1990LS400

I thought my local Lexus dealer was quite reasonable on additional keys when I bought my 2000 LS400 in 2003 with only one master and one valet key. I was at the Lexus dealer the next business day to buy more keys. You could buy keys at Sewell (register to get discounts) http://lexus.sewellparts.com/accessories-catalog/Keys/LS430-2001.html or on eBay but it might be easier at your local Lexus dealer. I've seen reports from numerous people about problem with keys they've bought on eBay. You may need your local Lexus dealer in the future so maybe this is an opportunity to establish a relationship and give them a chance to cut you a deal.

The best source of discount Lexus parts I have found is Sewell Lexus in Texas: http://lexus.sewellparts.com/oem-catalog/5501550794-Body-SC430-2004.html Register with your forum member name to get significant discounts.

How to toggle the digital speedometer in the instrument cluster between mph and kph is explained on page 148 of the 2009 IS-F owners manual: http://drivers.lexus.com/t3Portal/document/om/OM53893U/pdf/sec_02-02.pdf

GPS antennas are often placed inside and near the top of the dashboard near the center. That is where the antenna for the OEM navigation system in our Prius is located. The installation instructions for your new head unit should provide guidance.

I would use the GPS antenna that comes with the aftermarket unit. GPS technology has changed dramatically since 2004 with the sensitivity of GPS antennas improving. Looking at the diagrams, I can't tell if the RX330 with the standard radio had the GPS antenna wiring: http://lexus.sewellparts.com/oem-catalog/8604862041-Electrical-RX330-2004.html

Your in-dash Enform/Bluetooth system was designed by RIM/Blackberry so you would expect Blackberry phones to work with it. And Blackberry follows industry standards for Bluetooth interfaces. Apple? Not so much.

Are you able to reconnect your phone after it times out by pressing the Connect button in your ES? I doubt if this is it but check the Bluetooth settings on your phone to see if there are any timeout settings. For example, my Samsung GS3 has four choices for "Visible time-out" including "Never" with the default being 2 minutes. This particular setting shouldn't matter but maybe LG phones have other Bluetooth settings that could cause a timeout. I would think your phone would be compatible with Toyota/Lexus Bluetooth systems. By coincidence a friend can't get his LG phone to maintain a Bluetooth connection with his new Toyota Highlander for more than a few minutes - I thought it was because his LG phone is several years old but I should have him check his LG phone Bluetooth settings too.

See page 301 of the attached manual section: http://drivers.lexus.com/t3Portal/document/omnav/OM53A02U/pdf/11.pdf

You have to first turn expanded voice commands on before you can control the HVAC system with voice commands. It's all explained in this online section of your manual: http://drivers.lexus.com/t3Portal/document/omnav/OM33A07U/pdf/07.pdf

Why, oh why did were 245/45-18 tires and 18" wheels ever made optional on the LS430. If your car has the sport suspension option then you are further screwed. Your LS430 would ride very much like that 1998 LS400 if it had the same 225/60-16 tires on 16" wheels like the 98 LS400 which was the same size tire/wheel standard on the 2001-2002 LS430. 225/55-18 would be a poor choice - too large diameter. You can do the calculations yourself with one of the many online calculators like at http://www.1010tires.com/Tools/Tire-Size-Calculator/ The Big O Tire guy just wants to sell you tires - he's full of $#!+. As an experiment, switch the tires and wheels on your LS430 with the tires and wheels on your son's 98 LS400 and see how you like the ride in your LS430. Set the tire pressure at the minimum recommended and enjoy the pleasant ride. My personal opinion is that the standard 16" 2001-2002 LS430 wheels are nicer looking than the 18" LS430 wheels but most people seem think that the bigger wheels look better. There are plenty of companies that sell used/refurbished 2001-2002 LS430 16" wheels.

You should not have to connect it - just don't watch videos while driving! My aftermarket Kenwood DDX470 headunit (replaced a Nakamichi headunit in a 2000 LS400 using the Nakamichi amplifier) is not attached to the parking brake wire. If you really want to connect it, look for a switch at the parking pedal or lever - easier on my LS since the switch on the parking brake is exposed.

Computer literacy wouldn't help. Computer lunacy is more like what is needed. Wouldn't have been nice if Toyota had picked Apple or Google to design user interfaces instead of a subsidiary of RIM/Blackberry? The screen can be split up to three ways - start on page 38 of the following navigation manual section: http://drivers.lexus.com/t3Portal/document/omnav/OM53B22U/pdf/02-1.pdf Here is a direct link to the Manuals and Resources section of the Lexus website - often easier to find by searching the manuals online instead of looking at the hard copy manuals: https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/info/my-lexus/resources/submit-owners-manual-search#

Yes, I would be exactly as cheeky. I had a sunroof shatter with a VERY loud bang (1990 LS400 in around 2001) and never knew what caused it. It's not all that unusual. I had just passed under an overpass and wondered if someone dropped something from it or if something had come loose from the structure and dropped on my car.

Photos or it didn't happen. I've seen too many first posts on car forums where a disaster was reported without evidence and the poster never returned. I'm sorry but it's suspicious.

Maybe try using the various settings of the up/down, Enter and Menu buttons on the right side of the steering wheel described on pages 260-261 of the owners manual. One of the seven menus/choices that can be toggled through with the up/down switches is "Multi-information display off".

Paul, I think the ES350 version you have was sold only in Des Moines, Iowa. What does the dealer say about this "feature"?

