OmarG

THANK YOU!

I'm ecstatic over this fix! I've lived with this problem for 4 years! I can't wait to tackle this over the weekend!

Hey guys,

I'm not very active on the forum as much as i used to be but I just wanted to share the warm and fuzzy feelings i still have for the LS400. I'm still in love.

I bought my rusty and trusty Chicago LS400 5 years ago, to the date. Its been a great car and 96,000 miles later (306k) still runs as smoothly as it did when i first got it. I

She's been retired to spare car duty as the AC went out late last summer.

My 95 is far superior, and my GF's 2000 is even better, but the first gen still is a damn fine car.

considering that i just purchased a 2000 with 4.5 times as many miles,(186k) I know for a fact you are going to love the car. They last as long as you want them to. A buddy of mine is a volvo fanatic, but still appreciates the awesome engineering of the LS. The 98-00 models are exceptional and still very modern IMO.

I savored over that exact car for for quite some time. Keep that baby clean!

CONGRATS! MORE PICS!

I just replaced my converters on my 97 LS400... then I saw this:

"I have found out that the P0420 and P0430 codes typically have to do with a catalytic converter gasket leak. I had the P0430 code and made the mistake of taking it to the dealer. Of course, I was told to replace them both for $2,600 plus tax. The dealer charged close to $100 plus tax as a diagnosis fee. I went to Midas and God bless the good folk out there who determined the code to be a gasket leak. The gasket was replaced for under $100 plus tax.I hope this helps anyone who gets these codes."

SO....... I have two OEM converters ANYONE can have for free, just pay the $20 bucks mail fees.

I dont need them.. Oh, you can see all the way thru them, just like the new ones I put on.

my direct email is billydpowell@verizon.net OR my phone # is 972 395 0678

good luck

sent you an email. Feel any difference with new converters?

thanks for all the kind words and advice guys! My mechanic buddy came over and showed me how to take the calipers off, inspect, reinstall, and bleed the system.

I didn't break anything and the car brakes perfectly now.

I bought my buddy dinner and case of red stripe beers. All in all not a very expensive mistake!!

So i was changing out the pads on my 95 ls400. Well i finished the back and thought i installed the front pads too. but i pushed the brake pedal to check the brakes while i still had the car up and then realized i hadn't installed the front pads :cries: :chairshot: . Now i tried pushing back the pistons but the bottom inner pistons on both sides will not budge. Did i ruin my calipers? :cries: How do i bleed the LS?

I tried searching but I'm panicking.

I normally dont make such stupid mistakes. I was rushing because this was my first day off in a while and i wanted to get it done before it rained (its raining right now).

Please help guys. :(

if i believe hard enough i think they will....

if anybody finds a white passenger 95-97 please let me know!!

i will take them please. Any thing else you wanna sell?

ghoshehomar@gmail.com

i'm interested in this knob! please get back to me asap!

xxx that. just read the thread. won't fit on my 95.... :(

did you every find a mirror? i talked to a guy with a parts ls in atlanta . his is blue too

not to be a vulture... but could you possible get some stuff from your car? i could use a passenger side window switch, first aid kit under the seat, floor mats, tool kit(... jack too), shifter indicator, trunk mat and spare wheel would be nice too! steering wheel and shift knob would be nice too along with all the wood trim really...

I think you should buy your car back from the insurance company if you can. You could sell alot of stuff of it.

PM me when you get a chance.

And just get an LS430, they are phenomenal! 04+ if possible. Its still a very modern, comfortable, elegant and reliable ride. Probably the best used car on the market today!!

i think you can get a little bit more money out of it too. Be firm with them! You had a PERFECT ls400, and perfect ones cost MONEY!

wow! your as obsessed with LS400's as i am! how much did you get this one for? How much do you want for your OWP? How's the 90k difference feel between cars?

Looks just like my 95! :) I have some 98' rims i'm gonna put on her.

Have you tried using one of the fobs from your other cars? 95-97 is compatible i do believe.

