90LS400Lexus

Thanks. Well thats $45 and that sounds fine to me. I guess for $45, it would be worth a chance, but thats 30 miles drive for you, so I could send an even $50... at least you can buy a couple of gallons of gas.... I would not feel right if I didnt send you something. I put out that "apb" for one and only had a very few replies... couple seemed like scams to me, but who knows. It this point, I am desperate. Surely its OK on that car. Is it like a wrecked car or something? Does he know if it was steering good when the car was last driven? One of the main things is that the end that screws up into the rack has a round end on it and all around the plastic end, there are screens in it... very small and fragile. Mine has a small hole in it... even when we took it off, so I suspect its either been off and cleaned before or maybe even a replacement. Yeah it is strange how I sometimes will have power steering just fine for only a very few seconds or moments when first started, but this is only occasionally... not always. I am really upset with that guy on ebay that was supposed to check on that one for me for $40. First time he emailed me and said he had it and for me to call him. I did... that was about 3 weeks ago. He said he would check it and for me to call him back or email him my phone # again. I did two days later had to call him back... said he had actually forgot and was sorry, but would check the next day and he would call me and let me know. He never did. I have sent him two emails since then through his ebay auction and he wont even reply now. Why, I have no idea. Maybe he realizes its part of the rack and dont want to seperate it now after he said he would. Oh well. So yeah, I will probably definitely get you to try to get this one for me... (just let me hear from this person that said they had one for $30 and they were going to test it, but I know how that has went, so I am not really depending on that deal, but I will let you know by tomorrow evening when I get home from work) ... I would appreciate it. PM me your address and I will send you the money, unless you have a Paypal account? I have the money in there for that, as that was how I was going to pay for the one on ebay. If not, I can get a money order and mail it to you. Many thanks again in advance.

Well, I am not sure at all to be honest with you. Most people seemed to think it was the screens on the rack solenoid and while it was dirty, it was not horrific. Anyway, we got it cleaned and it didnt help... not at all. I was then told to test it working by listening for a click when the ignition was turned on... my dad stayed under the car, by the unit and it didnt make not one utter of a sound when I switch the ignition on. We then ran direct wires from the battery and powered it up that way and it still didnt click. So....... I was assuming that was probably the issue. To add to its behavior... this morning when first started the steering worked perfectly for about 5 seconds, then it was like a switch was turned and steering was hard again. Same thing when I left work at 5:30.... I had my hand on the wheel, started the car and it easily moved... I started to turn the wheel and it went 1/2 turn, then instantly became harder to turn. Now, I do indeed have my idle-up valve plugged, but its my understanding that this is only noticable at low speed turns at low RPMs. I can even take my engine up to about 2500 and its still stiff, even when moving. Also it didnt do this until about 3 weeks after I did the idle-up valve, so I dont think thats it. Honestly didnt think I would have such issues crop up so suddenly on this car and I thought for sure that several other would have experienced this and known exactly what it was. Also, I always thought if something did happen I would accept and deal with the situation, but this has been the darndest problem I have ever had on ANY car before. I am really not a DIYer at all and even what I have done is an achievement for me. lol. Actually my dad has done most of this we have already done and its the holidays now and he is really busy and I really dont want to bother him with this and I really cannot afford much more here with this car. Some of those "test" I am not really that comfortable doing. I do appreciate that info though... maybe I can find someone that will do those steps that wont charge a fortune. Billy.... thanks that will be great. Let me see whats going on this end first, as I have found a couple of others, but the sellers are dragging their feet. I didnt take mine off... my dad did, but he got it off in less than 3 minutes. As you can see in the above pic of someone elses, it basically turns off and you have to unplug it. $30.00 would be awesome and whatever your nephew would charge to remove it... then there is shipping. Its not that heavy though. It would be nice though if the owner had some way of testing it before he removed it. Its supposed to make a click sound when the ignition is turned on (not started though). If not, its not working. Also once out, the screen are visible... and those would need to be good as well. LMK what you think your nephew would have to have to remove it, shipping and if it can be tested before removed..... I would be abliged. Thanks again!

Too bad they wont take trade-ins. I would like to trade my 1991 LS400 for that. ;)

Yep.... and its what the arrow is pointing to in the photo I posted above.... thanks.

