1990LS400

Randy, Give it a rest. The world economic meltdown didn't start 60 days ago when Obama became president. It's been building for many years. The economic bubble, like the ponzi schemes Madoff and many others were running, had to burst eventually -- they always do. Spend less (or no) time watching "Fox Nuts" -- it's not even close to being a news channel ... just a bunch of people shouting fire in a crowded theater. Remember that the main goal of both the pseudo-news and the "real"-news channels is to sell advertising. Well I certainly hope that the U.S. can make friends with some of those terrorists. If I could find a way to make friends with school bully Dorman Wilcox, then anything is possible. I wonder how old Dorman is doing these days. These are difficult times but I am optimistic. Hmmm ... I should call my buddy at AIG and ask if he gave his bonus back -- his name is also "Randy" so I think he should be watched closely.

Some U.S. Lexus dealers advertise that they ship to outside the U.S. I've bought a number of parts from Sewell Lexus in Texas: http://www.sewellpartsonline.com/shopping_online.asp Some Canadian Lexus dealers ship to outside Canada ... you could try Metro Toyota/Lexus in British Columbia -- they have shipped parts to me in the U.S.: http://www.metrolexusvictoria.com/index.htm I assume that they would ship to the U.K.

Is this problem comparable to how your car initially runs when the outside temperature is very cold? On the 98-up LS, a temperature sensor (in the transmission?) does not allow the electronic (drive-by-wire) throttle to operate normally until the transmission fluid (?) warms to a certain point. I'm wondering if either this temperature sensor (wherever it is) or a component in the electronic throttle system is defective. The following thread is for a 98 LS but it has a PDF for the throttle position sensor: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...;hl=drive++wire I may not be even close but you said you were looking for ideas.

Just modify the number after showuser= in this URL and you can see --> http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showuser=2

I don't think you need an electrical diagram for your car. All you need is a test light to find a 12V and it shouldn't be difficult to find someplace to attach a ground wire. For example, if you attach to the wire for the accessory (cigarette lighter) circuit, both a 12V and a ground wire are in the same cable. You could also attach the 12V to the underdash fuse box using an "add-a-circuit" fuse -- they are made for powering add-on accessories. See attached photo.

Joe, I suggest you try the Quickconnect harness without the VAIS to see if it works. I've been suspicious of the application chart for Quickconnect since I think I see some errors in it. Those VAIS units seem to have a mind of their own. You have a great idea to try daisy chaining the Quickconnect and the VAIS the other way. Maybe the VAIS people could help -- they may have seen this before. Well ... at least the mute is working ... that's important.

As I asked on ClubLexus (I'm "Kansas" over there), what method did you end up using to install your Parrot ... Quickconnect harness or similar, external speaker, mute wire to the amp per the info I sent you that Jainla provided to me? I also see on ClubLexus that you "Added a VAISTech SLU unit to provide 2 Aux In connections for the stereo". I don't know if that has any effect but it adds something to the mix. I wonder if an audio system connector could have been left unplugged or poorly connected before you reassembled the dash. More information is needed ... give us a complete rundown on how you installed your Parrot.

No car is meant to last forever. I punted my 90 LS400 in 2003 at 183,000 miles due to wanting more modern technology -- particularly better headlights and other safety features. I spent an average of about $1,000 per year on repairs and maintenance during the final four years of ownership. I think the current owner is at over 275,000 miles and he is still fixing problems as they arise. He is more of a DIY guy than I am. If you are satisfied with your 92 LS and it is in otherwise good condition, then by all means have the problems fixed -- it's probably still cheaper than buying a replacement car of a similar type. I had my PS pump replaced or rebuilt several times over the 13 1/2 years I owned my 90 LS -- it's just something to deal with. I suggest you fix it soon and/or made a drip guard for your alternator so it doesn't get ruined like mine did. If you can do without the alarm, you can probably disconnect it. I got by without the TRAC option on my 90 LS so I know having it isn't critical ... the TRAC on the gen 1 LS wasn't considered to be particularly good anyway. You've had your 92 LS only one year ... I assume you knew what you were getting into when you bought an older, high mileage car. Lexus cars are well made but they are far from being bulletproof.

The two SportDesign packages: GS 300: SportDesign Edition, includes Leather Trim Package with Memory System, 6-CD Auto-Changer, Power Moonroof, Black Walnut Interior and Shift Knob Trim, Aluminum-Like Center Console Trim, Euro-Tuned Suspension, Polished Alloy Wheels, Black Pearl Badge, Special Grill, and Special Scuff Plates -- $4,050 GS 300: SportDesign Edition with Navigation and Levinson, includes Navigation System, Mark Levinson Premium Audio, Leather Trim Package with Memory System, 6-CD Auto-Changer, Power Moonroof, Black Walnut Interior and Shift Knob Trim, Aluminum-Like Center Console Trim, Euro-Tuned Suspension, Polished Alloy Wheels, Black Pearl Badge, Special Grille, and Special Scuff Plates -- $7,300

