VBdenny

Be thankful that diesel is cheaper. Raise it to $2 a gallon and our economy would really crash since all the trucks drivers would go broke.

Ah a little won't hurt it, it compound over time and gradually destroys the rubber parts. Some cars are built to run on alcohol and it will run perfectly. I think the Germans fueled many of their vehicles with it 100% during the big one (WWII). They were short on fuel or something.

I don't think the condition is normal at all. I still have two black burnout marks on my garage floor from when our cat was dying and my wife wanted to rush it to the vets. She fired up the LS and cramed it immeadiatly into reverse. The Lex burned rubber! The marks will probably be there forever! I was glad to see the posi was working though.

hey Tex, that's cool. I teach middle school so very little gets under my skin anyway. I lived it Tulsa for 5 years and I remember what hot was. I think I remember the weather channel posting 116F the last summer I was there. and yeas, that IS wicked hot. On the emblems, with people switch to gold, they should be easy to find. I found them cheap on the Interent, sorry I forgot the site.

Believe it or not, my local Lexus dealer told me I didn't need struts. I specifically asked them about replacement and they said I didn't need them. Surpised me! they are usually quick on the draw. When I pressed for details they told me Lexus doesn't suggest replacing them until after 200K. Anyone else heard this? I do however agree with the dealer. The cars rides very smooth, and has no vibrations. This area is probably quite easy on suspensions. You all in pothole areas may have very different situations.

Yeah, I guess I agree with 93. Since it sounds like the car is a ways away from you, that makes it difficult. What I would do (isn't hindsight great) is read everything I could here on this forum. The higher the level of knowledge you have about these cars, the better you will be able to just the value. Pay particular interest to the following: Power Steering System and Steering Rack Brakes and indications of trouble Suspension System; a little worn or off in these cars causes big vibrations. Air Conditioning Dash lights and illumination and some others, I'm sure others will suggestion areas to look at as well. I can't stress the importance of being knowledgable and prepared. When you SEE the car, you will love the car. This can alter you judgement causing you to miss important things that are very expensive to repair. On the other hand, you may very well find a great deal and you will know it. Overall, it will make you feel more confident that you are making the right decision. Good luck, let us know how it goes. And don't forget your camera because if we have pictures we can offer more help. Take pictures of everything you can. Denny

I detail cars for people on the side. I just did a brand new Toyota Sienna van. The owner told me how many people have commented on the shine. He was so happy I did his 93 Camry wagon. When he got to work the gate attendant asked him "new car?" He said, no same one I have driven everyday. Now everyone wants them done. I've got a F-150, Lincoln Teon Car, Mazda Miata, and Excursion to do. Looks like it will be a busy summer. I guess most people are lazy as I also sell them products really cheap but they would rather give me several hundred $$$ more to do it for them. I haven't had an unhappy customer yet. It does cut down on my Internet time though as I seem to live in the garage now.

When I bought the 90 LS, I was surprized there was no LS400 emblem. But, not being a big emblem person, it didn't bother me. I kind of like the idea of removing all but the "L" On my Caprixe I removed all the emblems on the car. Next I want to remove the stupid bow tie hood ornament.

I clean them with detailing class, then use Maguires #1 cleaner (although I have a case of Collinite #840 Saphire Cleaner on order), then I use Collinite #845 Insulator Wax. Keeps them like new. Maybe we should post this on a Ford website. Ford's seem to all have really dull, yellow looking lenses. I can't imagine how poorly they must illuminate the road!

How about the solar powered fans that attach to your windows. I think you roll them down a little and insert them. The sun powers the fan to keep your car ventalated. Anyone use them?

Gas prices in Virginia Beach $1.92 regular $2.02 mid $2.12 premium VMF stated a perplxing question. Why are jersey gas prices so much lower than everywhere else. Gas in cheaper in NJ than in Virginia? Our LS gets 17-18 in city, 23 or 24 on the Hwy.

vh You did get the shims on the pads on correctly right? Each pad has two shims and a wishbone spring. If those were not on properly, I'm fairly certain it might cause a shutter.

I put the alcohol gas in my cars in the 1980's and it made the gas tank and about everything else leak. You get worse fuel milage and the alcohol deterorates all you rubber parts. The stuff is highly corrosive. I try to avoid ever putting it in any of my cars. Alcohol work much better consumed in liquid form, than burned in an engines

An insurance company specialty, !Removed! people. What do they care what it cost new? It's not new now. I would refer them to kbb.com and they can look up what it is worth. I know in Virginia we are charged with personal property tax and that the Leuxs is apparently very valuable since they rake me over the coals for a 1990 car. I'd tell them you think it cost $30,00 new.

Having been raised near Syracuse NY, the worst part about rust isn't the paint, but rather the undercarriage. Everything underneath the car rusts out first. It is all over every part under a car even though the bodies now look okay. Makes it a bear to fix anything. Exhaust sytems only last a few years. If rust ids hsowing on the outside, you can bet the underside is totalled.

