1990LS400

Thanks man, but this applies even if I don't have a telephone transceiver? Yes, it applies even if you don't have a Lexus phone. Your car was pre-wired at the factory for a Lexus phone. The phone was a dealer installed option with components that plugged into factory pre-wired connectors in the trunk, under the center armrest and on the steering wheel. It played the phone call audio through a door speaker, automatically muted the radio and lowered the HVAC fan speed during a call, etc, etc.

Thoughts? Stay with OEM filters. Honestly, I don't know how K&N stays in business ... sooo many problems reported with their products on car forums -- maybe K&N is an "urban legend" thing. Look at the price you can get and what is included in a "30K service kit" for your GS350 from Sewell Lexus by registering with them with your member name from this or other Lexus forums. Or you can buy the parts individually.

It's hard to say what a fair price would be. I haven't checked recently but I'm guessing my 00 LS Platinum Series with the Nak package might bring around $7,000 here in the Kansas City area. It has 128,000 miles, fully up to date on maintenance and looks darn near perfect. The headlight lenses can usually be restored. Mine looked at least as bad as Blake's before I restored them: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=53683&st=0&p=344940&hl=%20headlight&fromsearch=1entry344940

By all means email, or better yet, call Bob at car stereo help to see if they can help you. He also repaired my 00 LS Nak in early 2008 -- very nice and inexpensive transaction. I didn't think Bob repaired Nak anymore (read the following web page) but you might check with him: http://carstereohelp.com/lexusLS.htm

Here it is ... 1998 GS400 Nakamichi audio diagram.pdf

Diagrams showing the location and the oil filter insert and O-ring are attached.

A much better way to get 400 hp from an IS is to buy an IS F. It comes with upgraded transmission and suspension components that can actually handle that kind of power.

If the wood face of the ashtray is not even with the surrounding wood, it sounds seriously screwed up. You could remove the ashtray and take a look. These instructions from my favorite bracket company describe how: http://www.pro-fit-intl.com/Adobe/LX-52-90.pdf The instructions say they are for a 90-97 LS400 but they are really for a 90-94 LS400.

I happened to read the fog light replacement instructions for the LS430 since my last post and it said that it is also necessary to remove the undercover below the fog light in order to replace it. Not sure that is really necessary but you might have to.

I'd recommend trying any car stereo repair shop that says they can still repair Nakamichi. The biggest repairer of car stereos in the U.S. has stopped repairing Nakamichi due to OEM repair parts no longer available. New or reconditioned Nakamichi components are no longer available through Lexus dealers and Lexus corporate have washed it's hands of Nakamichi just like they have done with analog Lexus Link and all the pre-2004 phone systems. I hope you are successful in getting your Nakamichi repaired. Please report back if you are or are not successful. I've resigned myself to buying used Nak components on eBay or installing an aftermarket stereo if my Nak ever fails again.

I just calculated that I have changed the engine oil and filters on two LS400's, including removing/reinstalling the engine under covers, about 54 times since 1990 without using ramps or jack stands. Whether you can reach under your GS enough to do this work may be dependent ... how can I say this politely ... on how rotund you are. I usually lift up one side of my car a few inches with a hydraulic floor jack to make it a little easier and, for safety, I reach under the car to remove/reinstall the undercover, filter and drain plug and never put my body under the car. I probably spend an hour on the job but I take my time. Some of the time is spent transferring the oil to containers that I drop off at an oil recycling facility. All Toyota/Lexus drain plugs require a 10 mm wrench -- best to use a socket wrench -- and, if your GS is like my LS, you will need the 10 mm socket wrench and maybe a short extension to remove the engine undercover. Some of the engine undercover fasteners at the front of your car may require more gentle hand tightening so you don't strip the threads on the plastic inserts. Be sure to use a new metal oil filter drain plug gasket each time you change your oil ... so that you avoid the drip ... drip ... drip. IMO, there is nothing better than OEM Toyota/Lexus oil filters. Here in the U.S. OEM Toyota/Lexus oil filters are commonly available for about $4 each. Edit: Whoops! I woke up this morning realizing that I gave the wrong socket size for the drain plug. I think it's 13 mm. The two sockets I've needed to change the oil our Lexus and Toyota cars have been plugged into my socket holder next to each other for over 20 years so it's become automagic to grab the correct one. And you will need a filter wrench to remove the oil filter -- either sized exactly to fit the filter or the adjustable type. The new oil filter should be firmly hand tightened -- never use a wrench.

According to http://www.sylvania.com , your foglight bulbs are indeed 9006 but check for yourself. Replacing the fog light bulbs on an LS430 requires removing/loosening enough of the wheel wheel liner to access the bulb and maybe even removing the "undercover". Unfortunately, they made this way more difficult on an LS after the 2000 model year.

