1990LS400

Don't get me started on "Coach leather". One of my wife's Coach purses was splitting at a seam about 10 years ago so she sent in it for repair under its lifetime warranty. Got a letter back from Coach saying that the purse had reached the end of its life! Surprised they didn't say to have a funeral, get a headstone for it and bury it. The purse was in nice shape, had been treated regularly with leather conditioner, and its surface had developed a nice patina. Seemed odd that Coach would declare their once expensive purse deceased when all it needed was a minor repair. I had the separated seam on the deceased purse repaired for a few bucks at a shoe repair shop. Don't know if the repairman also shocked the purse back to life. IT'S ALIVE! Wife's been using the "resurrected" purse for about nine years. So much for lifetime warranties. Haven't bought any Coach products lately either.

There's also OEM replacement leather at discounted but still nosebleed prices: http://www.parts.com/lexus/1996-lexus-ls-4...racks-parts.cfm

Greedy aren't we? People with older Lexus cars would be thrilled to be able to buy the kind of VAIS/etc. interfaces that are available for your car! ;) I didn't do much searching but the attached graphic shows an AD2P interface from Connects2 ( http://www.connects2.com ) which has been making various interface products for mainly European cars since ... forever. You will still need a VAIS or other product to provide the RCA jacks that the Connects2 AD2P product needs to connect to your head unit. Sounds simplier to buy a more full feature VAIS product that might provide more functionality ... whatever floats your boat. Bueller? Bueller?

The only mention of Wireless Headphones I see are that they are included with the "DVD Rear-Seat Entertainment System (RSES)": http://www.lexus.com/cpo/model_library/GX/2006.html

The iPod installation instructions I've seen for a bunch of various Lexus and Toyota models all have the iPod connection in the glove box. I suppose you could ask to see if the dealer is willing or even allowed to install the iPod connection in another location. Or you could just buy the kit and install it yourself wherever you want if the cable is long enough. It doesn't look very difficult assuming you have basic skills and the appropriate tools. Installing an aux interface into the back our our Camry's radio took me about 15 minutes -- which is kind of funny since we don't use iPods or MP3 players ... bought the aux interface only to connect a phone kit's mute wire to the radio's mute pin. The closest iPod install instructions I can find are for a European IS250 but I'm pretty sure it's the same for the ES and other U.S. models. Have a look. IS250_iPod_install_instructions.pdf

Main advice is to follow the maintenance schedule in the maintenance booklet. Except for doing simple repairs and engine oil changes myself, I've usually used indie Lexus repair shops unless I needed the dealer for warranty repairs. Toyota dealers can be a good place to buy oil filters -- LS430 uses the same oil filter as a Land Cruiser V8. The last 10-pack of oil filters with 10 drain plug gaskets I bought from a Toyota dealer cost less than $40. Not much to worry about ... your car is hardly "broken in".

I don't see anything for the Canadian spec 05 ES but here are audio system diagrams and part numbers for 05 US ES: http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/g_U_2005_LEXU...L-BEAGKA_4.html I guess you could compare part numbers -- looks like different speakers for the Pioneer and ML.

Diagram of manifolds and part numbers: http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_U_1999_LEXU...WPGKA_1701.html (Had to figure out that yours is a 99 RX!) Both exhaust manifolds are $153.57 each at http://www.parts.com/lexus/lexus-parts.cfm

I don't see anything on this forum but there are instructions on another: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-second-...ights-help.html I also don't understand why anyone would want to do this. Using foglights without headlights on doesn't appear to be illegal in the US like it is in some other countries. All cars except two I've owned in the last 40 years have had OEM foglights and none of them worked without the low beam headlights on.

Specs and options packages here: http://www.lexus.com/contact/pdf/2002/2002ESspecs.pdf It sounds like your car is extremely well equipped. Surely it has VSC - one of my favorite features - if it has all that other stuff.

