1990LS400

The phone number to order printed copies of manuals is 1-800-622-2033. Ordering information is on http://techinfo.lexus.com/

Are you sure it is not the odometer making the noise? Does your 92 LS have a mechanical odometer or is it an LCD display? The mechanical odometer on the 90 LS I had for 14 years made quite a bit of noise before it failed at 125,000 miles. I don't remember the odometer being particularly expenisive to replace although I did not do it myself. I continued to drive the car to about 185,000 miles and the speedometer itself never caused a problem.

I spoke to "Dogboy" today by phone and wished him success in bringing his new product to market. It should be really cool. I have done quite a lot of research and Dogboy is the only one I have found who has been successful in integrating a handheld cell phone with both the Lexus audio system and steering wheel phone command module. It is not particularly difficult to install a handsfree car kit in a Lexus. Motorola and Nokia (and probably others) have a variety of nice car kits for $120 to $180. Many allow voice and speed dialing, dialing from the address book, mute your radio on an incoming or outgoing call, auto answer and hang up, and charge your phone's battery. Some have a Bluetooth interface. And these car kits don't require the use of a headset or earbud. If you want to use a car kit, even a Bluetooth, carefully shop for a handset that is compatible with the type of car kit you want to use. Phone technology changes rapidly. If you must have the latest wiz-bang picture phone, PDA phone, or whatever new technology comes up, you will end up changing car kits every time you change phones and spend a lot more money. Car kits may never be available for specialized phones produced in low volumes. But some phone manufacturers like Nokia protect your car kit investment by continuing to introduce new phones that are compatible with their "work horse" car kits introduced back in the 90's.

I recently bought the 2-volume set for my 2000 LS from Sewell Lexus for about $240. I paid about $150 for the 2-volume set in 1990 for my first LS. Regardless of what you pay for manuals, it is the best investment you will ever make. Or you can subscribe to Toyota's TIS: http://techinfo.lexus.com/ As I reported in previous posts, another Lexus owner said that he downloaded all of the content of the manuals with a $10 one day subscription to TIS. Doing this takes a broadband connection and a lot of dedication to get it done. Or I think it is $50/month or $350/year. I was disappointed that Irontoad did not answer my request for a price quote on a part I needed. I sent the same request for a quote to Sewell Lexus http://www.lexus-parts.com/ the quote was provided within 24 hours. I ordered the part from Sewell the same day and it was shipped within 24 hours. This is the 2nd time I have ordered from Sewell and their service has been fast and their prices (relatively) low.

Here is a pointer to radio/AC control removal instructions for a slightly earlier LS which is very close to a 99: http://carstereohelp.com/stereoremovalLexusLS400str1.htm It is quite easy to remove. My favorite pry tool for this job is a stiff thin blade putty knife well taped with electrical tape. This speads the force and protects the console wood when prying it up. The instructions don't mention it but you will have to move the gear selector towards the back of the car and also have the upper and lower console lid open. The small black cap covering the gear shift release pops right off and then you just poke a screw driver into the hole to allow you to pull the lever backward - or you could just shut off the engine while the car is in drive. I recommend surrounding the radio/AC control unit with cardboard or a towel as you extract it so that the console upholstery does not get scarred. I do not remember anyone posting instructions on how to replace the radio LCD. The independent Lexus repair shop I use will not touch radio internals and recommends sending radios to a specialized repair facility or using an exchange service.

You might try searching old posts on this forum for information. Several members have reported that cell phone companies have activated their old Lexus analog phones because they already had an account (one or more other phones) with them. Some people say that they forward calls from their hand hand digital phones to their Lexus phone when they get into their cars. Sounds like a hassle to me but whatever "floats your boat". There are lots of very nice car kits for handheld phones that, like mine, can voice and speed dial, auto answer and hang up, and be hooked up to mute the radio when a call comes in or is made. When I bought an LS in 1990, I had a non-Lexus fixed phone installed in the console. It looked and worked like the Lexus phone but did not have steering wheel controls and it had a separate speaker under the dash. I thought it was a hassle to have to open the console every time I needed to dial a number. I put up with this phone for 10 years and wished I had bought a handheld phone and car kit sooner. But I still like the idea of the steering wheel controls so I just bought one ($200) to see if I can make it perform at least some limited functions with my Nokia car kit. Here is a link to how I installed my phone car kit in my 2000 LS (it is a 1/2 meg Word document): http://home.kc.rr.com/colchester/phone/Nok...H%20install.doc

