1990LS400

I noticed your avatar and the use of the British spelling for "center". Are you really in California? U.S. specification 1998-2000 GS400 had three different audio systems: Pioneer without navigation, Pioneer with navigation, Nakamichi without navigation. The 1998-2000 navigation has not been supported with updates since 2004 so I would avoid it like the plague. Also avoid the Nakamichi since replacement parts are hard to come by and failure rate is relatively high. The only variation I would recommend is the Pioneer without navigation. Interface harnesses are available for plug-and-play installation of aftermarket double-DIN units and the existing OEM HVAC controls are not a factor in installing an aftermarket head unit. The 1998-2005 GS with the standard Pioneer audio system (without navigation) is particular well suited for conversion to an aftermarket audio and navigation system due to the location of the head unit in relation to the drivers eyes - the head unit is somewhat higher in the center stack than in other Lexus models of the same time frame.

You can look up the bulb type on the Sylvania website: http://qa.sylvania.com/en-us/applications/automotive-lighting-systems/Pages/lrgmain.aspx It is a "168" (parking light) bulb. The parking light was originally the "city light" that was required in some European cities that prohibited full headlights at night.

Assuming you have collision coverage like any non-stupid person would have on a 3-year old vehicle, why wouldn't your insurer pay for the damage, less your deductible? There is no way to tell from a photo how much damage there is. Besides a new bumper cover, it looks like you will at least need a new fender. If the headlight or fog light can't be reused ... ca-ching! If the bumper beam is damaged ... ca-ching! Based on the cost of repairing similar damage I took when I hit flying road debris in an LS a few years ago, I would guess that the repair will cost between $3,000 and $6,000. Insurance is meant to be used. Unless you have had other claims in the recent past, submitting a claim like this should not affect your rates or insurability. And just because you have a claims adjuster from your insurance company evaluate the damage and give you an estimate doesn't mean that you have to submit a claim.

If I still owned a Lexus, I would try Carson Toyota for Lexus parts: http://www.carsontoyota.com/parts/ The Carson Toyota website says that they sell Lexus parts and are developing a Lexus parts website. I've ordered Toyota parts from Carson and got a decent discount and excellent service. I bought Lexus parts through the Sewell website and by phone numerous times and was always pleased with their service and especially that they did not charge more for shipping than actual cost like some online Lexus part sellers do. Carson is in California so shipping costs may be higher than Sewell depending on where you live.

I don't know about your IS but in 2013 Best Buy installed a wonderful double-DIN Kenwood DDX470 in the 2000 LS400 I had for just under $500 including all parts and labor. The Kenwood had DVD video, Pandora interface, Bluetooth audio streaming, aux-in, USB, hands free phone support, etc. I passed on the $49 XM interface and the backup camera.

Both the GX460 and LX570 have full size spare tires ... for now. All the Lexus crossover vehicles like the RX have small temporary use spare tires.

I have often found lower prices than those from Sewell with a Lexus forum member discount but shipping costs have usually been higher than Sewell's. My guess is that competition is driving Sewell out of the online parts business. There are all sorts of online sellers of Lexus discount parts from lexuspartsnow to Rock Auto. I've preferred to buy from Sewell even if their prices are sometimes slightly higher simply because I have come to trust them and have gotten truly excellent service. And of course, Sewell is due south of where you and I live so we get parts from them pretty quickly.

It was recently announced that the Venza will be discontinued for the US by June 2015 and for export markets by September 2017. IMO, the Venza sold in Russia is way nicer than the US market version.

Sewell's online discount parts operation closed earlier this year. Bummer! I bought a lot of stuff from them.

The two times I have been down to one key on a Lexus I've been at the Lexus dealer bright and early the next business day to get replacements - not willing to deal with the pain if the one remaining key got lost. I now keep spare "emergency" keys/fobs in a fire proof safe.

Look in the navigation settings for Auto Screen Change and deselect it.

Unfortunately, car forums can't be trusted. Most of the answers I give are complete bull$#!+

Curious ... how many people do you need to tell you where the diagnostic port is? One was not enough?

The diagram on www.toyodiy.com shows a chain and the description says chain ... so it must be a chain.

It's not under the dashboard on the drivers side? I've never seen the port anyplace else on other vehicles.

The Hitchstep would probably do what a trailer hitch drawbar would do if it is not removed when not towing - transfer the force of a rear impact directly to the vehicle frame instead of allowing the bumper to absorb at least some of the impact. There is a reason your owners manual says to remove the drawbar when not towing. Also, a person who rear-ends a vehicle with a Hitchstep could claim that the Hitchstep contributed to the damage of both vehicles. If I rear-ended a vehicle with a Hitchstep in the U.S., the first thing I would do would be to require a certificate of D.O.T. compliance for the Hitchstep and endeavor to transfer a significant portion of the liability to the person whose vehicle I hit - but I retired from the insurance industry. Most people don't understand the liability implications of installing aftermarket equipment.

A review of the Hitchstep that I read said that it did not conflict with parking sensors but the reviewer did not have an LX570. I assume that your LX has an On/Off button on the dash for the parking sensors - the button should have a large "P" on it. Page 300 of the 2011 LX570 owners manual shows how to remove and reattach the cover hiding the hitch receiver - looks easy. You can view the entire owners manual on the U.S. Lexus website. The section that includes page 300 about the center bumper cover is at: http://drivers.lexus.com/t3Portal/document/om/OM60F86U/pdf/sec_02-05.pdf It might not be good to leave something like the Hitchstep on a vehicle all the time since it might cause more damage to both vehicles should someone hit you from behind. If you do leave it on an unattended vehicle when parked in a public area, you might want to secure it with a locking hitch pin since a Hitchstep could be stolen in a few seconds by pulling the simple retaining clip and hitch pin that comes with it.

