17LexusOwner

i have a '91 ls and it just recently started acting up. the tach sometimes doesn't register but then after awhile it will start to work fine again. i'm gonna have to guess it would be hardened grease by the way it acts and get stuck up.

oh, nvm then i guess my car was just running too cool before. glad to know that it is normal and i don't have to do a repair. thanks for the help

wrong topic, sorry for the post

I recently had to have my coolant resivoir because of a leak. Now I've noticed that my temp gauge is higher then normal (normal is the first bar) now it is at the second-third bar. My dad told me that there is a bubble in the line preventing proper cooling. My question here is, is there a air release valve on the hose itself for a bubble like this?

Yea that's exactly what I have been thinking. I am REALLY into cars and so it is extremely hard for me to let this beautiful car outta my sights and settle for a econ box car. I'm all about the exotics. But it's what I need to do in order to be able to afford other things and actually start saving money for when I got off to college (Sacramento). Hopefully I'll be able to find a rare car that gets a lot better gas mileage. On that topic. do any of you have some ideas about cars that are good and also look/perform nice for around 4 grand?

Thank you all for your replies. They were quite helpful. I read that startribune.com article that you mentioned Lexls and I can't believe I didn't think about that earlier about letting my car warm up completely (common sense). And scottmcc, I know the others thought your post was rude, but I laughed pretty hard when I read that. And about accelerating slowly from red lights....it's just so damn hard when you have a V8 that pushes you back in your seat when you stomp it!! Sadly I have been thinking about finding a replacement car to my Lexus (tear). Since it gobbles gas so much. My sister would be happy to take it off my hands. But I'll make sure to do all those tips and hopefully it'll boost my mpg so I won't have to fill up every week anymore.

What a great topic for this time in the US huh? I have a '91 LS400 with 210k miles on it. (Bought it with 198k miles) Well anyways, I've noticed recently that my fuel economy has gone down the drain. Seems like my gas is just spilling right outta the tail pipes. Before I would normally get around 18-19 mpg, which is still pretty harsh, but I would be able to get around 320 miles on a tank of gas. Now though I have only been able to get just shy of 260 miles on a tank... Quite a big drop in fuel economy. Now me being 17 and all this is a real problem since I can't really afford to pay $50-$60 a week on gas, so any help from you guys would be greatly appreciated. -Some of the things I've been thinking that might contribute is the weather (now it's winter in MN and around 12-28 degrees most of the time). I don't know how much that would effect fuel econ if at all but it's a thought. -Another thought is that recently I added a sub system and have added a sub box in my trunk that probably weighs around 70 lbs. -And lastly I do have a leaky valve gasket on my right valve bank. It leaks oil from there but not much. Could that possibly be causing a loss of fuel econ? Those are just my thoughts. If anyone has some ideas or tips on how to fix this annoying problem it'd be very helpful. Thanks.

Well I get lights for free from work, so that's not a worry. I see that I have to unbolt it from the back though, I'll check that out and try and get it fixed. Thanks for the tip guys

My car is a '91 LS400, there was a screw and i took it out, but when i tried to take the cover off it broke the back.

Recently my left turn signal light went out. I was wondering if anyone had a link to a tutorial at how to get the front orange covers off. There aren't any bolts holding them on and I'm afraid if I try to pry them off I will end up braking the plastic. (already happened with the right marker cover cause i was impatient :/ ) Any help is greatly appreciated. P.S. Also if you just have a plain tutorial or tips on replacing them if you don't have to take that plastic cover off that'd be great too.

I have heard quite a few complaints on the Nikamachi brand systems. I myself have a Pioneer system in my(upgraded aftermarketed)and am quite pleased with it. What I would have to say is that you should take out your head unit and check the wirings in the back and make sure nothing is disconnected or loose. If the speakers seem weak then it's probably that they are blown, you'll need to get new ones. I would recommend just getting a whole new, nice system if you can afford it. They sound very nice in the LS400's since Lexus has so much dampening things in the car stock. Just my ideas.