Lexus cars sold in North America are often quite different than those sold in the rest of the world. Assuming the "melbourne" in your location means Australia, your car may have the Lexus Parking Aid 400 (LPA 400) which has sensors only on the rear of the car and only a beeper instead of a display. There is also a Lexus Parking Aid 800 which has sensors on both the front and back of the car. I do not know if either LPA product was ever factory installed. As of today, there are both owners manuals and detailed installation instructions for installing the products into the IS250/220d for both LPA products at http://www.lexus-tech.eu under "Accessory Installation Manuals". You might be able to compare the parking aid system on your car to the information on the previously mentioned website to determine if your parking aid system is from Toyota/Lexus.

^^^ That has to be the most well thought out comparison between the GX and LX I've ever seen. Great job!

http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_U_1992_LEXUS_SC300~400_UZZ30L-ACPZKA_6701.html may show you the part numbers but register to see the diagrams. Unfortunately, the best place I've found for small trim parts like you need are at a Lexus dealer. The cost can be pretty silly but I've found that I get the right part. But if you find the part number, you can search the various internet parts websites. Sewell Lexus usually gives a healthy discount on their website if you register there with your member name from this forum.

The specs say your wheels are 18x8: http://www.lexus.com/contact/pdf/2003/2003LXspecs.pdf Ride quality usually decreases and tire prices usually increases as wheel sizes go up.

Yes, it is all the same except that the 90-92 LS400 uses an HB1/9004 headlight bulb and the 93-94 LS400 uses an H4/HB2/9003 bulb.

$1,200 retail on a 96 LS400 --> http://www.lexus.com/contact/pdf/1996/1996LSspecs.pdf

Don't underestimate the amount of money you can pour into an LS400 with 140,000 miles. Between 140,000 miles and when I sold it at 183,500 my 90 LS400 needed most of the normally replaceable front suspension parts replaced. IMO, the 92 LS400 you are considering would have to be darned near perfect to be worth $2,500. For comparison purposes, I sold my 90 LS (photo attached) about this time of the year in 2003 for $4,500. It looked like new inside and out, everything worked except the bulbs in two radio knobs, it was completely up-to-date in maintenance including the full 180,000 mile service including timing belt and water pump replacement, all front normal wear suspension parts had been replaced (see above), the A/C had been professionally converted to R134a, it had excellent summer tires and an extra set of wheels with snow tires in excellent condition, etc., etc. The engine compartment was spotless. It drove like new and people who didn't know Lexus thought it was new. In contrast, the 92 LS you are describing sounds like it is on "life support". Forget about it. In fact, forget about buying any LS400 before the 1993 model year. The 1993-up LS400 has no many improvements that it makes the 90-92 look very bad. Read this --> http://www.lexls.com/info/lsgenerations.html Be patient ... a better (93-up) LS will come along.

If you don't want to go aftermarket, start looking for a working used Nakamichi headunit for a 95-97 LS400. Nobody I know of repairs Nakamichi any more as parts have become unavailable as Nakamichi went bankrupt. The current Nakamichi Company only resurrected the Nakamichi name. Lexus won't help you out with exchange Nakamichi components like they used to. I was told they are required to provide parts for only six years (or was it seven?) after a car is sold. eBay would be a good place to look. If you want to install an aftermarket radio, you will find that adapter harnesses are not available for LS400's with Nakamichi radio -- you or the installer will be doing some serious cutting and splicing. I will be in the same boat if the Nak in my 00 LS400 fails again. I got it repaired (barely) when the right channel went out a couple of years ago but only because the balance control needed re-soldering and no parts were needed.

In Europe and other countries, two versions of the dealer installed Lexus Parking Aid (400 and 800), were available for a number of Lexus models. The same part number is indicated for all the models I just looked but I did not see installation instructions specifically for the 3rd generation GS. You can view installation instructions for the Lexus Parking Aid systems into the current IS, RX and maybe some other models at http://www.lexus-tech.eu/ without registering.

The wheel well liner has to be pealed back enough to remove the foglamp from the back. It's an assembly and the lens is not replaceable -- photo and part number is attached. It probably isn't too difficult if you can handle a screwdriver and socket wrench. You may have to put the front of your car on jack stands and remove the wheel but you might have enough room if you just turn the wheels all the way to the left. Register with your member name from this forum on http://lexus.sewellparts.com/ and you can get your foglamp for $197.86. Sewell Lexus is very reliable and I have bought parts from them both online and when driving by their dealership by the Dallas airport.

I did something somewhat similar the 1960s and when I carried a Honda Super 90 motorcycle on a motorcycle rack attached to the bumper of a full size car -- probably before hitch motorcycle racks were available. Bad, bad, bad idea. Too much weight and instability unless you have a fairly heavy duty truck which an RX is not. Consider buying a small motorcycle trailer for your RX. A friend of mine carried his Harley on a motorcycle trailer behind his similar Toyota Highlander and it worked great.

What is the part number for the tow package fan clutch. I can't find it in the parts lists.

What country are you in? There was never a "tow package" available for any LS here in the USA although there was in many other countries. I doubt if any sort of "tow package" fan clutch would be available here.