1990LS400

Bummer. One word: "defensive parking". I've turned it into an art form and haven't gotten a door ding since Winter 1978.

Shocks on an LS normally can last 200,000+ miles. About the only times I hear about early failure are on cars that have been lowered. If you need replacements, http://lexus.sewellparts.com sells sets of 4 shocks for many 1990's Lexus models for $276 if you register with an auto forum member name.

Attached is a doc on resetting the roof system but it sounds like you have already tried something similar. If you have good diagnostic skills and the appropriate equipment, troubleshooting information about the top system on https://techinfo.toyota.com could be useful. A 2-day standard subscription is $15. 2002 SC430-roof-operation-stopped-by-trunk-open-request.pdf

Maybe put something like this on the doors? NOOOOOOOOOOO :chairshot:

It sucks that the dash deteriorated - poor design and/or manufacturing issues that shouldn't cause a problem like this even on a 20 year old vehicle. But $400 sounds like a trivial amount for a new dash on a 5 to 6 year old vehicle. Looks like they are offering you one hell of a deal.

Most city laws like that haven't been enforced since about the late 1970's when pickup trucks were well on their way to becoming mainstream vehicles for private transportation. As of 1976, it was still illegal to drive a truck of any type - commercial or private - on any Kansas City street with a "boulevard" designation. I know/knew a number of people who were fined. My homes association here in Kansas has a rule prohibiting the parking of pickup trucks on the street or in driveways but I see no sign of the one offender being fined -- maybe because he is an attorney or that he does keep his 4-door Explorer pickup in spotless condition. I could be fined for leaving my garage door open if I am not in the garage or front yard but I have never left it open in the 12 years I've lived here so I don't know if I would be hassled. One neighborhood here requires home owners to have a garage space for each owned vehicle and allow non-garage parking only for visitors but I don't know if the rule is being enforced. Many cities and homes associations near me prohibit the outside parking of boats and RV's of any size. I don't see anything wrong with rules like this but I checked the rules before I bought a house in the neighborhood where I live so I knew what I was getting into.

Yes, if you install an accessory power port or charging cradle that is attached to an always hot power source. My phone cradle/charger is attached to the ignition switch and can charge my phone with the ignition switch off and the key removed. But I don't have a need to do that. What problem are you trying to solve? Maybe there is another way?

I don't see any mention of a radio code in the 95 SC owners manual: http://drivers.lexus.com/t3Portal/document/om/OM24412U/pdf/2.pdf The cassette door on my 2000 LS400 says "theft deterrent design" but I know for sure that the radio is not code protected. My 1990 LS400 did have an anti-theft code and there were detailed instructions in the owners manual on how to set it but almost nobody did. Anti-theft codes were used in other countries on some Lexus models after they were discontinued for the U.S. - maybe Toyota used the same cassette doors in all countries.

Apparently it is. Page 71 of your owners manual: Vehicles with headlight cleaner — If you pull the windshield washer lever toward you with the headlights on, the headlight cleaner operates once automatically together with the windshield washer fluid. Maybe it is to prevent wasting washer fluid. I wish the Mercedes I drove for over a decade had that feature. It sprayed the headlights every time I washed the windshield whether or not the headlights needed it.

Yes, it is on page 201 of the 2008 GS owners manual.

One of the biggest car stereo repair businesses in the U.S. is about 100 miles away from you in Longwood FL. The local indie Lexus repair shop I use here in Kansas sends radios to them. I sent my Nak to them a few years ago for repair. My understanding is that parts supplies for Lexus Nakamichi systems are getting very short. Contact info is at: http://www.carstereohelp.com/ If they agree to take a look consider sending them both your head unit and amp. I and everyone else thought that the cause of my Nak missing its right channel was in the amp but the problem was in the head unit.

Assuming that you are avoiding the dealer, are there no independent Lexus repair shops in your area? Where do your Lexus owning friends take their cars?

Have you used a test light to see if power is making it to the lighter socket connector? ... a basic unpowered test light like the one in the attached photo - a couple of bucks at a discount store.

Ed, my 2000 LS400 is essentially the same ans yours and changes in it's engine idle speed are not noticeable when the A/C is on either in manual or AUTO mode. Maybe the idle speed is increasing but I don't notice it. It's been pretty hot recently in your area so you should have noticed if your A/C isn't producing enough cold area.

Here is a thread on Clublexus with a link to info on how to remove the ashtray assembly: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls400/488111-ls-cigarette-lighter-fix-tutorial.html I've never done this fix myself so I can't provide much information. But I have removed the ashtray assembly many times on a gen 1 (1990) LS400 and can tell you that it is very easy to do - literally can do it in about a minute.

The following two threads may be relevant. I found them by searching for +lighter +fusible +link http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=66438&st=0&p=419245&hl=++lighter%20++fusible%20++link&fromsearch=1entry419245 http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=66946&st=0&p=421808&hl=++lighter%20++fusible%20++link&fromsearch=1entry421808

You took completely opposite stands in these two adjacent sentences. Which do you want? More government control or less government control?

Actually, the OP has an IS350 (not an IS250) with the optional 18" wheel and tire package. Based on his post of many months ago, he was only considering installing the same wheel and tire size that was standard on the 2007 IS350. He wasn't considering anything radical.

From your owners manual: If “ERROR 3” or “ERROR 4” appears on the display: It indicates there is a trouble inside the system. Eject the CD. If the malfunction is not rectified: Take your vehicle to your Lexus dealer.

You didn't say what make and model your sat radio is but some have a sound level adjustment like the one described in this manual from VAIS: http://www.vaistech.com/manuals/Manual_SL2xD2.pdf

Did the Lexus dealer charge you for the repairs that did not fix the problem? It sounds like a bad TPS - throttle position sensor - but your problem should be easy for a competent mechanic to diagnose.

I don't have a GS but I have read many times on Lexus forums that the GS has a "Winter" wiper blade setting that positions the wiper blades further up the windshield to help prevent them from becoming inflexible by freezing up with ice. Supposedly one can grasp the blade arm and push the arm firmly up or down to toggle the blade arms between the normal and winter positions. Again ... I've only read about this and thought it might be some sort of urban legend but a lot of people have said this works. NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE!!!

If I am interpreting the diagrams correctly, I think you need part 62414A for the drivers (LH) side. It looks to me that 62413A is for the passenger (RH) side. http://lexus.sewellparts.com/oem-catalog/6401640802D-Body-LS430-2002.html in Texas has it for $117.39 with a ClubLexus forum discount and I can vouch for their service but which place is cheaper depends on how far each is from you and the shipping costs. This trim piece is easy to replace - should take a couple of minutes at most. You might want to order a couple of trim clips in case some break when you remove the old trim piece. It's odd that the part is not shown specifically for an 05 LS430 but that may just mean that they are the same for all model years.

I also bought wheel caps for my 2000 LS400 from Sewell ... after registering on Sewell's website with a Lexus forum member name to get a nice discount -- chrome caps with chrome logos to replace the original chrome caps that had gold logos. I think I paid about $80 for the set of four but that was several years ago.

The following website shows it as a "DE3175" or "DE3175LL" (long life) but confirm for yourself: http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProducts/AutomotiveLighting/LampReplacementGuide/ By "factory bulb" do you mean the same bulb brand that was installed at the factory? An easy way is to pop off the lens cover, remove the old bulbs, and take them to an auto parts store to match them up with the bulbs on the display rack -- unless you think the wrong bulb types are currently installed.