1990LS400

I see a 2,000 pound light duty Class I hitch at http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-1992_Lexus_LS400.htm for your 92 LS. The bumper beam behind the bumper cover on a gen 1 LS400 has threaded holes for a Class I light duty trailer hitch. It should bolt right on. The larger hitch is a Class II frame hitch, capacity 3,500 pounds, and bolts into the same holes as the muffler brackets. Some Class II hitches for the gen 1 LS like you have also bolt to the bumper beam as well as to the muffler bracket bolts. I had a Class II hitch on the 90 LS I had for many years and currently have a DrawTite Class II hitch on my 00 LS which I bought from etrailer. I doubt if etrailer could get a hitch to you by saturday since you live so far from them (Wenzville, Missouri 300 miles from me) unless they could drop ship it to you. You will also need a drawbar and ball if you are going to tow a trailer and will need your LS wired for trailer lights. A trailer light harness usually attaches to the tail lights but the power is normally taken from the battery so ensure that the trailer lights get enough voltage. These days, most hitch installers will not install trailer light harnesses powered only by the taillights due to the liability issue. The power wire for my trailer light harness exists the trunk of my 00 LS400 through an existing hole an ABS wire goes through. It runs forward under the car secured with cable ties and is attached to a power terminal on the under hood fuse box which looks like it is made to power things like this -- don't know if the 92 LS has this terminal. Be sure to have an in-line fuse in the trailer hitch power wire -- best placed where the power wire attaches to the underhood fuse box or, if you have to, to the battery terminal. Prices? etrailer doesn't seem to have a Class II hitch for your 92 LS. The Class II hitch for my 00 LS is $139 from etrailer -- should be a similar price for a 92 LS for a Class II hitch if you can find one from another company. As you can see on the above link to etrailer, their Class I hitch for the 92 LS is $127.06 -- a lot of money for so little metal compared to a Class II hitch. A Class II hitch is a much more secure hitch but if you are pulling something light a Class I hitch will do. If you get a light duty Class I hitch keep your trailer well under 2,000 pounds unless you know that your bumper is in absolutely perfect shape -- i.e. strong. Go for the larger Class II hitch if at all possible -- they are waaaay better. Of course, if all you are going to attach to the hitch is something like a hitch mounted bicycle rack, a Class I hitch is just fine.

What Blake was referring to was that the HVAC fan speed can get "stuck" on low if the phone ECU or a related component fails. On the dealer installed Lexus phone systems, the HVAC fan speed automatically went to low when a phone call was in progress.

You are correct about the HID on the Escalade. I assumed it was aftermarket because they were so blinding. I'm not sure but I think it was a relatively new Escalade. Maybe what happened is typical when a vehicle with headlights as high as an Escalade "rides your bumper" or maybe they were just adjusted too high. Do you happen to know if the Escalades headlights are self leveling like OEM Lexus HID headlights? Are there glare issues for other drivers in your GX with aftermarket HID when your truck is heavily loaded or does your suspension self level to compensate?

Here is a link to past threads found by searching for both the words "remote" and "starter" in the RX subforum: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...mote+%2Bstarter To do this type of advanced forum search, select "Search" from the drop-down menu at the bottom right of a forum page and then click on "Go". Then review the "Advanced Usage Help" under the "Search by Keywords" box. I've read a number of threads about remote starters on newer Lexus vehicles -- seems to be a challenge getting them to work without disabling other features. Seems odd that most (all?) remote starters need to have one of your ignition keys permanently inside them. Something else that might help is a block heater -- available from Canadian Lexus dealers but not available from U.S. Lexus dealers. I had one on a Mercedes and its heater produced almost instant heat even when the car was parked outside in subzero ° F. temperatures.

