90LS400Lexus

I dont guess it matters in the slightest now... its got a big puddle of fluid under it again and its almost out of fluid and I have not even driven it yet. I guess something else is leaking. I honestly dont know what else to do. My other car that I am driving to work now gets 10 mpg. :( I took some new photos and the plugged hole is not leaking now. I think its a hose leaking. I will post the pics soon!

Yours only had 122K miles and it had these problems? Wow. I guess I should not feel as bad since mine has 223K and this is basically the only problems.

... still getting that shudder though at nearly full turn when in gear.... this only started about 3 weeks ago.... Screens need to be cleaned?

Thanks. Well, he finally got it out and plugged this morning. It rained heavily all day on Friday and Saturday. He said, it was a BIG PAIN to get to and get out from underneath, but it can be done, because he did it. I have not had time to go out and check it yet... he said it wasnt leaking. I will need to drive it a few days though to be sure. Also got the broken nipple on the intake tube fixed and rerouted to the front of the throttle body as I have been told to do. I still want to try to clean the screens on the pump and rack soon... will have to look into how to do that. ;) We will see. Updates later.

lol. Well as a owner of two early 70s GM cars and many in the past and a fan of these, I know. Thankfully I have not had to deal with that on any of mine except this 72 wagon. It has the "clamshell" gate and that weather seal has leaked, as have the cargo area windows and it has rusted out the spare tire area and the mounts that hold the 3rd seat in place. My moms cousin owns a body shop and I am gonna get him to fix it for me. Other than that, the floors are solid as rock (but the windshield also leaks now, so I keep it undercover). The rear window was resealed on the 73 Pontiac and no other leaks so far and its as solid as a rock, but these are southeast cars, so not exposed to salt - but speaking of vinyl tops, this car has one and its starting to bubble up underneath, despite the top not that old.... I have gotta rip it off and repair I guess. I had a 72 Buick Electra that was 100% rust free, but the back window had started leaking and I had to have it resealed. <_< Dang, I miss that car!

OK... I am back. :) Well in addition to what I have already posted above. Well it went along way for one thing is because I was getting "different" info on changing this on other sites and I didnt know what to do. Some guy even told me that you cant change it from the bottom and another had told me that wasnt the idle-up valve, so yeah, I was confused. ;) Valve cover gaskets are easy on these cars? I was told it was a PITB and my dealer wanted something like $400 to change them on my old LS, which I didnt do. I may can get the Toyota tech I know do it fairly cheap. Its true... those old Camrys and Accords may have been seeping something, but nothing like this LS's power steering. I have never had a power steering leak like this on any car I have owned. Also, it may be where they are so much more simple, but I have owned alot of early 70s General Motors cars and have NEVER had a power steering leak, or even a oil leak. Neither do the two I have now. I strongly believe that gaskets and seals used on the engines of the pre-80s cars are better than those on the newer cars.... I am sure they are some exceptions though, but its never been my experience. Maybe in another 10 years one of mine may start leaking. ;) I never knew that about the Century... I wonder why? We had a 83 Cutlass Ciera (same car, but it had a 3.0L V6) and grandma had a 85 Celebrity (4-cyl) and neither of us had alternator problems... thank goodness. :) I thought the 85 Century also had a 3.0L? Maybe it was optional. Its true... this is not a perfect car... not a POS either. I guess it was where I was upset, because its frustrating not knowing whats going on. Thankfully I have my other cars that I have to drive until I get this one repaired, so it could be worse. AFAIK, the car was well maintained... it was a 1-owner car and from the records, it was a cared for car. Seems like I bought the car when the expensive things started heading south on it. Now I am suffering the consequences. Well, all is good now. It was a stormy day, so he didnt have a chance to start on it today and it was thunderstorming when I came home, so I could not either, so maybe soon.. hopefully that will solve the issues. Thanks again for all of the data and replies. lol... well one things for sure, everyone should know how to plug this valve after reading this, instead of all of those other misleading threads I have read elsewhere about this. ;)

lol. Running to work, so no time to reply to all, but the thread went so long because I was being told one thing here and something else somewhere else. ;) The dim brake light stopped about 2 months ago. So obviously that was not the alternator. It also appears to not have fluid on it.

lol. Well, one of mine is out, but its because of a blown out bulb. <_<

Before someone else says it and I know they will... have you checked the wiring harness at the trunk hinge for damaged wires? Notorious issue on these cars and caused alot of quirks.

