1990LS400

I wonder if the loaner agreement could differ by dealer and location. The loaner is really a "free" rental and the agreement I sign when I get a loaner from the Lexus dealer looks about the same as the agreements I sign when I rent cars from from a regular rental company. A loaner is really not free at all unless your car is being repaired under warranty. I see nothing wrong with a Lexus dealer limiting the use of a loaner car to a specific radius around the dealership. I have noticed that the local dealer service writer always asks how far I plan to drive the loaner I am being given. It has never been over about 15 miles so I have do not know what he would have said if I told him I was going to drive 1,000 miles. From my rather extensive experience in renting cars, I would have to say that a standard rental agreement always limits where one can take a vehicle. It is usually no big deal to ask that the allowable area be expanded somewhat but expanding it a lot can significantly increase the rental cost. I almost always ask that the allowable area be expanded and make sure that this expansion is documented on the rental agreement. I see nothing wrong with rental companies using GPS devices to monitor where their cars are taken and I see no legal need for them to disclose that they are using such devices. If someone signs a rental contract and then violates the contractual agreement, then I have no sympathy if he gets caught.

There have been a "gazillion" threads on this forum about your question. All I can say is that there is that real snow tires with the mountain/snow flake symbol on the side wall make it much easier to get around in the snow and make winter driving a lot less scary in my 00 LS400. The handling of the GS and LS don't differ by all that much. Yes, you can probably get by with all season M+S tires. However, "real" snow tires with the "mountain/snow flake symbol on the side wall" (did you get that, LOL), make it a lot more fun to drive in the winter. As in past years, I am putting my Bridgestone Blizzak snow tires (with the mountain/snow flake symbol on the side wall) on my LS the day before Thanksgiving. Snow is in the forecast for where I am headed!

One thing that can cause the radio to go mute is if the car has a defective phone system - even if the phone system is not being used. The radio on U.S. models automatically mutes when a phone call is in progress. The mute function on Lexus radios work on the same principle as on cars from most other manufacturers. When a phone call is in progress, the phone system grounds the mute wire going to the radio. The problem could also be in the radio or amplifier. Your car could be different than those sold in the U.S. Does the VN = Viet Nam? The audio system in Asian market cars was quite different than those in U.S. cars.

As others have noted, it is typical for the LS transmission to hold a gear longer until the transmission warms up. However ... issues with the new-for-2004 6-speed automatic transmission were more common than for any other model year. I suggest you check to see if any major transmission work has been done on your car and monitor it closely while the 6 year, 72,000 mile power train warrenty is in effect. Since your car is very low mileage for its age, if transmission issues might arise after the 6 year power train warrenty expires, you might have to have it fixed on your own dime. Changing the tranmission fluid every 15,000 miles is overkill although many dealers will want to do it as a revenue enhancer. For the past 17 1/2 years, I have the transmission fluid changed on my Lexus LS cars every 30,000 miles. I think Lexus recommends a longer change interval than 30,000 miles if you are not using the car in a way that requires the severe service schedule.

Don't know if they are close, but try this link and seee if it sheds some light. http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/body/rearseat.html No, the pull tabs for removing the LS rear seat cushion were dropped - I think it was at the end of the 1994 model year.

Have you checked to see if one of the three memory buttons is set so that the "the drivers seat will automatically slide all the way back, and the steering wheel will move up and in"? If so, you may be sometimes be accidentally pressing the memory button that does this. Some drivers set one of the memory buttons on purpose to do this to make it easlier to get out. Some new cars (e.g. Infinity) move the seat all the way back when the driver's door is opened - but this is not on the LPS list.

There is no "mending stuff" that will fix a leaking water pump. Normally, the water pump is replaced every 90,000 miles when the timing belt is replaced. How long has it been since the water pump and timing belt has been replaced? The gen 1 water pump had a design flaw - the original water pump on my 90 LS failed at low mileage. I distinctly remember a Lexus dealer employee telling me that a Toyota van full of Japanese guys came to collect my failed water pump while my car was kept for about one week. If your water pump has ever been replaced then it is of an improved design that will not fail quite as soon. It is very important to use the proper Toyota/Lexus coolant even if you live in a warm climate like L.A. The coolant acts as a lubricant and usually makes the water pump last far longer. If you search this forum I think you will find a thread or two on rebuilding the power steering pump - the other great flaw of the gen 1 LS400. I must have gone through 4 or 5 power steering pumps during the almost 14 years I had my gen 1 LS. This website has a tutorial on rebuilding the power steering pump: http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/steering/pspumprebuild.html

The recommended and quicker way to replace headlight bulbs is to remove the entire headlight assemblies from the front -- there is no need to disconnect and remove the battery and air intake shroud -- just follow the procedure in the shop manual.

