boogieman

Have tried all the suggestions. Upon engaging reverse, a metallic noisy ping is clearly audible then instantly dies. I cant get to drive with the engine running. Preloading the throttle, feathering the throttle, holding the brakes, nothing will allow the engine to continue running upon shifting into reverse. Of course it is an automatic so reverse has to be "transected" to get to drive due to the shift pattern Engine runs fine, no CEL lights, completely as usual until shifted. No previous trouble of any sort. No indication of anything failing. One day it just started doing what is doing. Earlier this year I had to replace the alternator and the battery. Nothing unusual at all.

I changed the air system out on my '95 with Strutmaster units. Both right side bags leaking. Very pleased with the results. Cost was cheaper than replacement components and labor costs.

Finally have an issue with my LS400. When starting the car the engine dies immediately upon shifting into reverse. A metallic ping can be heard from somewhere under the hood area then the car dies instantly. The car is a well cared for '95, with all options and only 115,000 miles. I have owned it since '08. Checking with Lexus dealers, Lexus repair shops, transmission shops, no one has even the slightest clue what the problem might be. Quoted from $65/hr to $105/hr to check with no guarantee. Trans rebuild, with no guarantee of resolving the issue, $3,000. Used trans from $600 to $800 range with $250 to $400 swap out labor fees. The car is headed into my driveway next to the garage and cant even be moved to get it to someone who might can make repairs without a wrecker service. Here in the local area these cars are selling in the $2500 range. Registration due by the end of the month. Any concrete diagnosis will be helpful.

I put Chrome wheels on my '95 LS. Selling the 4 original BBS /Lexus "Gold Package " wheels that came on the car. No curb rash, VGC. Missing 3 of the Lexus center cap emblems. Some peeling of the gold finish on the center caps and a little tarnishing on the simulated bolts on the face of the wheel. The gold finish on the spoked centers are in excelent condition. Wheels are original to the car, (103,000mi) a '95 LS 400. 16" x 7" and whatever backspacing they came with. Will polish out beautifully. Asking $250.00 PLUS shipping. I'm located in the Dallas, Texas area. E-mail me at dalcosc@tx.rr.com. Thanks.

On a recent trip from DFW to the mountains of NW Arkansas, about 800 miles total, I got 24.5 MPG running the posted speed limits (as always) with the A/C set on auto, 32PSI(cold) in the tires, no load, and no passengers. Considering my '95 has 103,000 miles, original plugs and wires, it still runs great. Driving locally with the heavy traffic volume here 24/7 I get around 16MPG running the A/C.

After being inundated with responses to my last post, let me try this one. The stock LS wheels have a 50mm offset. What is the width and offset on the '95 LS gold package BBS wheels?

Slow news day. I had a 4 wheel alignment done this week. The '95 drives much better now. All specs now dead-on or within .01 of dead-center on the alignment equipment. The chrome badging I ordered to de-gold my '95 came today. What a surprise to find inside a sealed plastic bag with a Toyota part number and description tag , a "Made in China" sticker on the actual part. What hath Lexus wrought? Still looks good on the car, though. Looking for chrome aftermarket wheels. Don't seem to be able to find any with the correct 50mm offset. Anything less than 50 moves the wheel/tire further to the outside of the body. Not too good. I re-painted the exhaust resonators black. The original paint was faded and burned off. Looks cleaner from the rear and sides now. Removed the phone handset and attending hardware. Now I have two usable center consoles. Removed and re-painted the wiper support arms. The original finish was sun faded and not looking too good. Blacked-out the vertical support/connecting ribs between the 2 lower air intake openings. Cleaned the glass both inside and out. Sparkles now. Removed the tar drops and sling-off from the tires on the lower body. Thinking of blacking-out the trunk panel between the taillights, too. Maybe tomorrow. Need to replace the gold antenna nut with a chrome one. And the list goes on.

For my '95's 100,000 mile reward, I just picked my car up from having Strurtmaster Suspension components installed by Jason at JPImports here in Garland, Texas. The air system was leaking at one unit. New parts really changed the ride and handling for the better. Not so loose and floating as before. A definate improvment in ride and handling. Much tighter and precise now. Money well spent. Had the pressure P/S hose replaced too. No more leaking or "marking territory". I'm good to go again. For anyone interested I'll have the removed components for sale shortly. Jason did a very nice, clean, job in a timely fashion. Give them a try if you're in the area.

Thanks. I checked their products, and Strutmaster, and Suncore. Think I'll go with the full replacement suspension from Strutmaster. My mechanic recommends them for all replacement/upgrade applications. Still curious about the air system holding at raised setting, but not at normal.

A few questions. Why does my air suspension hold steady at the raised height, but not in normal mode where the left-rear drops drastically? Anyone have a decently good source for the high pressure power steering hose? I'm looking at after-market wheels. Mine are the gold basket-weave look factory upgrades. What back-spacing do these cars wheels have, stock? That ought to keep me going for a while. Thanks.

The L-R air suspension unit on my '95 won't hold air. Thinking of a replacement set of non-air components from STRUTMASTER. Anybody have any thoughts, alternatives, suggestions?

Also, this is probably a dumb (ie. obvious) question but how do these cars do in crashes? This is going to be most a commuter car for me, but I am somewhat concerned about passenger safety without the airbag. I took a direct drivers' side impact from a full sized truck doing 35-40MPH this past Feb. 9th. Although injured (3 Fractured vertabra, 1 crushed vertabra), then head-on into a tree at 40MPH. The car was totaled. I'm slowly recovering. The airbags not withstanding, I'm so convinced the car helped save my life, I bought a '95 as a replacement.