Similar questions about the phone and/or its wiring have been asked many (Oh, so many) times in the six years I've been on this forum. The answer is "maybe". The 95-00 LS400 has a mute pin in a connector on the driver's side under the vent you see when you raise the armrest. The mute pin can be used with any modern phone kit, including Bluetooth phone kits, to automatically mute the audio system when a phone call is in progress. If I didn't have my phone kit connected to this mute pin, I'd probably never hear my phone ring while listening to loud music. In fact, I missed a lot of incoming calls before I connected my phone kit to the mute pin. My kit was on "auto answer" and my wife got tired of listening to the music when she called and I didn't hear the phone ring. I don't know if anyone has ever looked to see if a similar mute pin in a 93-94 LS400. I know there wasn't a mute pin under the armrest in the 90 LS I had for (too) many years but there was a major redesign of the phone system for the 93 LS. 1993 was the first model year that a portable take-it-with-you handset was available in the LS. The connector in the 95-97 LS that has the mute pin has a total of three pins if I remember correctly. (Blake, if you see this please correct me.) Which is the mute pin can be determined by probing the connector pins with an unpowered grounded test light (or just a plain grounded wire) while the radio is playing. When the mute pin is touched, the radio will mute. If there is no mute pin under the armrest, there is a mute connection somewhere else -- on the telephone harness in the trunk or on the audio amplifier or headunit. The good thing about going after a mute connection on the telephone harness is that there is little chance of damaging the audio system when probing. It is likely that pins on the telephone harness in the trunk could be used to play the audio from a phone kit through the rear left speaker -- Jainla did this on his 01 LS430 but I don't remember anyone trying on an LS400. All the LS400 phone kit installs I've seen have used small external speakers hidden under the dash. Also, there may be a coax cable under your center armrest that could be used with a phone charging cradle that has an antenna connection. If your car doesn't have a Lexus phone and the location of the other end of the coax isn't obvious, look above the headliner at the center of the rear window. There are likely other parts of the OEM phone harness that could be used with an aftermarket kit but why bother. And there is nothing available to adapt the steering wheel phone control on an LS400 for an aftermarket phone kit -- trust me, looking for one almost became a career. There are people on this forum -- Jainla, Blake918, me, and probably others -- who will attempt to answer your questions.

I'm hoping to have my front and rear machine guns mounted in my LS400 by the next time I encounter an SUV as tall as a GX with an aftermarket HID conversion kit. Watch out! I'm sometimes in "Pretty-View" Nebraska. ;) Seriously, you never quite know what you are going to get when you add an HID kit to a vehicle. Sometimes the beam is fairly controlled and sometimes it's all over the place lighting up the tree tops and the clouds and generally blinding and p1ssing off other drivers. It can be even worse in an SUV that has headlights that are already much higher than on a car. Earlier this year an Escalade with an HID kit followed us for what seemed like an eternity as we drove back to Kansas City from Omaha or Des Moines in the dark. The rear window of my LS has 35% aftermarket tint but the Escalade's HID kit still lighted up the interior of our car like it was daylight. Maybe the idiot was on the phone since slowing down didn't get him to pass ... we got relief only when we pulled into a rest area. Actually, I think some of these guys with HID kits in their SUV's and pickups know exactly the kind of grief they are causing and are doing it on purpose -- unless they are completely clueless. I really don't like the concept of having still more laws but I tend to think that the use of aftermarket HID kits should not be allowed.

Since Kanu hasn't been on the forum since March, I'll post this link to an etrailer page which shows the same hitch on a late model Toyota Camry: http://www.etrailer.com/p-12343.htm?vehicleid=20099135 Do a "mouse over" on the "product image", etc. and to see the photos of the hitch on the Camry and all the hitch parts. Watch the video of the installation on a 2009 Toyota Camry. I doubt if it would look much different on your ES. Although most hitches can be seen from the rear, they aren't very noticable. If you find the manufacturers label offensive, you may be able to peel it off -- or at least the label on the DrawTite hitch on my LS easily peeled off. If the label is painted on, it could be covered with black spray enamel paint.

I am having the exact same problem. Do the codes show up even if the lights are not on when pulling up at the auto parts store? Stored codes "should" remain in the system and available for reading until they are deleted by a removal procedure.

