1990LS400

Turn it on? Why would you turn it off? The "overdrive" on the gen 1 LS400 is not an overdrive at all in the traditional sense ... it's just a 4th transmission gear with a ratio of less than 1.00. Leave overdrive on all the time unless you need to force a lower gear for some reason. On slippery roads, just use a light foot on the gas pedal. What used to be considered an overdrive was a completely separate two speed transmission -- usually electrically controlled -- tacked on behind a usually manual three or four speed transmission. The last car I had with an electric switch controlled overdrive was a 1978 Volvo 242 with a Laycock de Normanville overdrive made in England. Here is an explanation of overdrives: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overdrive_(mechanics)

I suspect that fluids haven't been changed very often on a nearly 20 year old, low mileage car. If I bought it, the first thing I would do is to change all the fluids -- transmission, engine, differential, brake, coolant. A car ages even when it isn't driven -- corrosion in the electrical system can take its toll but it depends how the car was stored. Was it always garaged? Check that the A/C works -- compressors are expensive. It's doubtful that the timing belt has ever been replaced -- they should be replaced every 6 years or 90,000 miles -- so you may be looking at an immediate $1500 bill for timing belt, water pump, ancillary parts (idler, tensioner). The accessory drive belt may need replacement too. Value? Hard to say. $4500 is about what I sold a 1990 LS400 for in 2003 -- it had 183,000 miles, was up-to-date on service and looked like new. How's this car equipped? What options? Check here to see what was available: http://www.lexus.com/contact/pdf/1991/1991LSspecs.pdf Remember, it's still a nearly 20 year old car with technology that is not exactly up to date. Hopefully the car doesn't have the dreaded air suspension. Is the car in great cosmetic shape? No dents or dings, leather in good condition, etc. What's your budget? This car could easily need $2,500+ work to make it reliable if it hasn't been properly maintained.

Your GX has halogen low and high beam headlights -- not HID/Xenon. Some people "swear by" Silverstar and other blue tinted halogen bulbs -- I'm more prone to swear at them. I've found that the much less expensive clear capsule Sylvania Xtravision bulbs provide noticeably more light than standard bulbs -- less than $20 for a 2-pack at discount stores. You might try a set of Xtravision H11XV bulbs in your low beams. You can verify the correct bulb type at http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProducts/A...placementGuide/

Last time I checked, block heaters and many other accessories available in Canada and other countries are not available from Lexus dealers in the U.S. and are not in the U.S. parts catalog. Not all Canadian Lexus dealers can ship to the US. I've bought items not available in the U.S. from Metro Lexus in Victoria BC via internet and phone ... "Paul" helped me and shipping was quick: http://www.metrolexusvictoria.com/index.htm For Lexus parts and accessories available in the U.K and Europe but not in the US or Canada, Park Lane Lexus in London (UK) is a good source. You can find their phone number on the UK Lexus corporate website. Exchange rates can make purchasing Lexus parts from the UK very expensive.

I don't know if the "RELAY,COMPUTER (FOR E.F.I)" is what you are looking for but it is shown on this website which may help you find what you are looking for: http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_J_1999_TOYO....html?hl=85910F

This thread reminded me of a chart I saw a few years ago that showed the number of times electrical connector types used in Toyota and Lexus vehicles could be expected to survive being disconnected and reconnected before breaking. The main thing I remember is that some of the numbers were quite low -- that some electrical connector plugs were designed essentially to survive the original assembly process and perhaps one or two disconnection/reconnection cycles required during repairs. I assume that this design methodology is just part of cost control ... i.e. why spend the money to needlessly make connectors strong enought to survive endless disconnection/reconnection cycles.

Jeez, Rolls Royce has not, until recently under BMW, been known to approach the epitome of technology. There is a big difference between workmanship and technology. OK, Alan, let me get this straight. You would have me tell my 84 year old neighbor two doors down that "his" black 2006 Mercedes S500 4Matic sedan is not "a proper luxury sedan" while his wife's gold Mercedes S500 rear wheel drive sedan is "a proper luxury sedan"? I suspect he would take exception to that. :o

I'm seeing new OEM Toyota/Lexus TPM sensors on eBay for as little as $68 each ... used ones from $25 each. You might find some even cheaper if you look around. I love eBay!

I don't know what a dealer would do other than drain and refill your transmission. I wonder if you could use a cheap rotary pump to suck the excess fluid out through the dipstick tube. I bought a little plastic pump at a hardware store 30 years ago for a few bucks -- it has two tubes (input and output) and is operated by turning a handle like on a fishing reel.

