90LS400Lexus

We will hold you to it! LOL! I will settle for a nice 2001 LS430 though... even with 100K. :)

lol.. yeah that was the post I was thinking of. I can even remember that photo. :)

lol. I know right. Its just my luck. I tell ya, this car has been one headache after another (especially with the power steering system that I have fixed now), but its still a good car as far as major things go... I feel that the engine and transmission will last forever. I had just got my power steering all fixed... then I wanted to get the throttle body cleaned, because I had a hesitation and jerking... the throttle body was very dirty and it runs amazing now, but as mentioned, only a day later the CEL came on (which it had never did before while driving) and it showed that "71" code. I was like, what in the heck - well its just my luck, I fix one thing, something else happens. I think the car hates me. Anyway, its setting at the shop now as I dropped it off an hour ago and they will get to it tomorrow. I am hoping they wont charge me a fortune to clean the EGR valve. I actually have the car sold and it will be picked up next week. I just didnt want to sell it with this issue. I priced it and will stay at that price and just take a loss on whatever I have to pay to get this fixed. I already miss it and I havent even sold it, because it runs so good now, but after two years I still owe $2000 on it and I cant afford to keep it, as it still needs valve cover gaskets and down the road, motor mounts. I cant afford for anything else to happen, even minor, because we all know how expensive these cars are to buy parts for and they are not easy for a non-DIY'er like me to work on. I love the gen 1 LS400s, and this is my 2nd one, but will never own another unless I can afford to own one if you know what I mean. IF I ever get another, it will likely be a low mileage 95-97 LS400 that has already had the typical major issues dealt with. For now, I am thinking of buying a low mileage Lincoln Town Car... a 1993. Its a low mileage car that belongs to a friend of grandpas. It has already had the major things done, such as completely new air suspension replaced at the dealer less than 6000 ago and new window motors, etc. Its a nice car and I can buy it for only $1500. I think I am making the right move here by letting the LS400 go, but it will be missed. I also needed a larger higher setting car like a Town Car to get my grandpa in and out easier, which is another main reason I am selling it and to buy something I dont have to have full-coverage insurance on. I am also looking at a 1997 Toyota T100 4wd truck... really nice. They are pretty reliable trucks. I know a guy that has 290K on one and its been a very low-cost vehicle to maintain and nothing like the LS400 in parts cost.

Someone on here did, but I cant recall who it was. Probably easier to repair the PS leak. Mine was leaking, but not on the alternator... it was the return hose leaking.

Thanks. Well, I guess it will go to the shop tomorrow and have the EGR cleaned.

I think the Toyota (red or pink) is recommended for the LS400. I have the pink in mine. Probably need one gallon of coolant, then fill the rest with distilled water. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Sounds nice at only 118K. Sounds odd though... both of my LS400s (one with 279K and my current one with 225K) has never leaked a drop of oil. Sounds like the rear seal though.

My 1991 LS400 is showing a code 71 (EGR system malfunction) after getting the throttle body cleaned. I was told in another thread it could have been were some gunk was lodged in the EGR. Someone on another forum had posted info on how to remove, but I dont think I will be able to do this task... I could not even see all of the bolts I was told had to be removed. :( A new one is $189. even at Autozone... I cant afford that. I think I have the car sold and want to get this repaired. I am wondering if I would be better off buying a used one and having it installed? Have also wondered if perhaps something like fuel injector cleaner would help, but to my knowledge its only air that goes through this?

Not sure.... I have heard of alot of heating woes on the 1995-97 models. Sorry about your misfortune in this cold air blast. Thats one thing good I can say about my 1991.... my gosh the heat gets so hot on maximum setting. It dont take long either.

Guess it will go to the shop on Monday.... light came on again within 35 miles. Ho-hum... what an annoying car, even if it is running better than ever and my steering is perfect again! :)

I dont know, but on some cars it seems like sometimes fuses just seem to blow out for no reason.... replace them with the proper amperage and normally everything is fine.

BTW - I am 90LS400LEXUS and 91LS400LEXUS.... I had to start a new account when I could not get my old account to work, then suddenly it started working again. Oh well.... I had accidentally signed into the 91 account when I made this. I used to have a 90 LS, now have a 91 LS... long story. lol

Update - nevermind.... I was able to aggressively pull out the tab on the side that I needed access and was able to change the bulb. What a design. ;) At least ALL of my taillights and brake lights are working again. I also discovered that the first aid kit still housed all of the original items... even burn cream that expired 10/93. :) Changed the "inside" brake light (near the backup light) with no problem, but according to the owners manual the rear panel lining the back of the trunk has to come off to change the outermost lights and turn signal, but I cant get the tabs to come out. One almost broke when I tried to pull it out... the outer part of it was ripping away from the insert. How in the heck do these come off, or do you have to rip the dang things off? NONE of them want to pull out.

On the way home from work tonight I stopped at the auto parts store and bought some of those vacuum caps and capped off those ports on the intake ports. This time the light didnt come on at the same spot I would get to when it would come on. Hopefully that was the issue.... time will tell. Someone did tell me how to clean the EGR and then someone said how to do the filter only. Thanks.