Sure, people have had that problem. Probably a number of internal radio head unit and amplifier issues can cause it. If only one or two speakers are cutting out, it could be defective speakers. You up in Quebec? Any radio repair shops up there? Lexus Nakamichi radios are getting difficult to get repaired in the U.S. due to the lack of replacement parts - maybe due to the Nakamichi company's bankruptcy. This is the Florida company that repaired the Nakamichi in my 2000 LS400 last year: http://www.carstereohelp.com/lexus.htm Here is another company that may repair some Nakamichi components: http://www.autoecu.com/

The Pro.Fit radio removal instructions implies that your car's radio can be protected by a security code like the radio in my 90 LS400 could be protected. If you have an owners manual, it will tell you if your radio can be protected by a security code and, if so, how to turn it off. If you disconnect the radio while protected by a security code, it is disabled and has to be reset by a Lexus dealer -- usually at the cost of 30 minutes to 1 hour of labor charge. If your radio doesn't operate well enough to check for the presence of a security code, then you might have to have a dealer unlock it. Maybe the repair shop that repairs your radio can unlock it if it becomes locked due to a security code. The "clip tool" is just a trim removal tool. I've got quite a set of trim tools -- some purchased at auto parts stores and one from Pro.Fit. It is often possible to use a flat blade screw driver or putty knife as a substitute -- tape the blade well with electrical tape so that you done scratch your radio or dash vinyl with it. Be sure to lay down a towel or something to protect the wood console. It is usually pretty easy to pop out a Lexus radio head unit -- almost always held in place by two 10 mm bots top and bottom. Often the HVAC controls and radio are removed as a unit and then separated after it is out of the dash. Be gentle but firm when removing your A/C vent assemblies -- some vent assemblies tend to break when the plastic gets old and they are expensive to replace.

The part numbers for the glove compartment door in available colors is shown on http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_U_1992_LEXU...GKA_5501.2.html Parts.com shows a new glove box door for $124.43.

Here is a link to radio removal instructions for a 93 GS: http://www.pro-fit-intl.com/Adobe/LX-52-90.pdf Be sure to first disable the security feature if it has been activated on your radio.

OK, then take a look at the attached PDF. LS430_Instrument_panel_removal.pdf

Give Sewell a call or send them an email -- they have been very helpful and can tell you your options: http://www.sewellpartsonline.com/assist.asp

Having bought two different sets of official Lexus repair manuals for two different Lexus cars, I can tell you that the manuals often do not have detailed information on how to remove and install parts. I'm guessing that it is assumed that the reader has a fairly high level of knowledge about how cars are held together. Surprisingly, the manuals sometimes don't provide enough information even to know where a part is located ... e.g. under the dash or in the engine compartment. You might want to inspect the manuals before you make a purchase to verify that they are adequate. Even though the official Lexus manuals generally suck, they are still better than nothing. You can sometimes find hard copy Lexus manuals on eBay. I've heard mainly dissatisfaction with the eBay manuals on CD. The following website can be helpful in seeing how parts are installed: http://www.toyodiy.com/

I would think that the bumper cover will have to be removed to install a new sensor. I've seen the Lexus installation instructions for the dealer installed park assist products that Lexus dealers sell in Europe and the procedures include removing the bumper covers. It appears that Parts.com has the front sensors for $158.46 each: http://www.parts.com/oemcatalog/index.cfm?...r&makeid=20 You can get the part numbers for the various sensor colors at: http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_U_2006_LEXU...ETQKA_8417.html Judging by the retail price of the sensors ($229.20), the price the dealer quoted you for the part and installation may be typical. $463.82 - $229.20 = $234.62. These days, $234.62 covers less than two hours of labor at a typical Lexus dealer. And, yes, sometimes quite a bit of disassembly is required to replace even simple parts -- these cars are complex.

The Bluetooth Functions are listed in order of importance (to most people) on the letstalk website. It is not that the iPhone has no compatibility with the pre-2010 Lexus Bluetooth system - it does have quite a bit of compatibility - but that it is not compatible in the "priority 3" function (Transfer single number phonebook entries) and "priority 4" function (Transfer multiple phonebook entries).

