1990LS400

Does the trunk release in the cabin does not work?

There was at least one TSIB about noises in the 01 LS430 steering column ... I posted TSIB ST001-04 in this past thread: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=52484&hl=tilt++TSIB

Right at $900 of the $1400 I paid for the 90,000 mile service on my 2000 LS400 in 2007 at an independent Lexus repair shop was for the timing belt replacement which included replacing the water pump, tensioner, idlers, coolant, some O-rings and a few other parts. If the 98 LS you are looking at had been maintained "by the book", it would be on its third timing belt since the replacement interval is 6 years or 90,000 miles - whichever comes first. By the way, Nachamichi radios are becoming difficult to impossible to get repaired -- parts no longer available -- and Lexus dealers no longer supply head units and amps on an exchange basis for any year LS400. The Nak in my 00 LS400 does sound great though. Another aspect of having the Nak system in a 98-00 LS400 is that there are no plug-and-play harnesses available for installing an aftermarket audio system like there are for the 98-00 with the standard Pioneer system.

I can't help you with your problem other than ask if you have checked for stored problem codes but I got 65 search hits on "fuel pump ecu" when I enclosed the words in quotation marks and searched the entire forum - not just the SC300/400 forum. There is an instruction on the search page: Tip: Search for a specific phrase by "enclosing it in quotes" I not a fan of Lexus dealsers either, but you might consider looking for a competent independent Lexus mechanic if you can't get this figured out. I've been using the same independent Lexus repair shop since 1996 and I've been very satisfied with the service.

It's a very common problem. I don't see chrome wheels in the option list for the U.S. spec 07 IS so maybe yours were aftermarket dealer options. And I don't see your location -- have these wheels been used in winter and road salt? Salt is death to chrome wheels. The original lessee of my 00 LS used the original chrome rims through three winters and the chrome was thoroughly trashed. The chrome wheels were replaced under warranty in 2003 and the replacements still look perfect after seven years of Spring/Summer/Fall use. Wheels can be re-chromed. My next door neighbor had his Lexus wheels re-chromed through a local specialty wheel shop but of course doing that requires having a second set of wheels.

Your Audi and VW probably had ISO connectors so a Parrot install into them would have been easier than installing into a non-ISO Lexus. This page from my favorite bracket company mentions removing the bezel surrounding the radio: http://www.pro-fit-intl.com/Adobe/TY-74-98.pdf After you remove the bezel I suspect you will find that the headunit/HVAC control assembly is held in place by four 10 mm bolts (2 top, 2 bottom) like in most vehicles made by Toyota. If you've done this kind of stuff before, you probably know to cover the console with a towel or something to prevent damage when you pull the headunit/HVAC control assembly out of the center stack. IMO, the Quick Connect harness is the only way to go. You are soooo lucky one is available for your vehicle. You might want to read the instructions (hope there are some) that come with the harness before you start disassembling things.

There have been threads in the past on replacing radio bulbs. I got this list of past threads by searching for +radio +bulb : http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=search&andor_type=and&sid=84de568d1b628826e02cba5dccd49f13&search_term=%2Bradio+%2Bbulb&search_app=forums&st=0 I don't know if any of the threads have been about a Nakamichi. I've been told by my favorite radio repair place ( http://www.carstereohelp.com/ ) that parts supplies for Nakamichi are drying up.

Register on http://www.toyodiy.com and you will be able to see diagrams like the attached example.

Depending on which Parrot, you might be able to use an interface harness from http://www.quickconnectproducts.com/Find/find.php Blake918 installed a Parrot Mki9100 into the 99 LS he used to have: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=55709&st=0&p=358587&hl=parrot&fromsearch=1entry358587 A common complaint about Parrot kits is that the cables are a bit short. It can take careful planning to get the components positioned where you want. Whether or not you want to install it yourself depends on if you are willing to do a little interior disassembly and which Parrot you purchase. An interface harness can immensely simplify an installation. Otherwise you will be searching for how to connect the Parrot kit to power (usually both constant and switched), ground, radio mute and speaker. If it is a Parrot that can connect to an iPod/iPhone, MP3, etc. to play music, that might take more effort.

Apparently you have LED bulbs or turn signal units with built-in load resisters. Please show us what you have.

Many issues can cause the VSC light to come on. Take your car to a shop that can see if there are stored problem codes. A brake warning light can come on for something as simple as low brake fluid which, if that is the case, might be a sign of extremely worn brake pads. Brake fluid can slosh around in the reservoir causing the float/switch to light up a brake warning light. Or a brake warning light could be caused by the parking brake not fully disengaging. There are lots of possibilities. Get your car in for an alignment ASAP! Lexus cars usually don't require alignments very often but there is no use putting it off if you need it. I had my 00 LS aligned only yesterday at 132,000 miles ... the previous alignment was at 86,700 miles.

If you have a maintenance manual, the required work is described in it. If you don't, you can view it on the Lexus website in the owners section. Attached is the maintenance manual page for the 30,000 mile maintenance. Regarding the $802 price, I'm guessing that $300 to $500 is for parts and labor and that the remainder is for the jar of Vaseline. Seriously, $802 sounds ridiculous for the amount of work and parts.