No, you can only pull it down in front, or you can move it to the side. It doesn't slide anywhere. My gosh, I did some searching and see that people have been complaining about the IS sun visors for years ... so much for the "relentless pursuit of perfection". It's been years since I've seen a car without sliding visors or sliding visor extensions -- and we rent a lot of cars compared to most people. I'd recommend getting your side windows tinted except that California allows a maximum of only 70% tint on the front side windows -- hardly worth the bother. It probably will not help, but why not call Lexus corporate customer service and ask for advice on how to get the visors to cover the areas you need them to cover. This is a safety issue -- not just a comfort issue.

I don't know if any of the fuses in the fuse box in the engine compartment have anything to do with the lighter but have you checked them? Your SC doesn't have a second lighter in the rear seat area you could check for functionality, does it? I once had an air pump mess up a lighter socket. Pump must have been drawing too much current and overheated the lighter socket ... surprised that the fuse didn't blow and protect it. My "new" (at least newer) air pump runs a lot better and apparently draws less power. I guess you could remove the lighter assembly and take a look. If your accessory circuit is good maybe you could wire your sat radio to the kick panel fuse box with a piggyback / add-a-circuit fuse holder -- they come in several configurations but some don't allow fuse box covers to close. There's a photo in this thread: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...mp;hl=piggyback If go with an add-a-circuit fuse, using a cheap DC extension cord from a discount store will keep you from chopping up the power cord of your sat radio -- better to cut off the plug from a cheap extension cord.

The same button on UK spec RHD models is the "Convenient rear extra flow button". My UK/Europe LS400 owners manual says "Press in the convenient rear extra flow button to increase air flow volume to rear seats. Press the button again to turn it off. This button only operates when the air flow is at face level." There is likely a second Rear Extra Flow button in the back seat area between the rear cigarette lighter and the air vent open/close dial. Only right hand drive cars have the Rear Extra Flow buttons.

OK, I know almost nothing about the current IS250 -- only ridden in one once -- but does the sun visor not slide on its rod like in my LS400 so that you can flip it to the side and then pull it towards the back of the car and place it where you want?

Bermuda, does your car have or did it ever have a dealer installed Lexus phone? One of the features of the Lexus phone was to lower the blower speed to low during a call and return it to its previously set speed after a call is completed. If it is a phone related problem, unplugging the phone components usually fixes it. If you do have a phone, plug the two large connectors in the trunk together after unplugging them from the phone ECU. If unsure if there was a phone, check under the removable floor on the right side of the trunk.

I've never seen a U.S. forum member with a Japanese Celsior and only one Canadian forum member with one. Canadians can import older Celsiors but its almost impossible in the U.S. You might have better luck on the Australian/New Zealand and the U.K. forum where there are lots of imported Celsiors. Photos would be nice but I'll take a stab anyway. The red button may be the shift lock override -- at least it is in the same place (except reversed for left hand drive) on the U.S. gen 1 LS400. I see in photos that your red button is labeled in Japanese -- got any friends who speak Japanese? I don't see a white button in the photos I have of the HVAC controls in the early Celsior. My understanding is that there were several HVAC systems available in Celsiors -- e.g. with or without rear air conditioning. Only one HVAC system was available on the U.S. LS400 and it did not have the rear A/C and it did not have a white button. The HVAC controls are way different on a Celsior than on a U.S. LS400 -- different placement of buttons and additional functions on the Celsior. On a U.S. LS400 the same button defogs both outside mirrors. Your problem may be a defective heating element in the mirror. There is likely a diagnostic procedure in the repair manuals for your car -- maybe similar to the procedures in the manuals for a 1990 right hand drive LS400. If you hear a click when you use the trunk release, you might remove the trunk lid trim and see if something to do with the electric release has broken.

Steve/SW03ES, sometimes using logic is a waste of time. ;)

Legal copies of 8.1 for gen 2/3 are available from highly rated eBay sellers and from on-line Lexus parts suppliers at substantial discounts. Why bother with a pirate?

