99lsguy

You could have a bad:

Stop Light switch circuit.......this circuit signals to cancel the cruise when you touch the brake. the cruise switch is working........but it's thinking you've got your foot on the brake so it won't engage......

the stop light switch on my 99 LS is located lower left (under dash) below the fuel & trunk openers....

The fuse is ECU-B that will clear the circuit - remember, this 99LS but should be similar....

preche.pdf

I think you should check a fuse......

I'll try to find out...........

99lsguy,

Thank You....that would be nice to be able to see a picture.  20 posts?  PM?  I'm not sure I understand the 20 posts and PM?  What is "PM"? 

Dan

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PM = personal message; a nice feature to send notes and info to fellow members privately.

Posts - look under your screenname, you see "posts:" you have 14 or so currently. once you get to 20 posts (replies).....you will be able to send and recieve the PM's............our club wants each one to be active and help each other out...

If your not concerned (it really isn't a big deal anyway), just post your email address next response so I can see it and I'll send you the instructions....

99lsguy,

Thanks for the info.  I will look for it again.  They were going to charge me $60 for the drain and refill.

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Hey,

That's not outrageousl - not cheap - but not totally out of bounds.....

Once you get to 20 posts I can PM you with my email....I'll be glad to send you a MS word file (with photos) on the tranny drain...

The color of the maple on my Platinum Series looks red to me.  Whether you like it is a matter of personal preference.  It may sound odd, but my wife and I have chosen the furniture in different rooms in our home.  "My rooms" are furnished with red maple or Scandinavian teak furniture.  "Her rooms" are furnished with dark Ethan Allen furniture.  "My furniture" is more the color of the maple wood in the Platinum Series.  "Her furniture" is more the color as the standard LS400 walnut wood.  So I guess I was particularly happy to see the maple in the Platinum Series since it matches my tastes.

The Platinum Series wheels (same as 2001 LS430 wheels) are not particularly important to me either.  It was more important that they were "brand new in the box" (replaced under warranty) and chromed at that.  I was not looking for chrome wheels but I have to admit they were an attractive bonus.  I like the black badges of the Platinum mainly because it it is hard to see the "L" on the front grill - makes it kind of a "stealth Lexus" from the front.  Plus, all these differences make it easier to tell which car is mine since there are usually two 99 LS400's, same color as mine, parked within a few feet of mine in our company parking lot.

Tell me if I am wrong, but I think there were only two LS400 model years where you can identify the model year by the car's exterior appearance:  The 1997 Coach Edition and the 2000 Platinum Series.

Is the Platinum Series worth more?  It might not be to others but it certainly was to me.

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Jim,

I was wondering when you'd be along............. :D

d,

stick should be on driver's side of engine.......toward the firewall and the Master Brake cylinder. It has a "T" handle on it......the oil stick is similar, just a foot closer to the front of the car.

You need to have the car warmed up, level, and idling in Park to check ATF & color..

Check your owner's manual about the procedure, and check the specs in the back on the ATF change capacity....should be in there.

That ATF is probably $8 a quart at LExus, you'll need 3 qts... how much were they going to charge for the drain / refill??

That's lighter all right - and not grayish.........

I could swear I say some really "bleached" maple.............oh well....

- nice looking LS -

99- Its actually yellow ;)

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The wood trim..........??? Really?? Its been a while since I've seen one

I'd also mark it some way with a sharpie JUST to make sure they actually change the belt.  They might look at it and saw  ahhhhh that looks okay "let's roll it"

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Denny,

you think like I do..........never trust em--------that's a great Idea!!

Like others have already said; I think you're a couple years away from the TB change too................

One other question, if you have two identicle cars, condition, mileage and color but one is a platinum and the other is not; is the platinum worth an extra $1k

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Like Steve said......only if it's worth it to you. I personally do not like the "light greyish colored wood" of the platinum........I prefer the warmer, richer look.

Floor mats cost you $150 new.

So, for me, the anwer is no.

How can you determine or test to see if the rack is the culprit?  My PS pump was leaking ang I had the Pump and High pressure hose replaced. I also put a Magnefilter (transmission fluid filter with Magnet) on the low pressure return hose. I also flushed the power steering fluid as stated on your (Lexls) site.  Also cleaned screen on rack.

System still squeals or groans for the first 5 mins of the day and every once in a while, when I turn a corner, I can feel a power seering issue. Very fustrating to say the least.  I do not see white smoke, and my fluid level has not changed since the pump and hose have been changed out. The pump I hvee now is the second one, as I returned the first one thinking it was faulty.

I've assumed since I hear the whine at the pump it must be the pump. Now I wonder about the rack, and how to diagnose it. I'm going to go insane if I can't figure this out.

Any help would be appreciated

Tote

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Hey tote,

Have you done a complete "bleeding" of the air in sytem?  Turning steering wheel L to R about 3-4 cycles with engine off  (and PS reservoir cap OFF or at least loose)  -

then started car with cap on loosely and done the same thing again?

You kinda need a couple of jack behind the front wheels on the lift locations - just enough to get front wheels off garage floor.  Then, after these procedures... leave ps reservoir cap OFF ALL NIGHT to purge any more air.  Leave yourself a reminder (sticky note) on the steering wheel to tighten it up before heading out the next day..........

Army,

What a story I think you did some great, fast thinking!!!

Did you open the drivers door to get to the woman? Unbuckle the seat belt? Just wondering.......

I think that was a good move just keeping her in the car.....probably warmer, certainly more comfy than on the pavement.

Well done!!

i was told i need a amp for my car my radio works but i get no sound i would get an after market one but it wont have the plugs that the stock one does and i dont want to pay to get things rewired so if anyone has one for sale let me know or where i can get one other then from lexus i have a Nakamichi radio

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LL,

Try "Pioneersbuy" here on the forum.......usually can find his posts on the Stereo/audio section.........he'll have the goods for you!!