I just realized that I drove my 1st LS almost 185,000 miles on the original rotors and the new owner is still driving on the originals. Early LS cars (90-92) were particularly sensitive to overtightening the lug nuts which led to rotor warping. Although the issue was addressed somewhat in '93 with more robust rotors, most cars are sensitive to overtightened lug nuts. It is important to tighten LS lug nuts evenly and to not exceed 76 ft. lb. of torgue. An air wrench should never be used. A Lexus dealer mechanic once torqued my lug nuts to about 150 ft. lbs. so now I check the torque myself after anyone removes the wheels. Your indie mechanic should be able to tell you if the rotors are warped.

Welcome! If you have not found him yet, I highly recommend Ben Bennett's Exact Performance at 9900 W 62 Terrace - just west of I-35 and north of Shawnee Mission Parkway: 913-384-4555. Ben and his mechanics were formerly with a Lexus dealer and have been servicing my cars (and my next door neighbor's) for years - I do the easy stuff, he does the more difficult work. 99lsguy (Lees Summit) is very active in this forum. Feel free to PM me anytime about local service and parts. Good luck! Jim

I thought that the "beep" on lock was started with the 93 models but I could be wrong. My the keyless on my 90 LS had a fairly short range, even when new, and I could just looked inside at the door locks to see if it was locked or unlocked. My 00 LS has an on-off button for the beep under the dash.

I've been a fan of Dunlop tires and recently bought Dunlop SP Sport 5000's (225/60-16) for my 2000 LS to use in non-winter seasons. I think they are priced well at Tire Rack at $93US where I have all our our tires for many years. They are WR speed rated, all-season to boot and only $5 more than the HR rated Dunlop A2's. They are very quiet and provide a nice ride. Here is a link: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?ti...romCompare1=yes Last winter I used Bridgestone Bizzaks - incredible traction in heavy snow. Bought them at Tire Rack too including an extra set of relatively inexpensive ($125/ea.) but classic looking wheels - Mille Miglia Bellos. Although it was just one experience, the Yokohama AVS tires I put on my 90 LS many years ago lasted barely 20,000 and did not provide particularly good handling or ride. I've always gotten at least 40,000 miles from Dunlop 4000's (60,000 on our Camry).

Someone with a GS with a standard radio should answer this but isn't the knob on the right side of the radio a multifunction knob that adjusts treble, mid-range and bass? I think it works like a similar multifunction knob on our Camry but I can ask our secretary who has a GS300 tomorrow. As least in the LS, the Nav and stock radios had similar output specs and the same amplifier. The Nak system in the 2000 LS actually had 5W less output at each tweeter and midrange speaker but about twice the output from the subwoofer in the rear deck.

Assuming that the bracket is for a non-original car kit, here are some instructions for removing the A/C-radio unit from a GS. It looks like it comes our just like our LS and Camry and these photos even show a hand-held phone cradle on a bracket: http://carstereohelp.com/stereoremovalLexusGS400str.htm

Even when brand new, the keyless entry on my 90 LS rarely worked from much more than about one or two car lengths away and it was subject to interference (the dealer thought is from shopping center alarm systems) that sometimes prevented it from working at all. The keyless entry in the later cars apparently have a much longer range. I can unlock my 2000 LS and open the trunk from 25 to 50 yards away. I found that holding the key over the rear window of my 90 LS when I pressed the button worked best.

HotBlue400, Many have mentioned wanting to use the Lexus steering wheel phone command module with a non-Lexus phone but no one has demonstrated success. I am currently trying to buy a command model for my 00 LS to see if I can "pin" the connections to control just three functions on my Nokia car kit: scroll phone list up, scroll phone down, and send. I advertised on the "buy and sell" for a command module but no one replied. I hope to get a response from a Lexus dealer today. I bought a wiring harness from the U.K. company Dashmount that is supposed to interface a Nokia car kit (others with an adaptor) to the Lexus/Toyota audio system but it did not work on my Nachamichi which has different connectors. I realized later that this harness should work on a 98-00 LS with the standard radio or with Nav. PM me if you want to discuss or we can discuss it here. The following link is to how I installed a Nokia kit in my 00 LS. I'll bet your GS has the same connector in the console to which you could attach a car kit's mute wire to mute the radio when a call comes in. http://home.kc.rr.com/colchester/phone/Nok...H%20install.doc If no one response here you could ask a Lexus dealer how to unlock your phone?