Wow, sounds like you know your bodywork. I have some rust repair (caused from leaky windows that the early 70s GM cars were known for!) that I need you to conduct on my 72 Chevy wagon I am restoring. :) lol. Seriously, its not bad, but I know nothing about these things. Nothing new though. lol.

Thanks. Well, mine is both. It initially started out as only a minor external leak when I bought the car in November of 2007... it was OK until winter 2008... it leaked more fluid in the winter on colder days... if it was warm, there were no issues. Then summer 09 it started leaking even when hot outside, then only a couple of months ago, it started smoking when I would start it... then it got worse and worse, then the external leak got worse as well. IN FACT, it seems like then the smoking started, is also when I noticed heavier leaks under it. Yes, we will block it off and go from there... and see what happens.

Well, he was gonna take it off today, but I had not confirmed with him that was the idle-up valve. I sent him the photo (his reply was "its gonna be a sob to get off of there") lol, but he is gonna try tomorrow. Well see. I hope that also stop my leak. I cant imagine what else could be leaking. So... does the idle-up valve not cause external leaks?

Looks like the "crush zones" really done their job! The back window didnt even shatter!

Thanks Jerry and thanks for the confidence in my car. :) Well, I copied and pasted your info in an email to my dad... he is going to try to do it for me tomorrow... I hurt my back the other night when I was under the car. What had me confused is that someone on the other Lexus site has told me totally different than what you have told me. They said that was not the idle-up valve (what I had in red) and that it had to be accessed from the top and I had to remove the radiator hoses, fan, fan clutch, move over the alternator, etc and it had me so confused. Then someone else told him that they did it the way you said, so we are going that route. I am just going to use the 14x1.5 plug as recommended. I guess it should be lined with teflon tape or something? Another thing that has me confused is that I thought the idle up valve was ALSO causing the external leak (dripping) under the car. I had no idea that was a totally seperate issue. I have no idea whats causing that if its not the idle-up valve. ---------------------------------------- I guess I just feel the car is a POS because I have had other higher mileage and older cars that have not had these issues this car has had (motor mount replacements are costly - it needs those, valve cover gasket replacements are costly and difficult to change... it needs those too. These cars are complex and parts are expensive and certain things on these cars are so hard to do, where they are so easy on others. It just seems this car needs more than other cars I have had at this age and mileage. My 1990 LS400 had nearly 260K when I sold it and I didnt have the power steering problems with it that I have with this LS. Maybe they had been addressed by the PO already? I did have radio problems with that car though. Mechanically, this 1991 I have now is fine... engine and transmission are sound... no leaks or oil burning, etc. I do have that lifter noise starting though. Maybe its not a POS and its my anger talking.... because I am really frustrated over this. I have owned over 50 cars since the early 90s and I have never had one frustrate me as much as this. Its not that I dont want to, or I am not servicing the car... I am.... I am doing a little as I can. I just replaced the tranny mount (replaced that ourselves) and recently the fan bracket bearing replaced.... that costed me a fortune and seems like its one thing after the other. After this PS deal, it will then need valve cover gaskets and lifters/valves adjusted, then engine mounts and soon front rotors turned. Its not that I dont want to do the maintainence... its just I cant afford all of this costly stuff - I have three other very reliable cars but insurance and gas is costly (and I cant part with those cars). Maybe I was foolish to buy another LS and should have stuck with a 1985 Buick Century. ;) I just want to get this car up to par for my mom, as she wants it... why, I dont know. Sure its more attractive than her 1997 Oldsmobile, but personally, that car is alot cheaper to maintain and service. I have two nearly 40 year old GM cars that dont leak a drop of anything and I only recently had to replace the original valve cover gaskets. I guess I should have stuck with my 1993 Camry or 1991 Accord.... never no leaks with those, but I know the 4-cyl Camrys had bad oil leak issues. I had a 93 Camry with 220K, no leaks, a 1991 Accord with 212K, no leaks.... even a 1985 Mercedes with 280K, but it did end up having to get a new seal in the steering box. The older LS400s had PS leak issues... all have had or will soon have. Poor design. IMO, there should have been/be a recall. Thanks for the info... we will try that replacement and see what happens, but like I said, I think I am losing most of my fluid from wherever the external leak is and I dont know what it is.... like I said, I thought the idle up valve was causing that too. <_<

