eatingupblacktop

Unfortunately for a '95 your insurance is going to pro-rate the repair, so they're only going to accept the lowest cost. Ask them what they base their quote on and where they source their parts. Usually they have a list of suppliers who give them the best deals. Insurance companies, like warranty companies always discount suppliers and repair shops. The shops then try to get the difference from you.

I agree with aarman4 and ww. Just make sure you have all the documentation to answer any questions.

Just another example of the power of LOC!

Keeping ramps at a "set" position on my garage floor as I drive the car on has often proved to be problematic. Putting some rubber matting under the ramps usually solves the problem. Also making sure the slope is gradual helps.

I agree with ww, trunk is an enclosure for the sub. Here are links that show sound deadening in the doors and behind the rear seat. http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/body/fdoorpanel.html http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/body/rearseat.html. Been thinking of doing some like this myself, just too busy...will have to wait until I need to replace something. I would be interesting though to see how much difference it would make. If you go ahead, let us know how it turns out.

if the pump is wet then its leaking on the outside, so more likely to be the o-rings. The white smoke on start up usually has no visible leaks on the pumps. Is yours blowing smoke on start up? I changed this o-ring: http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e191/ste...exuspspump1.jpg The old one was baaaad. My Lex is blowing smoke on start up but I'll see tomorrow because my car now runs without Idle Control Valve. If you've blocked off the intake manifold and are still getting smoke, chances are there's a different reason for it. You didn't mention the mileage on your '95, but some with high mileage have valve seal issues. I would also clean/flush the reservoir screen, but you do have to remove the reservoir to do this. It's good practice to review old threads from time to time, you always find something new. Like the link VB posted to planetsoarer.com.....one of the best I've seen on the subject.

Forgot about that one.

Welcome to the club. Nice to hear someone appreciating their LS enough to do some restoration. Try the following link. There's always someone parting out an old LS. And there's ebay of course. http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showforum=17 Good luck and have fun with your project.

4.5k? What work did he quote on? That's more like a rebuild than maintenance!

That would be my first guess as well, since you didn't have the problem before cleaning the TB. Did you use a new gasket and are the surfaces clean? I would look there first.

DC and NC, You guys could do a radio program or do some writing team for a sitcom. Been thinking of cleaning out my tb as well, but it's hard to get motivated when everything runs perfect. I'm sure it could use it, I'm just not sure how much difference it'll make. Maybe when the weather gets warmer.

I have always loved that comercial, I remember when it first aired. Great stuff Classy new avatar DC.

Been meaning to build a set of ramps similar to what a friend uses. He's a diesel mechanic who works on highway coaches (MCI, Prevost etc). His ramps are made of .75" plywood glued together in layers, bolted (recessed) and stepped very gradually at one end for easy access. They are quite large, as they're designed for large vehicles. I would scale them down of course. Very stable, cheap, cannot collapse, but they have to use a spotter. In the garage I would just set marks on the floor to line up with.

BTW here's a promo video of the car I found: Well here it is ...almost......skydiving out of a car? Check this out.

He's losing voltage while he's driving. There's got to be a disconnect somewhere.

I wonder how it would handle the North Shore Pipeline in Hawai? :whistles:

There was a thread just now removed (and rightly so) that got little too personal. It impelled me to post this. I hope I'm not contravening any rules here and I'm not specifically looking for any responses, just expressing some thoughts. Let's face it, the level of expertise on this board varies as much as the locations of the members and the personalities behind the avatars. I've notice there are some qualified mechanics as members (some are even Lexus techs) who don't mix it up too much, but when they do, they try not to overwhelm the readers with tech stats that most members would find difficult to process. Many times a general explanation will help someone asking for help better than a treatise on flow mechanics and thermal dynamics. Imo anyone responding to a posting should consider the nature of the post. If there are specific tech questions being asked then a general response probably won't help the poster but should not be excluded because of it's generality....there maybe some readers who are interested in learning, (and I would say most), and who will benefit from an exchange no matter what the level. On the otherhand, posts that are vague or general in nature probably reflect the limitations of the author (who is seeking help) and should deserve a response that is within their level of understanding without accompanying sarcastic comment or derision. After all this board exists as an exchange of information. Finding a common language for that exchange is the challenge and from what I've read, the members do very well. Heated exchanges occur from time to time and are inevitable when people feel passionate about a topic. I find it interesting to read some of the strong exchanges by the original founders from years ago that continued for years and resurface every once in a while. Nevertheless, all the ones I read maintained their civility. Good examples for the rest of us. Personally I've read some posts that have left me with a sore face from laughing so hard. Humor is always welcome. Every one, sooner or later has an opinion and whether based on education or experience, they are entitled to it. So I say let's enjoy the diversity of the membership and live and let live.