Pretty much just add any kind of aftermarket system you want. All depends on how much bass you want and how much money you have. If you listen to fast, heavy stuff, go with a smaller sub and more. Rap and the other slow long bass, go with big and few(or lots and blow your eardrums) :)

I just added an aftermarket system in my '91 LS400. Let me tell you, quite a !Removed! to get it to look professional. But I'll give you all the links you need to have a nice looking deck instead of that monster of a radio that comes stock. (thing weighs 10lbs or more alone!) http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/audio/headunit.html <---Tutorial on how to install the deck. http://www.cardomain.com/item/SCOTA02B <---wiring harness you need http://www.bestkits.com/SearchResults.aspx...1990%20-%201995 <----custom receiver kit to make it look flush with your console. It's the top one that says LX3 Hope this helps.

I actually just got done installing a Rockford Fosgate amp in my LS tonight. I have it in there for some subs but you can easily hook it up to your speakers also. If you take your Nakamichi amp out you should be able to hook up your aftermarket amp to the speaker wires that were on the old amp. You might need to run a new power cable though since the aftermarket amp probably takes more juice. That's just my theory. Hope you figure it out. Anyone one else have some actual experience replacing these amps?

Heres a link to how you take the wood panel up. It's a tutorial for removing your stereo but the first few are for removing the wood paneling. http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/audio/headunit.html

I would guess your amplifier is bad. I have the Pioneer system in my '91 ls400 and I believe that the amp is starting to fail also. The sound quality out of the speakers is not the best. Maybe Nakamichi has the same problems. You could always just try hooking a new amp up to it instead of your Nakamichi one.

Thank you jim and to new2mudd, do you mean run the wire from the battery under the car and then up through a hole under the driver seat?

Can anyone help me find a hole through the firewall in my '91 LS400? I have been trying to get a couple subs hooked up and need to run the power cable through the firewall. When I lifted the hood and looked around though, I wasn't able to find a single opening. Not even around the steering column. (damn lexus and making it so tight) If anyone has found one please help me out. Pictures/descriptions. Any help is very welcome, and thank you in advance.

I have a '91 LS also and have noticed an oil leak. Mine is on the top of the engine though and is because of a bad valve cover seal. It makes it smoke sometimes out of the hood and burning oil smell after shut off. It also leaks out of the bottom. Check and see if that is your problem, otherwise I would go with the fact that you probably have a loose oil plug or filter. I work in a shop and I know that when we're in a rush, sometimes those plugs don't get tightened completely. Hope that helps.

Anyone?

Has anyone else added a system in their LS400? If so would you be willing to give a tutorial on how to do it right. I have no experience in wiring it in, but would really like to learn. I'm lookin to do everything under the carpet and have my amp/subs in my trunk. I don't really feel like paying Best Buy $360 to install it for me. Any help is much appreciated.

Thank you very much for that info. Gonna get the kit and then call Best Buy and see how much this will all cost.

I have a '91 LS400 and I have finally gotten tired enough of my old stereo system that I am gonna go in and get some subs, amp, and a deck. I had no trouble finding some good subs and a decent amp. The only problem I've run into is finding a deck/install kit that will work with my LS400 console. I've talked to Best Buy and they told me that Scosche did not make any kind of install kits for LS400. Then I looked on the Scosche website and they did indeed only have kits for the IS, GS, and ES models. :( Does anyone know of a company that supplies an install kit for an LS400's. And if there isn't one, how much would it normally cost to get one custom made for my dash. (anyone know a good shop for that in Minnesota?) Thanks ahead of time for any input that is given.

Alright, well thanks for your info on the dye, but since you said that if the light is blinking then it's a problem with the compressor I will go with that approach. If the way you check the clutch is to mess with the fuses and check for charge in the A/C fuse box then that is what I've already done. Everything looked fine as far as that went, so I'm gonna go ahead and have the compressor replaced. Wish me luck.

I still need help with this issue. Do you guys think that it could be a leak?