Thanks. My dad said he WOULD help me tackle this tomorrow if I could email him some info on how to remove and plug this idle up valve. Can ANYONE please tell me, or give me a link with step by step instructions and tools needed to remove and plug the idle up valve on a gen 1 LS400? I searched google and found two, but neither have anything to do with the idle up valve. Anyone have photos of the actual valve? Seems like what I thought was it, is not it at all. Thanks so much! fwiw, this is what I thought had to come out and be plugged... it appears to be leaking here.... (circled in red) as you can see though, its messy above that too... unless the air has blown it up???

Thanks. Well, I was under the impression (or I have been told my others) that a bad idle up valve causes the PS fluid to be sucked in the intake, as well as external leaks under the car... does the ICV valve (or whatever the piece of crap is called) itself not allow fluid to leak out under the car when it goes bad? Seems like there are so many different opinions on Lexus power steering systems I dont even know if I am coming or going. May have to go the new pump route, then block the ICV on it, but if its the rack (like someone else said), then I am out. Out bigtime. I cant afford a new PS pump, have it installed, then another $$$ for a steering rack.

As others mentioned, you may be able to fix yours.. hopefully you can. Good luck!

The engine mount is... which is why everyone hates changing them. I may have a used (almost brand new) tranny mount soon if I part my car out. I paid $62 for it + tax, but will sell it much cheaper.

OMG... I was so sure it was the idle up valve.. at least thats what I have been told. Why do you suspect its something else... because of all of the fluid? I am so confused now. All I know is that the fluid appears to be coming from under the pump... because I had let the car set for a few days and as you can see in the photo that fluid "drip" is right under the pump area... I dont think the steering rack would cause the drip that far up would it? I thought it was further back. All else I know to do is get that Toyota mechanic I know check it and get more money out of my savings (that was supposed to go for my surgery) and get him to fix it, then I will sell it. I dont want my mom in this POS. Now I wish I had of taken it into cash for clunkers because thats what it is. If its the rack, I am screwed. I cant afford that... as mentioned, I have a small loan against the car... about $2300 owed. I cant get that much for it parting it out. I am really depressed now. :( Maybe a tree will fall on this $3200 (what I paid) POS. Oh well. <_< Thanks for the replies. You've come too far to quit now!!! You're making good progress. I reread most of the thread from the start. It seems what started as a white smoke in exhaust caused by fluid leaking by the idle up valve (also called air control valve (ACV)) in the PS pump has morphed into something more. Just fixing the ACV (either by replacing the valve in the PS pump or blocking/plugging the lines to the intake manifold) won't fix the leak. Now you have the engine pan off the bottom can you see where this leak is? Given the amount of fluid present there must be a sizeable leak either in the pump, the hoses or the steering rack. If the pump is leaking in addition to a faulty ACV then maybe its better to replace the PS pump with a rebuilt one (as you noted early on in the thread). If the leak is a hose that is straight forward to fix. If it’s the steering rack then you might be creeping into the too expensive to bother zone. The way I see it: Faulty idle up valve (also called air control valve (ACV)), and leaking PS Pump -> install rebuilt pump (with new ACV in it) Faulty ACV and leaky PS hose, -> plug ACV lines to intake manifold and PS pump and replace broken PS hose/line(s) Faulty ACV and leaking steering rack -> don't fix and sell the car for parts I agree, but I understand your frustration. I think you need to back up a little and try to determine exactly where the fluid is coming from. Get some rags and try to dry things up as best you can from the PS pump down. Once dry, start the car for a little while and see if that allows you to see where the fluid is coming from. It's hard to know with everything so wet in there. Before you can start doing anything, you have to know where the fluid is coming from. Hang in there, the car is up on the stand and the bottom is off. You're on your way.