Perhaps customizing one of the settings under "Light Control" in the attached document might help. CBES.pdf

OK, no one has replied and I don't know if the removal method is the same as on my 2000 LS400. Have you tried slipping your fingers under the leading edge of the seat cushion (down by the carpet), and forcefully pulling upward? In a late LS400, spring tabs under the seat cushion snap into brackets on the floor to hold the seat cushion in place. To reinstall the seat cushion, you position it and then forcefully push down.

You might try doing a search on this this forum - the search feature is extremely useful. I remember a few posts about rebuilding the pump but none about removing one. The power steering pump on the gen 1 LS400 is legendary for its short life. I must have had either a new one or had mine rebuilt five or six times over a 13 1/2 year period. These two websites have information about the gen 1 power steering pump: http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/steering/pspumprebuild.html http://www.cureline.net/lex/howtos/info_powersteering.htm

How are those clear lens installed you get on Ebay? do you unglue the amber lens? I don't know if these "ebay" clear turn signals are the ones you are talking about but these on ebay also appear to have the lens glued to the housing: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Lexus-LS400...bayphotohosting I don't think I have seen separate removable turn signal lenses since the early 1970s -- most everything in front and rear turn signals and tail lights I have seen during the past 30+ years have the lens glued to the housing.

As steve2006 said, the front turn signal on each side of the bumper is a "unit" - the amber lens is glued to the housing and the bulb is replaced from the rear once the entire turn signal unit is removed from the bumper. This vendor's webpage has a photo that shows that the bulb is replaced from the rear: http://www2.partstrain.com/v5/products.php...4294967022+9322 I don't know if this is a good price. Consider checking ebay or Sewell Lexus (Lexusparts.com).

Often owners that have their cars repo'ed don't spend money maintaining them either. "Not a receipts kind of guy"? Now that's cute. I'd recommend that you avoid 98-00 LS400s with the nav system. The old nav is pretty bad and you have to control many of the radio functions through the screen. Stick with the std Pioneer or Nakamichi. I've seen more excellent low mileage 98-00 LS400s in the Phoenix area than just about any other place except Florida. I suspect you could find a much better example of a 98-00 LS in the Phoenix area but the price will likely be higher.

Some people actually do remove the battery and air filter ducts to replace bulbs from the engine compartment. However, the recommended and much easier method is to remove the entire light assemblies from the front. Once you remove the parking light housings (the corner lights next to the headlights), it should be fairly obvious which bolts and screws hold the headlight assemblies in place. Take care not to alter the aiming screws! If you don't touch the aiming screws, you will likely not have to re-aim the headlights after you reinstall the assembly. I have not removed the headlights on a 95-97, but removed the headlights numerous times on a gen 1 (90-94) LS400. The process looks the same on my current 2000 LS400 so I am assuming it is about the same on a 95-97. After I did it a few times (I experimented quite a bit with different bulbs), I could remove a headlight unit, replace a bulb and reinstall it in less than five minutes. After removing the screw holding the outer parking light in place, you may find that it takes quite a bit of pressure to snap it outward. Be sure to spread the force while grasping the leading edge of the parking light assembly as you pull it outward. The parking light housing and lens can become a little brittle with age and you don't want to crack it! Good luck!

I guess I've always been a car "safety nut". As a child in the 1950s, I "forced" my dad to buy seat belts for the family car long before they were required in the U.S.; got the family car equipted with halogen headlights in the early 1960s before I could even drive; had high mounted Hella stoplights on our cars over five years before they were required in the U.S. People in my family has been driving with either headlights on or with DRLs since the late 1960s after the early studies on DRLs came out of northern Europe and back when driving with headlights on during the day was illegal in some states. It has been a very effective stategy. If you do not like DRLs for yourself, please be kind and use them for the benefit of others. I'm getting on in years and I need all the help I can get, LOL. My Dad is 85 and still (perhaps dangerously) driving. You REALLY, REALLY want him to be able to see you coming so he doesn't pull out in front of you and kill you both. I love DRLs and consider them one of the best passive safety devices ever!

