bigste

Sounds like a bad earth. Remove the battery terminals and clean them really good, both the clamps and battery posts.

Looks to me that the new tensioner is not compatible so you'll need a Lexus one. I always use OEM if I can afford it.

Easiest job you will ever do. Again use only OEM Lexus belt. Get a 14mm socket on the spring loaded tensioner pulley and turn it aniclockwise to get the belt on. That's it done. Sepentine.bmp

Might save you some money here, read on. You got the same as I had. The problem is a cheap fix. I'm 99% sure your problem is the PAS reservoir O ring, about $2 and an easy fix if you are quick. Next step is the alternator will pack up altogether. Remove the alt and take off the back cover etc and clean it up. Whilst it's off do the O ring on PAS and clean off all the mess. There's plenty of posts of how to do it but here's my version. 1. Disconnect the battery negative. 2. Remove serpentine belt by using a socket and rachet on the spring loaded tensioner pulley. Think it's 14mm and turning anti clockwise will slacken the belt enough to get it off. The tensioner pulley is the one on the opposite side to the battery and it has no grooves on it as it runs on the back of the belt. Whilst the belt is off check the idler & PAS pulley for worn bearings. 3. Remove the cover from under the engine. 10mm I think. 4. There is only one bolt and one nut to get the alternator off (14mm I think). One is undone from above and one from below. Once the nut and the bolt is out you can manouvre the alternator in order to pull out the wiring plug at the rear and then remove the main power wire from the side. 5. In order to get the pump out from below you will probably need to take out 2 small bolts from the corner of the sump that are holding a bracket containg two pipes. You'll also need to remove the bracket from the pipes by taking out 2 small screws. With these pipes out of the way you can just about lower the Alternator down through the gap. The whole job will be about 45 minutes to an hour for a first attempt. If your alternator is very oily suspect your power steering pump leaking which is above the alternator. If you've needed top ups you are advised to sort out the leak at the same time as you do the alternator or your time and money will be in vain. If you find the alternator is full of oil check there is no play in the PAS pump pulley. If if seems ok your problem is likely to be an easy fix to stop the leak. The reservoir which hols the PAS fluid is detachable from the pump and when it's detached their is a small 'O' ring that needs replacing. Here in Spain it costs 1.85€ or £1.50 to you in uk. To change it you must syphon out the fluid first then cover the alt with plenty of rags. There are 3 bolts to be removed plus the low pressure pipe. There is no need to remove the pump. You can find more details if you look round this forum or ask here and I'll give you more details. The part number from lexus or toyota is 90080-30040. I've copied and pasted from a couple of my previous posts but you should get the drift.

Have you tried disconnecting the battery for 10 minutes.

You got plenty of problems there but nothing serious. A search of each item on here will reveal lots. A few pointers to help you! 2. Mine's the same and I think it's normal. 4. Sounds like the wiring loom on the hinge of the boot (trunk). The tranny is bulletproof. Lots of info on here. 6. Your most expensive job and plenty of info on the forum Good luck, welcome and happy motoring. You'll soon be converted.

I think your headrests make the LS look awful. That's one mod I won't be doing. Sorry to upset you but if you like it, what the hell, stick with it.

I'd say you got air in the system. More likely one of 2 ways. See if the bottom of the pump is wet. If it is you probably need a new O ring at the bottom of the reservoir, a $2 fix. Other than tat the favourite is the valve at the bottom of the pump. It's less than $100 if you DIY. If it is that valve the symptoms are white smoke at start up when it gets bad. It doesn't usually leak externally either. Either way you need to sort it and bleed the system. Loads of info on here about all these problems, have a good read. You will also be wise to clean the solinoid valve filter.