I would hope that the Amazon seller could tell you if you ask? Are you talking about the big pillow-like pads that some car owners in New York City use to try to prevent damage or the chrome ones that might be useful in third world countries for armed guards to stand on?

The diesel Lexus IS220d that was sold in the U.K. and Europe for a number of years was discontinued in 2012 and essentially replaced by the hybrid IS300h. It was in the news a few years ago that Toyota was going to focus on hybrids for the Lexus brand. I'm surprised that the LS460 is again available in countries where formerly the only LS being sold was the LS600h. Diesel engines continue to be available in Europe in a number of Toyota branded vehicles - sedans, wagons, SUV's and trucks.

It would help if you would specify the correct model and model year in your profile or mention this in threads you start but I determined from your past posts that you have a 1997 LS400. I think it is worse to leave these old analog phones in place than it is to remove or at least disconnect them. Water in the trunk can short out and even rust away the connectors to the phone ECU putting the audio system in permanent mute mode. A coworker of mine lost the audio system sound in his 99 LS400 for about a year until I helped him. The phone handset/cradle can be removed from the upper console tray by prying out the black console tray insert with a putty knife (tape its blade to prevent damage) or a plastic trim removal tool. Pry carefully and a little at a time around the edges so that you don't crack the insert. If I remember correctly, you can access the handset/cradle connectors so you can unplug them after you remove the air vents you see when the arm rest is raised. Then go to the trunk and remove the false floor from the right side. Unplug all the connectors from the phone ECU and plug the two largest ones on the "car side" together. Make sure all the connectors are secured so that they don't come in contact with water than might accumulate around the phone ECU. The two large connectors that I am telling you to plug together are normally plugged through a white plastic bracket attached to the bottom of the tool kit recepticle. When I checked a few years ago, the upper tray console tray insert was not available as a separate part. I covered the holes in mine with black electrical tape on the underside of the insert before I snapped the insert back into place. A person who was on this forum a long time ago cut up a black mouse pad (do they still make mouse pads?) and cemented it to the upper console tray insert to hide the holes left after the phone cradle was removed.

95-up LS400 brakes are incredibly good if they are operating properly. Braking hard should seem like throwing an anchor out of the car. You may have a potentially dangerous problem. 90-91 brakes were horrible to the point of dangerous. Only one or two vehicles in Road & Track's "Road Test Summary" had longer stopping distances from 60 and 80 mph and one was the Yugo. I wish I was kidding but I'm serious. Braking in my 1990 LS400 was scary even when it was new. The 90-92 brakes are the ones that some people have upgraded to use brake calipers and discs from the Supra. 92 brakes were improved and slightly better than the 90-91. 93-94 braking was even better largely due to the wider tires.

Correct. The CT200h does not share its springs and dampers with other models. As to whether or not US$3,500 is a normal price, it is very rare for people in the U.S. to add air suspension to vehicles. I have been on several Lexus forums for over ten years and the only times I have seen people add air suspension is to LS400 cars and that has been done as a novelty so that the vehicle could be "dropped" as low as possible. As I said previously, air suspension does not necessarily make a vehicle ride softer. I have ridden in and have driven LS400, LS430, and LS460 with and without air suspension and did not feel that it made much difference. The main benefit of air suspension in those vehicles is that the suspension adjusts automatically when the vehicle is loaded and the vehicle lowers automatically at high speed to increase stability. People often convert OEM air suspension to steel spring suspension when the air suspension fails on the LS400 and LS430. I have not yet seen a report where someone has converted an LS460 air suspension to steel springs.

The CT200h shares a variety of components with the Prius and several other Toyota vehicles and is built on the same platform as the Toyota Corolla and Toyota Matrix. Sale of the Matrix in the US was discontinued in 2013 and is now sold only in Canada and Mexico.

You might be able to find suitable hood supports from MightyLift or Sachs at a store like Advance Auto or Autozone at prices from around $20 to $32 each. Here is a link that might help: http://www.autozone.com/collision-body-parts-and-hardware/lift-support/lexus/ls400/1996/8-cylinders-h-4-0l-sfi-dohc

Do you have any phones that work well with the Bluetooth and Enform in your Lexus? Bluetooth and Enform/Entune can be a little cranky but no worse that the similar interface on the aftermarket Kenwood I had in the LS400 I sold last year. What model phone and operating system do you have? A new-ish iPhone or Android phone usually works pretty well with Enform and Entune. Windows phones ... not so good from what I have read and I don't know if Toyota is still supporting Entune and Enform apps for Blackberry. The Enform app has to be running on your phone in order for it to connect to Enform in your Lexus. If you reboot your phone or if it reboots itself due to updates from your phone service provider, then you have to manually start the Enform app on your phone. Each time I drive my wife's Prius, I have to manually connect my phone (Samsung S5 running ATT's version of Android) for both the phone and media functions to the Entune system since it is still locked in on my wife's iPhone and maybe even be connecting to her iPhone from the garage. When she is not home, our household Bluetooth system sometimes won't turn loose of my phone until I back out of the garage. I usually end up spending a few minutes in our driveway getting my phone connected properly so I can listen to Pandora on Entune and receive incoming phone calls. I got off to a rocky start with the Samsung S5 that I got a few weeks ago. My previous Samsung S3 worked perfectly with the Bluetooth in our vehicles but the S5 not as well (music apps crashed) until an over-the-air update from Android 4.4 to 5.0 a few days ago solved all the problems. Getting Enform and Entune to work takes patience which apparently slackers like VBdenny don't have!