Exactly how old is your battery? Have you put a charger on it to see if it will readily take a charge and fully charge up?

I don't know if this makes any difference but I've noticed from renting a number of cars that the radio volume control knobs on all cars with steering wheel volume controls rotate continuously rather than rotating within a limited range. Can you rotate your radio volume control knob continuously or does it have a fixed low and high point?

A bad battery can cause the same problem - had the same problem several times during 17 1/2 years of driving LS400s. A repair shop owner told me that a connection between battery cells can break and cause intermittent problems. After coasting to a stop, I could restart the car. This has happened so many times now that I just get a new battery at the first sign of a problem. Usually the battery was between three and four years old when the problem occured. But it could be something else causing the problem. Power steering fluid leaking on the alternator can cause some wacky problems too.

You can calculate the tire size you need for 16 or 17 inch wheels here --> http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp

I just now checked my 2000 LS400 owners manual and saw that I was wrong about using the steering wheel buttons to reset the VSC warning. The function button only temporarily removes the warning message so you can use other functions of the trip computer. An entire page (180) of the 2000 LS400 owners manual is dedicated to describing how to reset/calibrate the VSC system and eliminate the warning message. I did not have to follow the procedure described in the manual when I replaced my battery. It did, however, take a day or two for the VSC message to stop re-displaying.

Having you tried resetting the message by using one of the trip computer buttons on the steering wheel? I forget which button - your owners manual will tell you. Same thing happened to me when my last battery failed.

The problem is ... the vast majority of gamblers lose in the long run. It is an age old story - the tortoise (the conservative) and the hare (the gambler). It is ironic that the success of 1% of gamblers is what keeps the other 99% of the losing gamblers going. “Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?” - Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry. I like "punks" - they make us tortoises happy and wealthy.

The timing belt change interval is 90,000 miles or six years. I had mine replaced a few months ago at 90,000 miles and almost exactly seven years from the in-service date. The old belt appeared to be in excellent condition. $500-700 sounds unusually cheap. Would the mechanic replace the water pump and other parts normally replaced when he changes the timing belt?

I certainly didn't mean to imply anything by what I said. I was mostly getting at it must be nice to enjoy the fruits of your labor because I know a lot of reading went in to this decision. ;) I know I told you that it would take me forever to pick one of these out too!That sure is a great price that you paid for your GPS. The best I could find was around $300 for a brand new one ($170 or something for a refurb, but I don't want that.). After having the Magellan for a few months, any further remarks about it?? Thanks! Blake, I certainly didn't take any offense at your comment. Funny, as I get older I seem to take longer and longer to make up my mind to buy anything. I guess I have so much "stuff", I hate the idea of acquiring even more "stuff" to take care of. The Magellan 2200T is pretty short on POIs and, like many GPS products, does not know about neighborhoods that have been built in the last few years. The most nagging issue is that the screen does not dim enough at night when the display automatically goes into "night mode". Even in "night mode" the display seems to light up the entire car interior and is distracting. The only way I have found to tone done the display's light output at night is to put the display in maximum battery saving mode (20% of maximum light output) and unplug the power cable from the Magellan. Even then it is a little too bright. Magellan customer service has been a disappointment. I ordered an extra power cord about July 1 to use in rental cars and it still has not arrived as of today (Oct 27) -- just shy of four months! Good thing the battery has an unusually long life on a charge -- about 8 hours. Another interesting development is that it is now taking much longer to acquire satellites than when the 2200T was new. I've seen posts from others on GPS forums complaining about the same thing. When it was new, the Magellan would acquire enough satellites to be ready to navigate in only 5 to 10 seconds -- truly amazing. Now, it seems to take about 60 seconds. I wonder if the software update I did on it shortly after I bought it slowed down satellite acquisition. The Magellan is still very useful. I've bailed out of bumper to bumper traffic on main roads into residential neighborhoods on several occasions and the Magellan has - so far - gotten me to my destination. It got me to the nephew's soccer game in Iowa a few weeks ago and to the Pizza parlor between matches to pick up the food -- never would have found the hole-in-the-wall Pizza place without the GPS and it was even in the POI database. I used to think these GPS devices were merely crutches for the geographically challenged. Now I wouldn't drive without one.