eddielasvegas

No longer available.

Thanks all.

No longer available.

Thanks all.

Hello All,

Two brand new, never installed camshaft seals. My LS is long gone and found these in the cabinet.

These will fit many Toyota/Lexis engines.

$22 shipped to lower 48 of USA. $20 if local to Phoenix.

Fitment is buyer's responsibility.

Thanks,

Eddie

Hello All,

Brand new, never installed set of eight (8) NGK IFR6T11 spark plugs for a LS 400 or LS 430.

Car is long gone and found these in the cabinet.  These are for LS 400 and 430, plus other cars.

Fitment is buyer's responsibility.

Will ship to lower 48 of USA for $45. Pickup for $40 if you are in Phoenix.

Thanks,

Eddie

Hello All,

I recently had this done and thought I'd post the results in the event a member finds it helpful or interesting.

My LS has 110,000 (bought 5 years ago with 81,000 miles) and this sample had 9,000 miles on the oil (SynPower (Full Syn) 5w30). I added about 10 oz. over the 9,000 miles.

I spoke with the technician and he said my numbers are so low that even with a TBN < 1, it is no big deal. My next OCI will be 7,500 miles.

Just a couple of comments:

1) My first sample was lost by the USPS. FedEx cost 3 times as much ($2.50 vs. $6.50), but got there.

2) This is my first sample with alsglobal (done with a WIX Kit purchased at amazon.com) and I will use them again at the 7,500 OCI. They were great and turned the sample around within a couple days of receipt. Being able to speak with the tech was also very helpful.

Thanks for all the help over the years and don't hesitate to ask questions should you have any.

Eddie

UOA_1998_LS400_BO.pdf

Just a quick note as I had the same thing happen to me last year. I noticed an oil leak just inside the driver's side front wheel. It turns out the oil filter was not tightened enough during the last oil change. A simple twist or so and the oil leak was fixed. A bit of a relief I must say.

Good luck,

Eddie

Hello and Welcome.

Eddie

Congrats.

Eddie

You are right that a well maintained LS will go 300,000+ with good maintenance.

Has all maintenance been done and are records available? Make sure the The 90,000 mile service (timing belt, water pump, etc.)

Also find out if the motor mounts (2) and tranny mount (1) have been replaced. They'll need it at that mileage. It's about $500 for parts (online) and labor (indy shop).

I'd also suggest getting a buyer's inspection done. And with that mileage, a leak down test. These should cost about $200, but will tell you lots about the car.

I'd also try to get the price down to $8,000 or below.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Eddie

Hi everyone. My boss is selling his 99 LS400. Up until reading the reviews on this car i would never have considered purchasing a car with 150k miles on it, but all the positive things i've read about its reliability and longevity have got me thinking. He is asking 8500, its in very good condition, 4 new tires. He said he just spent a couple grand to have it overhauled, not sure what all that entailed. I know the car has been a "company car" for its entire life, and im sure lots of those 150k miles are highway miles. Anywho, to the point. I have read over the buyers guides and whatnot on this site and others, but i just wanted to ask some actual people what all i should watch out for or inquire about with this particular vehicle. Thx in advance.

Hello and Welcome.

The LS series will easily go to 300,000-500,000 miles with good maintenance so I'd let things like available maint. records, price and car options guide your decision.

Good luck,

Eddie

Hi, Hubby and I have decided that the Lexus LS430 is the car for us to have. We buy using the death statistics and injury numbers ... add reliability and this one floats right to the top!

We want to keep it in the low 20s for price. My question is, am I better off to buy an older car with fewer miles, or a newer car with more miles?

For example, I am looking at a 2003 with 86,500 miles ... full package ... $23,000

(all maintenance done at dealer, recalls and bulletins taken care of)

OR

2001 with 64,000 miles ... strip package (no nav, etc.) ... $21,000

(not sure about maintenance history .. need to get that from the dealer)

What's the better way to go? Seems like these run forever?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. We're going to have to drive several hours to buy one, since we have no Lexus dealer locally (but have Toyota dealer who said they can do almost all repairs).