Sounds like a good price. I certainly agree with the 90 mph speed test as any vibration will show up. Also be sure to check the power steering pump for leakage and the steering rack. Just remember that anything you need to repair on this car will be expensive. One other thought, if gas prices bother you, this is not the best car. Luckily, my wife is only a few miles from work so gas isn't a big issue. They do have a healthy thirst for premium. The AC will cost big bucks to fix. Mine is out right now and I need to address it as they are brutaly hot without AC Our LS is the best driving car I have ever owned.

MistaG Excellent suggestion. Apparently this is a pretty commmon problem with older Lexus calipers. When I first had my Lexus, my right rear caliper was sticking. I could tell because I felt the heat when I put my hand on the rim and it was a lot hotter than the others. I replaced the caliper with an exact copy for under $90 and it fixed the problem. Had I read your post first, I would still have that $90. Maybe if you get a chance you could describe how you pulled the pins. I will add that I was surprized at how easy Lexus brakes are to work on, perhaps the easiest of all cars. Kind of burns me how much the dealers want to fix them. They quoted me over $700. Denny

JPI, they are electric pumps inside the tank right? Also, how do you test them? Thanks

Sorry to hear about the leak. Replacing rear main seals is rather tricky. Once while driving my 66 Cutlass back from Syracuse to Tulsa, the rear main seal developed a rather major leak while I was in Missouri. By the time I got to Tulsa, the clutch was slipping from the oil. I jacked it up and pulled the engine pan. I was able to push the new seal up around the crankshaft without dropping it. I also notice several warning about very carefully aligning the flanges or whatever they are called. Never leaked again, still doesn't. Now on a Lexus, it LOOKS like you can get the whole pan off. $800 bucks seems rather high to get it replaced and have it still leak. Do you think they actually replaced it? I don't trust repair people as I have seen them lie and cheat far too many times. Not all, but the few who give the industry a bad name. I hate wasting money so I usually put stuff off. If you keep the oil level up, you probably won't hurt anything other that cover the bottom of your car with oil. Read up on it, I have learned the hard way that knowing as much as you can about something ahead of time is a good thing. I even started secretly marking parts prior to having something else do any repair. Amazing what you learn about people.

Guess I knid of stirred the pot on that one. Tan, I totally agree that it is a personal preference. Painting the bottom gold to match makes a huge difference and it does look good. Although I am not a big jewelry wearer, I have always preferred silver to gold. Platnium isn't bad either, I wouldn't mind platnium emblems (is there such a thing?). UCF, That is a good idea. I Have seen it mentioned somewhere on the site. Tex, sorry about the wicked, comes from spending too much time in New England as a kid. It IS wicked cold there in the winter. Thinder, silver all the way. 90, at least I'm not alone out here. I do not like maroon cars much. My mom had one once and since I am the designated waxer, I liked it even less. Maroon looks good only when it is spotlessly clean, and my experience shows it is a lot of work to keep it up. Man, if it fades just a little, oh boy. My Frontier is dark blue, another color I'd never buy again. Looks great only if you wash it several times a week even when it doesn't rain. Forget that! I have always preferred white. I doubt I would have even bought my Lexus if it hadn't been white. I wasn't even looking for a car when I bought it, it just came up. Fatman, said the page wouln't load? and okay, it's not that bad.

I wouldn't accept the owners diagnositics unquestioned. Pay the 75 bucks to the dealer to have it diagosed. I'm glad to learn about the PCV valve clogging, didn't know that one. Might be something else like a leaky PS that sprays back and they guy THOUGHT it was a rear main seal. I've never seen a post about a bad rear main seal failure.

Good call Wanda. Perfect assessment. I know my 90 doesn't have any wires attached, but it seems like a good idea. What, with windows closed and AC on, you would never hear the inicators on the pads. I am glad they are on seperate light indicators, only mkaes sense. Denny

Hey Agent 99, I figured that was probably the case. Can you believe the dealer told me I had to replace the whole strut arm? I specifically asked them about the bushing only replacement, and they told me it wasn't an option.They charged me for it, but upon close inspection, I see they only replaced the bushing. PMO. They also told me I had to replace the whole wishbone upper control arm because you can replace just the ball joint. Well I looked at it closely, and I don't see any reason why I can't? Does the arm get weak or something? looks fine to me. I have all the tools. Wish they had put grease fittings on them, they'd last forever. Denny

I wouldn't consider any other car. Mixed up MSRP and Invoice. The LS is the best car in the world and we all know it. To think that people pay more for ugly looking Range Rovers, the world's ugliest vehicle. What were they thinking?

Just curious. I don't recall ever seeing a post on a fuel pump failure on a Lexus. I've seen clogged filters, but never the pump itself. Anyone ever had one fail? and if so, at what milage? Dealer costs? Thanks Denny