90LS400Lexus

Once a month or so, my 1991 LS will do this. I unlock it, but its like it bucks back and the alarm goes off. Stops if I lock-unlock again though. I really just need to get batteries for the keys and use them.

Join the club.... the low coolant lamp has been illuminated on my 1991 LS for the past two years I have owned it. I decided not to pay $80. for a new one.

It will be a great help if you tell us how you took the pressure off the wheel? I have the same problem and so fa I can not make it to work. Thanks, Turn the steering wheel the way it will turn somewhat. ;)

Yeah... the 90s Toyotas/Lexus seem to be touchy in this area. I had this happen on my old 1990 LS and I thought it was a big problem, but turned out being the wheel lock had pressure on it. I then had a friend with a 1993 Toyota Tercel. She same back in work and said her key would not turn... I said, "you have a Toyota right" and she said yeah... I went out, took the pressure off of the wheel and it cranked right up. lol.

I rented a 2010 Camry LE last weekend... it had 6800 miles. Tranny was terrible. It would shift smooth, but once in 2nd, it would almost instantly also shift into 3rd, back into 2nd again. Hunted for gears and it was very annoying. I bet where its a rental car and it was mostly highway miles it had programmed itself for those weird shifts. I used its manual shift feature once when in town and it shifted fine then.

OK... seems fine now... level is full and its good to -25°F, which is about 30° colder than we will ever see even in the harshest artic outbreaks. :) I added this much water (jug was full) this is the result... everything should be good to go now.... tranny fluid still looks OK... oil OK.. changed 1000 ago... power steering fluid fresh... (and staying full now that the leak is gone) timing belt/water pump have about 28K on them.... just needs to be detailed again... took this 3 weeks ago... Mom said they do want to buy it next month... selling it to them for $2400.... so I am trying to get it in a good of shape as possible. Valve cover gaskets and motor mounts will be their problem. I am going to have the throttle body cleaned this week though.

This morning coolant could not even be seen in the tank, but this evening, when the engine was hot it was only lightly below the "cold" line. I am not sure where its supposed to be when the engine is not. Full I guess. Anyway, out of frustration (its been one of those evenings) I filled it as full as I could with distilled water. I have no idea whats going on, or if I am worrying prematurely. It was low somewhat even when I bought the car.... its just lower than before. Again, no visible leaks... water pump only has about 24K on it. So.... <_<

Any known issues? Wow, this is the biggest issue of all on the 1990-94 LS400. Everyone of these cars have had or will soon have a power steering leak. Its a proven fact. NO - I dont recommend that stop leak, I tried Lucas PS stop leak and it only SLOWED the leak. I used three bottles and it still leaked. There are posts and threads on the LS400 power steering leaks that will stretch from coast to coast. Its a very common problem. I had a leak for two years. Turned out being the short return line thats on the back side of the reservoir. It was a hose that had rotted and was hard as a brick. $1.85 for a new hose. Its just a 3/8's hose... about 8 inches long. Determine where the leak is? Well, the best way is to do as I was I was told to do, you need to clean up the area... cover the alternator with a bag or something, get high powered degreaser and clean up the power steering pump area and remove the under engine cover and clean all of that up. It could be your pump, a hose, rack, etc.

I have been wanting to do a fluid change on my 91 LS, but it has 223K. I am not sure when it was last changed. No records of it. Tranny still shifts fine though. I need to inspect it. My mom has a 1997 Oldsmobile Acheiva SL sedan, with the 2.4L 4-cylinder that was my grandpas. Grandpa bought new. It now has 184K, yes 184K and never had the transmission fluid or filter changed - I know he never changed it and mom got the car when it had 98K and dad has never changed it. Sad, I know. Tranny still shifts perfectly though.... pretty much amazes me. To be honest, dad only changes the oil in it every 8000 miles. Guess he figures its just an old car now and they will run it until it wont go anymore. Already got their monies worth out of it. When/if I give my mom my LS, I will start using this as my work car. I have big plans for it... it will probably fall apart though when I start servicing it. lol.

I just had to wash everything down around that part of the engine to see where it was leaking. It turned out to be the return line. It was a short small hose that comes out of the back of the PS reservoir.... not sure if the 1995 it set up the same way or not though... mine is a 1991. I have photos here. Do a search on return line.... or a search on my threads.

