seehack

Check if the serp belt is loose/slipping or if there's sufficient fluid in the PS resevoir. Also, when the fluid gets old (black, should be red), it may make some noise. Use dextron II or III ATF only, DO NOT USE PS FLUID IN THE PS RESEVOIR unless you like leaks! Thanks for the quick response. I did check the PS Fluid level is between Min-Max. Color from outside looks black but will open up to check tomorrow. Its more than noise.... no power assist i.e. takes a lot to turn the wheel... something is resisting it from turning. Where is the Serp belt? It was changed about 1 year/10kmiles ago during the timing belt change. Jim, Just to update. Morning check fluid OK, belts present and seems OK but engine area making cranking sound. Sound to mechanic. After a few miles, red battery/alternator came on. Finally got to independent shop, belt not there anymore. Came loose. Diagnosis shows nut holding the tensioner came loose so belt came off. Alternator OK but Power Steering Pump dead. Why nut came loose? Lexus did not torque it correctly when changed all belts and tensioners as part of comprehensive timing belt service? Thanks for your input and best regards, Seehack

Check if the serp belt is loose/slipping or if there's sufficient fluid in the PS resevoir. Also, when the fluid gets old (black, should be red), it may make some noise. Use dextron II or III ATF only, DO NOT USE PS FLUID IN THE PS RESEVOIR unless you like leaks! Thanks for the quick response. I did check the PS Fluid level is between Min-Max. Color from outside looks black but will open up to check tomorrow. Its more than noise.... no power assist i.e. takes a lot to turn the wheel... something is resisting it from turning. Where is the Serp belt? It was changed about 1 year/10kmiles ago during the timing belt change.

Today my 99 LX470 suddenly has no power steering. It makes a lot of noise when I turn the wheels. Seems like more effort turning right..... Something is against me turning right. Any idea?

I think you have a bad set on contacts on your starter, you can pick them up for less than 30.00 at you friendly toyota dealer (same as land cruiser) taking the starter out is about a 3-4 hr job complete and i would suggest any competent mechanic can do, it if not yourself. There are plenty of instructions with pictures on the internet. 1k is absolutely ridiculous. You can get a brand new OEM starter from toyota-parts.com for around $200. Since the starter is under the intake manifold, you want to make sure it works before you button up the engine since it's a fair amount of work to remove all the hoses, manifold, and the hard-to-access starter mounting bolts. If it were me, I'd buy a new starter plus replacement starter contacts & plunger, swap in the new starter, then replace the contacts/plunger on the old starter at my leisure and bench test it. This way, if the contacts go again, I have a fresh starter to swap in. Thanks for the inputs. I replaced the starter today at an independent auto shop who does Lexus and Toyota. Total cost incl. tax $790. Starter $270, Gasket $60 and Labor $430. Lexus wanted $1300+tax but willing to discount to about 1150+tax.

Thanks.

Sorry if this is discussed before. My 1999 with 107k beginning to have starting problem on a daily basis vs once every couple of weeks a few months ago. This is the current situation for past 2 weeks. 1) During 1st startup after overnight (>90% of the time) or after the weekend (100% of the time), when you turn on the ignition, instruments panel light up normally but engine won't start. Sometime I hear a click sound and sometime no click sound. 2) Switch off ignition and try again. It usually works on 2nd or 3rd try but sometimes 4th. So far the car will start after multiple tries. Strange thing is I notice if you hold the ignition longer like 2-3 seconds vs the normal 1 or less second, the engine will start turning and starts. 3) This problem does not happen after you drive for like 10+ mins i.e. car is warmed up. I can start multiple times on 1 turn and not holding whenever I test it. I have a 2nd new battery installed about 6m ago after 1st new one died in 12m due to some defective cell. Both from Lexus. When I was in Lexus for 105k service last month, they cannot reproduce this problem (at that time it happens once every 1 or 2 weeks). Battery terminals are tight. Did not hit the box behind the positive terminal like the other poster. I would like some opinion before paying Lexus $1k to change out the starter or search for a Toyota independent shop. I noticed other threads point to possible fuelline problems. Thanks.

I am now going for my next set of tires. I had the Michelin LTX before and now the Michelin Cross Terrain. Anyone try the Michelin Latitude HP Tour? Any idea if it is better than the LTX and Cross Terrain. Cross Terrain threads last like 20k longer than LTX. I drive in snow like 2-3 weekends and a few weekends on dirt road/mud a year. Appreciate any input.

I have a 1999 LX470 with 107k miles. I already changed timing belt, belts and water pump a year ago. Always service at Lexus. I am trying to figure out if I should spend $ fixing it or trade it in before 120k to avoid $1k service and $3k for recommend repairs. Any inputs on typical parts replacement or repair at 100+k? Here is what I am faced with after my 105k service, 1) Rear accumulators need replacement as I complained suspension is stiffer and more bouncy last 10k miles or so. $1450 for rear parts and labor. $2800 fpr all 4. Can I replacement the active suspension with non active for less $? 2) Sometimes car won't start....starter problem? Dealer cannot reproduce problem so no action right now. Quoted $1200 to replace the starter. 3) 120k miles service is $1200. 4) Brakes should be good for another 2 years. $800 per axle. 5) Tires maybe another year. $600 for 4. So what else coming up for replacement? I am thinking is it worth to spend $4k-$6k or just get another vehicle. Please advise. Thank you.

Timing belt should be done at 90K, transmission fluid every 30K mi. It's a good idea to change the water pump at the same time, as it's located behind the t-belt and lasts ~120K. Don't know about a high-pitched sound, but a howling sound would be a bad bearing (like bearings in the water pump?). The wheel bearings should last a lot longer than 100K mi as long as they're not contaminated (you didn't submerge them). Does the high pitched sound change w/ engine rpm or vehicle speed? Jim, Thanks for the reply. Took into the dealer. Advisor told me it could be either the pulley or the water pump bearing. For some reason when I took in for 90k they did not do the timing belt which is part of the PM requirement. Manual and their old service booklet did not specify. So they are doing the timing belts, couple of external belts, water pumps, idlers and some internal engine seals...and check the engine area to see what else... They quote me around $1800 for the work. Price OK? Thanks, Seehack

I am about to bring in my 99 LX470 w/103k into Lexus. Over the last month, there were 5 occurances when suddenly there is a high pitch sound coming from under the car. Seem like below the front area behind the engine. Not sure. The last 2 happened yesterday and today. At first I thought it is the brakes since the 3rd and 4th occassions I just slowed down the vehicle to change lanes. My wife told me the first occasions she was on steady speed. My last service at 100k and 95k was just oil change at the dealer. I had the front right brakes inspected again at 100k as the brake seem slower. Dealer tech says all well. At 95k I reported grinding sound and the rotor groove seems irregular on right front wheel. 1st tech say change both front and rear rotors and pads but the supervisor later said fronts are fine but they did change the rear pads and resurfaced rotors. 99k service is $500 and no timing belt change. They told me they inspect and only change if it necessary. Strange enough my wife took it to a smog check station and the owner there told her we need to change the timing belt as this vehicle's need changing around 100k. Any advise if my brakes, timing belt or transmission causing this sound? Thanks.

Can anyone tell me where is the tow hitch harness is located. I has a U-Haul tow hitch put in with the electrical harness but need to know where it is located. Mine is a 99 LX470. Thank you for your help.