90LS400Lexus

On the clublexus forums some guy has a big post up about several power steering issues. He has a big writeup on how to clean the solenoid, etc. He then says to "test" the solenoid. He says it will click when the ignition is turned on, so have a person down under listening. We did that, no click. Then he said you can also run power directly from the battery and put it to the terminals and it will click if its operating and its not on my car. Personally I have no idea... I am the one asking all of the questions. lol. Actually here is that link and the guy that posted it also posts here... http://www.clublexus.com/forums/1144607-post1.html "Checking the Solenoid electrically: Measure the resistance on the solenoid. It should be between 6 and 11 ohm. After this check the operation. Connect battery terminals to the solenoid. when you look at the connector the left one is - and right one is +. Check that the solenoid makes clicks sound.. don’t apply voltage for more then 30 sec otherwise you will burn it.. if you have to repeat the procedure wait till it cools down so you can touch it with your hand. If there is no click sound replace the pressure control valve with the solenoid valve". (I dont understand this last sentence though). Not sure if it would help anyone, but here is a little 2 minute video I made today as I was trying to make sure the air was out of the system.... as you can hear (even over my noisy lifters) the PS pump is quiet. Yeah, my cars interior is messy... since its been messed up I have not really cared or had the time. http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e172/Ten...rrent=010-2.flv

Thanks. Well, its going to be about $50-$60 for a used working solenoid, so I guess I will go ahead and try that and go from there. Mine has only did that "had steering one minute OK, then hard the next a couple of times... when it went out, it seemed to do it suddenly and now its only a rare case when its easy to turn. It was like flipping a switch as well, but it only happened a couple of times and that was the end of it. It started as a shudder on low speed turns. No, cleaning the PS pump screen is about the only thing I have not done. I was told you could jab a screw driver down in there and poke it out, but not sure if I want to do that, although I have been angry enough to do it. If I can figure out how to do it without taking the pump off, I will try it. We have a local Lexus dealer, but I would not trust them with my lawnmower, since they did not change my oil last time I took it there after paying them $63 to do so. I have since been taking it to the local Toyota dealer and they charge about $50, but since I now have my under engine cover off, I see how easy it is, so I will probably start doing it myself and save about $30. I have a friend whose dad is a Toyota mechanic and he has done SOME work for me in the past, but last message I left him, I asked if he would clean the solenoid and PS pump screen and he never even returned my call. I am not begging anyone, so me and my dad took the solenoid off and cleaned it ourselves, which is when we cleaned the screen, then discovered that the solenoid was not clicking. Its hard to find good mechanics that know about Lexus cars. Even one I know that supposed to be one of the best said he didnt even know of a screen on the steering rack and then I mentioned my car needed valve cover gaskets and he said the "back" one was hard to change. He thinks my LS400 has a V6. I have even let him see the car before and he still thought it was a V6 next time I mentioned some work I needed done. He has it confused with an Avalon and ES300. Oh well. <_< Thanks for the info however!

OK. Just got the car off of the jack stands... I had it off of the ground, started it and turned the wheel lock to lock about 150 times. Didnt change a thing. :( Not sure if people believe I am doing what I say, LOL, but here is a pic. While doing this afterward I looked in the reservior and it appears there are no bubbles or anything in it.

Has probably already dumped the car... who knows.

Thanks. Well, all we dont was plugged the idle-up valve and I replaced the return line that was leaking on the back of the reservoir. It steered just fine for about 2 weeks after that, but they I was getting an occasional "shudder" on low speed turns..... shortly after, the steering would occasionally become rather heavy, then more so and more so to the point to where its the norm rather than the exception. There are only rare times now when its easy for about 30-90 seconds, then its like a switch was flipped and its heavy again... at all speeds. I was told it could be the screens in the rack solenoid clogged, so we removed it and it was rather dirty, but not as bad as I thought. We replaced it, then tried that test where you listen for it to click... well it dont, not even when you run direct power to it from the battery. I thought that was the issue, but now I am being told otherwise, so I am so confused. I have a guy that will sell me a rack solenoid off of a wrecked 92 LS400, but I dont want to pay $40+ shipping if thats not the issue. I have not yet cleaned the screen in the power steering pump, but I am thinking thats not it, because the pump is quiet... its not growling or anything, but not sure if that lack of that means its not clogged at the pump. I have thought about jabbing a screw driver in the bottom of the pump to punch out that screen, but not sure if thats the right thing to do. At this point, I will try anything cheap.... I will get it on the jack stands this weekend and turn the crap out of it... then I will know I guess.