Now I am being told by someone else on the other LS site that its not as simple as removing like this from underneath without removing alot more stuff (fan, pulleys, etc) and its not even the thing I thought had to be removed. I am so confused now. After someone else on there said otherwise that all was needed was to remove the underpanel, and unscrew the valve and screw in the plug... all I had to do was simply remove the valve from underneath. I cant tell you how much this frustrates me. I have been told so many different stories on other sites about this valve, I dont even know what to do. I am not dealing with it anymore. Im done. The only other thing is dig out my savings account and get the Toyota tech I know do it - then sell it. If mom wants it, she better get it. If not, I am selling it. I am over this car. Thanks for all of the replies.

WOW! Looks totalled! I think it would cost a fortune to repair that... may be cheaper to buy another LS, or even a Camry or Accord. Thats what I would do if I crashed mine like that with only liability. My car is a 1991, but I still have full-coverage insurance on it, because I have a small loan against it, but even if not, I would at least have comp on it too. Sorry to hear of your misfortune.... thank goodness no one was hurt.

I am assuming those two hoses that can be seen above the alternator are what get removed and the plug under them? Should we completely remove those hoses or just let them stay there? Something else hold them in place? nosey cat.... :) new fan bracket bearing can be seen.... :)

Thanks. Yeah, thats what we are going to do. As the photos show below, I started on it this evening, but it was getting dark. I managed to get the car on the ramps and removed the under engine cover. I was/am amazed at the mess under there. Fluid everywhere and even splattered up in the wheelwell on that side and even has leaked out on the inside of the RF tire, as the photos below show! It may not be visible, but it appears to me that at least from what I can see that the fluid has not been running down on the alternator, as it dont have any visible fluid on it and I think if it was leaking that bad and running down in it, that it would be coming out of the bottom? Maybe now that I am getting this now and plugging that valve, I will be OK. I was having a dim "brake" warning coming on and someone said that was a sign of early alternator failure, but the light went out 4 months ago and had not done that again. I am not sure though if that means there is still not fluid in the alternator, but it looks like there is not. I guess I should take a bag and cover that side of the alternator before removing that valve? How do those hoses come off? Clamps? Well, here are the MESSY photos and I will post more as we progress! Ugh, when I started the car, I had forgot to plug that valve on the intake and the car would hardly even run. I plugged it best I could temporarily and the car sputtered and bucked, but I finally got it on the ramps. Car is on the dirty part of the driveway where my dad does his stonework, so the mess will be OK.... lol. sprayed this down with degreaser..... even when I got it on the ramps, it was still gushing fluid...

I am also really confused because that one nipple is broken on the intake area. I cant get a hose hooked to it now and dont know what to do.... :( I have not even got the car on ramps yet to get under there to see how hard it is to remove the valve. I also know I should clean the screens, but every site I find says something different. I may have to just take it to that Toyota mechanic I know and let him do it and shell out more $. <_< This is really frustrating. POS car. Here is where I am at now... nasty thing.... ( I have never owned a car that leaked power steering, but if I did, this one would still take the cake!) my old Pontiac in the background there is almost 38 years old and dont leak anything. here is the bypass hose... We are going to plug that other part thats broken tomorrow properly. Also, the dang mosquitoes are so bad, you cant stand being outside!

Thanks. I will try to check them. I am about at the end of my rope. I am not mechanically inclined, but I am going to try to do what I can. I cannot afford to pay a mechanic a fortune to repair this car.