Sorry about the dealers, they are there to make money, not help.

a 90-92 nak headunit will fit. Plug n play. the nak cassette player is much better. trust me i've been through alot of radios with 4 ls400's

95+ are interference.

I REALLY like my new to me 95. Its a very incremental update but 95-97 models have alot of upgrades that make the ls400 a much more modern car compared to the 1st gen. 98+ cars are nice but still out of my price range.

whats your budget? 98+ models are still very competent in almost every aspect of a modern luxury car.

gotta change that attitude buddy! an ls400 is easier to work on than a camry v6.

you already reset it when you unplugged the battery.

pull the code, maybe its just some oxy sensors or somthin. http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/intro/codereading.html

Please stop calling your car a POS. its insulting :) The LS is a masterpiece of engineering. repairs are cheap compared to any vehicle of the same caliber and vintage...

Also...my sisters LS400 CEL randomly illuminated after i did a TB cleaning(2 years ago). Never checked the code, and it went away, came back, went away, never came back.

If the car runs the same, i wouldn't worry too much.

maybe reset the ECU too.

when i was first messing around in my 93's cluster i broke the speedo needle. i cleaned out the bulb and its clear now. I used clear scotch tape to reattach it. The light is defracted by the glass needle and moderately visible. I'll get pics soon.

glad to help bud! its very DIY, like most things on the LS400!

Total bummer man. I'd be willing to pay for a membership to toyodiy.

keep us updated if you hear anything

Just find the number :)

lawbut2468 quote from clublex

"I've re-read all 18 pages of posting. Lots of useful info. Here's my take on the instrument cluster problems:

1. dash has no light when cold. light comes on after inside of car has warmed up - replace C212

2. fuel gauge irregular movement (not moving, sluggish, slow, etc) - replace C142

3. stuck needle(s) - tach, speedometer - this is likely a mechanical problem, open up the whole instrument cluster and examine the back of the tach and speedom and use a Qtip with a light solvent to clean off any noticeable sticky substance.

final note on the cap ratings. the cap is very susceptible to heat. over time, the electrolyte inside the cap dries up and its capacitance value changes (usually to a much lower value) when the temperature drops. the change in the capacitance value means that the timing circuits (oscillator and inverter) will fail to work. As the cabin is warmed up, the cap restores to its nominal value and the timing circuits work again. the repeated flickering means that the capacitance is getting close to its nominal value and the timing circuit begins to kick in and out. as the inside of the cab continues to warm up, the cap finally restores to its nominal value and voila, the timing circuit runs and the cold cathode light is finally on. If you live in the south where summer temperature are always in the 3 digits, you really need a cap with 155C rating so that you don't have to replace them again for years to come.

Thanks again to everyone who gave valuable info on solving these instrument cluster problem. The info has saved me a lot of time and $$$."

please search this has been covered before :)

you need an ignition coil. Very common problem. I would replace both and you'll be good for the rest of the cars life.

your car is running on 4 cylinders. DO NOT DRIVE IT UNTIL THIS IS REPLACED! you could kill your cats, if you havent already....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LEXUS-LS400...sQ5fAccessories

can't really say until the car has been inspected. If its been in a heated, dry garage all its life, its probably pristine, even the rubber.

I guess just buy it and change ALL the fluids and filters. Put some cash in the bank and keep us updated on any problems.

I still think a newer car would suit you better though. You should compare the brake calipers from a 90 to a 95. I'm pretty sure they used the same caliper design till 2006! Miles really don't matter on a LS400.

Don't get me wrong i absolutely adore the 1st gen(I have 4 a 90,93,94 x2), its a masterpiece, but the newer ones feel much more modern, in every possible way.

i would just find a clean well maintained second generation for that price. I bet you can find a perfect LS400 on the west coast! garaged and well maintained will be like a new car, trust me.

So this is a bummer, the car stumbled on me the other day and has had low 400 -350 idles when warmed up(sometimes). I'm pretty sure I need an updated ECU...

Checked my service history on lexus.com and couldn't find any indication that it had been changed.

Anybody ever had any luck with getting corporate to pay for a new one? Car has low miles and was dealer maintained.

Shoulda been a recall!!