Thanks. Well thats wonderful news. Yeah, the steering is heavy all of the time now, except for when I FIRST started it this morning and for about 10 seconds, it was super easy to turn, then it was stiff again! I cant seem to get the seller of the part to get on the stick anyway so to speak. I honestly am at the end of the rope. I dont know what else to do. I have totally had it with this car. I am about to take it out the lake and push it off of the boat ramp or lay a brick on the gas pedal with it running and walk away - seriously! My stress level is through the roof and I cant seem to get anything done right with this car. I am told this and that by different people and have tried it all, but still nothing has worked aside from a brand new steering rack, etc. Seems like since its working fine one minute, then all of a sudden its gone again, its something besides the rack. The solenoid is part of the PPS (Progressive Power Steering) system. Its function is to lower fluid pressure at higher speeds so steering isn't too sloppy/soft when the PS pump is at higher pressure. If your stiff steering problem is at all speeds then I doubt the solenoid has much to do with your problem and you might be wasting your time. In fact in the repair manual checklist the PPS system is the last thing to try when you have stiff steering. See attached chart....

I dont think so and most places want to sell you the entire steering rack! I found one (solenoid) online... but I have not heard back from the seller yet! :(

Hmmm. No I didnt, but I am guessing since the solenoid is not clicking when powered up, then that is the issue? I didnt see any air bubbles in the fluid in the reservior, but not sure what that means. I did find a used solenoid from another LS400 for $40. Will be tested before sold to me, so I HOPE AND PRAY thats my issue. Lord knows the trouble the steering on this car has give me over the past 6 months. Thanks.

Did the wires from the battery test to test the solenoid... its still not making the click sound, so safe to assume its the solenoid thats bad?

Bravo! Yes, post pics! Gee, I didnt know your '93 had 290K. I thought mine was high at 224K. :) Wow, thats amazing. Mine has 224K, but its like it has 774K with all of the minor nagging issues I cant afford to repair. :( Oh well. Enjoy those fine cars. :)

Thanks. I was thinking I had read that somewhere. Maybe I can figure it out by reading that again. ;) Yeah, thats a good post. I actually printed that and used it as a guide when we cleaned the solenoid screens... then we replaced and listened for that click its supposed to make when the ignition is turned on, but it dont make a sound. Sooooo.... I was wondering if it was the solenoid or the ECU? in the steering column. Seems like they sure made these cars steering complex with all of this electrical crap... they should have done away with this jibberish, but oh well. :) That post about testing the ECU in the column sounds confusing to me. I dont even have a tester. Lord only knows how much that thing costs if its bad. I am going to be in the poor house with this car. :(

Well, my response to my initial post dont seem to be getting me and response, so I want to try this. We cleaned the screen on my steering rack solenoid, but it didnt help... I still have rather heavy steering (at all rpms/speeds). We tried that test where you listen for the click of the solenoid when you turn the ignition on. Its not clicking, so I am wondering if this is why my steering is heavy and if so, is it the actual solenoid that is bad or something else thats preventing it to power up? I read something about there is a part in the steering column that goes bad that keeps it from powering up? I want to be sure before I buy a new solenoid. I found one (used of course) for $65.00. Basically is it more likely that the solenoid itself is bad or the part in the steering column and will this cause heavy steering (BTW, I have the idle-up valve blocked anyway, so wondering if it even matters about the solenoid). I am not sure, as I dont even know what the solenoid does????? Thanks for any advice. I am at a crossroads.

Nevermind... I may have found a 1992 parts car.... Gosh I hope it has this part and they will sell it.

I am guessing no, but does anyone know if the steering rack solenoid on the 1997 LS400 is compatible with the 1991 LS400? Thanks

Thanks. Yeah, thats what I was thinking.... junk yard is going to be my only hope. I cant afford $500. No way at all. Bad part is its hard to find these cars in junk yards around here... not many around at all for that matter, except for FOUR gen 1 LS400s I often see... strange they all look like mine... they probably are all bad. <_< What exactly is this called... steering rack solenoid?

More research it seems as if you cant buy just the solenoid... it comes as a valve and is $500, or $400 on a brand new rack? Well, I absolutely cannot cannot afford that, then pay another $150 or more to have it put on. Gosh, why didnt this happen when the cash for clunkers was going on? When I replaced my return line that comes out of the back of the pump, I used a regular hose, instead of using one by the part # for this hose at the auto parts store. I wonder if this could be the problem. I dont think so, as it was working fine for about 2 weeks after that happened. I owe $2200 on the car and I honestly dont think I can get that much for it. I dont know what to do. I am at a loss.

