1990LS400

If your car has more than about 70,000 miles on it and your tires are properly balanced, then worn front strut rod bushings are a likely cause of front end vibration at highway speeds. Here is a thread where Blake918 showed a photo of them: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/lofiv...php/t27557.html Here is an Australian website that discusses why the strut rod bushings (they call them "semi-longitudinal tension rods") wear out so quickly on a 98-00 LS400: http://www.autospeed.com/cms/A_3041/article.html The front strut rod bushings on my 00 LS were thoroughly worn out by 80,000 miles causing a severe front end vibration above 60 mph. Replacing the strut rod assemblies completely eliminated the vibration.

There are plenty of photos of Python's gen 1 LS400 with Eagle Eyes headlights on "that other forum": http://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls400-foru...gle-eyes-6.html

Actually, rolling up the windows with the remote is available on Lexus cars in countries where the feature is not prohibited.

You might want to try one of the IP address lookups services -- do a google search -- to see where the guy is located and which company is his service provider. If he's outside the U.S. there is little point in pursuing the issue. If he is inside the U.S. you could try filing a report with the service provider. Be advised, however, that everybody doesn't have a static IP address. Some people can do a release/renew and get a new IP address anytime they want.

The ES has been sold in relatively few countries -- mainly a few Asian countries, Brazil, North America and the Middle East. You can find out more by selecting country specific websites at http://www.toyota.co.jp/worldwide/lexus/index.html

I've never seen a "plug and play" phone kit harness for any Nakamichi -- only for the standard audio system. Just use an external speaker for your phone kit -- there should be plenty of room under the dash for one and the phone call audio should sound as least as good than if you played the call through the door speakers. My 2000 LS400 with Nakamichi has a mute pin in a six pin connector under the center armrest that was meant to be used for the dealer installed Lexus phone. I am guessing that your 2000 LX has the same connector. Review the attached PDF for how I used this mute pin with my phone kit. My phone kit may be "old style" but the principles are the same for installing Bluetooth kits -- the only electrical connections you should need to make between the phone kit and your LX are power, ground and mute. Nokia_CARK_91H_install.pdf

Try Sylvania Xtravision bulbs instead of Sylvania Silverstars. I've read that the clear (they are not tinted blue) Xtravision bulbs is the same bulb sold in Europe as Silverstar. Xtravision bulbs cost a fraction of what U.S. Silverstars cost and provide a healthy boost in light output. Unfortunately, the Xtravision and the American Silverstar bulbs have similar relatively short lifespans. The short lifespan of the Xtravision bulbs is a lot easier to swallow since (where I live) they cost only about $15 for a 2-pack. The only decent headlight solution I've seen for the gen 1 LS400 are the Eagle Eye headlights like member Python installed: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...amp;mode=linear To use Eagle Eye headlights on a 90-92 LS, one has to splice an H4 bulb connector onto the headlight wiring harness. The OEM headlights on the gen 1 LS400 suck -- no, they are not that good! The awful headlights are the main reason I sold my 90 LS back in 2003. I might be driving it today if the Eagle Eye headlights had been available back then.

Something to consider when buying a 98-00 LS400 is that it is becoming difficult to get Nakamichi radios fixed if a problem occurs. Parts are becoming scarce. Nakamichi has been in and out of bankruptcy for years and the Nakamichi company that made Lexus audio systems is gone even if the Nakamichi name lives on with a reconstituted company that that is using the name. The Nak in my 00 LS crapped out last year as the parts supply was drying up. The Florida company that fixed it told me that if another problem occurs, they would try to fix it but couldn't garantee they could get the needed parts. As I've posted in previous threads, the architectures of the Nak and standard Pioneer audio systems in the 98-00 LS400 are very different. Even the wiring harnesses are different and the components are not interchangeable with the possible exception being the CD changer -- but the Nak CD changer has a different part number than the standard Pioneer CD changer. The Nak system sound is very nice -- love the incredible base ... maybe it's from the extra 85 watts of rated power -- but, if I had a "do over", I would have looked for a 00 LS with the standard Pioneer system.