HotBlue400, Have you spoken to Verizon about getting service for your phone? You might try searching this forum and reading about other's experiences. If you already have a Verizon phone, they might be willing to provide analog service in a multi-phone plan at a reduced cost. Some in this or other Lexus forums have said that they call forward their handheld digital phone to their Lexus phone while driving. In the current competitive environment, cell phone companies can be very flexible depending on who you talk with and how you approach them. You might consider using a car kit with a handheld phone -- choose carefully if you think you are going to change phones frequently. For example we haved used Nokia CARK-91H kits in our cars for quite a few years and, at least so far, Nokia continues to offer compatible handsets. (We can voice dial and incoming/outgoing calls mute the radio.) Companies like Cellport offer car kits with interchangable handset cradles but they are expensive and their dealer base is spotty. Nokia is about to introduce interchangable handset cradles too. And then there are the Bluetooth kits - a whole other subject. The U.S. seemes to be headed towards GSM like most of the rest of the world. However, the last time I checked, Verizon offered no GSM phones in the Kansas City area. My corporate CDMA Verizon LG VX4400B is cute but has pathetic talk and standby times compared to my personally owned Cingular Nokia 6340i tri-mode GSM/TDMA/analog phone which has far longer talk/standby times and can be used in rural areas where analog still prevails. I continue to be amazied at how few people know what protocol (GSM, CDMA, TDMA, etc.) their phones use since it makes such a huge difference in how, where, and how long (on the battery) their phones can be used.

I think my repair shop owner once told me that there is a fusible link or similar connection for the fog lights that is subject to corrosion. The fog lights on my 90 LS stopped working several times during 13+ years I had it. But I don't know where this link or connection is located - I assume it is under the hood for it to corrode so regularly.

I requested a quote on parts from Iron Toad about 2 weeks ago but did not get a response. I was surprised they did not respond since people have mentioned them frequently in this forum. Metro Lexus in Victoria, BC and Sewell in Texus get back to me within 24 hours. There prices are a bit higher but they deliver!

93LSOwner, The numbers I provided are "calendar year" sales totals - not model year totals. One can not add up these numbers and determine the number of Gen 1, 2, 3 models sold. The total for calendar year 1994 includes sales of both model year 1994 Gen 1 and model year 1995 Gen 2. The total for calendar year 1997 includes sales of both model year 1997 Gen 2 and model year 1998 Gen 3. Jim

Here are more thorough instructions on removal and separation of the A/C module from the radio: http://www.lextreme.com/lcdtech.htm

It is still rather early in the U.S. and I hope someone who really knows the answer will chime in soon. I think the A/C controls on the U.S. left hand drive 92 LS are identical to your right hand drive car except that the locations of the buttons are reversed and the "Air flow control buttons" are slight smaller to make room for your "Rr. XTRA FLOW" button. We don't have the XTRA FLOW button in the front A/C control or in the back of the center console like your LS has. I think the button bulbs were changed in the A/C control of the 90 LS I used to have and that it did not cost all that much. But it was probably 5 - 7 years ago and my memory I could be faulty on this one. I am certain, however, that the bulbs in the A/C display were changed in mine and that it cost about $100. The radio is a completely different story and my repair shop would not even think about trying to fix a burned out bulb - he recommended exchanging the radio. The A/C radio module is easily removed if you want to explore - be careful not to scratch the vinyl upholstery. I surrounded the module with cardboard as I extracted it to prevent damage to the vinyl. Removal instructions are at: http://carstereohelp.com/stereoremovalLexusLS400str1.htm