Oh of course not... this is what the dealer wants $800 for I guess. Morons. They want more money! Thanks for those links to those others... maybe I can luck up with one of those selling the solenoid only. That local $995 parts car is too much for me. If not, I guess I will "beg" that other guy again. This is ridiculous. Maybe now he realizes its a part of the rack and dont want to sell it now? <_< Honestly, if not, I will have to sell the car for whatever. I owe around $2100 on it and cant get that for it like this. I will have to actually have to take out a personal loan, pay it off and get the title, just so I can sell it at a loss. Make payments on a car I dont even have. Bummer huh? Definitely the last LS400 I will buy (said that before, but I mean it this time because this car is ruining me) unless something happens with my job situation and I can afford to work on junk. ;) Well, I am going to bed... no need in fretting over it tonight. Thanks again.

Here is a photo of it.... this is not the one on my car, but one from someone elses car on this site.... the part where someone has, "is this the solenoid" is indeed the solenoid. This unscrews from that part on the bottom of the sector.

Yeah, those two were the only ones I have found so far. The other said he would take $50, then when I asked if it had been tested, he never replied. I asked twice. Oh well.

One that has already had the valve cover gaskets, motor mounts, steering and suspension, timing belt, water pump changed and all power steering issues addressed unless you like paying a fortune to have these addressed, especially if you are not a DIY'er. True- the 1990-94s seem to have more problems now, simply because they are older now... the oldest LS's on the road, but still reliable cars, but are annoying if you dont have alot of money in your savings account to play around with. Mine has minor, but costly annoyances. One reason I like the 1990-94 models if that if your timing belt happens to break, it wont take out your engine as it will on the 1995+ LS400s. Still debates on if the 95-97 LS400 is an interference engine, but unless I was 100% sure, I would assume the 95-97s are interference. 1990-94s are not.

So, does this mean that the sale is off and you WONT be taking the sledge to it afterall? Dang. ;) lol. Well that depends if whether or not I can find a reasonably priced used steering rack solenoid. ;)

Well, I got the car out today.... drove 60 miles and the engine ran perfectly. I guess it was a false alarm. I think it was where I didnt let the engine warm up that day and when I shut it off, there was unburned fuel on the plugs. I had a car in the past do this... dont remember what it was. I did go ahead though and put some Chevron w/techron fuel cleaner in the tank.... needed it anyway I am sure. so for now, all is well, except for the steering. <_< Thanks for the replies.

UPDATE 12-8-09: Thanks to member Billydpowell, I have a nice working solenoid that I will be installing soon!!! Please if anyone can recommend how I can get either a new or used steering rack solenoid for my 1991 LS400, please let me know! I found one on ebay that was on a wreck. Guy said he would take $40 for it. He said he would test it and let me know and put it on as buy it now, but he never has. I called him twice, one time he said he would check it, then one time he said he forgot and now I am to the point where it seems like I am begging and its getting ridiculous. I CANNOT afford a rack, or even have someone put it on, so a used solenoid that works is going to be my only hope. I have called ALL local junkyards and the few that even have any LS400s have already sold rack and all. :( Called the local Lexus dealer and he said its sold with something else and its $800!!! Its starting to look like I am going to have to run this thing in the lake. Thanks in advance.

WOW. I would end up blowing my engine if I redlined it. Tach is messed up anyway, so I dont trust it. It usually points to zero at idle when in gear! ;) Coils... is this what I need if I were to change... everyone is saying coilS, but this is only one. I am assuming it takes two of these or this is not what I am being told to replace? http://www.autozone.com/autozone/catalog/p...p;parentId=62-0

LOL. I know. If everyone here would pitch a little money in for my repairs and maintainence, it would be quite a show. At least everyone would know where their money is going. Well, honestly, its not its a bad car. I am sure that most 18 year old cars with 225K have many more issues, but these minor annoyances just seem to get to me... especially with other stuff going on. I think its the power steering (which has really been my only complaints with this car for the most part) that has really got my dander up with this car. I am hoping the new solenoid will resolve that problem. I hope. Now if I can just get the moron to sell me the part. It was on ebay and he has been giving me the run around. I emailed, then I called and he said he would test it and if it powered up OK, he would put it on as a buy it now. I called back and he said he forgot and he would check it Wednesday and call me back.... again. Still havent heard from him. Really frustrating. Oh well.