For sure, the 95-97 LS400 headlights have a far sharper beam cutoff than the gen 1 LS400's headlights. And the 95-97 LS has separate high beam bulbs so you didn't lose your high beams with an HID kit. From what I can see, the big problem is the variability is how well aftermarket HID bulbs match the focus point of the OEM halogen bulb and whether or not they have a well designed glare shield - if they have a glare shield at all. There are no standards for aftermarket HID kits and bulbs. Some are complete crap and some work pretty well in headlight units with a well defined beam cutoff. It might help others if you provided detailed information about which HID kit you installed. It sounds like you might have bought one of the better ones.

Gosh, the new "Google Custom Search" seems crude ... wondering if I don't know how to use it. How does one limit the search to one sub-forum and search for multiple words using + signs. How does one limit the search to a particular "from date" and vary the date order of the returned list of threads. Could we have the old search feature back? Maybe you could have both it and the Google search.

Does the "static" sound like Morse code or a loud buzz? Cell phone interference with car radios used to be more common that it is now. Here is an article on the issue: http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-157867.html You can google "cell phone interference with car radios" and probably find more information. If you are having static, keep your cell phone as far from the radio as possible. My cell phone causes a similar interference problem if I don't have it in its charging cradle. The charging cradle automatically deactivates the phone's internal antenna and uses the cell phone antenna imprinted on my 00 LS400's rear window. The phone charging cradle in my wife's Camry is connected to a glass mount external antenna since it didn't come from the factory with an imprinted cell phone antenna on the rear window.

Your "fancy and expensive" GX is a Toyota Prado with a different name. For a few hundred bucks you could hang a Garmin or other brand of portable nav on a bracket and it would be better than what Toyota/Lexus offers. Here is a bracket for your GX from the same company from whom I bought one for my 00 LS: http://www.pro-fit-intl.com/Adobe/MV-50-03-L-p2.pdf I almost never remove my portable nav from the bracket. It's hard to see from outside the car so I don't worry much about it being stolen. I powered my portable nav from the car's accessory circuit so that it turns on and off automatically ... the power wire is hidden behind my car's interior trim.

From what I've seen, I think the pattern can change a lot when HID kit bulbs are put in a non HID light unit. The reason I've read about is that HID kit bulbs usually don't produce their light in exactly the same position in the housing as the non-HID bulbs that were designed for the light housing. The worst HID kit installation I've ever seen was a few week ago on a mid 90s Toyota Camry. Intense light was going everywhere except where it needed to go -- can't believe that police hadn't intervened but maybe the guy had just installed the HID kit.

If the brochure you mentioned is http://www.lexus.com/contact/pdf/1997/1997LSspecs.pdf , it's incorrect. HID was not an option on the 97 LS. Those brochures on the Lexus website have other errors -- e.g. rear seat heaters were never an option in the U.S. Regardless, the HID option on the 98-00 LS400 uses different optics from the standard halogen headlights.

Google "over tighten lug nuts" and you find a zillion explanations of why this can happen -- especially if an impact wrench is used.

This has become a common features even on rather low end Japanese cars. We rented a entry level previous generation Honda Accord in summer 2007 and I was surprised that all the windows on it rolled down when I continuously pressed the unlock button on the remote.

No kidding, EUBT. Maybe the information could be put under the existing Common Issues "sticky". I think you should volunteer to lead this effort! :)

Did you have a Bluetooth phone paired with the system at the time the problem occurred? If so, was the phone in your pocket, etc., and does it have an exposed keypad that might have allowed the inadvertent pressing of one of its keypad buttons? I'm doing some wild speculation here! I've actually read several posts about a similar problem on the SC430 but I don't remember seeing a resolution.

According to the maintenance booklet for my 2000 LS400, the spark plug change interval 120,000 miles. I don't think the spark plugs used in the 2000 model year are different from those used for the 1999 model year. There was a minor change to the emission control system on LS400 for the 2000 model year but I don't think it affected spark plug life. I think it is doubtful that spark plugs deteriorate with age like some components do. I had the spark plugs replaced on my first LS400 at 90,000 and 180,000 miles. I remember looking at the old spark plugs one of those times, seeing that they still looked like new and wondering if they really needed to replaced that soon.

YO Toby! Have you ever replaced the shock absorbers or are they still the originals at 280,000 miles? Are you ready to sell "my" 1990 LS400 back to me?

