Hybrid-JD

Thanks Bob, did exactly what you said.. but i used a silicone base seal .. just as good!! Works like a charm.. jus hope that it doesnt break again! lol Jimmy

Hey Everyone, In need of some expertise advice asap. I was driving on the highway/freeway for about 20 mins, everything was running fine and smooth.. when i exitied i noticed that my power steering was completely gone.. and i was having hard time even turning the steering wheel to turn. I pulled over right away thinking it might of been a flat tire or something.. and everything looked fine. So i opened up my hoood and checked the power steeering resoivour and it was full , the fluid was NOT HOT??? SO i cheked the accesorry/power steering pump belt to see if it broke or something? and it all looked fine...... so the problem that i'm having now is the car completley has NO power steering what so ever.. car runs fine..but i can barely even steer the car.. only when i start picking up some speed before its just ABIT easier to steer, while if i was to be parked and i wanted to turn.. it would be a challenge. what does this sound like to everyone??? my pump gone? suspension? i wanna get a quick suggestion before i make my way to my mechanic.. please help with any suggestion. Thanks everyone Jimmy

car does not crank nor start.... but after a WHOLE bunch of trying ......... then it would just catch.. and it would start. hope that makes sense.. SKperformance, i see that your in Toronto.. so maybe i can give you a call directly to speak about this if your knowledgable about the LS... =) thanks Jimmy

I just want to say thanks for everyones support so far. But i'm gonna give some points in whats been happening recently. When its COLD COLD this is what happens.. 1. car does NOT start after a long rain storm or even a snow storm. 2. interior lights and front dash board does NOT dim when trying to ignite the car. But i do not hear any kinda click click sounds or even anything... 3. After 20-30 tries, it catches and ignites. after or even during when it rains. 1. car doesnt start. 2. the cars stereo will cut off all of a sudden and come back on when it rains. 3. when it rains, it sometime seems like the cars looosing battery power, lights kinda dim out.. 4. and all this only happens when its RAINING or after a rain storm. 5. after 20-30 cranks when it STARTS.. the engine/trac light comes on but after about a half hours drive everything goes away and the cars BACK TO NORMAL. so this pretty much has happened say around 2 months after i got my BIG TUNE UP DONE.. where i did my timing belt,water pump, alternator replaced, spark plugs all fuids changed. And the rotors and caps were done around the 140 area... i dont konw if i've provided enough info.. but those are my symptoms... when its COLD and WET.. the cars pretty much wacked out =-*( Jimmy Jimmy, I'm going backwards in progression here, as I've noticed myself that when something is wrong, and I think it's a "5" on the "1-10" scale, it usually ends up being a "2". So...with that said... Are you not getting power when you turn the key at all? I'm asking because I'm wondering how your battery terminal(s) look? I'm wondering if you have extensive corrosion or a loose connector, and the added humity of rain and snow is enhancing the lost connectivity at the terminals. Check on those two terminals, and let us know a little bit more about the symptoms "ie, no power at all, or have power but just won't crank, or have power & start spins but engine just won't catch". I wouldn't think 71km would require new plugs "how many US miles is 71km anyway?" The distributor cap could be loose, or have a crack in it that is letting in the moisture? How's your fuel consumption these days? Good, bad, no change? How about your gas cap, have you checked it's seal? Maybe rain is running down the side of the car, into the gas cap area, and dripping into the tank and settling at the bottom of the tank overnight, which is then fed into the engine 1st when you try and start it. If I recall, water is heavier and sits at the bottom, not the top. Seeing as how the starter is encased in the engine, and your plugs and wires are pretty well isolated from direct contact with rain, makes me think it's around your battery connectors, gas cap or maybe even a cracked fuel line or fuel filter. Somehow water is either killing your electrical supply, or getting into the fuel supply. Have you tried a can of HEAT fuel stabalizer yet? It gets the water out of the gas tank. Maybe run some of that in your next tank, and see what that does. If you put that stuff in, and then it rains and the car starts, then it's in your fuel supply lines, which would make me think fuel cap in general. so check your battery terminals and gas cap first.