BTW, that's some run on sentence there..........

I'm a repeat Lexus customer. I got a '94 ES300 first and a year later the '95 LS400. The LS400 has 248.6k miles(ES doesn't even have 130k), and it is simply a fantastic car. I've never driven anything that can compare with the quality and engineering of the LS series. The reliability is unparalleled.

However, I must say that I am a little upset with the comfort of the LS, but I am very tall-6'4. Those bad feelings with my LS were furthered after logging 700 miles in a friends '01 Taurus this weekend. The comfort was simply amazing-the seats, the head and legroom, etc; even after 5hrs at the wheel, the seats were painfree which can't be said for the LS(as other tall 400 drivers have also noted), and it was novel to me to not have my hir brush the ceiling, and I could stretch out my legs. Let me get my shield ready to dodge the rocks comming at me, but I'd really consider selling my LS for a Taurus if I hadn't invested north of $3k in repairs this year.

I hear the driver comfort in the 430 is supposed to be much, much better though, so I'll probably just hold out for one of these in 4-5 years.

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Yeah..........

I'm 6-1 and feel at the max for the LS..........my head is within 1" of the ceiling. The legroom is ample though. The 01+ 430's have much more interior room (especially headroom) than previous LS's which is dearly needed.

I drove a 2000 mazda 626 (basically a Ford) that has more interior head room that the LS.......but those seats weren't comfy.....the LS is adequate, but not great.

I think we're all passionate about the LS - it's not a time trial vehicle........but a great "cruiser" - and has "silent acceleration" from 40 to 90 mph.......... :D

Soon to be in the 300K Club..........and beyond 

I have gotten a little lazy Blake----------every other oil change is good for me.  But that's only after I changed it 4 time the first 2 months I had the LS ; to get the tranny color pretty n' pink :D /...................... B)

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Hehe...300k in the next few years! I can't wait! A maintinance guru like you saying he's getting lazy with maintinance is what a normal person can achieve at their best. lol

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And also to you my friend..........

I am going to flush the PS (for 2nd time in 12 months) once we get out of the refrigerator this winter B)

It's like anything else I put my logic to; $10 for 3-4 quarts of Dex III + an hour of fun under the hood........--what's the big deal

agc,

the 30K service is basically changine all filters and fluids.......it should be done; and cost is usuall $600 from the dealer. If you are DIY, you can do it for $150-200 and maybe over a couple of weekends -- if you don't want to spend all day at one time......

like all the guys have said....the car is durable but expensive to maintain -- even DIY maintain.

The ride is nice.................. B)

I remember a guy on CL traded his 97 LS400 in on a brand new S430, all $78,000 of it. Last we heard from him he'd had the car 3 months and driven it a week, it'd been in the shop the whole rest of the time.

I work too hard for my money to spend it on something as extravegant as a luxury car and drive their crappy loaners all the time because its in the shop.

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Yeah, that's the part I forgot--------the $78 GRAND PART!!! this puppy was in no respects $20K more vehicle than the LS. Totally outrageous.

Those kind of numbers boggle my mind

I test drove an 98' S430 sedan for a few days before I settled on the 99 LS.

The car was in very good shape, excellent records..........

For me, the ride was too stiff and the seats to hard/uncomfortable.

The wheelbase was 123 inches.......but still wasn't as smooth as the LS to me. I was use to Honda and Acura's as far as looks - but the 430 was certainly impressive looking.

As for the interior - their were WAY too many buttons and such - the classic interior of the LS was for me ---and away I went!!!

My dealer charges $99, the dealer I was using previously charges $94 an hour but they backed my car into something so I don't go there anymore.

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I didn't know that........ouch

everything ok?

You are right in your guess...........just pure greed.

It's the way of life now.....on just about anything....

Sounds like you're up to $312 already.......

One hour should be plenty for the 135pt inspection and a run of diagnostics...

I had mine diag'd at a local indy shop for $50 - although they didn't run any codes - the check engine light would be on if triggered by a fault anyway.....

anyways..........I think they're gouging a little

No fluid, I don't care what automaker put's it in their cars will last forever.....it will have to be changed at some point or another.

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This is very true......

Case in point: the veritlble LS PS posts about leaking and such.....

Any car with 10+ year old fluid in it is highly suseptable to failure...

Ramps are much safer than jacks.............

I use low angle "Rhino" ramps ---get em at autozone ===$30

Put them tight to the front wheels and centered nicely, then slowly go up them---keep your left foot on the brake so when you level off you can stop quickly. Not really a big deal.

Try it once, get out of the car and check it out....back down very slowly and do it again....practice makes perfect!!! Set the parking brake and block the real wheels for safety. This is the best way to do it short of a lift.

These ramps hold 9,000 lbs..........you won't catch me under my car without them.

I drain the pan with every 5k mile oil change as per the Agent's recommendation. ;)  It takes less than 10 minutes to do, and I think it's a worth while task since my car has 250k miles. Every little bit helps when they get this old! B)

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Do you have to jack up the car to do this?

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No, with a little bit of stretching..........you can do it - I have :D

I use the ratchet to increase the reach of my arm; put a 6" extension on (I believe its a 12 MM) and you can "feel" the bolt and loosen.......just dig under the drivers door and squeeze under there a little. I cut thru the middle of a 5 gallon bucket for my drain pan. I did this several times when I first got the car - about every 500 miles or so....... then it's easy maintenance during an oil change because it is up on ramps then....

Be careful on tightening the drain bolt - its only 15 ft lbs ------that's not very much!!