I once saw a post on Clublexus in which someone said that his Lexus dealer kept a compatible cell phone specifically for this purpose. Somehow the dealer moved the contracts from the iphone to the compatible phone and then uploaded the contacts from the compatible phone to the car. Maybe he moved the contacts from the iPhone to the compatible phone one by one -- I don't know. If you can figure out how this works, used Bluetooth phones can be had pretty cheap on eBay or maybe someone would have an unused one laying around. I'm guessing that you could extract your contacts from the iPhone to a PC -- maybe to a CSV file. If you need to move contacts from a PC to a compatible Bluetooth phone, a USB Bluetooth dongle can be had for under $10. If a Nokia Bluetooth phone could be used for this process, I can tell you that the Nokia PC Suite can be downloaded for free from the Nokia website. It is easy to import a CSV file into Nokia PC Suite and then sync a Nokia Bluetooth phone with the imported contact list. I'm "speaking theory" here. I don't have an iPhone. But I've used various software products to move contact lists between PC's and phones using serial cables, USB cables, Infrared and Bluetooth and from phone to phone and PDA to phone using Infrared and Bluetooth. Get inventive! If you come up with a good system of uploading your iPhone contact list to your Lexus, tell us how you did it.

This is the second recent post about someone needing to buy one of those cylindrical shaped thingys: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...584&hl=rack Maybe you could send a PM to neerajkalra73 and see if he ever found a place to buy one. The ski adapter could be from just about anywhere -- could be a company that doesn't even sell retail or even in the U.S. Maybe a machine shop could frabricate the part you need at a reasonable price or at least at a price less expensive than buying a new ski adapter. I've had machine shops fabricate simple parts before and the prices have been pretty low -- some of those guys really get into the challenge of doing something a little different.

There is currently a big selection (well, a selection of four is big) of hitches for your 04 GX470 at http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2004_Lexus_GX470.htm where I bought a hitch for my 00 LS some years ago. All the hitches are 5,000# or more. I've noticed that hitches from Lexus and Toyota, when available, sometimes fit and look better than the ones from the aftermarket. I primarily use the hitch on my 00 LS to carry a bike rack although I sometimes pull a small trailer and have the car wired for trailer lights using an inexpensive Modulite harness that takes its power off the fusebox in the engine compartment. Here is a photo of the Draw-Tite hitch on my LS with the super cheap bike rack I bought almost 20 years ago.

Yep, glare from reflections off the defroster lines are normal. The glare seems to lessen a little as tint dries out but it has never gone completely away on any of the cars where we have had the rear window tinted. We've gotten used to the minor glare. If your ES350 has a retractable rear window sun shade, I suggest you have the rear window tint steamed off and then raise the sun shade at night if light from following cars bothers you. My first LS400, a 1990, had one of the rare optional rear window sunshades so I had only the side windows tinted on it. Some people thought it would look silly to do that but no one ever commented on it and I thought it looked fine. A photo of the 90 LS with its tinted side windows, untinted rear window and the rear window sun shade up is in my gallery: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...=si&img=819

It's been years since "high performance" spark plugs made any difference in the way a production engine runs. IMO, you might as well buy the same relatively inexpensive spark plug type that was installed at the factory when your LS was new. My 2000 LS400 is due for its first spark plug change at 120,000 miles. It is now at 108,000 miles and still runs like a scalded ape, i.e. perfectly and fast. Spark plugs with some fancy name or design are not going to make it run any better. If it's like other modern cars, I expect that the original spark plugs will look like new when they come out at 120,000 miles -- and I'll be wondering why it was even necessary to replace them.

There is such a variety of fasteners that the only place I've found that carries the right ones is a Lexus dealer. Unfortunately, the prices are usually quite high for what you get. It seems like I'm frequently making trips to the dealer to order some unusual trim retainer part -- either to replace ones I've broken or ones a body or repair shop has left out. I've been amazed that it is rare for the Lexus dealer to have the trim retainer part I need in stock -- usually takes 2 - 3 days to get it in.

I think that guy at Sears should be given a medal for telling you the truth ... well, mostly the truth ... 17" wheels would not ruin the transmission. Why do Rire Rack and other companies sell larger wheels for your car? Because your car is getting old, most newer cars have suspensions designed for larger wheels, smaller wheels are less available than they used to be, and -- most importantly -- THEY WANT TO SELL STUFF!! It never ceases to amaze me how some people are willing to up with an immense amount of pain just to have larger wheels on a car. If you have to have the "look" of larger wheels and don't mind the discomfort of a harsher ride, then go for it. I know of a couple of people who didn't like the harsh ride that came with the 18" wheels that came as standard on their 05-06 LS430's. They got rid of their 18" Lexus wheels and replaced them with the 16" wheels that came standard on the 01-02 LS430 just to improve the ride quality.