Thanks a bunch!

I've never sent a PM here either, but I'm guessing it's a newbie thing. As your post count goes up so do your privileges.

I'll send you a PM in a minute and maybe you can reply.

If not, we'll figure something out.

Eddie

eddielasvegas,

For some reason, I am not allowed to send private messages.....is there some trick to that?

I am 2 months new to the Phoenix area, and am therefore very interested in mechanic recommendations. I spoke to an independent Toyota/Lexus mechanic named Hank last week, and that is all I know other than the dealerships.

I think the interval is 6 years or 90,000 miles.

This is a tough call that only you can make, but the belt is not exposed to sunlight and should not be exposed to any chemicals or fluids that would deteriorate it. OTOH, guessing wrong might cost you an engine. There are many, many examples of belts going way beyond miles and years and very, very few actually breaking.

I just had mine done at 87,000 miles and ten years, which was close enough for me.

Good luck,

Eddie

P.S. I noticed you're in AZ. If you don't have a good mechanic, I'd recommend mine. Drop me a PM.

I own a '99 LS400 that has just barely eclipsed 60K miles. I am well under the 90K mile timing belt interval, but past the 7 year time of service interval. How critical is it to replace the timing belt now vs. waiting for 90K miles? I.e., is the time interval just as critical as the mileage?

I'd say no. Here's the maintenance schedule for a '98 LS 400 which should be darn close to yours.

As a DIY project, I'd say tops $100 in parts. Nothing in the 60K service requires Lexus training so any good mechanic can handle it, and it shouldn't be more than $200-ish.

Good luck,

Eddie

Maintenance_Schedule_Chart.pdf

If you've replaced the tranny mount and motor mounts, try replacing the "center support bearing." I found a reference to this causing tough-to-solve vibration problem on a '99 LS 400 on another Lexus forum. I believe it's part of the drive shaft, but not sure where it is or what it looks like.

I'm guessing the above applies to your '90, but I'm not sure given these ideas are directly related to '98-'00 LS 400's.

Good luck,

Eddie

is there any chance that changing those could lead to that common rack leak?

definitely not

Thanks. I just wanted to be sure that there would not be enough movement to cause seals to shift and bind.

I have been to my local Lexus dealer half a dozen times in the last 2 years on this vibration issue, suggesting they check mounts, but always they come back with - you need new tires. I have now purchased new tires twice - first set feathered in 5-6k miles, and now just bought another set. Vibration is still there. Do dealers not have a clue about the proper condition/life expectancy of mounts and/or the common causes of vibration? I am sick of "it's the tires" as the stock answer. I have come so close to selling my beloved 90 LS - 210 k miles, mint, all records since new - because I am frustrated beyond all reason with the vibration issue and lack of dealer understanding. How they could test drive the car with new tires, say "there's now just a little vibration" and think the problem is solved is beyond me. So....I think I'll take the advice of others on this post and just buy the mounts online and go to an indie shop and take a flyer on it and see what happens - hate to part with a car I think is a joy to drive when right.

Tranny mount replaced in Jan. with a noticeable improvement. MM's replaced a couple weeks ago with a bigger improvement.

No grommets or bushings replaced at this time. I can do those when I get a chance so no rush.

MM's were about $90 each (+ shipping) from Carson. Carson Toyota (Gordon and Loius) was great to deal with.

Eddie

had my motor mounts replaced a couple weeks ago and the vibration and shaking at idle (and in park) while at a stop light disappeared. Feels exactly like an LS should: like nothing is happening. Simply cannot feel the engine running now.

My LS only had 86,000 miles, but at 10 years old, figured they needed replacing.

Eddie

thanks Eddie for your comments, i am saving money :)

btw, what did you replace? engine mounts, tranny mounts, steering rack grommets or all of them?

All,

I had my motor mounts replaced a couple weeks ago and the vibration and shaking at idle (and in park) while at a stop light disappeared. Feels exactly like an LS should: like nothing is happening. Simply cannot feel the engine running now.

My LS only had 86,000 miles, but at 10 years old, figured they needed replacing.