and i guesss this would be considered a RECALL RIGHT?? and one more thing.. the site that i just attached i'm assuming is a US site.. meaning the us market.. will Lexus Canada honor it?? THanks JImmy

sorry if this is a odd question. but i just typed in some info regarding my car not starting in the rain... and now the cold..... it came up with a recall from lexus dating back to jan 1998. I was just wondering if they still honor that as a recall problem? or would i still have to pay for the service... im NOT a mechanic or a big car guy.. so i really have no idea.. so any info would help. thanks Jimmy heres the link to the page: http://www.automotive.com/1997/49/lexus/ls...alls/57829.html

is that usually HOW often i'm suppose to change my caps/rotors? not too sure how often i'm suppose to chang them.. BUT today it snowed in Toronto and again.. i had the same problem.. car didnt start.. but after like 5 minutes of constant cranking and turning the ignition.. it finally started.. so maybe it could be the starter??? any more help would be great. thanks Jimmy

i changed them not too long ago.. i changed the caps / rotors when the car had about 140km's.. it can't go that fast??? or could it? thanks Jimmy I had the same problem with my previous 97 LS 400. Changing the plug wires and caps resolved the problem.

Hey guys/gals, i am currently driving a 97 LS 400 which has 211000 km's and i've been experiencing some starting problems when it rains. Whenever it rains, i sometimes wont be able to start the car. I've been trying to figure out if it could be the starter or just the alternator? But i jsut got my alternator replaced not too long ago.. and the cars FINE when its dry.. only when it rains does it give me the starting problem. And also i've been getting the engine light / trac control blinking on and off usually after a big rain fall... but once it dries up.. its all gone!! i can't figure out what it is?? could it be just a wired or fuse getting wet? could it be my starter? or could it just simply be my rotors and caps? PLEASE HELP and give me as many suggestions in what i should do to fix this problem!! It's scary not konw if the cars gonna start after a big rain fall........ thanks in advance Jimmy

Hey Everyone, not sure if you guys are able to help me. But i'm experiencing a really horrible moldy wet laundry smell whenever i turn on my vents. Is there a filter? or something that i can do to get rid of this smell?? the car model is a 1997 lexus ls400.... thanks Jimmy

car jus got broken into not too long ago. and the damn *BLEEP* stole my wheel lock .. the lug nut lock. Now i'm just wondering what should i do? like would i be able to somehow get a another wheel lock thingy from lexus? or would i have to get another set?? and how am i suppose to take off the current ones if i dont have the one i lost?? thanks for the help. JImmy

okie.. heres the problem.. i turn on my car today.. turned on my system via the FM tuner and everythign works.. antena comes up.. radio turns on.. but then i decide that i want to listen to a cd.. so i press the CD button and BAM.. nothing happens?? so i'm like wtf? so i open up my cd changer case thigny and look.. and the eject button is not greeen either? so i'm like.. omg.. what is going on..... so i press eject and nothing hapens..but the radio still works......... so i'm like freaking out.. i decided i can't do anything as of yet.. so i go to work.. for a few hours.. COME BACK.. and turn on my car press the cd button again and BAM... it starts working again!! so i'm like.. what the hell was that? just wondering what it could of been? could it be the cold weather? since i' do live in Canada hah .. could it be a problem thats gonna reoccur? has anyone had the same problem with this ..? and also..... if it is a on going problem.. and i do decide to change my system.. would it be a big problem if i was to install one of those dvd players? would i need custom work done to make it fit? btw. this is the 1997 Nakamachi 6 cd changer system.. thanks in advance everyone!! concerned ls400 owner......... Jimmy

97 Black LS400 .. no pic to upload though! =(

i eneded up picking up the Bridgestone Fuzion ZRi's for my 97 lex ls400.. veryyyyyy good tires so far! =) nice and sticky in the rain and dry weather.. Jimmy

bump. anymore tire recommendatiions?? Jimmmy

For example, you can press the "unlock" door buttton on your key and hold down for 1.5-2 seconds - this will automatically roll down the drivers' window also. It can be disabled if you want - all of these codes have different settings plus ON/OFF. what year of the LS is this option for??????