I have had my replacment '95 for a few weeks now. Totaled the '93 in FEB. The '95 with air assist suspension rides extremely smooth, handles well-enough, drives nicely. Compared to my '93 , the '95 seems somewhat dis-connected, a little to soft and refined for my driving style, however. As a driver, I was looking for a "sportier, more hands-on, positive feed-back sensation" similar to the '93. The '93 had more of a BMW-esque, sports- feel through the wheel, suspension, and steering. More of a "drivers" car, which I miss. Perfect for the wife, if I can get her out of her SUV. Not complaining against the '95, just my observations. I might start looking for another '93-'94 . I like the styling a little better. Full width tail-lights, slightly "edgier, more muscular" look. And more sporty to drive. I missed, by 10 minutes, yesterday, a 2 local owner '93 with only 76K miles for $ 6,200.00. A little high priced, but in-line for the car and the Dallas market. What say you?

Thanks for the comments. This summer I'll be 59. I'm finding it much harder to recover, now, compared to when I was 29 or 39!

In case you haven't noticed, and apparently most of you haven't, I've been away. The long version of why is here. On Feb. 9th I was broadsided in my then nice '93 LS by a truck that ran a stop sign. They crossed 5 lanes of traffic, the width of a center median, and tagged me in the L-R door/quarter-panel area at 50 MPH. A sickening "dead thud". I was spun around counterclockwise about 45* and impacted, head-on, at 40 MPH, a large tree planted in the median. The last thing I saw was the rapidly approaching tree. As I was rendered unconsious for a-while, I came to as the Fire/Rescue Dept was prying my door open. Taken to a local hospital I found that I suffered a compression fracture of my L1, T12, and T11 vertabrae. Compression pressure on my L5 vertabrae causes numbness in my left leg. Bruised kidney, liver, and spleen. A gash on my left shin down to bone. Possible torn left rotator cuff. Severe bruising across my chest and abdomin. Left knee cartlidge/ligament strain. And lastly, a mild concussion causing the un-consiuousness. I've been X-rayed, MRI'ed, and C-T scanned until I glow in the dark! My '93 was totaled. I firmly believe this car saved my life. Any lesser car would have crumpled into an un-recognizable heap of twisted metal, and possibly allowed the truck to enter the passenger compartment. Fortunately I'm recovering, slowly. Have seen 5 doctors, including 2 Orthopedic specialists. Haven't been able to return to work yet, but feeling some better. Possible surgery for my back condition which still hurts, is stiff and sore, and severly limits my mobility. Time will tell if rehab doesn't produce satisfactory results. Possible permanate dis-ability. Now the good news. The other party HAD insurance! My attorney is building what he terms "A really good case". Medical expenses, lost income for my business, loss of wages, pain/injury/punative damages equaling 4 times the total loss I suffer, and money for my '93. More good news. Having the time, I located a '95 LS , one owner, dealer regular serviced, 98K mile, very clean car. Should pick it up today. My gratitude to LEXUS/TOYOTA for producing such a fine, safe, automobile. I'll never drive a lesser car again! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Well, it's 100+ degree temps here in Texas. I noted yesterday that I can turn the A/C fan to low, and yet remain very cool and comfortable in the heat. Never had a car (over 200 to date) that could accomplish that. Needless to say, once again, I'm thrilled with my LS 400. What a car!

Pried that sucker right off. Filter dirty, cleaned it out, cleaned the rubber seal gasket, right back together. Thanks for the location info.

Pry the cover off? There aren't any fasteners? Whats the best tool to use? A screwdriver, flat bar, small flat nail bar, pry bar, or what would you suggest? I don't want to damage the cover or the dash pad, so I'm slightly reluctant.

How is this filter accessed on my '93LS? Where is it located?

Yes it does seem to be the interior motor. If I get a chance tomorrow I'm going to remove the cabin air filters to see what kind of shape they are in. On another note, the previous owner was a smoker. What should I use to remove the odors? I don't want to cover it up with another odor, just want to remove it. JimA On a side note, where are/is the cabin air filter on my '93? As to the odors, try a small amount of Eucalyptus oil on the air filter itself, or on a cotton ball placed in a shallow container placed discretely somewhere in the car. It worked in my house.

Thanks guys. That's what I thought, too. Just wanted to get a concenses opinion. I feel very comfortable in the fact the car is well worth the cost. Especially from a longevity perspective.

At 100,100 miles my timing belt hasn't been changed. Dealer wants about $1850 to do it. A local Lexus only shop (ex-dealer service employees) wants $1250 and includes items the dealer doesn't. My '93 averages just 7150 miles yearly. Obvious low miles suggests lack of abuse and an easy life. This begs the question: for those that have NOT changed the timing belt/water pump/ idler/ tensioner/accessory drive belt, thermostat, and coolant, how many miles on your car now? Any trepidations at not having the work done yet? If you have had this service done, at what mileage? Could/should/would you have waited until later? If so, how much later, mileage wise? Inquiring minds want to know.

Other than that one time, all my instruments have performed flawlessly, every time, without resorting to beating on the dash.

To each his/her own, but my '93 LS 400 LEXUS deserves better than a stick, wooden or other-wise. Besides that, you need to open the hood, regularly, to check fluids, oil, trans, radiator, windshield washer bottle, brake fluid, etc. It's also a good idea to look everything over, check the belt, look for potential problems, and generally keep the under-hood as clean as possible. Mine is as almost as clean as the outside. My '93 rewards me with a trouble-free and worry-free driving experience in return. Makes the car last longer and be worth more money!

Cold? In Texas? It's already been in the 100's here. Believe it or not, once, I actually saw SNOW this past decade! On a really "cold day" here I get out my long-sleeved flannel shirt.