Eddie

This is a good thread. I had my tranny mount replaced a few months ago and it made a noticeable improvement, but I'm still experiencing what others here are. I'm having the motor mounts replaced next week and will post an update here.

Bali26: Are those the steering rack grommets? Also, do you have part numbers for them?

Thank you.

Eddie

Hi Folks,

Need to find a trustworthy and competent independent mechanic or shop in the Portland OR area to have the TB/WP changed on my 00 LS. Any experiences?

Thanks.

Here's the cartalk link in case you need it. I used it to find a shop here in the Phoenix area and I'm very happy with the shop.

http://cartalk.com/content/mechx/find.html

Good luck,

Eddie

Thanks for the reply and document Leadfoot. I suspected what my mechanic was telling me was right, but I'd just had to verify. He also said the non VVT engine camshaft seals are pretty easy to change.

I've had the car for 5,000 miles and it at 86,500 now. I've spent a fair amount of time (probably too much) researching what needs to be done for the 90,000 mile service. It's possible I confused or misread the camshaft seal work. I went back and referenced a service doc from Lexus and it makes no mention of the camshaft seals.

There was no leakage (other than the PS pump; it's being replaced) when the engine was up in the air.

Thanks again,

Eddie

Anyway, does anybody know how much extra time it adds to replace these seals?

Thank you.

Eddie

Hi Eddie,

I don't know how much time it would take someone but they have to completely dismantle the VVTI cam controller and remove the cam covers to get to the seals. I was contemplating doing this job, even bought the seals, but by the time I read the procedure I had chickened out.

Below is a picture of the camshaft seal position. The unfortunate thing is they are behind the VVTI camshaft timing unit and also under a large bearing cap, as seen in the pictures from the manual.

My advice is this job should only be attacked if leakage is actually seen from the seals. I would have to have a lot of trust in the shop before I would let them loose on something this complicated.

Can you give us some history on the car and why you are wanting this work done?

Thanks.

Hello All,

I'm having the 90,000 mile service done today on my '98 LS 400 at an independent Lexus shop I like and trust. The owner gave me a quote for the service and I was clear about what I wanted done.

When I arrived this morning, he told me he can't replace the two camshaft seals because he has to pull the camshaft to replace those seals in a VVT engine.

I'm thinking we'll, it would have been nice to tell me before I dropped my car off.

Anyway, does anybody know how much extra time it adds to replace these seals?

Thank you.

Eddie

Congrats.

Asking after the fact is pointless. As long as you're happy with your purchase, that's all that counts.

Eddie

i just bought a 2000 silver/blk leather ls400 platinum series, 59k miles, 60k service done. all the goodies except nakimichi and navigation/air ride. excellent shape in and out, i paid 14k. downfall it has a rebuilt title. and no frame damage. No airbags were deployed also and all were intact after the accident. it got damaged in the rear quarter panel and the p.o fixed it. i personally am in love with this vehiacle. Yet did i get ripped off due to the title, please help? thanks

That's what I thought. Thank you.

Eddie

This is a good thread. I had my tranny mount replaced a few months ago and it made a noticeable improvement, but I'm still experiencing what others here are. I'm having the motor mounts replaced next week and will post an update here.

Bali26: Are those the steering rack grommets? Also, do you have part numbers for them?

Thank you.

Eddie

Oh no they are the front and rear sway bar bushings...

This is a good thread. I had my tranny mount replaced a few months ago and it made a noticeable improvement, but I'm still experiencing what others here are. I'm having the motor mounts replaced next week and will post an update here.

Bali26: Are those the steering rack grommets? Also, do you have part numbers for them?

Thank you.

Eddie

Congrats. Post pics.

Eddie

His name is Hank and his Clist ad is below. Seems like a good guy based on his email and his rates are reasonable. He works out of his garage. He owns two Lexus'.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/aos/615163512.html

Does anybody have any experience with him? I'm looking to have him replace my motor mounts and do a 90,000 mile service.

Thank you.

Eddie

Hello and Welcome and Congrats. I'm thinnin' you done good.

Post pictures.

Eddie