Here is a list from ClubLexus of the Lexus wheels that will fit over the 1995 through 2006 Lexus LS "big brakes" - the ES wheels are not on the list: 95-00 LS400 01-06 LS430 06-11 ISX50 06-11 GS350/430/460 93-97 Supra Turbo (only From my pretty long experience with Lexus cars (23 years), the above list appears to be accurate. The wheels you have now are my absolute favorite of all the OEM wheels that were ever available for the LS400/LS430/LS460. They are certainly not flashy - I call them "understated elegance". Their 16" diameter provides excellent ride quality and good handling. 16" tires are usually significantly less expensive than 17" or larger tires and usually last quite a bit longer. And your wheels accept rim weights unlike those ES350 wheels - a huge plus as far as I'm concerned. But each to his own.

It's looking increasing grim for getting these aging audio system components repaired. The following link is to the Florida company that repaired my 2000 LS400 Nakamichi head unit in 2008 but they don't appear to work on many older Lexus audio system components these days: http://carstereohelp.com/lexus.htm I hated the thought of installing an aftermarket system in my LS400 but I had that done yesterday due to my Nakamichi intermittently failing (right channel) again. Even before I did that, I stopped using the CD changer about a year ago when I had an aux-in added to the Nak since I have all the music from my CD's that I still want to listen to stored on my phone. I really can't tell the difference between the sound quality from an original CD and the same music copied from CD to my phone. And it is much easier to stream music from a phone than from a CD changer whether or not you have an aux-in added to your OEM radio or replace your OEM radio with an aftermarket system. Here is a photo of the Kenwood double-din head unit I had installed in my LS400 at Best Buy yesterday - $498 including install but not including taxes. This particular unit (DDX470) has Bluetooth A2DP audio streaming, Bluetooth hands-free phone capability, a Pandora interface, 3.5mm aux-in and USB input and has a CD/DVD player. It's also is sat radio (requires a plug-in turner) and iPod (requires a cable) ready although I'm not interested in those features. It's amazing what so little money buys these days. I doubt that cars will even have CD players in a few years - just like almost no cars are available with cassette tape players these days.

The first thing I would do is to switch the bulbs side to side. You wouldn't be the first to get a bad bulb. Were your bulbs new, name brand (e.g. Phillips) with the same specifications (4300K) as OEM? I've been amazed that some OEM Phillips bulbs sold on eBay are used and priced higher than new OEM Phillips bulbs also sold on eBay. Or maybe it is a ballast problem. Odd that this seems to be a "November" problem - might be tied to a defective bulb, connector or ballast "behaving" differently in cooler weather.

Look at post #2 in this thread which I provided two years ago. The phone ECU is on the right side of the trunk beneath the easily removable small false floor panel exposed when the carpet mat is removed - very easy to access. Unplug all the connectors from the phone ECU, plug the two large ones not connected to the phone ECU together and tuck them up out of the way so that they do not dangle in the well and get damp. If your car didn't have a dealer installed phone, the two large connectors on the "car side" of the harness would be attached to a plastic bracket attached to the bottom of the tool box housing. I think it's best to completely remove the phone ECU so that it is clear which cables are on the car harness side and which are on the phone ECU side. The phone ECU has no value. That "should" get rid of your beep. If it doesn't, unplug the phone handset cradle. This requires removing the console box under the armrest which on my 2000 LS400 is held in place by only three screws - two at the front behind a little hidden pop-off panel and one at the back of the box under the pop-off vent cover. I think 1997 was the first year that had a power outlet in the console box so I don't think you have to remove the console wood panel and cup holder. If you do, it's easy to pry out the console wood with a non-scarring trim removal tool. Only four screws hold the cup holder in place - accessible after the console wood is removed. The phone handset cradle is plugged into connectors under that center vent you see when the console box is exposed. Unplug the connectors - don't cut any wires. If you want to remove handset cradle, used something like a thin blade putty knife to pry the black insert out of the upper console tray. Work your way around the edges and pry gently but firmly. The holes left in the console tray after removing the handset cradle can be patched. I covered them with electrical tape on the underside of the tray insert. The console insert snaps into place. Here is a photo of the phone ECU in a 98-00 LS400 - your's probably looks very similar unless you have the rare portable handset. Also attached is a photo showing lifting the console box out of my 2000 LS400. The photos are from 10 years ago but I happened to have the console disassembled yesterday during the replacement of my failing OEM Nakamichi with a modern screen based double-din Kenwood.

Toyota has been phasing in timing chains over the last decade or so. Based on what I seeing on the Toyota website, it look like their last vehicle with a timing belt was in the 2007 model year.

We have participated in the Consumer Union owner surveys for over 30 years and have found them to be incredibly accurate. For example, in the first years after purchasing my LS400 in early 1990 I found through Consumer Reports that most other owners of them were having the same problems with their cars that I had reported to them about mine. It was the same with every other car we've bought. Don't get too tied up in loyalty to car manufacturers. They need to be held accountable just like any other company.

Are flushes specified in your maintenance booklet? Isn't just a simple "drain and refill" specified every 60,000 miles or 72 months but only if your vehicle is primarily used for towing? I certainly wouldn't do a flush. But if you decide to, be sure to also have the air in your tires changed.

You might be interested in the specs: http://www.lexus.com/contact/pdf/1993/1993SCspecs.pdf It looks like it has most or all options that were available. It's like buying any car - make sure everything works. 1993 was the first year that the A/C used R134a refrigerant which is plus - make sure it works! Replacing the compressor, dryer, etc. can run $1500+. Pay attention to the condition of suspension components - particularly the front end. I see it has an aftermarket radio - would be good to check that ALL speakers work with it including the subwoofer. It looks particularly clean and the low miles are great - must have been somebody's baby.

Why not the old reliable WD-40? WD-40 is not a general purpose lubricant but primarily a "W-ater D-isplacing" solvent for removing rust and grime. It also can cause nasty stains - NEVER use in a car interior. And it is very flammable. Here's more information: http://lifehacker.com/5891936/when-should-i-not-use-wd+40