1990LS400

Its odd how such a large number of issues - most minor, some major - cause VSC and TRAC to be disabled. The warning lights mean essentially nothing except that there is some problem -- usually not related to VSC and TRAC. Please let us know what caused the warning lights in this situation.

Have you checked all the fuses and fusible links including the ones in the engine compartment?: http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_U_2005_LEXU...ZKA_8401.3.html

Check the part numbers for the 01 and 05 LS here: http://www.toyodiy.com/

Is the rheostat knob for the dash light brightness turned up to its maximum brightness setting?

Steve, it could be a failed lock motor -- some people call them an "actuator": http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_U_2003_LEXU...EAGKA_6706.html One failed on the front passenger door of a friend's 99 Camry last year ... may be a fairly common issue as these cars age. There have been a few past threads on this. For the driver's side rear door, Parts.com gives a retail price for part 69060-33111 as $214.52 and they sell it for $148.32.

Here is a link to a recent thread where the same question was asked: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...amp;hl=overhead

Here is an excellent website for finding part numbers and even for seeing how components fit together ... this page shows your oil pan: http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_U_1995_LEXU...EPGKA_1105.html

What are you basing your conclusion on? Any objective/scientific evidence or comparisons? Performance differs among the LS series. The 1990-1992 LS400 performs similar but some are slower or faster depending on how they are optioned due to varying weight. The 1993-1994 LS400 gained 100 pounds and performance is generally a little lower than the 90-92. The 1995-1997 LS400 lost 200 pounds on average, gained 10 horsepower and is a little faster than the earlier ones. The 1998-2000 LS400 gained 240 pounds over the 95-97 but also gained 30 horsepower and VVTi which let the engine scream and improved acceleration. So, my question is .... how much power do you think your LS should have?

Cool! We don't get many questions about the old car phone systems anymore -- apparently most have already been dealt with. Most of the past questions have been on how to remove the phone and whether it is OK to just starting cutting wires. Check both the underdash and engine compartment fuse boxes for a fuse labeled "TEL". In my 2000 LS400, there is only the one underhood fuse dedicated to the telephone system although I don't know if any of the other fuses come into play. The earliest electrical diagram on the Chilton website is for a 1993 LS400 and it also shows only the one "TEL" fuse. Also be aware that a malfunctioning phone system can cause the audio system to go into "mute mode" -- caused when a wire in the telephone harness somehow gets permananently grounded. If that happens, the best way to fix it is to unplug the handset cradle and the ECU in the trunk. If you want to remove the phone handset and other phone system components, do some disassembly and unplug the handset cradle and phone ECU in the trunk. Some people have gotten away with just cutting wires but some haven't. Unplugging components is the safe way. The console insert can be pryed out after removing the hidden screws under the removable pad at the bottom of the console. The handset cradle plugs into connectors under the vents you see when the armrest is raised.

The attachment shows where washer fluid is added on a 2009 GX470. Look anything like your 2006 GX?

Those sure aren't the prettiest spark plugs I've seen -- could they be the original ones? A Toyota dealer is a good place to buy parts -- when in doubt, check the following website to see if the part numbers for the Toyota Camry are the same as for your ES: http://www.toyodiy.com/ Replace the coils? You'll "have a cow" when you see how much they cost -- MSRP is $94.60 each! They are not normally replaced unless they go bad ... do they ever? Didn't you say your car was running fine? Replacing the rear three spark plugs looks like a bit of a challenge -- I just looked at the rear plug location on our V6 Camry ... made me glad I had a mechanic replace them instead of me doing it.

Just buy a used WHAT off of eBay? The climate control module and the radio aren't even linked except that they obviously take power from the same electrical circuit since they both are not working. Check your fuses -- in the fuse box in the engine compartment and in the fuse box under the dash.

I assume it's buried below the fendor structure as on most vehicles made by Toyota. Accessing the windshield washer reservoir in a Toyota usually requires removing one of the front wheels and the forward part of the fender liner. Here is a diagram: http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_U_2006_LEXU...KAZKA_8503.html

It looks like the MiniDisc player in that RX video is designed to accept minidisc cartridges. You can read about MiniDisc technology here: http://wapedia.mobi/en/MiniDisc Even though MiniDisc has not been available here, apparently nav systems on US Lexus models support MiniDisc since VAIS uses MiniDisc emulation for its integration products -- iPod, sat radio, etc. I remember when MiniDisc was briefly hot in the U.S. and some "experts" said that MiniDisc would quickly replace Compact Disc. Ha! TV has been available in many Lexus and Toyota vehicles since about "forever". I think the Celsior (Japan market LS400) had TV available from the beginning in 1989. TV was available in the Toyota Century limo long before that. You can view some TV system components for Japanese Lexus and Toyota models in diagrams and parts lists at http://www.toyodiy.com/

The water pump on the 1990 LS400 started leaking just before it seized and took out the timing belt at about 75,000 miles in the mid 1990's. It didn't give me much warning ... I smelled the coolant ... heard a clunk ... and the car coasted to a stop -- all in the matter of driving about four blocks from my house on a cold day during a major ice storm. A memorable day since it took a tow truck hours to reach me due to the storm. Yes, change the timing belt, idler and tensioner when you change the water pump. You might as well since the parts are relatively inexpensive and you are already in there. A failing idler or tensioner can also cause timing belt failure. I've had three timing belt replacements done on two LS400s and the parts I mentioned have been replaced during all three operations -- standard procedure, I'm told. Do you know if the timing belt and water pump have been replaced? I was told when my water pump failed that the gen 1 LS400 water pump was particularly prone to failure and that the replacement that was installed was of an improved design.