I'm not sure I'm following you but you can find Lexus and other paint codes here: http://www.paintscratch.com/

Usually aligning will correct a steering wheel offset unless something is bent. Most modern cars require a 4-wheel alignment. In extreme cases, the steering wheel can be removed and reinstalled/repositioned on the spline but I think it has been several decades since that was commonly done. Here is a web page that explains wheel alignment: http://www.familycar.com/alignment.htm

I found only one thread about your question and it is on the ClubLexus forum -- If you want to trust it, it says the newer and older headlights are compatible but gave an opinion that the older headlights with the glass lenses are better than the newer ones with the plastic lenses. Here are diagrams and part numbers for both the 2000 and 2003 LX470 headlights: 2000: http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_U_2000_LEXU...NPGKA_8101.html 2003: http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_U_2003_LEXU...NAGKA_8101.html You can use the part numbers on http://www.parts.com to get prices. Also attached are side-by-side photos of a 00 and 04 LX.

Remove old bulb, insert new bulb ... probably through the wheelwell ... might require pealing back a bit of the wheelwell liner: http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_U_2004_LEXU....html?hl=81221C

What was the nature of the "damage"? Did you get the old caliper back? ... I've seen some "fancy dancing" at car dealerships over the years when I've demanded to see a part that has been replaced.

If you don't want to get OEM sat radio from Lexus, VAIS is pretty much the standard in the Lexus aftermarket world for adding sat radio: http://www.vaistech.com/ Complete sat radio kits for Lexus vehicles have sometimes been available on eBay and have included VAIS interfaces.

Curious ... why didn't you replace only the rubber wiper blade insert? Part number 85214-30280 currently has a retail price of only $4.54. The rubber insert is easy to replace without removing the wiper blade assembly or arm.

Just because you have a fuse in the slot where the Trac fuse goes doesn't mean your car has TRAC. Traction control was not all that common on early Lexus cars and the early SC300 5-speed often came with especially minimal equipment. If your car has TRAC, it will have easily seen module in the engine compartment labeled Trac or Traction Control and your car will also have heated seats: http://www.lexus.com/contact/pdf/1992/1992SCspecs.pdf You can see some of the Trac components on diagrams here: http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_U_1992_LEXU....html?hl=47547G

It might help to put your car's model year in the "car model" field. If your car has traction control -- it was optional for the SC300/400 in all model years -- there should be a switch to turn it off. Lots of issues can cause the Trac warning light to come on -- doesn't mean that the component causing the problem is on the same circuit. Sure, if there is a fuse labled Trac, try pulling it.

Although it looks like the SC in the photo in the specs has chrome wheels, no official wheel options were listed for the 1994 SC400: http://www.lexus.com/contact/pdf/1994/1994SCspecs.pdf Of course, Lexus dealers often provided aftermarket wheels including aftermarket chrome wheels. As for the wheel price from the Lexus dealer, parts.com shows a list price of $469.71 for the standard 1994 SC400 wheel and they sell it for $324.74. If your wheels are in at all decent condition, they can be refurbished and chromed or rechromed if you want. You can google and find companies that refurbish and chrome wheels. My next door neighbor had his LS wheels rechromed through a local wheel shop. I've read that chroming is a particularly nasty job with environmental hazards and that relatively few companies provide chroming services ... i.e. lots of wheels shops use the same chroming service.

Craigslist is often a good place to sell a low priced car: http://flint.craigslist.org/

It sounds like you will be needing to unplug phone components to eliminate the beep. LS400's without options such as heated seats and air suspension still have places in the fuse boxes to support those options. If your car has heated seats, the switches would be just above the ashtray and below the radio.

The following website shows the charcoal canister and is useful for identifying parts locations and part numbers: http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_U_2001_LEXU...3.html?hl=77740

newer = more standard features and especially more standard safety features. The first model year VSC was standard on the LS400 was 1998. The first model year front side air bags were standard was 1998. The first model year that brake assist was standard on the LS400 was 2000. VSC is absolutely incredible in snow and ice -- especially on a rear wheel drive car. Once you have experienced VSC taking control of the throttle and applying brakes selectively to seamlessly put you back on course after you begin to skid out of control, you won't want to be without it. There is a summary of LS400 generations here: http://www.lexls.com/info/lsgenerations.html

Genuine navigation discs are available from a variety of online discount Lexus parts suppliers and some on eBay are genuine. The discs are easy to install -- here are instructions from Sewell in Texas -- Sewell also sells nav discs at discount: http://www.sewellpartsonline.com/import/pdf/nav_install.pdf

I have yet to find a Toyota dealership parts department dealer that has access to the Lexus parts catalog. At least there are plenty of on-line discount Lexus parts sellers.