I'd put only what I needed and keep the fluids fresh and these cars will go 500K

Having never been keyed yet but some moron in a handicapped van figued it was better to park about two feet from my door and put a huge dent in my door. They give them a 20' space and they park 2' away, go figure.

My 1990 LS has a little over 180,000 miles and has all of the original suspension components with the exception of the right upper control arm which I had replace a few months ago. The car still drives and steers perfectly at all speeds. I haven't had it much over a buck lately but even there it is still perfect. People who drive into driveways and streets where the suspension is twisted can expect to put a large extra strain on these parts so the area and way the car has been driven has a lot to do with how long these parts last.

Thanks Stroker. Just one of the many things I have accumulated in knowledge of the cars.

If you can get that done for that price, it seems like a great deal. I would think just the parts would be that much.

Yes it is. I was introduced to Collinite years ago at a car show. The stuff is just fantastic. If you happen to be at the Syracuse Nationals Classic Car show at the NYS Fairground in mid-July, stop by and see me at the Parent's Plus booth. Mike Collins, Collinite President, usually gives us samples of #845 to distribute.

Oh yeah, the answer to your question. Most "paint restorers" are a celaner with some silicone which makes it shine (for awhile).

My suggestion is this. wash the car with your regular car wash soap and do a very through job. clean the wheels and tries, use Wesleys on the tires. mix up a fresh batch of car wash soap and get the car real wet. then take one of those fuzzy mitts that you can actually grab through and take the clay bar in it. Using the soapy water and keeping the roof wet, rub the clay over the surface until you feel nothing but smoothness. Rinse well. Then, do the whole car the whole way AND be VERY careful not to drop the clay. If you do, throw it out. Next step, take your CWB (California Water Blade) and swipe the car dry. Take your leaf blower and blow it dry. At this point go over the entire car with detailing spray (like Maguire's or Mother's) using a microfibre towel. Now, take a look at the paint, is it smooth and glassy? if so you are ready to wax. If not you have the long process of going over the whole car with Maguire's #1 Paint Cleaner and it takes awhile. If you are so inspired, a good idea is to then go over the entire car with Maguire's #2 Polish which really shines up the paint. Remember you want the paint to shine before you wax it because wax in itself only amplifies what is there. I have used probably ever car wax ever made and for the past 10 years I have used only one. Collinite's #845 Insulator Wax. I heat it in a bucket of water until is is very liquid and then shake it for a long time. I apply and couple coats and I am good for a year. You can use any wax you like but I promise that if you ever try this, you will never go back to anything else. It's hard to find so I drive to the factory and buy it. For regular use I use Maguir'e Quik Wax which doesn't seem to harm the 845.

Something worth trying. I'll try many new car products and am glad you mentioned this product.

Ah ha, you are in luck because I happened to have one in my toolbox so I just went out to the garage and measured up. You need a 17mm for this valve. By the way, I got this one off a Camry at a junkyard, they are the same. I will go over to Fastenall when I get a chance and pick up a bolt with the same threads, some locktite and close it up.

I'm not sure how much like a PS pump you might find on a Camry are but I think that I will go down to the local junkyard and look around. Once in awhile they get in a LS and I might get lucky, otherwise taking apart a Camry pump ought to give me an idea of what I am looking at inside the pump. I saw on lexs website a tutorial on how to rebuild these and I saw the part REM mentioned about the welding. Worse that can happen is that I wind up with a rebuilt Camry power steering pump that I can give to a friend or sell on craigslist. I often experiment at taking things apart at junkyards. I pay $1 to get in and I swear it is more fun than Busch Gardens. Good way to learn by breaking stuff on junk cars than on my own.

Nasty color, especially on a LS

If one of the trunk wires is broken you will notice shifting problems as well. It is certainly something I'd check.

I had the windows of my truck tinted. Take it to a tinting place so you can get a legal tint otherwise prepare be to harrassed by the cops (who have limo tint on their windows).

The problem is usually with the socket when this happens. Look inside and see if oith of the contact pins are at the same height and in decent condition. I've had the pins stick before and cause this to happen.

I need to remove the wood trim and black plastic trim from a 2001 RX300 so I can disconnect an XM unit. Anyone have suggestions as to where the clips are located?

I would have to guess that one of the switches that controls the inside lights when you open and close the doors is sticking. I know on my 90 LS, sometimes when you open the door, the lights don't not come on and I have to flick the switch. I never had it cause the alarm to go off but it must also have something to do with the alarm.

I have found Lexus dealers to be very freindly, provide with with coffee as you "relax" in their comfortable waiting areas. Meanwhile, they stab you in the back and then smile as they twist the knife. I found a local Toyota dealer (one that doesn't also own a Lexus dealership) that does top quality work at 1/2 the price. Naturally, I try to do all my own work but some things I just don't have the time, knowledge or motivation to do myself and I couldn't be happier with the service I get.

I know on my LS400 I had the same issue when some vacuum switch on the power steering pump was allowing PS fluid (Dex) to enter the intake manifold. I disconnected the lines and plugged them and the intake and it stopped. The smoke wasn't real blue, more of a whitish color. The only other thing that makes white smoke is water and unless you have a cracked or failing head gasket, that isn't water. Check your PS fluid level and see if it is low. I don't know if the ES models even use this feature but it has something to do with increasing the idle when the steering wheel is turned to lock. Worth consideration since the other options listed were way more expensive.