It never ceases to amaze me how some features are included in cars sold in some markets and not in others. I can see in a photo in this Canadian Driver article that a 2006 GS300 AWD does not have a button to turn off VSC: http://www.canadiandriver.com/2006/03/10/t...-gs-300-awd.htm Sounds odd but maybe there is something to the instructions you were given to "press the brake pedal and some other pedals repeatedly" to turn off VSC. Another article on Canadian Driver, this one about the 2006 GS430, has a reference/complaint about not being able to turn off VSC: http://www.canadiandriver.com/2005/07/25/t...exus-gs-430.htm Odd.

Seat heaters were not part of the Coach Edition package: "COACH® Edition, includes COACH Edition Leather Trim Seats, Armrest with Embossed COACH Logo, Wood and Leather Trim Shift Knob, In-Dash 6-CD Auto-Changer, Power Moonroof, Memory System, Special Wheels, Carpeted Floor Mats with Embroidered COACH Insignia, Champagne Pearl Emblems, Select Colors and a COACH Leather Cabin Bag". Very nice cars, Billy. The 95-97 LS is my favorite exterior style.

It sounds like an electrical connection (fuse, fusible link, corrosion) problem to me. I see in a previous post you have a 98 LS -- which car are you having this problem in?

9005/HB3 bulbs can be replaced with HIR 9011 bulbs. 9006/HB4 blubs can be replaced with HIR 9012 bulbs. "HIR" stands for "Halogen Infrared". Google and find threads that discuss HIR technology. The bases of HIR bulbs have to be trimmed to allow them to be used in place of 9005 and 9006 bulbs -- see the attached instructions. HIR 9012 bulbs are used on John Deere 9000 series equipment such as combines. The John Deere part number for HIR 9012 bulbs is AH211917.

Yes, you could probably wait until 200K for the next timing belt change. I wouldn't wait quite that long but I'm a stickler for following maintenance schedules. Spark plug wires on modern cars can last hundreds of thousands of miles -- don't worry about them. Check your maintenance manual for the spark plug replacement interval. If you don't have the maintenance manual for your car, register in the owners section of the Lexus website and view it online. If maintenance has been done at a Lexus dealership, you will be able to view at least some maintenance history online on the Lexus website. If you know who the previous owner was, ask if the spark plugs have been replaced. If the car is running well, then it sounds like the car is doing fine. Our Camry has nearly the same drivetrain as your ES and we've found it to be a very low cost car to maintain over the 111,000 miles (since new) we've driven it. Mainly change the engine oil and filter every 5,000 miles and change the tranny fluid every 30K to 60K miles -- adhere to the maintenance schedule and you will be fine.

It's unlikely you are going to find the mats that have been withdrawn from sale. There's always Weathertech if your car isn't AWD -- inexpensive and decent quality: http://www.weathertech.com/store/mvproduct...ptChoiceIds=710

You want the "Standard" subscription instead of the "Security Professional" subscription which requires you to be a locksmith. I see that the "Standard" subscription is now $15 for 48 hours ... apparently the 24 hour subscription has been dropped.

The only issue I've had on my 00 LS that has caused exactly the same symptoms has been a battery in the process of failing. The exact same symptons happened when at least three batteries started to fail. The repair shop owner who services my car told me that the internal battery connections between battery cells can crack, break and reattach as the car hits bumps and turns corners. My 00 LS is on at least its fourth battery including the original one installed at the factory. One of the replacement batteries lasted barely one year. I thought it was interesting that the failing batteries would test as being OK when I tested the specific gravity of the fluid with a hydrometer but they usually wouldn't charge at a reasonable rate when I put them on a battery charger. If your battery is more than three years old, consider replacing it. Of course (standard disclaimer!), it could be something else.

Helloooo, there is an entire manual devoted to the electrical diagrams for each Lexus vehicle. Wiring diagrams for Lexus vehicles can often be found on the Chilton website -- it's a subscription website but I have access through my local public library website via my library card number. There are many, oh so many, wiring diagrams for each Lexus vehicle. I checked when I first saw your post and didn't find any wiring diagrams on the Chilton website for your car. Even if I had found them, I wouldn't have been able to download and then upload the 100 or so PDF files that comprise a complete set. Wiring diagrams are available on the Lexus techinfo website -- $10 for a 24 hour subscription. Or you can buy a hard copy of the wiring diagram manual and the other two repair manuals for your car from a Lexus dealer or an online discount seller like Sewell Lexus or Irontoad. Or, if you have a specific question about how your car is wired, you could ask it here and someone might respond.

Assuming that turning VSC off on your 06 GS300 is done the same way as on the current US spec GS350, look at page 25 of the attachment. It looks like the current VSC/Trac is a bit more sophisticated than mine in that Trac and VSC can be turned off independently. You'll probably want to read your owners manual thoroughly -- you car there is a LOT of features. GS350_When_Driving.pdf