99, Thanks for the e-mail with the CBES settings. I guess we'll have to continue pressing the lock button. No big deal but the autolock feature at 15 mph sounded nice. Yes, I accidently found out that pressing the unlock button too long causes all the windows and to sunroof open. Unfortunately, it was raining (but gently) when I found out! The CBES setting I want to change most is to lengthen the delay time for the interior light dimming from 15 to 30 seconds. By the time everyone has their seat belt on and I've put the phone in the cradle, the lights have already gone off. Thanks, Jim

Petroname, Bummer. I didn't notice your Toronto address or realize that Canadians were excluded from using TIS. I wonder if TIS is used by Canadian Lexus dealers. Heck, my owner and shop manuals for my 00 LS cover Canadian models and the shop manuals even include information for the LS sold in Taiwan. You may have to break down and purchase the electrical manual for your ES unless you can find a friendly dealer employee or repair shop to make a copy of what you need. I called a couple of Lexus dealers in Toronto last November to buy parts but their prices were awfully high. I got a much better deal from Metro Toyota/Lexus in Victoria BC - great people to work with! Why don't you e-mail them and get a quote. I was lucky recently and found a Lexus dealer employee who gladly printed the portion of the electrical manual from TIS that I needed to hook up my Nokia phone to mute the radio. But others at the dealership were not willing to help me at all. Been to Toronto many times to our office on University Avenue and for conferences. Quite a city!

There seems to be confusion regarding how many LS400's were sold and when production ended. Model year 2000 was not a "half year" model nor were a small number of LS400's manufactured. Mine was manuafactured in June 2000 and there were either 204 or 205 (I forgot which) U.S. spec. LS400's manufactured after mine. The whole concept of "model years" is foreign (pun intended) to many car manufacturers outside the U.S. Because the U.S. is such an important market for foreign manufacturers, it is not unheard of for the U.S. to get a new model for up to a full year after its initial sale in foreign markets. It is fairly typical for cars of a particular model year to be manufactured by foreign car manufacturers until mid-summer when they switch over to a "new" model - which may not be new at all. Switching to the next model year in July/August of each year allows for the longer shipping time needed by Japanese and European manufacturers in order that the new model year cars arrive in U.S. showrooms during the fall time frame expected by Americans. Note that the quantity for the 2000 calendar year includes a substantial number of 2000 model year LS400's that were sold in 1999. It is interesting that a few in this forum have expressed surprise at how difficult it is to find a used 2000 LS400. Could it be because the original owners and lessees are still driving them? I don't have any problem finding them - I park near other late model LS400's every day and I have to be careful about which one I try to get into since two are nearly identical to mine. The LS400 sales figures for the U.S., by calendar year, provided by Lexus U.S.A. are: 2000 15,785 1999 16,303 1998 20,725 1997 19,548 1996 22,171 1995 23,540 1994 22,367 1993 23,701 1992 32,455 1991 36,796 1990 42,496 1989 11,574 The above are sales figures only for the U.S. Other figures floating around on automotive websites appear to include LS400's sold in other markets.

Hey 99, Are you saying that our 99 and 00 LS's can be programmed via CBES to lock the doors at 15 mph or when the transmission is put into reverse like your wife's Sequoia? I'd love to have this feature we sometimes forget to lock the doors when driving. Are the number of "open the door and drag the driver out" car jackings down in the KC area or do they no longer make the news? Do you know what type of "hand held" device is used to change the settings and how it is used. There are several CBES settings I'd like to change. I don't see anything about CBES in the shop manuals unless it is in the electrical manual which I don't have. I thought about asking the dealer about CBES when my LS was in for the climate control replacement (still under warranty) last Wednesday. But I was mainly glad just to get my car back in one piece considering that the front cup holder would no longer come out of its hiding place after they were done and they didn't bother to keep/restore the 18 radio button settings like Ben Bennett always remembers to do. - Jim

Although I have never done it myself, another Lexus owner told me that he was able to download the complete contents of the shop manuals for his car, including the electrical diagram and all TSB's, in one 1-day subscription to Toyota's on-line TIS system which covers Toyota, Lexus, and Scion automobiles. This is the same on-line system used by Lexus dealers and the independent garage that maintains our Lexus and Toyotas. A one day subscription is $10; one month $50 and one year $350. You would have to have a broad band connection, plenty of hard disk space (or a CD burner) and plenty of time to do it in one day. The URL for Toyota TIS is http://techinfo.toyota.com/