When I thought my HP line was leaking, turned out it was the return line.... $1.85 is alot nicer hose to replace than that $400. one. ;)

Yeah, its strange for sure. Mine has not done it since. I have been out of town for a few days, driving a 2010 Camry (which I hated) and the LS set for 3 days. Came back, started it and the PS is fine.

Thanks... well thats what I thought, but now it turns very easy again, even when stopped and at idle. It was only yesterday that it was hard to turn... most all day. I didnt let the car run for more than 30 seconds though before I started out because I was running late for a dentist appt. I normally wait until the initial idle-up goes down after the engine warms up before I take off. It was not cold yesterday... it was in the 70s and in the 70s when I left... steering was stiff and stayed that way, but did loosen up some when the car warmed up. This morning, it was 57°, I let the car run for 90 seconds before turning the wheel and it was fine... EASY to turn all day and at that moment. I am using Dexron automatic transmission fluid... isnt that correct for this car? Right, still no leaks.... for that, I am thankful. First time in Lord knows how many years its not leaked.

... throwing my hands up in the air... It was fine today! Turned with complete ease and smoothness. Totally baffled. Oh well. ;)

Sorry I cant help... I am in dire straights as well, but with other issues. Thankfully thats one problem I have not had... YET. I had seen a thread about this before somewhere. I will see if I can find it and let you know. Good luck!

Most know I recently plugged the idle-up valve on the power steering pump of my car. I didnt notice ANY change whatsoever in doing this as far as the feel of the steering went. I was told that it would be harder to turn when at a stop or low RPMS, but this didnt happen... it still turned so easily. It was like this for about 2 weeks/400 miles. Today was a different story. I had a dentist appt and wanted to take the Lex, so around 1:50 I started the car and let it run for about 30 seconds and placed it in drive and started out only to discover that the steering wheel was rather hard to turn. Fluid was checked and its still full and there were no noises, growls, etc. Once on the road, it basically steered as normal and once completely warmed up to normal operating temperature it was easier to steer at lower speeds, but was still noticably harder to turn. I am sure this may be normal since its plugged now, but wondering if it being quite that hard to turn is normal and why would it take it almost 2 weeks before it started doing this after the idle-up was plugged? I still have that steering shudder/vibration and shake on certain low speed/low rpm turns.. I am sure that the screens need to be cleaned, so dont know if thats part of this entire issue or not... or if the pump itself is just shot to heck. I must say I HATE the power steering system on this car. Absolutely hate it.

Hand brake light?

Thanks. Wow, you have to remove the pump to clean the screen in the pump? Isnt anything easy on these cars? ;) Oh well. Thanks!

Thanks Billy. My uncle has a 1997 Town Car which looks like the ones you had (which are nice rides by the way!), only its an ice blue color. He had sought out this car for years... he wanted a 1997 (being the last year of that body style) with low miles. He finally found one with 29K actual miles 3 years ago in his area in Richmond. I have rode in that car three times when he has drove it down and its unreal how the car rides. Its literally like being on a cloud (which I am sure is paid for by sloppy handling, lol)! It has around 78K now, but is still so tight and rattle free. He dont baby the car either... he soars across rr tracks, pot holes, etc. It makes me cringe (even though you dont feel them :D), as I would baby that car if it were mine... I baby all of the ones I have now... slow over rr tracks, avoid pot holes, etc. I dont like the 1998 and up TCs. I would like to find a 1995-97 if I ever did get a Town Car... I hear less about the valve seals problem on those than I do on the 1990-94 models. I was often confused how the 90 5.0L had the issue, as did the 91-94 4.6L. I thought one was OK before, but I think both have their issues dont they? I like the instrument panels on the 1990-94s better... strange I know, but I like the layout better. I have not ever seen a 1995-97 Town Car smoking... was this issue cured by 1995? Was the engine tweaked by then to stop this? I guess we will see. I may try to look at that 1990 TC on Tuesday and make an offer if its not sold. @ 85K, it may not be an oil burner yet, but like you said, its cheap. I have heard of people driving these cars up over 200K like this. Again, I love my LS, but this just seems like a really good deal and wondering if I should check this or the 1995 LS400 out and see whats happening. I have really been wanting a 1991-96 Chevrolet Caprice Classic if I did end up getting another car.... <_< Thanks again.