I thought a Lexus dealer could disable the DRL on a GS with a hand held tester but I don't see it in the attached list. You might check your owners manual or ask a dealer -- or maybe another GS owner will respond here to your question. Did none of the cars you listed have DRL? I know my next door neighbor's Boxter doesn't and I don't think the M35 I rented for 10 days had DRL -- may not be remembering. I don't remember seeing any BMW's with DRL. I suppose you could put some of those whiter halogen bulbs in the the DRL but those bulbs have a far shorter life. Or you could get used to it. I certainly don't mind the yellowish tint of the DRL in my 00 LS -- got more important things to think about. I've been a big fan of DRL since the 1960s when I followed the initial DRL tests in northern Europe ... driven with headlights on or DRL during the day ever since. One handy feature of Lexus DRL is that they provide adequate light to see in covered parking garages and tunnels during the few seconds it takes for the automatic headlights turn on. One of my favorite features of my LS is that I can leave the headlight switch in the "Auto" position and never touch it. Regardless of what you do with DRL, review the attached list and see if there are any settings you want changed. GS_LPS.pdf

The following webpage on the Sewell Lexus website has a link to a table which appears to indicate that your navigation is generation 4: http://www.sewellpartsonline.com/parts_det...90137&all=Y Give Sewell a call if you want to talk with a person -- they have been very helpful and I've bought a lot of stuff from them. The ClubLexus 10% discount code for Sewell is “CL911M” but they usually knock a healthy percentage of list price without a discount code.

Buy cheap skinny tires with poorer traction if you feel you have to spin them. All spinning tires do is wear them out. The LS400 I bought new in 1990 could spin its tires because it came with 205/65-15 Eagle GA tires that had extremely poor traction. The tires were so bad a group of LS400 owners initiated a class action suit and, if I remember correctly, I received a settlement check for $200 to use towards the purchase of replacement tires. Wait a few months until you have some snow and ice on the roads and you will be able to spin your tires all you want. If you are in an area of Canada that gets much snow -- and where in Canada doesn't -- get an extra set of wheels and some winter tires with the mountain/snowflake symbol on the sidewall. As I found in driving one through 13 winters, the gen 1 LS400 isn't a very good snow car without snow tires. I've use winter tires on my 2000 LS400 too -- Bridgestone Blizzaks on extra wheels.

Even in the best of economic times, it can be difficult for an individual to sell a car as new as yours. Unlike a dealer, you can not offer a buyer financing or leasing. Just getting people to look at your car could be a challenge - particularly if it is an almost new car and has cosmetic issues. "Churning" a car as new as yours is an extraordinarily bad economic proposition. If you are in financial trouble, seriously consider taking the dealer's offer. If you feel that you just need to "dump" the car, seriously consider the dealer's offer. The dealer is all set up to "recondition" your car before sale -- repaint the bumpers and have all the dings removed. You are not. Try to sell it privately if you want to but the dealer is probably giving you a better offer than you realize. It's a weak car market. The most financially efficient route is to keep the car well past the time you have it paid off. And next time, save up the money and pay cash for cars like we do -- its far less expensive than financing cars and isn't at all that difficult to do.

It's probably better to ask a question about the SC430 on the SC430 forum. Regardless, the only thread I can find about adjusting the microphone volume on an SC430 is on another forum: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-430/191...ree-volume.html Use caution -- my understanding is that irreversible damage can be done by mucking with the hidden menus. Consider having a Lexus dealer do it for you.

Here are instructions for the LS430 on Pro.Fit's website: http://www.pro-fit-intl.com/Adobe/MV-50-03-L-p18.pdf The instructions are for installing one of their brackets but maybe it will be enough for you.

As Jainla explained in another thread on July 31st, the old search feature can still be invoked from the drop down menu at the bottom right of a forum page. Please see the attachment.

The spoiler on the trunk lid? I can barely see it let along identify it.