Apparently you cant buy just the solenoid either. I cant find it listed anywhere for sale. I just finished cleaning the screen on my 91 LS400 and it was pretty soiled, but its still hard to steer. I (we) dont hear the clicking of the solenoid when the switch is turned on... I guess its bad. Oh well.... just my luck. Anyone have a sledgehammer? <_< Best wishes Edgar. Hope you get get it sorted out.

Oh boy. We got the solenoid screens cleaned today.... it was very easy. However, I still have stiff steering. :( We did that solenoid test (listen for the click when you turn the ignition on) and we dont hear it clicking. Apparently the solenoid is bad.... I am sure that going to be big $$$. I knew it could not be that simple... nothing ever is for me. So.... I guess this piece of crap will just set in the driveway. I am about finished with it. I have owned alot of cars and this one has caused me more "minor" problems than any I have ever owned... even older ones with higher miles. Another thing is that one of those little screens already had a very small hole in it and some kind of soft red plastic in it. We got it out and again, the screens cleaned, but it didnt help. I just hate to spend alot of money on a solenoid and then it be again, something else. Oh well... thanks for the replies and to the ones with the instructions on how to remove the solenoid.

Yeah, all I need now is to find out how to clean the screen in the pump. That was a dead link. I was trying to find the data that tells how to clean it without having to remove the pump, because I have no idea. I am going to march on and clean the solenoid on the rack tomorrow. ;) I was going to find someone to do this, but one mechanic (the Toyota mechanic, who is the dad of a good friend of mine) wont call me back (I left him a voice mail and told him that I needed some work done to the PS pump and rack), so he must not want to do it and the other said he didnt know of any screens... so??? I will do it myself... only way to get anything done right? ;)

Thanks. I guess I will just have to find a mechanic that knows more about it. THIS IS FROM: 914lps . Your power steering system has two screens in the system. one in the resivor tank and one on the selonod valve on the rack by the drivers side. Years ago i did a very extensive post on how to take care of those screens. Do a search if you can for posts by me. You should then see it. cheers. Thanks. I found it. Its post #10 on this thread... http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...c=16383&hl= Seems like thats easy enough and I am gonna try to work on this tomorrow and see if that helps, but confused on cleaning the screen in the ps pump. Someone had replied, but the link was so old, it would not show the info he posted. Well, the pump is not whining, so I am wondering since its not, if its OK and dont need to be cleaned.

Thanks! I definitely will!

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. I had a similiar problem with my 1991 LS400 recently. I had the smoke on startup and the leak. My dad put the 14mm bolt in the pump to block the valve, but thankfully no fluid got on the alternator. Then we re-routed the vacuum lines. Well, I still had the power steering leak (I thought it was the valve that was also causing the leak but it wasnt), but it turned out being the return line that comes out of the back of the reservior. It had been leaking for 2 years and all this time it was a $1.80 hose. I thought it was the pump itself, which is why I had stalled on fixing it, but oh well. Unfortunately, something has happened since then, as my steering has become hard to turn most of the time. I thought it was the screen on the pump or rack, but one mechanic said it didnt have a screen, which I know is wrong. As far as your battery light only not coming on when the alternator failed, is a mystery. The electrical sysem warning on these cars (older Toyotas in general) can be strange sometimes. I had a 81 Cressida and when the battery came loose one time, instead of the battery light coming on, other random warning lights came on. I have also heard that sometimes on these LS400s, that when the alternator starts to fail, the "brake" warning light may come on dimly when the car is running. Mine did this about a year ago, then it stopped coming on when the car was running, so I guess it was something else? Strange. I am guessing that the airbag unit may have to be reset since the car was totally powered down. I dont think anything would have happened to it that would have messed it up. Good luck... I know I am going to need some myself. <_<

Thanks. I guess I will just have to find a mechanic that knows more about it.

I am not familiar with racks, but I took my 91 LS by a shop of a mechanic that sometimes works on my cars this evening. I am puzzled though. He said he thought that the rack was bad. I told him I had heard there was a screen on the rack that could be cleaned, but he said he had never heard of it. He said he replaced a rack on a Camry and Avalon last week and he didnt recall a screen on those racks and said they should be the same. Maybe I should have said solenoid rather than screen. Anyway, I dont think I am ready to just have a new rack put on until I know more about this. Last night the PS was working smoothly and easy for about 5 miles, then it was stiff again. :( Its working less often now than it was. It has some power assist, but only about 30% working I would say. The rack is not leaking.... there are NO leaks now. I thought when a rack went bad it was simply because it was leaking.... is this not so? If not what causes them to fail to make it hard to turn when they are not leaking?