1990LS400

My wonderful mechanic Fred, formerly with the local Lexus dealer before he went out on his own and who has been maintaining our Lexus and Toyota vehicles for the past 14 years, thinks that under the car is the best way to run a wire from the trunk to the battery. He ran the power wire for my trailer light wires out of the trunk through an existing ABS wire hole and wire-tied the trailer light wire to other wires running under the car. He told me that the OEM wires he tied my trailer light power wire to are in some sort of channel under the car -- I can't see them when I look under the car. Maybe "EMI" could be a problem but many others have run amp power wires under the car with no problems. Why do you need a 1000 watt amp? The 280 watt Nakamichi amp and rear deck sub that came in my 2000 LS400 puts out so much bass I can feel it through the seats and steering wheel and it gives me a headache if I turn the volume up more than half way. That said, attached is a photo of the engine compartment terminal where my trailer light power wire is attached -- might work for you.

K40 doesn't make or sell radar jammers. It could be a K40 radar detector. I don't think I've ever read a favorable review of a K40 or heard anything but complaints from car owners that had them in their cars. Here is a typical review: http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=1064 Personally, I wouldn't go to anything more than a 17" wheel and 225/55-17 tires on a 98 LS400 if you are going to preserve some semblance of the cars pleasantly soft ride. That's the size that was optional on the 01-02 LS430. But each to his own.

The trunk key problem is a separate issue -- you might try lubing the lock cylinder with lube made for locks -- do not use WD40 or silicon spray. The trunk lock cylinders sometimes simply wear out. There is no access to the trunk from the back seat. Don't know if the trunk lock switch is in wire loom at the trunk hinge -- might be. Don't know about the "gas door" circuit either -- probably not. Unwrap and closely inspect the left trunk hinge wires. It is possible for wire cores to break without the insulation breaking so wiggle the wires to make sure that has not happend. The trunk hinge wires can require repairing over and over so keep on top of it.

Huh? How does one "mask a vibration problem"? By tighting up the suspension you could mask vibrations. Rule #1 get the wheels and tires right first when fighting vibrations. I have to disagree. It is impossible to "mask vibrations" by fixing suspension problems. If a vibration was caused by a suspension problem and fixing the suspension problem eliminated the vibration, then the cause of that vibration problem has been fixed. Causes of vibrations are independent -- fixing any one cause of vibrations can not mask a vibration caused by a completely different problem.

One or more broken wires in the left trunk hinge. Splice in new wires. It happened to my 1990 LS400 too. A very common problem on the early LS400.

I suppose you could use a vent mount but do really want to permanently block an air vent? We've got an Garmin air vent mount too but I can't imagine using it in anything besides rental cars. My suggestion is to mount your Garmin on a bracket to the right of your radio. If you are going to pull all the trim and likely the radio to route a power cable, you might as well install a bracket dedicated to your Garmin. I'll attach instructions for pulling trim to install a Panavise bracket but there are other good brands of brackets. Even though a bracket may not be specifically for your car, based on the Panavise bracket installation instructions it looks like just about any similar bracket would work fine. You could also power your Garmin by tapping into the cable leading to the cig lighter or accessory port or by at the underdash fuse box using an "add a circuit" piggyback fuse made to power accessories. I used $5 DC extension cords from Target so I wouldn't have to chop the plugs off our GPS power cords to splice them into the car's accessory circut. I also recommend brackets from Pro.Fit International -- they have brackets specifically for the Garmin Nuvi; one for the LS should fit your car even if the application chart doesn't say it will. Here is a link to my gallery that contains instructions on how I mounted portable GPS units on Pro.Fit brackets in our LS and Camry and routed the power cables inside the dash: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showuser=2157&tab=gallery Panavise ES350 mount.pdf

Absolutely correct. Downshifting to slow a car went out maybe 50+ years ago when brakes became much more resistent to fade.

Huh? How does one "mask a vibration problem"?

The speedometers of most cars read a few mph faster than actual speed. The common wisdom is that car manufacturers do that to protect themselves from liability for speeding tickets. Plus, there is variation in the circumference of tires marketed as the same size that effect speedometer accuracy. The speedometer of my LS is off by several mph. I simply adjust my speed accordingly.