99 Kaufmann, a chain primarily in the SE and TX, I think. Should be competative however. Toyo offers a 500 mile total money back guarantee and the price above included a $50 rebate BTW, just finished doing the PS pump flush, solenoid filter cleaning and used ATF from Amsoil. Really appreciated your pics and help. I decided to disconnect the PS reservoir return line (rubber tube) at the other end. Saved a couple of fittings. Just hooked the plastic clear tube to the solid metal line, after disconnecting the rubber return line and rotating it upward. Good to go. And, when the dealer changed the PS pump at 99,000, they DID clean the solenoid filter, evidenced by the chisel marks. Hybrid JT - What specifically went wrong with your Toyo TPT's requiring 4 warrenty claims??? I understand they were rated very high by Consumer Reports. EB i had problems with it during the winter season... ran over a small pot hole during the winter and BAM car tire blows up .. thats 1.. second time was a bubble that came about on the rear right tire.. and another time .. it just simply went FLAT.. and there was no reason for it.. brought it back.. and they told me its a defect and they coulnd't find the hole or puncture to repair it... thats 3 times.. the last time i dont rememebr exactly.......... i was quite disssapointed with them since i had so much prblems with them AND i had to pay for the tread that i used. oh well.... i'm still waiting for some more tire recommendations!!!! thanks again Jimmy

i have a set of Proxex TPT on my 96 Avalon.. and they've given me alot of trouble!! i've pretty much had to claim like 4 warrranty claims on them!! bad experience.. so i'm trying to see if i can try somethign else! I was thinking just pure summer tires.. any suggestions? i was wondering if 225/55/16 would fit on the 97 OEM rim.. and would it loook okie? or would it look totally off?? thanks Jimmy

okie guys i need some suggestion on a set of all season or summer tires for my 1997 LS400. I dont need Z rated hah but H rated would be a must.. something average.. nothing SUPER expensive.. i was told that the Yokohams AVS4's.. Falkien ZIXE ZE 512, Dunlop A2's, and Toyo TPT's H rated .. i'm staying away from the Michelin MXV4's.. anyone have any other recomendations ??? thanks in advance! =) Jimmy

My taillight sensor light is ON.. but my tail lights all work whilie breaking.. and ALSO...my break pad sensor is ON also... they are BOTH on....i'm just wondering if either one causes either one to come on.. i dont konw if i make any sense but please help if you do =) i dont konw why the taillight Sensor Light is on?? gosh.. *argh* Jimmy

gonan get my distributor cap and rotor. and those wires changed tommrwo!! hope this will fix the problem.. very common problem for Toyota's i heard.. Jimmy

here are the engine error codes P0300 P0307 P0308

i've had ths problem for a couple mo nths now. happened a couple times. my engine seems to misfire of i call it LAGGING wheni gas.. feels like its not sucking in the gas properly or something.. i've brought it in to Lexus to get checked out and they've told me that its MISFIRING and it's probaly caused by a bad batch of gas.. i can't seem to figure out what it is.. becuase its' happenign again.. and it ONLY happens when it rains.. i think water is leaking into my gas tank or engine or something?? does anyone konw of this problem or konw where this leak might be?? my engine light has come on a couple times because of this.. but has been reset . can somone please help me thanks Jimmy

hmm i'm still going to the dealerhsip to get my oil changes. what kinda oil do they use?? does everyone on the fourm with a older lex do ur own oil changes??? just wondering.. and also.. would it be okie if i was to do an oil change at a Toyota Dealership instead of a Lexus dealerhsip?? would the oil they use be differnt? thanks Jimmy

RE: skperformance hah nope. the avalon is still living .. and going on STRONG.. my dads' driving that now and i'm driving the LS400......... well anyhow. the problems gone now! soooo i'lll just wait around to seee if it comes about again.. if not then i'll just take it as a GLITCH! =) oh well.............. and the mirror thingy is not a big deal.. just watned to see if anyone else had the same problem!! Jimmy