Ladies and Gentlemen ... a new record has been set! Someone has just dredged up and answered a question asked in a thread from 2003 !!! almost 6 years ago! :o :o :o :o :o

I guess you could try looking in "Tom and Ray's" "Mechanics Files": http://www.cartalk.com/content/mechx/find.html

Yes, the Kuda leather mounts are very nice. The leather color of my Kuda is an almost exact match to the leather on the console and seats. The leather stitching is absolutely perfect. At least for my 00 LS400, the Kuda allows my phone to be positioned where I consider it to be in the best location. I especially like that I can rest my wrist on the gear shift knob while using the phone's keypad. You can see the Kuda mount in my current avatar on the left and in my gallery. Kuda USA needed a photo of their newer style LS400 mount for their website so I sent them a couple of photos showing the Kuda mount in my 00 LS400 -- it's the car with the ivory interior: http://www.kudausa.com:80/mount_popup.php?...amp;bild_id=541 Funny, but I forgot to take my wife's red handicap placard out of the passenger side front door pocket. They used the photo anyway.

I looked at the sizes of the audio system diagrams and see that they are tiny so I will upload the diagrams for the 2007 RX350 that are on the ARRC website. The ones for the 08 RX350 are not on ARRC yet but these may be close enough. There are three diagrams for the Mark Levinson (ML) and three diagrams for the standard (non-ML) audio system. The mute wire color on the amp of both systems is shown as violet. There are also mute connections shown on the head unit but the amp is probably a better place to pick up the mute since you are already there. 2007_RX350_non_ML_audio_1.pdf 2007_RX350_non_ML_audio_2.pdf 2007_RX350_non_ML_audio_3.pdf 2007_RX350_ML_audio_1.pdf 2007_RX350_ML_audio_2.pdf 2007_RX350_ML_audio_3.pdf

The harness isn't "plug and play" if it isn't muting ALL the speakers. Have you contacted Nice Stuff to ask about this issue? ==> info@nicestuffonline.com I looked at the audio system diagrams for both the ML and standard audio systems for the RX350 -- don't know which system your wife's cousin's RX has. I don't see anything that would prevent all the speakers from muting ... I see only one mute pin on the amplifier and it looks like all the speakers are driven from the same amp that has that mute pin. Do all the speakers mute if you disconnect the Nice Stuff cable from the amp (return the amp to its original configuration) and ground the mute pin on the amp? If so, it would appear that the Nice Stuff cable is not compatible with the RX350 audio system for the U.S. market. The audio system diagrams for the 07 RX350 are in the ARRC database which is available through the websites of many public libraries. Diagrams for the 08 RX350 are not there yet but are likely the same as for the 07 RX. If you don't have access to the diagrams on ARRC and need them, post a response letting me know which audio system your wife's cousin's mother's friend's RX350 has and I will upload them to this thread. I guess if you can not make all the speakers mute with the Nice Stuff cable or by connecting the IHF1000 mute wire directly to the RX350 amp mute pin, you could always use the old "sledgehammer" approach and use a relay to deprive the audio system of power when a phone call is in progress. There is a wonderful forum with information about installing phone kits and finding an audio system's mute: http://www.siocommunications.co.uk/Forum/index.php Terry Wright's forum is for installers in the U.K. but it has of lot of information that is applicable to cars sold in the U.S. Everything (which is not all that much!) I learned about installing phone kits, I learned from Terry Wright ... and from Jainla who is a member of this forum.

You pulled a 9,000 pound trailer 3,000 miles with an RX? Wow! What were you doing ... returning the space shuttle to it's launch pad? Did I interpret your post correctly or did you mean something else?

People on this and other forums like to make fun of me (or worse) for using my previous and current LS400s for towing a small utility trailer. I've had trailer hitchs on most cars I've owned over the past 40+ tears and had a bit of commercial towing experience in my much younger days delivering mobile homes. I have to question whether a 3200 lb. RV trailer is too much for a vehicle rated to tow a maximum of 3500 lbs. If the 3200 lbs. is an empty weight, that Airstream is likely to substantially exceed 3500 lbs. once you fill it with all your stuff, liquids, etc. It's one thing to tow a maximum weight trailer on an occasional short distance basis but an entirely different matter to tow it every day and sometimes all day. I'd also be a little concerned that past RX models have had transmission failure issues -- not that the issues effect the current RX350. Have you previously towed a trailer of this size with a vehicle similar to an RX350 and felt comfortable doing it? Since you are asking about mirrors, I assume that you haven't. I suggest that you rent a 3200 lb. trailer before you buy one. Tow the rental on a vacation trip and see how well you and your RX does with it. Tow it up to Strathcona Lodge and over to Tofino to go whale watching -- if you are comfortable towing a 3200 pound trailer up there, then you could probably tow it anywhere. (Yikes, most people don't realize that there are mini-mountains on Vancouver Is.) Wave at my hobby farmer cousin the next time you pass Lopez Island on the ferry!

It's you! <_<

I think the CV is part of the "axle" -- I usually hear them called half shafts. You have two -- one on each side. Any more, CV joints last a long time. Back in the 80's a person was lucky if CV joints lasted more than 60-70K miles. Is your car fairly high mileage? If it is the CV joint and the noise isn't bothering you, I guess you could drive it until it gets worse or even breaks. A broken CV joint usually means calling a tow truck and could put you in an unsafe/dangerous situation.