90LS400Lexus

Must be a 1995-97 thing... I dont have that problem on my 91' LS, nor on my old 90' LS or have heard of it on any other gen 1 LS. I have heard other complaints though on the 97's though on this.

There is a chance it may not be the bulb... its possible that the sensor at the gearshift is not making total contact.

Good advice! I just wish the PO of my car had of known this (about the bracket bearings going bad) when they had the t-belt and water pump done @ 21K miles ago. The car had 200K when I bought.. the PO had these changed at 196K at a Lexus dealer for a whopping $1500! THEN.... as you know I had this fan bracket bearing go out this month. I had no idea at the time that this was a seperate piece. I thought it was the water pump that had went out, then I learned that it was likely not the pump out at 21K and it was the bracket bearing. I was wondering if this was normally a part that was replaced when they did the t-belt, but the Lexus dealer said no. Seems like it would be, especially at every other belt change around 180K-200K. I was also amazed that the bracket was going to cost me $258 @ the dealer, but I found a Lexus new part online for $155, which is still more costly than the water pump at that same place. SO... I am getting the labor done (by the father of one of my friends thats a Toyota tech). He is going to do it for $120 (labor) and part is $166 with shipping... so right around $300. Since the t-belt/water pump only has 21K, I guess it would be foolish to change it now. ??? Toyota guy said he wouldnt do them since they only have 21K on them. I am at a crossroads though... I wonder if I should do it. I keep thinking what if the PO lied about the water pump being replaced. I know the belt was, its on the sticker under the hood that Toyota puts under the hood.... but no record of the water pump being changed. I am hoping since it was changed at 196K, that they did do the pump this time too. Since it was done at the dealer, could any Lexus dealer look on the computer to verify if the pump was also changed? TBH, I cannot afford the water pump too. :( This car has costed me a fortune in parts/repairs - sad part is that the are all minor things, but wow, so costly. Thanks.

Wow. Only 105K. Must be nice to have such a low mile LS. Too bad its broken. :(

Oh, your reverse lights dont work either? Ew, that is a problem! Yeah, hopefully someone will know more about it than me. All I know is how costly these are to maintain. ;) Good luck!

I ended up getting one from a local salvage yard for $40 bucks. Hell of a lot better than 275-300 at the dealer Thanks, but I cannot find any of these cars around here in salvage yards. There are times I wish mine was in the junkyard. <_< Especially when I price parts and labor repair costs. I see no reason why they could not attach the fan to the water pump like on most other cars... that way when the water pump was replaced, no more worries for awhile. Seems like this is a part that should be highly considered in replacing when doing t-belt and water pump, especially at the 2nd change around the 200K mark. Cheapest genuine "Toyota/Lexus" part I could find was $165. My "Toyota tech mechanic" is going to do the labor for $120. Dealer wanted $160. $40 is $40.

Mine did this a few months ago when it first started getting cool in the mornings, but only when it was in "D" (drive) for a short period. If I wiggled the shifter, the light would flash and then illuminate and stay on when the car warmed up. It did it for like two weeks straight, then it just stopped doing it. Since then, its worked fine, no matter the temperature. Strange. I dont think it has anything to do with the trunk hinge wires or the cluster itself. I think its just probably where the contacts? on the shifter are showing their age. Alot of cars lose their "D" light, because since thats the one thats on the most, the light burns out, but I dont think this is the case on the LS400. As far as the lights on the down by shifter itself, mine dont work, nor have they since I have owned the car. At this time, this is the least of my concerns with this car.

What year is the LS400 ?

delete - double post

Thanks, but I have not been able to locate that part at either of those locations.

As you all know, my LS400 has a broken fan bracket bearing and it has to be replaced. Looks like its quite a task to change. I have found one online on ebay for $55.00 and I guess its not a OEM part. The lowest price OEM Lexus/Toyota part I found was $165.00. My dealer wants $257.58 for the part. I am wondering, would I be OK just going with the $55.00 aftermarket part, or since its so hard to get at, should I go with the OEM part for $110.00 more? I am wondering if anyone has heard anything about the quality of these aftermarket parts. Thanks. Aftermarket: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/90-97-4-0L-...sQ5fAccessories Lexus/Toyota OEM: http://www.factorylexusparts.com/servlet/t...TORY-FAN/Detail

Could be the speed sensor?