You'll get a variety of opinions on this. Manual suggests every 15k on a schedule A (extreme conditions) and only inspections every 15k or 24 mths on schedule B. Dealer will tell you every 30k. Some do the tranny every second or third oil change. If you do 4 changes, you'll have most of the fluid changed. If you're a diy, then try the method in this tutorial: http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/transmission/transflush.html Once you're ready to put in some fresh fluid (assuming you've taken out 2 qts), fill it with less than 2 qts (like 1.75 or so), drive it for a 5 to 10 miles then read the d/s and top it off.

You're about 1 - 1.5 qts over what's usually drained. It might have been overfilled when it was last done. What did it read before you did the change? Are you reading the d/s with a warm engine while it's running? If you are and the reading is normal, I wouldn't worry. Putting in 2 - 2.5 qts is about the range.

How is your battery and have you checked out your cables?

I disagree with your premise that a power flush "will do no harm" even after "you drop and clean the debris out of the sump pan first". First of all, flush machines force powerfull cleaning solvents at high pressure in a reversed flow back through the transmission to clean out accumulated junk that has formed through the breakdown of the fluid. This high pressured reverse flow of aggressive solvents does break off chunks of sludge, but it forces them backwards through one-way valves and galleries often wedging and trapping them in there. The result is that normal flow of the fluid is reduced or even cut off resulting in abnormal or lack of shifting in the tranny. The absence of lubricaton eventually ends in failure of the tranny. The inevitable repairs are expensive. Toyota along with most manufacturers does not recommend power flushes. Even manufacturers of power flush machines advise in their manuals not to use them on high mileage machines. I reiterate, the only safe flush is as described in the link previously posted.

yes it does!!! so pretty!!thanks guys.. before this IS.. i had an 03 built head/cam kenne bell s/c Ford Lightning.. and yes, i also do have a 07 RM 250Z dirtbike.. not in pic.. but ill show ya a pic of it.. i used to race motocross for 10 yrs.. 125 and 250's.. ive made it to 3 nationals and place top 10.. in 125B and 250B class.. Thanks for the pics. Nice collection. Sure takes me back. Best ride I ever had was on a Suzuki 1100 backup detuned race bike when I did some work for the Suzuki racing team. Crew chief let me ride it as long as I stayed below 6k and didn't take it out of 2nd. When I got back to the pits, couldn't get my hands off the grips...it's like they became welded to the bike.... and the grin was beginning to feel permanent. When I asked him why he didn't want me to go above 6k, he said because "that's where the power band starts". I think they redlined at about 12. After that ride anytime I saw a gp, I had a new respect for the racers where things go wrong in a heartbeat......still think they're crazy and still think I'd love to give it a shot in my next life.

thanks..... what you do you mean let the paint breath???? i put it on there to cover up where my dog chewed on my bumper..... damn dog....... Your dog likes to chew on bumpers, mine likes to lick dead flies off the grill. Every time I see an IS I feel like I should visit a dealer for a go see. Looks good but personally, I don't like feel comfortable wearing a bra.

What about parking your car right beside one that's the same color but with a stock hood of course, for an immediate side by side comparison?

If you were happy with oem and had no problems, why switch? "If it aint broke....don't fix it?"