They remove the valve because it starts leaking after a few years. When it leaks steering fluid fets into the engine via that pipe. This causes a dramatic loss of PAS fluid plus loads of white smoke at start up and emission problems. The cost of a new valve is under $100 if you do it yourself but some people begrudge paying it. Like I said it's widely felt the vavle has very little noticeable effect on the steering. Some have trid just removing the 2 pipes and plugging them with little success. The only sure way to do it is to remove the vavle from the bottom of the steering pump and replace it with a 14mm x 1.5 drain plug as there is a lot of pressure there.

Think that one is from the steering air control valve. It's function is to alter the feel of the steering. Members have often done away with that valve and said there was no adverse feeling to the steering.

Hickup

Hickup

First of all my LS400 is an earlier one so yours may be different but I don't think so. To solve your problem it's process of elimination. I'd be taking the belt off first and running the engine without it for a minute or two. If all is quiet you know the problem is either the belt, pump or alternator. Check for play in the pulleys etc. These cars can be a pig for getting air out of the pas system and air does cause noise. On my car the belt tension is automatic as the idler is spring loaded. Check the pulleys all line up in case you've got somthing out of line. If there is any play in any pulley it needs replacing. I'm sure your problem won't be serious, good luck.

Time you started doing things for yourself rather than going to Toyota. Most jobs on this car are within you. There are tutorials with pictures all over the net including this site. I've had your problems and was quoted Mickey Mouse figures to fix it. I did it myself after reabing up on it and it cost me less than $2. The leak was the O ring on the reservoir. I cleaned the solinoid valve first as that causes the pressure to build up if it's blocked.

If the light came on because the sensor was tripped it's probably because the sensor needs replacing as well. Expensive fix but can be bodged by cutting sensor wire and taping 2 ends together.

My LS4 has that one for parking brake. Make sure it's fu;;y released.

Check your power steering reservoir is not dripping onto the alternator. It's a classic cause of this problem.

Bet your shirt it's the transmission fluid. Flush with Toyota Type IV and nothing else. To give you quick peace of mind just dip the dipstick and look at the colour and have a smell. It should not smell burnt at all and it should be pink in colour. If not you should feel assured that it's only the fluid that needs flushing.

You need to see a phsyciatrist mate. Having said that if these halucinations aren't worrying you too much I'd forget about it till the dog bites you, you'll know when it does as it will probably be painful, in the pocket at least. I did read a while ago of a Lexus with a mouse, turned out to be a squeaky seat. It seems that Lexus cars come with everything but they have not thought of including a vet in their service agents, maybe they should.

You say you may fit a new pump. Forget it, just change the o ring. Trust me that your PAS leak is the o ring. You can do it in an hour or so for under $3. Piece of cake.

Check if the PAS is wet underneath. If it is I'd urge you to fix it super quick. It can be a $2 fix at this stage to replace the O ring on the PAS reervoir. At the same you will need to take off the alternator and remove the back plate check the brushes and give it a good clean. It's a DIY Saturday morning job. If you drive with a leaking PAS it can cost several hundred unless you catch it quick. There's lots of posts on the subject under PAS, Oring & alternator.

If you still got air problems jack up the front and grab one of the road wheels moveing it the full travel each way a few times.

I'm same as SRK on this one.

This all sounds interesting but here in Europe we can choose 95 or 97 octane. I'm amazed that car is designed to run on 91 octane. I would never in a million tears put 91 octane in my car and as for less than that I think I may as well pee in the tank.

There is no need to remove anything except the engine floor shield, I done it a few weeks ago and it's an easy job. You need to disconnect the battery earth & move a couple of small pipes to one side from underneath then the serpentine belt. Take off 14mm nut and 14mm bolt from alt. Twist the alt round and take off the wiring plug and undo the nut for the other wire. Then you can lower it through the tight gap. Simple in under an hour for a novice. If it's full of oil replace the PAS res O ring. That is done from above by removing the air intake and serpentine belt. Remove 3 small bolts under the res, that's fiddly but manageable without taking the pump off. Pull up the res and replace the O ring. It's a good idea to syphon the res and have a few rags underneath. There's no need to disconnect any pipes on the res either and no need to bleed it.