I've never understood the technical aspects of diversity antennas but both connectors you found are for the radio antenna. My LS400 radio has the same two antenna plugs in the back. Google "Toyota diversity antenna" and you will get lots of hits.

According to the attached diagrams for the Pioneer and Nakamichi audio systems for the 96 SC400, it looks like the CD changer connector at the head unit is a 12 pin connector in both systems. You can probably verify the connector by checking the wire colors. 1996 SC400 Pioneer Audio wiring diagram.pdf 1996 SC400 Nakamichi Audio wiring diagram.pdf

If one or more of your brake lights is working, then it is less likely that the brake light switch on the brake pedal arm (under the dash on the driver's side) is the problem although the brake light switch can fail intermittently and still cause a shifter lockout problem. Replacing your brake light bulb at the back of your car "should not" help your shifter lockout problem -- at least it isn't supposed to.

I'm finding it very difficult and often impossible to find past threads now that the Site Jump Search is gone. Can this feature be enabled under the "new" forum software release? Attached is an image showing how the the Site Jump Search feature was invoked. It allowed limiting a search by specifying key words, member name and forum. Edit: As of today (24 April 2010), the following link provides a search feature very similar to the advanced search in the previous forum fomat: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index.php?app=core&module=search

Are your brake lights working? The problem cause could be as simple as a defective brake light switch on the brake pedal. If the switch fails, the shift lock override button has to be depressed to move the selector lever out of Park. I had one or two of these switches fail on an LS I drove for over 13 years.

Besides covering little of the US outside larger cities, a problem with the 98-00 LS navigation is that it controls the HVAC system. If the screen goes, so does control of your heating and air conditioning. Some 98-00 GS owners have removed their OEM navigation systems and used the HVAC controls from non-nav cars when installing an aftermarket audio system -- I've never heard of anyone doing that in a 98-00 LS400 but it might be possible ... HVAC control modules are cheap on eBay. The amplifier that comes with the nav system appears to be the same amp that is used with the standard Pioneer audio system. A 98-00 with navigation isn't going to have Nakamichi. I provided the information about Nakamichi in case you want to avoid the car with navigation and keep looking. 98-00 LS400's with air suspension have two extra switches (height and sport/normal) near the shift lever in front of the power/normal/snow switch. Although air suspension was a fairly inexpensive option on the 98-00 LS and is most commonly found on cars with navigation -- it can be very troublesome and expensive to repair. Many replace the air suspension with conventional suspension components from companies like Strutmaster.

Jainla is the expert on the 01-02 LS430 phone systems that used a special version of the Touchpoint 2200 phone from Sprint. I remember people trying to use generic Touchpoint 2200 phones with the Lexus system but they didn't work because they didn't have the required special software. The attached document is about installing the European GSM dual mode phone in the early LS430 but it has instructions towards the end on how to reprogram the steering wheel channel/mode switch back to controlling the audio system. It also shows the location of components in case you want to remove the phone system. Jaila posted detailed instructions on installing a Parrot Bluetooth phone kit in his 01 LS430; there are now interface harnesses that make it easier. If your new LS430 doesn't already have one, you might want to also look into iPod/etc. interfaces from VAIS. You have sooo many options for interfacing gadgets with your LS430 which couldn't be done on your 98 LS400. The Lexus dealer installed radar detector systems I've seen have been from K-40: http://www.k40.com/ Google "LS430 K-40" and you will find information. LS430 Europe Cellular Mobile Phone English P7F3-W-en-F.pdf

Very, very nice! Figure out what you have and let us know!: http://www.lexus.com/contact/pdf/2002/2002LSspecs.pdf Do I see a steering wheel control for the dealer installed "dual mode" phone system? If so, you may want to reprogram the front left side steering wheel control back to controlling the audio system if that hasn't already been done -- I've got the instructions on how to do it somewhere. Heck, I just want the trunk space of your LS430. It's freakin' huge. A small family could live it it. Congratulations on your find.

