2JayZ

I guess my thought is certain suspensions need certain sidewall stiffness. Which would make sense that the GS calls for V rated tires which have a very stiff sidewall compared to say a T or H rated.

JT

Correct, which is why I really like the carbon-fiber construction of the Goodyear Eagle ResponsEdge. Do I sound like a Goodyear employee? :D I honestly have no affiliation with them but I do like their tires for the Gen2 GS on either 16" or 17" wheels.

My GS400 came from the factory with Bridgestone tires on the 17 inch optional wheels. Manufacturers don't "tune" suspension to any particular brand, or in the case of the GS cars, size, as both 16 and 17 wheels could be ordered, and no suspension changes were needed between the two.

The MXV4 Michelins ride great, but they handle and steer like marshmallows. I have Michelin Pilot AS Sport tires on the GS and Michelin Exalto's on the LS. Both are exceptional tires for traction and handling, and ride very well. You'd be happy with either. Neither tire was available when the cars were new, and both tires represent technologies not known when the cars were built. So both cars handle and ride better than they did when new.

I wouldn't put Goodyears on a wheelbarrow, but then I am biased.

Manufacturer's do indeed tune suspension to a particular brand of tire, even to the degree where a tire is actually created specifically for a car. It is done on highline vehicles like Ferrari and on less expensive vehicles like Saturn. If memory serves, Firestone created a special Firehawk tire in a Saturn-specific size and tread pattern for the SC model of the early '90s. I could quote a host of cases for highline vehicles but that really doesn't apply here. I don't want to start a fire on this thread SRK, but you are wrong.

Lexus engineers tuned Gen2 suspension with Goodyear tires in mind. Excellent all season choices are the Goodyear Eagle GT HR or the Goodyear Eagle ResponsEdge. If you don't need all season then Eagle F1 is the way to go. My buddy has a tire shop and I've been able to purchase NOS Goodyear Invicta GA tires from him all three times I've needed tires.

The gasket can be reused if you are careful on disassembly and don't damage it. An *extremely* thin coating of RTV can be used on reassembly. If when you tighten the Throttle Body bolts you see RTV squeeze out of the gasket you used too much.

Replaced mine in 98 GS300 @ 70K. Dealer said it was time so we did it without question.

Going to start doing simple work on my GS300 and I thought I would start with plugs and wires

I have the denso plugs and wires, but I was hoping to grab some direction from the group including pictures if possible.

To many of you this is a dead simple project, but it's a starting point for me and I would appreciate the detailed help

Thanks in advance

Here you go...........

You owe me a beer

Holy cow. I though the layout of this car was fairly logical until I saw this !Removed! mess. Time to change my plugs and the top of the engine has to come apart, including the throttle body assembly. Maybe the same guy who designed this also designed the oil filter mount that dumps dirty oil on the left side of the engine & subframe when you change the oil. Good thing I have the lower engine cover to R/R to take my mind off this annoying situation.

After changing my engine oil & filter on my 1998 GS 400, service station added brake fluid to max level in fluid resevoir on my last oil change about a month ago.....Any one else had this problem?

Brake fluid shouldn't be "topped off" between fluid and pad changes. Your service station probably does this to add $5 to the bill for services rendered. Probably time for a new mechanic, or at the very least a discussion with your current mechanic.

If the brake fluid is changed every time new pads are installed it will always be at the correct level. With new front and rear pads make sure the reservoir level is just below the Max line after properly bleeding the system. If you don't put a lot of mileage on your car (and all the pads are wearing well) then change your brake fluid every two (2) years. In this event, bleed the hydraulic system and refill the reservoir to the mid point between Min - Max. Same goes if you are only changing the front or rear pads.

You'll never leak one drop of brake fluid if you follow these instructions.

Like the title says, I had a pair of Magnaflow mufflers w/ tips installed yesterday. My wife and I couldn't be happier, the car has an awesome sound (nice rumble) and no droning noise at crusing speed. The tips I purchased from Magnaflow as well.... all I have to say is that it looks & sounds awesome. My whole package out he door with tax was $302.00. Like I said in a previous post, I wasn't looking for a fancy bling system.... just wanted to hear the V-8 talk.

I also ordered the K&N intake system last week, should be here later part of next week. Once I install the intake I'll post another review on that mod.

How did you get out of there for $302 installed? Couldn't have been an engineered Magnaflow product specific to your GS model -- sounds as if they used stock Magnaflow muffs off the shelf, welded them in place of your factory muffs & then welded a couple of Magnaflow chrome tips on.

Wondering if I should install the optional 225/55-16 instead of the standard 215/60-16 tires. Been researching like crazy and have decided to buy Goodyear F1 All Season tires for year-round use. Will the plus size make a noticeable difference running on my stock suspension with 70K miles?