Just browsing some local LS400s and found a couple that are promising, but one seems overpriced... maybe not. I love my 91 LS, engine and tranny are still so perfect, but it has minor nagging issues, that once corrected, it will be a fine car again, but wonder if maybe I should try to find something newer, less miles- even though I know its a matter of time before these will have the same woes. ;) The 91 LS was supposed to go to my mom for a better car, but wondering if this 95 LS or the 90 TC would be better for her or me and give her the Mercedes... if I got the 99 LS400, that would be mine though. :) I found a nice, local 1995 LS400, with 155K for $3900 (which is $100 less than I had put down for my 1991 LS400 two years ago- naturally they show up once you have bought another ). All maintainence up to date and no problems mentioned. That price seems real fair- no photos posted yet. Then there is this local 1999 LS400 with 139K, beautiful black with tan, but its $9750. They say NADA book is $13850. Seems like a good deal... I have not "priced" the 99 models, but I just know this one looks sweet! I dont know... I have seen some 2001 LS430s for not much more than this. Hmmm. http://tricities.craigslist.org/cto/1415667691.html THEN, I have found something totally different that may suit me better- not sure. A 1990 Lincoln Town Car with 83K actual and one-owner miles for $1650. It looks like brand new in and out. I fell in love with it when I saw it. It does NOT have the costly air-suspension option. It has the 5.0L engine, while its a good engine, I think these are the ones that also had the valve seals problem that surfaced around 130K, but for $1650, a little work down the road may not be bad. Probably cheaper to service... who knows it may be a really bad idea.

hmmmm.... interesting. <_< No one here has ever cleaned the screen at the power steering pump, no one knows how, or is there even a cleanable screen in/near the pump? <_<

Did a search - no luck. It must be on the fritz. I am looking for detailed instructions on how to remove and clean the screen/filter on the power steering pump on a 1990-1994 LS400. I have found the info on how to do this on the steering rack, even though it was vague and said you had to jack the car up and remove both front tires, which seemed odd. Why not just pull it up on ramps? I think mine need to be cleaned, because I have a sporadic "shudder" and vibration on low speed sharp turns. Sometimes it will groan and sometimes even make the car shake when turning the wheel at very low speed turns! I was told it could be the screens are clogged, or the pump could be worn out, which would not amaze me since my fluid had ran low so many times when I had that leak. It started about a month ago. I did notice I had overfilled the PS a LITTLE, but not sure if that would cause this or not. I hope this is not a sign for another costly needed repair. Thanks in advance!

Glad you found needed help here! Its a good site! :) Yeah, the belts are good... my 2000 Tundra had 109K on the belt, 90K was the interval and it was 7 years old. My dad had me beat though... his 1988 Nissan V6 truck had 198K on the original timing belt! :o My uncle had bought it new and never changed the belt! Dad bought it and changed the belt at once! ;)

Omar- You are talking about the 1990s Mercedes and Volvos right? Wondering, because this has been just the opposite case with me. I have owned three Mercedes (1984 190D, 1985 380SE and a current 1988 300SEL) and never have had any major problems with any of them and have had many more issues and more costly with my LS models, which are newer cars. It could be the age factor... the 80s Mercedes are fairly simple cars... all of this changed in the 1990s when MBs became complex vehicles. My uncle in Anderson, SC has a 1992 300SE (which is the newer W140 chassis), but its been pretty reliable, but he did have to get a head gasket replaced... something unheard of on a LS400... most of the time. :) His dad bought the 92 MB brand new in 1991 in Atlanta and never had any other issues with it. Anyway, you know the nagging minor issues I have had with my LS400 over the past few months... just something I have never had to deal with on my Mercedes I have owned. In fact, I rarely have to visit the Mercedes forums. ;) (Hope I dont jinx myself! LOL) Thankfully though, I about have all of the issues with my LS worked out. It was basically normal maintainence items that had built up. Thanks for sharing that tip about the windows! My windows are OK, but seems like they could be a little faster. I could even use it on my other cars I guess. :) I am looking forward to seeing the pics of the repaired damage as well!

I am just going to top off with distilled water and go from there. Someone said it may have been a little low from the PS pump change or the fan bracket bearing change and some coolant was lost in the process.