Probably around $1,000 plus or minus a hundred or three depending if you have the work done at an indie shop or a Lexus dealer. I had the timing belt, water pump and all the related parts on my similar 00 LS400 replaced in 2007 at an indie repair shop for right at $900 not including tax. It probably best to avoid 98-00 LS400's with navigation and air suspension. The last navigation hard drive update for the 98-00 LS/GS navigation system was in about 2004 -- it's woefully out of date. It could be as simple as a rear brake wear sensor. If the front or rear brake wear sensor triggers a brake service message on the display, it usually means that the brake sensor has to be replaced -- maybe around $75 for parts and labor. 1998 was a transitional model year for the LS400 with some of the options being priced separately instead of in packages as in the 1999 and 2000 model years. Become familiar with the available options: http://www.lexus.com/contact/pdf/1998/1998LSspecs.pdf HID headlights were an option and a fairly high percentage of 1998 LS400's don't have them compared to the 99-00 LS400. Factory HID headlights can not be properly retrofited to a car without them. Also, you might want to avoid cars with the optional Nakamichi audio system since repair parts are no longer available and Lexus no longer supplies rebuilt Nakamichi components on an exchange basis.

I'm waiting with antici....................pation.

Yes, the delay can be changed. See the attached. I keep forgetting to have the delay on my car lengthened to 60 seconds or even the maximum 90 seconds. I like the idea of the headlights lighting out path as we walk away from the car at night. If I want the headlights to turn off immediately, I do what Randy does -- or, should I say, "what Randy did" ... I doubt if Randy will be turning off those headlights again. CBES.pdf

Have your strut rod/bar bushings checked. They seem to last an average of 75,000 miles on a 98-00 LS400 although some have found them worn out by around 40,000 miles. There have been numerous past threads about this issue. As I mentioned in some of them, I had my tires balanced over and over by different shops including a custom wheel shop until the Lexus dealer alignment tech found the problem was caused by the worn strut bar bushings. After the strut bar assemblies were replaced, the vibrations at highway speeds completely vanished -- it was like a miracle. You might want to search past threads. I posted a link in one of them to an article in an online magazine that explains why the strut bar bushings on these cars wear out so quickly.

Check with your insurance agent to see if the damage can be covered under the comprehensive coverage of your policy -- should be handled like a windshield cracked by a flying rock and not affect your rates. I doubt if a little body work is going to affect the resale value of your car. Probably the majority of used cars have had body work and no one can tell if it is done right. Many car dealers repaint the bumpers on used cars before they sell them -- nobody cares and it is even expected.

Owners manuals can be viewed on the Lexus website in the owners section -- you don't have to register to see owners manuals for any model and year. But I doubt if you will find the information you are seeking in the owners manual. Why not ask a Lexus dealer?

Look for maintenance records, maintenance records and maintenance records. And check that every single accessory and function works correctly. Check for bent and scratch wheels, nicks and dings, signs of poorly repaired body damage. Become familiar with the options and packages that were available so you buy a car equipped like you want -- it's vitually impossible to retrofit options. Here is a link to the specs for a 2000 LS400 -- overtype the years to see specs for other model years: http://www.lexus.com/contact/pdf/2000/2000LSspecs.pdf IMO, you are better off trying to buy from a private owner than a dealer. I know of several LS owners, like me, who bought their cars new, maintained them perfectly and then sold them privately at substantially less that what they would have cost used from a car dealer. Seat heaters have zero effect on leather condition -- they don't get all that hot. I love the seat heaters in my 2000 LS400 and will likely not buy another vehicle without them. I have always washed engine compartments every few months and have never had a problem from doing so. In the days of carburators and distributors I covered sensitive parts with plastic bags but it's not much of an issue with fuel injected cars of the past twenty years -- just don't get carried away. Look for a car that has had normal suspension wear issues addressed. The front strut rods on a 98-00 LS have to be replaced every 75,000 miles or so but it's no biggie - about $500 if you have a shop do it. Ball joints and control arms last much longer but their replacement isn't all that expensive. A 98-00 LS with 110 to 135k miles can be in wonderful shape if it has been cared for and horrible condition if it hasn't. My 2000 LS seems like new at 120K miles and I will likely drive it past the 183,500 miles I drove the 90 LS that I had for 13+ years.

I read the threads too and found most of them meandering and difficult to follow -- that's why I didn't try to figure them out and respond.