thewzdoc

I found that if I jerked the seatbelt right as I was turning the car off it would retract...slowly.

I got mine for ~$190 from a local dealer, Lexus Kearny Mesa, here in San Diego and a friend installed it for $35.

Mine was converted about 4 years ago to 134a. It blew ice cold until a rock hit the radiator and blew out the condenser coil about a year ago. $1000 later it’s blowing ice cold again. One thing though the compressor makes a high pitch sound that gets worse after the system has be run for a while. Any ideas. Oil maybe?

BUMP (added photos)

Mine? If you meant me sure. I was planning to use it as my Avatar anyway. I'll post it when I get home, like I said in another thread I've got other pics to post of the repair that I did.

I just sent this as a reply in another thread but I wanted to post it here to to make sure that anyone that needs it sees it. The steering column was stuck in the up position and when I tapped the control 5 times down it would just "grrrrrrrr" at me. The problem is a bushing that sits just behind the gear. The bushing deteriorated and the gear slipped out of position. The operation is fairly simple but a little time consuming. Here is the step by step process that I used; I took photos as I went so you can see what I am talking about. Here are the photos of the project Procedure: 1: You have to remove the following: a. lower panel b. knee panel c. key cover (you just pull this off from the bottom. There are 4 friction fittings holding it in) d. lower steering column shroud (2 screws in the bottom, and 1 on the flat portion facing you. The one facing you will be covered by the steering wheel, simply turn the wheel 90 degrees to allow access). 2: Make sure that the steering column is telescoped all the way out. 3: On the driver door side of the column you will see a black motor and closes to you is the gear box where the motor is attached. The box has a plate attacked to it that you have to remove. 4: Remove the gear box cover, two small screws. 5: Remove 10mm nut that hold the gear on. 6: Pull gear. Check it for damage. If it is worn on the edge you will be fine. If teeth are missing then you will have to replace it….good luck this is a junk yard part as they don’t sell it separately from the motor/gearbox assembly. 7: Clean the remnants of the bushing from the box. 8: Obtain 3 nylon washers, for the appropriate thickness. ID ½ inch, the OD doesn’t matter so long as it is smaller than the gear. (I took a photo of the parts bag that I got from Home Depot) 9: Enlarge the hole to an oval that approximates the one in the gear. Make sure to clean any burrs, you don’t want them jamming the gear. (I clamped 3 washers together and worked them all at the same time) 10: Insert the washers and the gear. (make sure to put some grease on it, white silicon gear grease should work. I just used some of the excess from the cover to re-grease the gear) 11: Reverse the disassembly process. 12: After you get everything back together you have to "retrain" the computer so it knows the upper and lower limits again. Simply tap down on the switch 5 times, each time you do this the column will move a little more towards full articulation. Do this until it is at full. Then do the same for up.

I just repaired the exact problem that you are relating. Mine was stuck in the up position and when I tapped the control 5 times down it would just "grrrrrrrr" at me. The problem is a bushing that sits just behind the gear. The bushing deteriorated and the gear slipped out of position. The operation is fairly simple but a little time consuming. Here is the step by step process that I used; I took photos as I went so you can see what I am talking about. I should have them available by tonight. The pics are all in my digital camera at home. Procedure: 1: You have to remove the following: a. lower panel b. knee panel c. key cover (you just pull this off from the bottom. There are 4 friction fittings holding it in) d. lower steering column shroud (2 screws in the bottom, and 1 on the flat portion facing you. The one facing you will be covered by the steering wheel, simply turn the wheel 90 degrees to allow access). 2: Make sure that the steering column is telescoped all the way out. 3: On the driver door side of the column you will see a black motor and closes to you is the gear box where the motor is attached. The box has a plate attacked to it that you have to remove. 4: Remove the gear box cover, two small screws. 5: Remove 10mm nut that hold the gear on. 6: Pull gear. Check it for damage. If it is worn on the edge you will be fine. If teeth are missing then you will have to replace it….good luck this is a junk yard part as they don’t sell it separately from the motor/gearbox assembly. 7: Clean the remnants of the bushing from the box. 8: Obtain 3 nylon washers, for the appropriate thickness. ID ½ inch, the OD doesn’t matter so long as it is smaller than the gear. (I took a photo of the parts bag that I got from Home Depot) 9: Enlarge the hole to an oval that approximates the one in the gear. Make sure to clean any burrs, you don’t want them jamming the gear. (I clamped 3 washers together and worked them all at the same time) 10: Insert the washers and the gear. (make sure to put some grease on it, white silicon gear grease should work. I just used some of the excess from the cover to re-grease the gear) 11: Reverse the disassembly process. 12: After you get everything back together you have to "retrain" the computer so it knows the upper and lower limits again. Simply tap down on the switch 5 times, each time you do this the column will move a little more towards full articulation. Do this until it is at full. Then do the same for up.

My 1990 LS400 has 228,000 miles on it. It's a great car but it is starting to show its age. I just had it repainted, 2 coats of color, 3 coats of clear and color sanded. It looks almost new again. The engine and tranny are awsome.

That's great to know. Thanks!

I have a 1990 LS400, I’d buy one if I don’t have to solder it back to the module. Is it the whole unit, if not does it plug in?

Thanks guys. I've been looking of a place to get less expensive parts.