Then why does the key say canada..

The Canada reference is just an indication that the radio frequency used by the key's transmitter to remotely operate your car's doors, windows and trunk is OK for use in Canada and registered with their authorities. That's why the first line references the FCC, again stating that the Federal Communications Commission here in the US is OK with the radio transmitter device. Nothing more.

Hey.. I was looking at my Lexus key.. and on the back it says CANADA:82382 828 232....... does this mean my car is not USA???

Does your car have headlight washers? Canada cars are built with them as original equipment. That's a quick way to tell just by looking at the outside of the car.

Strangely, I find that I cannot operate the windows from the passenger side lock cylinder in my '98 GS300. According to the service data, MY1998 GSx00 should have this feature. I'd be interested to know if others with '98 GS's can do this

My 98 GS300 window feature does not function from passenger side either, only from driver's side.

Hey again.. everytime I come home and park the car.. thers a poping noise coming from the engine.. im guessing beause its hott?? is this a normal thing??

That is probably just the catalytic converters and front half of the exhaust cooling. Totally normal.

Buy a new one from Carson Toyota/Lexus for $50 +/-. I had the same problem with my car and it's doing it again! But in my situation my lower panel is actually warped outward slightly leaving a 1/8" lip (not completely flush with the rear door) so whenever I bring my car to the carwash it rips that corner with the brushes. I have to replace this panel. You are correct that no glue will help...it must be replaced. GL!

Do you happen to have the part # for this plasitc piece? Mine is coming off as well.

Was it hard to replace?

No, it was not hard to replace at all...there is a series of screws along the bottom edge of the inside of the door. As far as the part #, I do not have it handy. Just contact Luis or Gordon from Carson Toyota/Lexus and they will give you the right part.GL!

I am glad someone brought this up. I just noticed today that mine is starting to part ways with my door as well. I assume they come in the OE color, or do you have to paint to match?

No, if you give the Parts Dept your VIN they will order part(s) in matching color for your car.

Does anyone have a picture of this particular part as i am not sure what exactly it is. Thanks.

It is the small rubberized strip that runs along the very bottom edge of the front doors. My strips in Alpine Silver are P/N 75735-30172-B0 & 75736-30172-B0. BTW, on my 98 the screws that secure the strips to the rear of the plastic door cladding * are definitely not * easily accessible from the backside of the door. IMHO the plastic cladding should be completely removed from the front doors in order to properly replace the lower rubber strips. The interior door panels need not be removed. For whatever it's worth.

I can give complete step-by-step for doing this properly if you need it.

Is this a common occurrence on cars that have seldom-used rear doors? If so, is it possible to disassemble and clean the rear door lock actuators? Not trying to be cheap, but if I can fix it in the garage I'd like to give it a go.

On my 98 GS the rear door courtesy lights are both out, but I checked the bulbs and the filaments are OK. Continuity tester also shows bulbs are good. I suspect a fuse but this car has three fuse panels. Anyone know which fuse to check? Original owner's manual was not with the car when I purchased it so I have no idea where to begin.

Not that this is what you want to hear but, I have the same problem. will your car relock the doors if you only open a rear door and not a front? It seems like the computers do not know the the rear doors are open. I was thinking that this might be a door lock actuator but, to have both set of contacts go bad at the same times seems unlikey. BTW the door lock actuators have contacts that show what the door is doing inside them.

BP

Crap. Yes, mine does this also. As you say it is like the car doesn't know the rear doors are open, and it does it for both doors. Somebody has to know what causes this. But who? The challenge is given!

On my 98 GS the rear door courtesy lights are both out, but I checked the bulbs and the filaments are OK. Continuity tester also shows bulbs are good. I suspect a fuse but this car has three fuse panels. Anyone know which fuse to check? Original owner's manual was not with the car when I purchased it so I have no idea where to begin.

Buy a new one from Carson Toyota/Lexus for $50 +/-. I had the same problem with my car and it's doing it again! But in my situation my lower panel is actually warped outward slightly leaving a 1/8" lip (not completely flush with the rear door) so whenever I bring my car to the carwash it rips that corner with the brushes. I have to replace this panel. You are correct that no glue will help...it must be replaced. GL!

Do you happen to have the part # for this plasitc piece? Mine is coming off as well.

Was it hard to replace?

No, it was not hard to replace at all...there is a series of screws along the bottom edge of the inside of the door. As far as the part #, I do not have it handy. Just contact Luis or Gordon from Carson Toyota/Lexus and they will give you the right part.GL!

I am glad someone brought this up. I just noticed today that mine is starting to part ways with my door as well. I assume they come in the OE color, or do you have to paint to match?

No, if you give the Parts Dept your VIN they will order part(s) in matching color for your car.