I called one mechanic I sometimes use (changed the rear shocks on my last LS400) and he said that it does not even show it (fan bracket mount/bearing) listed in his book for the labor price for this part only. He said its probably an hour job, but he kept insisting that this is probably the same setup as the 3.0L V6 as the Camry/ES300. I kept telling him this was the bigger Lexus with the 4.0L V8 and that it was rear wheel drive. He then suggested that I call a junk yard and see if they had it listed in a book. Ironically, down the road from that shop is someone with a 93 or 94 LS400 that sets in the carport... I was going to tell him to stop there and look at it and see what I was talking about. ;) Then today I drove by there and there was a man there in a 1990-92 LS400 and that mechanic was getting ready to look under the hood. I was going to stop and tell him that was the car I had, but a very severe thunderstorm was approaching and I had to get home to batton down some hatches. I guess I will order the part and have the car towed either over there, or somewhere to get it replaced. Cannot really seem to get a consistant answer of what all is needed to change this part only. Some say its easy, while others say you practically have to take it down to the timing belt. - actually I should say one says this and another says that... I am really not getting much info from anyone on this.... I guess its a very rare problem and no one knows exactly on what all is involved in replacing this part only.

Dont feel alone... I know how you feel. Everytime I fix something on my LS, something else breaks. Finally got the power steering leak stopped, now the "fan bracket bearing" went out, the car is totally undriveable and the mechanic I was going to use does not even show it listed in his book for the labor price for this part only. He said its probably an hour job, but he kept insisting that this is probably the same setup as the 3.0L V6. Now I am down to needing: motor mounts transmission mount HVAC board coolant level sensor (and maybe a PS pump if it starts leaking again) Good luck with your car.

Thanks for all of the replies. ;) Turns out that it is indeed the fan bracket bearing like Python said. I have heard from some that its fairly simple, HOWEVER, some have said its a time comsuming and difficult process and it practically takes it down to the timing belt once everything is removed to replace it. Dealer wants $258 for the part and $160 labor. I found a part online for $165 and I called an independent shop (a mechanic I normally use on my other cars) and awaiting a call to see how much they will charge for labor. Either way, it looks like its going to set me back quite a bit and again, I will have to let something else go that this car really needs, but as it is not, its not driveable. Oh well. **Advice? For those of you due for a new timing belt/water pump, I recommend that you replace this as well, because it seems like its a part that is common to go bad on these cars. **Unless its one of those it only happens to me deals, but I have read several posts about this failing on other LS400s.

Thats a good question, because mine is bad too and I am having alot of trouble trying to figure out what all I need and have to do to replace it.

I sent my dad that Lexus page and he said he thinks now its the bracket bearing as well. I will look into that first.

He said it was the bracket bearing that was bad. The small round part of the clutch fan is what I can see wobbling and moving back and forward...

Thanks. How much is involved in replacing that?

UPDATE for future reference - as someone mentioned, it was indeed the fan bracket bearing. I had it replaced ($155 parts / $120 labor) and its fine now. I meant to put in the title it has 11K miles in the supposedly new pump - not 17K.

So, where is your 72 Chevy now? :whistles: Tucked away in the garage until spring.

Those huge old phones are also worthless and take up a lot of console space. Unless there are still a few small pockets of analog service somewhere in the U.S., these old Lexus phones will not do anything at all -- not even call 911. I know, but my console is filled with nothing but trash anyway and I never use it. Good reason to clean it out. :D

Thanks. I would really appreciate it.... I sent you a PM. Thanks again.

I would love to find a old original Lexus phone for my LS400.... just for looks you know. Those old huge phones are neat. :D

No wonder so many of them (like mine) are leaking and replacement is hesitant. It took us 10 minutes to change the valve covers gaskets on my 1972 Chevrolet. :)