90LS400Lexus

Hi. My "brake" light is on as well, but its my understanding that the 1990-92 models dont have a "brake light/tail light" burned out warning light. I have been told that was for brake failure only and if its staying on, then its an early sign that the alternator could be failing, probably due to power steering fluid leaking into it. My brake light is sometimes not on, sometimes dimly illuminated and sometimes nearly at full illumination. I do have two brake lights out and one taillight, but since the light is sometimes not on, then its not indicating brake light failure. I am going to get one of my owners manuals out and see for sure whats going on with this light.

Another wont hurt :) 219,800 on my 1991. No, it dont ride/drive like a new car - motor and transmission mounts are shot to heck (terrible vibrations and bucking). Tranny mounts very soon - engine mounts when I win the lottery. Also needs power steering pump (leaks), coolant level sensor (light stays on, even though coolant is full), valve cover gaskets (causing smoke occasionally under the hood) and front shocks/springs (front suspension dont absorb anymore), when I win the 2nd lottery. ;) Still dont burn or leak any engine oil or tranny fluid thought and tranny shifts like new.

lol. Thanks. :D Well, if they would bill me for the $2.61, I would send it by money order :D - I have it, but only in cash. :( I guess when I make my next payment I will be able to get it. :) Hopefully it wont take too long to post and I can complete the order by my credit card. :) Yeah, the Caprice is tucked away and can rest. :) Nice '72 Rivvy - I had a '72 Electra (same 455 engine) and I loved it! True, it would pass anything but the gas station. I wish I had of kept it. Photo from 2002 when I owned it... (it was like new on the inside) Sold to a guy in Rock Hill South Carolina for $1800! It also had the rare gear shift wiper control button option.

Sure is a beauty... wish my '91 looked that nice. :)

Guess I wont be getting it - not now anyway. I am not much of a credit card person, so I only have one that I requested a CL of $1000 on that I mainly use to get a rental car when we go on vacation. I had $59.00 left on it - the part was $50, shipping $5 which would have been $55... all is well, right? No, I go to place the order and it adds another $6.00 handling (it dont show you this until you place the order and type in ALL of your information), taking the total to $61.61. Pathetic isnt it? Oh well. Not meant to be I guess.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. I remember someone else not too long ago having an instrument cluster issue and banging on the instrument panel quickly led to an array of other issues. Hopefully it did not cause more damage. There was another thread on this not too long ago, about the problem you have... I will see if I can find it.

Ah, thanks for checking that and the link! Yes, I remember now, it was that place that had it before for $59.99 which was the cheapest one I had found. Seems its cheaper now and lower than the one I found on ebay. I am going to order it tonight or tomorrow and replace it posthaste.

At least one good thing is that is a non-interference engine. ;)

I cant wait to replace mine. My '91 has nearly 220K and I am sure the mount is original. I get horrible vibrations (mostly through the steering wheel, so I bet my engine mounts are shot too), bu I am also getting occasional "bucking" on light acceleration when the car will reach where the throttle is. I am hoping its the tranny mount causing this. One tech told me it could be my torque converter. That would be my luck. Anyone have the link to that place that sells the OEM mounts for $60? I looked on ebay and mounts for a 95-00 LS are $53, but for the 90-94 they are $65 (from the same seller)... why are they that much more? They look the same to me.

Wow, I would be lucky to sell my entire car for $2600. <_<

You have to add PS fluid to your 2004 LS430? Or do you have an older LS as well?

My pan underneath is soiled with fluid... I have an external leak as well. In the winter it leaks like a seive. Not as bad in hot/warm weather. I tried Lucas too, but it didnt help at all. :( Sounds like you only have an internal leak at that valve. It can be bypassed... there is a tutorial here on how to do it. You have to add PS fluid to your 2004 LS430? Or do you have an older LS as well? <_<

Hi - welcome to the club! I also have a '91 LS400 with 219K and I have noticed recently (especially thing morning and again when I left work this afternoon) it smoked on startup.... quite embarrasing. Ironically I then pulled out behind a '91 Toyota Tercel (biggest Toyota vs. the smallest that year) and it was boiling smoke too, but it was oil smoke. Those cars have a history of oil burning. I think my smoke is from the power steering as well, because I dont lose one drop of oil between changes and I do have PS pump leaks.

Wow, that is a nasty mess! Glad you found the problem. I am wondering... at any point, did you ever smell the wiring burning? Yeah, seems as though.... I am suprised that the car didnt burn up. :o

May be your gas tank cap leaking fumes. Can you not pinpoint where its coming from? Smell under the hood, or gas cover area to see where its the strongest. BTW - welcome to LOC! :)

More $ for the dealer when it went out. Problem is now, alot of owners that own older LS400s now are not wealthy enough to pay $$$ to get these replaced... or at least I cant. If (when) mine goes out, I honestly dont know what I would do. Seriously thinking of selling it. You about have to be wealthy enough to have bought the car nearly new as to maintain it when old. ;)

Kinda o/t, but when I emailed that photo of the starter location to my dad he said for me to sell my car before anything like that happened that I could not afford to repair. :) I had intended on giving this car to my mother, but I think he dont even want her to have it, because of the complexity of it, but thats understandable I guess. I may give her my other car, sell the LS and buy me a truck. Hope you get yours fixed.

Not sure, but on my old 1990 LS400 I had, when I accidentally hit a sunken in manhole cover in town my speedometer needle went 1/2 way out at the point of impact. I know this is a common issue on these, but I feel that "sped up" that issue on my car. I have always tried to avoid rough pavement/manhole covers, but that day it was unavoidable. They have since repaired that thing.

Now even when warm outside and not quite out of fluid, my PS is making an occasional whining sound on first startup in the mornings. I am not much of a DIY'er, but I guess I am going to be forced to try to clean the screen myself. I love the PS pumps on the LS400s. <_<

I didnt think the 1991 had one either... sounds like that dealer was "charging" for things they didnt really do! <_<

What year is the car?

Location of the starters is totally inbelievable!

Mine does better in warm/hot weather and it dont leak as much either. In the winter, it leaks like a seive. Even now though, it will occasionally make a growling sound, even when it still has some fluid. I accidentally overfilled it this AM and it still growled for about 3 minutes. Still steers fine.

A fender! :D Seriously, I have no idea. btw, I would hate to have someone bumping into my fenders. :) Wolver - good luck with that wiring.

"Boot" is British for "trunk". A hood is a bonnet. I think fenders are birds. Clear as mud? The poster is saying that alot of early LS's have a problem with intermittent or broken trunk lid wiring. Causes all kinds of weird things to happen. Do a search on trunk lid wiring. LOL, that is funny. Thats right, its the wiring loom that is attached to the trunk lid hinge on the driver side. Not sure if thats the problem though.