There is some interesting information in this fairly recent thread: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...619&hl=trac I sometimes forget how much of an art searching these forums are. It's taken me quite a few years to learn some good techniques. I have better luck if I use the "more search options" search feature, sometimes limiting the search to titles and using the features that allow the use of plus and minus signs to include and exclude words.

Consider buying some non-chrome wheels for winter use. When I bought my 2000 LS400 when it came off a three year lease in 2003, its chrome wheels had been trashed by our Kansas City winters and the salt used on the roads here. Buy some dedicated snow tires too -- they have the mountain/snowflake symbol on the side wall ... makes a world of difference even in our moderate winters and helps immeasurably if you have to drove a little north into Iowa/Nebraska like I do. Now is a great time to buy winter tires -- price reductions are in the Spring. I use summer -- not all season -- on my summer chrome wheels (the trashed chrome wheels were replaced under the car's original warranty) ... less noise and expecially better handling and braking on wet roads. Look at the noise ratings on Tire Rack's website. Play with the seat adjustments -- your LS430 has a bunch and a little more than my 00 LS. The main complaints I've heard about the seats are from larger, stockier guys. I've had three Mercedes and three Volvos (I even admit to one VW) and the seats in my LS are at least as comfortable as those -- but I'm tall and fairly light. My biggest complaint with most Lexus vehicles is the seat cushion length -- wish it was more like the Mercedes S-class. I can't comment on the armrest since I keep both hands on the steering wheel in the "10 and 2" position -- likely a carryover from my limited experiences on races courses and a bit of training. Instructions on downloading phone address books for many popular phones are at: http://www.lexus.com/models/LS/accessories/bluetooth.html If you want a neat accessory for your Bluetooth phone, most of the components of the Bury System 9 are available on eBay -- very similar to and from the same manufacturer as the Bluetooth Complementary Kit sold by Lexus dealers in Europe. Interchangable snap-in cradles are available on eBay for most popular phones and the kit keeps the phone charged and adds an external antenna. Here is one shown in an LS460: http://www.lexus.co.uk/range/ls/accessories/interior.aspx Installation instructions and part numbers for the LS430 are at http://www.lexus-tech.eu/ under "Accessory Installation Manuals". If you haven't found him already, get to know Ben Bennett at Exact Performance in Mission. Ben's people have been maintaining our Lexus and Toyota vehicles since he left the Lexus dealer in about 1996. Ben even found my current 00 LS400 for me back in 2003 at one of his indie dealer friends only a couple of hours after I gave him detailed specifications on color, mileage and equipment. Enjoy your LS.

PureDrifter has likely provided the correct answer. The shock absorbers were the only normal wear front suspension items that I did NOT have to replace while driving a 90 LS from new to just over 183,000 miles. Unless you are driving on very rough roads the shock absorbers can last several hundred thousand miles. I'm pretty sure I had to replace everything else -- strut rods (bushings were worn out), upper and lower ball joints, etc. But the shock absorbers were just fine at 183,000 miles. I'd have to ask but the current owner of my 90 LS hasn't mentioned replacing the shock absorbers and the car now has well over 250,000 miles on it.

Consider trying the fix from Factory Car Stereo Repair described here: http://www.carstereohelp.com/repairDoItYou...usRepairVol.htm If the fix doesn't work, give these guys a call. They fixed the head unit in my 00 LS400 last year after I switched my amp into a friends 99 LS to find which component was defective. When in doubt, send both the headunit and the amp to Factory Car Stereo Repair, Inc. They gave me great service and fast turnaround. Even the indie Lexus repair shop here in Kansas sends radios to them for repair.

There are probably only a handful of us on this forum who understand anything about how the old installed Lexus phone systems worked. The dealer installed Lexus phone systems were quite rare - probably due their unreasonably high price. The aftermarket President phone system I bought through a Lexus dealer in 1990 when I bought my first LS cost less than 10% of the cost of the Lexus phone option. It looked almost identical to the Lexus phone except for not having a Lexus logo and a steering wheel phone control module. The magic word to have searched for is "mute" -- that would have displayed threads with the solution although you still would have had to read through a few to find ones that specifically address your problem.