I was doing that. It was up to about 2500 rpms. Sounded higher because the cars against that wall. You never race the engine past 2500 rpm? You sound like billydpowell!!!! :D lol. nope. Never had it above 3000 and that was only on rare occasion. Maybe thats whats wrong with it. Seems OK now.

Nope, hasnt rained enough to cause puddles in a few days and I normally always avoid big puddles. Havent washed the engine either, but it needs it. I DID start the car yesterday (first start of the day) when checking the PS and only let it run for about 30 seconds and shut it off. I am wondering if where it was still in its "cold engine mode" and I shut it off that it had some unburned gas on the plugs or something? I have never done that before.

I was doing that. It was up to about 2500 rpms. Sounded higher because the cars against that wall.

I like the first part of that... but not sure if I will ever buy another LS400 again. If I did, it would have to be a low-mileage 1995-97 model, thats already had a new starter, timing belt and steering rack before I would buy it. Anyway, here is a little 2 minute video.... sorry, its in the dark, but you get the idea. First few seconds you can hear it start... the cranking sounds funny and it never sounded like that before. It did that this AM too. After I let it run some thing evening, it didnt sound like that when I restarted it. video.... (around 40-42 seconds, I dont know what that sound is... its the camera, it wasnt the car. LOL, you can hear my neighbor around 1:50 saying something. lol. HERE is the other video.... by this time it seemed OK... I normally dont ever race the engine like this, but seemed like it was helping clear it out.

Preferably before the sledge. There would need to be an additional discount after. B) When was the last time you changed distributor components? Well, since it seems to be OK now, it may not get the sledgehammer. ;) Never have changed the dist components... really has never gave this problem before. Kinda shocked me. I could not afford it anyway. All I can basically afford is basic oil changes (which I do religiously) and things in needed like tranny mount and fan bracket bearing. I am now awaiting a rack solenoid for the PS. I am going to post a video of it starting after I get it downloaded and the strange sound it made when starting... that starter sounded so funny... it was like it had no compression. :o Started normally after that though. Oil dont smell gassy. I think its a combo of where I have let it run too low on gas and where I started it yesterday it only ran for a couple of minutes, then I shut it down.

before or after I take a sledge hammer to it? ;) UPDATE - I went back out, started it and it was still doing it, but I let it run for about a minute and it cleared out and was running fine. Also started normally after. Must have been where I started it yesterday I didnt let it warm up long enough before shutting it off.

UPDATE - I went back out, started it and it was still doing it, but I let it run for about a minute and it cleared out and was running fine. Also started normally after. Must have been where I started it yesterday I didnt let it warm up long enough before shutting it off. I went to leave in my car (1991 LS400 with 225K) this morning and the starter sounded funny.. almost as if the car had low compression.... it was like it was missing when it was cranking. When it started, it made a funny sound (as if a spark plug was out!) as the RPMS went up and then it started shaking, missing, pouring out smoke that smelled like gas, etc!! I shut it down and took my other car to work. So finally the LS has let me down again. Timing belt was done only 24K ago. It was running perfectly yesterday. The gas is less than 1/4 tank... I was thinking maybe water in gas... bought gas treatment, came home, started it again and its doing the same thing and it sounds bad. I am not sure what has happened. The CEL (check engine light) is not on, so its not like its tripping any codes. :( Thanks for any help.

Thats what I was going to say as well! :) I would not worry about anything cosmetic if it were me. I would just be happy with a LS400 without mechanical woes. ;) I would love that 95! Hope it turns out to be a good one... with low miles like that, it should be.

Nice car. If I ever bought another LS400 (which I highly doubt I will, because my cars problems that I cant seem to get fixed has turned me against them), I would like a 1995-97 model. Thats a good deal... the more I see people buying these 1995-96 models under $3K, makes me realize how I got gyped by paying $3200 for my 1991. Oh well.... thats how my life goes. Poor gets poorer. ;) I saw a LS400 just like that today blasting down the parkway.... same color too! Enjoy it.

Yep, words of the wise. ;)

Oh yeah, such a wonderful design from what I have heard. Idiots who decided to put it there.

Thanks. Well, I will try the eraser on the screen first, maybe even poke the thing out, then probably replace the solenoid.... go from there.