jonjdurkin

I just had my 96 LS serviced (180000) and was told that the heater control cable was broken. The dealer didn't have part in stock and I couldn'r wait .( The dealer is 250 miles away). Have any of you had this problem and is it a DIY fix or will I have to go back to dealer foir service?

I have a 96 LS400 that just reached 180,000 miles. My question for you: should I spring for the expensive ($12-1400) scheduled maintenance or sell her and get a newer one, i.e. a 99 or 00 LS. The car is running fine, no dents, rust, paint is 90%, seats all intact, Nak sound works, rubber 60%, but she's getting long in the tooth and I'm seeing more 96 problems appearing on the forum. I know that 99's and up have quite a few features not found in my '96 and they are pretty affordable. I primarily use my Lex for long highway trips and have a "beater" for local stuff. What say you? Keep and maintain/sell and buy newer?

I own a 96 400 in 95% condition. Today I heard an ad for an auto warranty (Nationwide Auto Protection Plan) for any car with less than 175k. My baby has 174,170. The plan covers engine, transmission and water pump for 5 yrs/100k whichever comes first for 2600 bucks. It doesn't cover electric components such as A/C, windows, seats, mirrors, etc. In your opinion(s) is this a decent deal? Right now, everything works. I love this car. I want to grow old and die with it and then be buried in it (that's legal in Nevada). What say you?

I use the cassette player to listen to my xm radio . It has worked fine for two years, but now the cassette won't play, won't eject and a "TAPE ERR" message appeared on the screen. Any ideas on a fix? BTW-every other audio function works-It's a Nakamichi system. Thanks for your help.

Help! I have aterrible problem with my LS. Every time I get and turn the key the engine starts right up. After a short wait to get all the fluids in motion, I put the car in gear and exit my driveway. On the highway it runs smoothly and quietly at 75-85 and gets 25 mpg. Around town the mpg is 18 and its still smooth and quiet. It has 161,000 miles and is a joy to drive. What am I doing wrong?

What was the air temp at the time?-mine does the same when the temp is below 40-and when coasting downhill.

My 96 LS idles at 1400 cold until the temp needle reaches first white bar from bottom-then it drops back to 600/700 with outside temp between 10-40. However, if it's below 10 the RPM stays over 1000 all the time regardless of engine temp.

Drove from Elko to Reno on I-80 at 75-80 mph, a distance of 294 miles, used 11.1 gallons, 26.75 mpg. Not too shabby for a 12 year old LS400. Around town is another matter, about 19. I use my Suzuki V-Strom for local driving, weather permitting (55 mpg). Also, I use midrange, not premium and have not had any problems (89 octane).

Problem solved-it was a loose ground cable-intermittent electrical contact-all fixed-runs great-thanks for your suggestions.

What does the alternator have to do with the ABS system? Has the same thing happened to you?

Yesterday, as I was driving on I-80 in Northern Nevada at 80 mph the ABS dash light came, my radio and cruise went off and a rhythmic, mild pulsation began. The engine kept running and after about 40 miles the light went off, radio and cruise came on and the car ran fine. Does any one out there in Lexus Land have an idea as to why this happened. 1996 LS400 with 150k.

I owned a 1988 Chevy Caprice Wagon (305 V8)-a true road Panzer-drove it for 11 years-gave it to my daughter at 317,000 miles. She drove it to Chicago abd got t-boned by an inebriated Illinoisian. The car saved her life at the cost of it's own. I loved that behemoth. I maintained it scrupulously and the only significant repair (not counting wear items) was a new water pump. It was way heavy-21/2 tons-got abysmal mileage-handled like an M1A1 Abrams-but just kept running. I loved that car.

I own a 96 LS400 with 137k. I bought it in Reno in Dec 07. It runs fine but the coolant temp never rises above 1/3 of the gauge no matter outside temp, speed, load, etc. It takes a whiiile for warm air to start blowing (about 3x as long as in my wifes's Subie), and then it's not exactly blistering. Outside temps here in upper Nevada are generally from 0 to 40. Any other cold country owners notice this?