As I have reported many times on this forum, the timing belt on my first LS400 - a 1990 - was trashed in the mid 1990's at about 75,000 miles when the water pump seized. Coolant flowed from the water pump when it seized. By the way, the timing belt replacement interval is 90,000 miles (not 60,000 miles) or 6 years - whichever comes first. LS400 timing belts rarely break from fatigue. Usually another part in the system fails - water pump, idlers, tensioner, etc. These ancillary parts should always be replaced when the timing belt is replaced. I suspect that in your case the water pump was not replaced. If it was not replaced and the water pump is the original one, getting 20 years from it is a miracle.

For the cabin lighting first check the door light switches: http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/electrical/fcourtesy.html Some people have had success lubing them rather than replacing them. The little switch "pistons" (my term) behind the rubber covers can get sort of bound up and off center and don't spring out like they should to contact the door.

Are you talking about UCF10 vs. UCF11? The main difference is that the UCF11 has the problematic air suspension which many (most?) owners eventually convert to steel spring suspensions due to the cost of replacement air struts and related components. Both variations were sold in the U.S.

With a significant amount of force. You might find it easier if you run the front seat forward, recline the front seat back, power the headrest up to the highest position, sit in the rear seat, put your arms under the headrest and between the two rods, and pry it out. If there is an easier way, I don't know about it. Maybe someone else will have a better idea but brute force is what worked for me.

The button on the master key of the 1990-1994 LS400 only unlocks the doors. A button for the trunk was added for the 1995 model year. You can read about the changes from year to year here: http://www.lexls.com/info/lsgenerations.html The valet keys for all years of the LS400 do not have buttons that can remotely unlock the doors. I don't remember the cost of key batteries but they are pretty cheap either at a dealership or at a store like Batteries Plus. A key battery exchange takes only a minute and requires a very small (e.g. jeweler's) phillips screwdriver. Both dealers and battery outlets typically will install a key battery for you. Be aware that that the if key button does not unlock the doors, the problem may not be the key battery. The gen 1 keyless entry system can have a variety of other problems that are not easy or cheap to fix.

You would feel a shimmy when braking if the rotors are warped. Rear brake pads usually last about twice as long as front pads. As I've said many times on this forum, premature brake jobs are the number #1 repair shop scam. I am not familiar with brake pad life on an 04 GS but the original pads on my 00 LS lasted over 70,000 mies and the rear pads were replaced for the first time at 120,000 miles for my convenience although they likely could have gone to 130,000 miles. Rotors can almost always be turned the trued up at less expense than buying new OEM ones. My 90 LS was on its original rotors when I sold it at 183,000 miles and my 00 LS is on its original rotors at about 131,000 miles and will like last as long (200,000 miles) as I plan to own the car.

I don't see canceling the delayed wipe as a customizable feature in the U.S. 2007 RX400h owners manual: https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/info/my-lexus/resources/download-owners-manual.do?docURI=http://tis.tmsnet.toyota.com/t3Portal/resources/jsp/siviewer/index.jsp?dir=om/OM48675U&href=xhtml/OM48675U_OM0015.html&locale=en I know it can turned off on some models including my old 2000 LS400.

My understanding is that the wiper blades are not heated but that there is a heating element in the lower part of the windshield - similar to that on some Lexus cars sold in Canada and other colder countries for many years. Attached is the relevant page from the 2011 LX570 owners manual.

KBB does not reflect the market -- I regard it as of very little value. It's as if KBB reflects "asking prices" while actual sales prices are much less.

Where the heck are you located? Where I live you can buy an 07 ES for less than $26K from a dealer and far, far (did I say FAR?) less in a private sale.

This seems to be a common problem with the auto-dimming outside mirrors. Both of the ones on my 00 LS have similar spots of discoloration. The mirror glass assembly is available separately but is quite expensive - about $274.27 from http://lexus.sewellparts.com/ with a forum discount if I got the correct part number for the passenger side mirror on an 04 RX = 87901-48040 I have not replaced one myself but the replacement procedure sounds tricky -- one has to pop out the plastic clips holding the mirror glass in place without breaking the clips and without really being able to see what is happening behind the glass. The procedure I read said to use a shop towel if I remember correctly.

I can't agree with that (and neither does my Lexus trained mechanic) but "proper cleaning" is the key phrase. Throttle bodies are usually very expensive - $1,000+ for my LS400 not including installation. The use of incorrect solvents and improper tools and techniques can ruin a throttle body in a few seconds. If you are not mechanically inclined and do not know how to check a throttle body to see if needs cleaning, consider having a Lexus mechanic check it and clean it if necessary. Maybe throttle bodies don't deteriorate here in "Clean Kansas" like they do where RX in NC lives. <_<

If you check your RX maintenance schedule, I think you will find that the spark plug replacement interval is 120,000 miles. Some models, like intakerGS's car have shorter spark plug replacement intervals. There is no gain in replacing spark plugs early. The original factory installed iridium spark plugs replaced for the first time at 120,000 miles on my 2000 LS400 last year looked like new and the engine didn't run any better with new spark plugs -- in theory, the iridium plugs could last far longer. IMO, the throttle body shouldn't be touched unless there is a problem - cleaning it is not on your maintenance schedule and improper cleaning can do damage.