Its probably easer on a 95-98 LS400. The provide website has instructions for the LS400 too: http://www.pro-fit-intl.com/Adobe/MV-50-03-L-p19.pdf I've popped the radio in my 00 LS400 out a number of times -- takes about five minutes once you get the hang of it. After you remove the center air vents and the wood console/ashtray assembly, only four 10 mm bolts hold the radio/HVAC controls in place.

Osram is quoted in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headlamp as stating that HID bulbs have an average service life of 2,000 hours. Let's do some math. The trip computer in my 00 LS400 indicates that my average speed over time is right at 30 mph. My 00 LS400 just hit 113,000 miles on its original HID bulbs. I estimate that my HID headlights are on far less than 20% of the time I drive but I will use 20% just to be pessimistic. ((113,000 * .20) / 30 mph) = 753 hours on my original HID bulbs 2,000 hours - 753 hours = 1,247 hours of life left on my HID bulbs My HID headlamps still put out a very nice amount of light and are pleasantly brighter than the halogen lights in our Camry or the halogen lights in cars we rent. I suspect the original HID bulbs will last the life of the car.

Sure, throw in a timing belt. It's a cheap part. If you are going to have a Lexus dealer do all this work -- I agree that you should -- the dealer will and should use only OEM parts.

An $80/hour labor rate for a Lexus dealer is substantially less than where I live. Indie repair shops are usually substantially less expensive than a Lexus dealer but they are still $80-90/hour here. Parts for the laser and radar cruise control system are expensive -- the online parts sources I use don't even give prices for them like they do for most other parts ... only say to ask for a price. Did the dealer tell you exactly what is wrong with your cruise control?

You are the one that has to decide that which method is best for you. There's a guy on eBay (seller Factoryradios) who will add an aux jack to the front or back of Lexus radios. I posted info and a photo: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...l=factoryradios Don't remember if it was documented on this or another Lexus forum but one person wired an RCA jack into the cassette deck inputs -- required some serious disassembly of the head unit and precise soldering. Then there is the widely used method of tapping into the cable to the CD changer. Requires a working CD changer and may require dedicating it to the aux unless a switch is used. This method required playing a blank CD while the aux is in use. The method has been documented on several forums and in a very long thread on Clublexus. A few people on the forums have installed Parrot Bluetooth phone kits that have inputs for iPod/iPhone. The playlist can be displayed on the Parrot's display and controlled through the Parrot's remote control. Requires hacking into the audio system harnesses for older Lexus cars where no interface cable is available. Many gen 2 GS owners have installed aftermaret stereos that can control iPod/iPhone. Some include video DVD playback, navigation, sat radio, bluetooth, etc. Don't know much about how to do it or costs but have seen lots of photos of nice installs. IMO, aftermarket double DIN headunits with screens look especially good in a gen 2 GS. What method is best for you?

How to remove the radio is in the instructions for installing a Pro.Fit bracket for a Garmin GPS: http://www.pro-fit-intl.com/Adobe/MV-50-03-G3-p1.pdf

When 40% of the pads are left on the rear brakes of my 2000 LS400, they are not even closing to being down to the wear sensor. I doubt if yours are either. I consider the people at the repair shop I've used for my Lexus cars for 12-13 years honest, but I was told when my front pads had to be replaced at about 71,000 (wear sensor caused the brake pad message in the instrument cluster display) that my rear pads would need replacement within another five or ten thousand miles -- i.e. by about 80,000 miles. My car is now at 113,000 miles and I think the rear pads will not hit the sensor by the time the car is ready for its 120,000 mile service -- I plan to have the rear pads changed then. Brake pad thickness is easy to check by the "eyeball method". I check the pad thickness every 5,000 miles when I rotate the tires. BTW, parts.com has the rear pad wear sensor for the 02 LS430 for $61.56.