Its a beautiful Christmas day, sunny and 60°, so I thought I would go out and check it. Its flashing "71", "EGR system malfunction". What in the heck? What do I need to do now? The other LS site mentions something about pulling and cleaning the EGR valve or something, but really no details about it. Remember, I plugged the ICV valve and ran a hose from the front of the intake to the air cleaner hose.... its making a hissing sound, when I squeeze it, the idle goes down some. I am wondering if this may be the issue and if I should just cap those ports? Strange it didnt do it though until I had the throttle body cleaned, but maybe now its getting too much air or something? I dont know. Any help appreciated. I hate to resort to black tape over the light. On the other site, someone is saying it could be the EGR valve may have had something lodge in it and it needs cleaned or it has a vacuum leak, but I lean more toward the first part since this started after the throttle body cleaning... how do you remove the EGR and how do you clean it? A new one is almost $200! I cannot believe this!

I see. Well, it came on again about 3 days later, but not until I hit 60 mph. Oh well. :( I will check it tomorrow if it dont rain all day. May have to buy some tape for the sucker.

Yeah, seems easy enough to check. I just havent had time.... work and holidays hectic. I bought some new wire and going to test it tomorrow. LOL on the POS. I knew someone would say that. Its a good car - as far as major mechanicals go and it runs better now that it ever has since I have owned it, but frustrating this happened after I get some other things fixed and almost ready to sell. Oh no, it dont run the same... it runs so much better... its amazing and which is why it puzzles me that the light comes on now. Maybe the sensor plug is not in tight. I guess I will find out when I read that code tomorrow. My luck, no matter what it is, it wont be cheap. Never is with me. :( How do I reset the ECU? I did disconnect the battery for awhile the other night... it (light) went off, but came back on the same stretch of road. Seems like everytime I have a car I decide to sell, the CEL comes on.

Curses. Have I ever said how much I hate this car? <_< Fix one thing and something else crashes. Finally get the steering working most of the time and get its throttle body cleaned, then this happens. Well the check engine light came on AGAIN today. Both times its came on is almost on the same spot on my drive home from work, when I hit 60 mph after the engine is fully warmed! I normally dont go over 55 on that highway, but there were two occasions I went over 60 since the throttle body was cleaned and both times it was on my drive back home. I went 65 today on the way to work and it didnt come on. I guess all I know to do is to run that wire and see what codes is shown. I pray to God its not something expensive, but knowing this car, I am sure its going to be something outrageous. Funny thing is that it is running the best it ever has since I have owned it. Is it possible he left something loose after cleaning the throttle body? I guess I will know more when I get that code. I cannot wait until I sell this POS. I could always put a piece of black tape over the light (which is up in the housing), but I am not that devious. Too bad good things dont come to good honest people... all I have is bad luck with cars. :( Merry Christmas everyone.

Yes, thanks. We replaced it one with a used one from a 1994 LS400 (thanks to one of our members Bill on here). Had to change the electrical plugs though because the 1994 is different than the 1991 for some reason. Iy may have helped, may not have, because I still occasionally have the problem. Initially, after we changed it, there was NO change at all, but I know my old one was not powering up and this other one was. I later took the PS reservoir off and cleaned the screen in the bottom as I was told that could be the problem. I did and while it did look a little dirty, it was not that bad. Reinstalled and again, NO change, but the next evening, it started working occasionally. Now its working more often than it was before... maybe its working the air out or something. Yesterday it was really working good... light as a feather and tonight it was working alot better, but there were a couple of moments it was not as easy as it was. I may be selling the car anyway very soon, so I am not too concerned about it. I have done all I can do... well, at least all I can afford to do. ;) The mechanic that did my throttle body said I should run Mopar transmission fluid in it... he said he had a ES300 that had PS woes and it cured his problem. Thanks for the tip on the Honda fluid... I will relay that to the new owner if I sell it.

Definitely! I stayed in the shop while the man cleaned my throttle body and it was bad. The red cloths were turning black! I could hear it... it sounded like honey being stirred. He actually first sprayed some brake parts cleaner on the cloth, then resorted to some "2+2" stuff... it was called something else, like "gum cutter"? It really started getting it he said. Must have since its running perfectly now. Makes me sad now that I am selling it that its running so good after doing that hesitation and lurching it had the past two years I have owned it. <_< btw - the CE never came on again... maybe it was adjusting itself or something.

to update on this, the next morning (Wednesday) it was back to its old ways... the steering was much stiffer again. I drove it to work on Thursday (where it set until just alittle while ago on this Sunday afternoon) due to weather conditions. I drove home and the steering was perfect again. So strange. It comes and goes. I bet its the pump going out. A mechanic said for me to run Chrysler transmission fluid in it... not sure that repercussions would crop up if I did this, but he said he has seen it solve many PS problems on all cars. Hmmm.

Thanks. Well, due to wintry conditions the car has been setting at work since Thursday morning. I did go pick it up this afternoon though and did about an hour of driving and the light never came back on. Maybe it was trying to adjust to a clean throttle body. lol.

Its playing games again.... I went and picked it up today and the steering is fine again... so easy to turn. It dont know what it wants to do.

Not sure if you are referring to my post or not, but I didnt personally do it. I took it to a shop. All he did was remove everything to gain access to the throttle body on top of the motor and used a cleaner and rags to clean it. It was dreadful. The red cloths were black when he was finished. :o

Not sure. The man just unplugged mine so he could remove the intake so he could clean out the throttle body. He didnt start the car back until everything was back in place.