youngdoog

Excellent advice. I have 2 cars, so it's not that critical. The weather will change here in Vegas in about 2 weeks, so I can use my MX-5 turbo in its place until the weather cools. I guess my only question is what type of gauge I need to have to determine the pressure in the system? I have an old doobie to connect the can to the low pressure side. Not sure about the gauge. This reminds me of my 82 Camaro-Brand new. 12,000 mile warranty. A/C broke at 15,000 miles. They wanted $500 bucks back then-a fortune. I just kept putting freon into the system. In Houston, sweat city. For years. Yes, being a drooling liberal, I knew that I was impacting the atmosphere. But GM was a disgrace back then, and it's going down the tubes now. Good....Thanks for your help.

My 94LS400 A/C finally crapped out here in Vegas, where it's 107 right now. 117,000 miles. The green A/C light is blinking. So I'm just wondering if anyone has had a similar problem, and any advice before I take it to a stealer. Thanks a lot...

I got a brake job from Midas in the middle 80's. I had a company S-10 pickup, and since I lived in an apartment in Austin, TX, I decided to get the job done by a well known installer, since my company paid the cost. What a joke. The newly arrived immigrant mechanic from a foreign nation had a book to help him, but it was obvious he was lost. After 8 hours, the job was done, but the brakes jingled and squealed. I took the truck back, but it was hopeless. I changed the brakes myself on a later Sunday afternoon. Looked like a buffoon in the apartment parking lot, but you get what you pay for, kids......

I have a 94 LS with 111K miles, and it has cost me a couple of grand over the past 3 years. Primarily for a new timing belt and water pump. But it runs like a top, and is in great condition. Fabulous ride. My thought is that if you have a car that is very old, you shouldn't use it as a primary mode of transport. I.E. make it the #2 car. I have a little newer convertible that I use for my daily commute, and I drive the 12 year old Lexus as a "Sunday" car. I have no collision insurance on it, just big liability and property damage coverage. If a drunken illegal immigrant hits me, I'm screwed, but all I've lost is a pretty 12 year old car. It costs me $100 a year for insurance, and $96 for registration. Best $200 I've spent lately.

It seems to me that those of you who wish to "wax poetic" about everything beyond the accepted parameters of the Lexus Ls400/430 discussion group might consider: General Discussions members can post anything not even related to Lexus There you can discuss copy paper, college experiences, subliminal messages, and yes, even Stri Dex. Ah, such great memories....

Isn't someone going to step in and stop these juvenile postings which have become a rant by former high school/college immature dopes regarding their worthless life to date? I could have sworn this was a Lexus LS400/430 discussion group. Copy paper, subliminal messages...Maybe the group needs to be sorted by maturity. Jesus, they'll be comparing pimple medications soon.....

Here is the E Mail of the guy who supplied my antenna mast -not the whole motor, just the antenna. It's important to note that the LS400 must have a self-adjusting motor assembly. I think he's had trouble with people who order antennas with non-adjusting assemblies. glgdirect@comcast.net. He said he can supply all kinds of other electronic stuff, too. 20 bucks plus 5 bucks shipping-he sent it on a Friday-I got it on Tuesday. Works like a charm-I'm an AM radio fool, and quite satisfied :D .. Thanks for your help, too, TanSupplyGuy. youngdoog

Ah, success. I actually bought something from EBay that wasn't fake or a mistake. The $20 antenna with cord installed easily in five minutes. I found that my old antenna, replaced previously by Fletcher Jones on 03/21/03 !! - was only opening up 4 sections, not 6. My AM reception is much better now. Hey, Tansupplyman, I noticed that the antenna does not move up or down between AM and FM. No big deal. It's important to note that Fletcher Jones Las Vegas' repair of the antenna was a failure, as well as a previously posted note about the fact that they charged the poor fellow for a cabin filter replacement that did not exist. Also note that they did a brake job at 88,000 miles, and another 92,600. I did another at 100,600. Either the previous owner was a lead foot-or Fletcher Jones makes their money off repeat and non-existent repairs? Amazing world.

I went to change out the PCV valve, and after lubing, grunting, and everything else to avoid !Removed! up the grommet-I destroyed the grommet. I did retrieve the broken grommet. So my question is-Can I get a new grommet only? PCV valve grommet = 90480-18001 If so, do I have to remove-and how- the valve cover? I knew I'd screw this one up-It was in there too secure. Thanks

By coincidence, I just ordered a replacement antenna from EBay. I only needed the antenna mast, not the motor assembly, so it's only 20 bucks plus 5 bucks shipping. It looks like there are a bunch of complete assemblys there, too. Certainly worth checking out. The dealer on EBay was recommended by another LOC member somewhere on this site. (laynlow1) I've had good and bad luck with E Bay-their repair manual on CD is useless. But I did buy a cabin filter there, and it fit perfectly. I figure that for 25 bucks, the antenna's worth the chance-compared to the hosing you get from the dealer..even if you DIY, the parts departments prices are horrendous.

I traded in my 98 Honda Accord-never serviced, worn out beater with 98K miles-for a pristine 94 LS400 with 99K-and paid an extra $5,100 !! Never made a better deal. I figured that the Honda was about to start costing me money, so why not spend it on a Lexus that was always maintained? Couldn't be happier.

You've brought up another question, guys. I removed the underneath wind shroud, and never reinstalled it. Living in the desert, we don't have rain often, or mud or salt or ice or slush ever. The underside is pristine, with no corrosion anywhere that I can see. Is there a purpose for the shroud that I'm not aware of? I left the shroud off mainly to see if there is leakage from the power steering pump. When I got the car, the only fluid low was the PS, so I figured a spot on the garage floor would clue me in to a more serious problem. I thought the shroud might confuse the issue. Thanks for the input on the oil filter change. Think I'll leave it on until the next complete change.

I was listening to the Bobby Likis Car Clinic show on the radio this morning, and he said that, after filling the engine with synthetic oil for the first time, you should replace the filter-only- after 1,500 miles. Lotta crap there from the regular oil. While this sounds like a good idea, my simple question is-Do I have to drain the entire oil pan, save the oil, and then drain and remove the filter? Or can I just unscrew, drain and replace the filter? And refill with the oil missing from the old filter? Never done it this way before.... I put new full synthetic in my 94LS400 1K miles ago. Thanks.

Before playing with the cables, I checked out the antenna following the advice of the tansupply guy. What I found was that the antenna only opened up about half-way up-at best. It only got to about 15" high. I messed with it for an hour, and came to the conclusion that it was twisted, or bent, or whatever. Unfixable. I was lucky to be able to get it back to its original position. I'll live with weak AM radio. What really aggravates me is that the original owner paid to have the mast motor assembly changed 2 years ago-on the recommendation of Fletcher Jones Lexus of Las Vegas-the only Lexus dealer for 300 miles or so. It cost a bundle, but I'm thinking that they did not change the antenna, which might have been the actual source of the problem. Since I've already posted a query about a dirty cabin air filter that the original owner also paid a bunch to have replaced-and which is not in the A/C plenum, I'm wondering if he was victimized by FJ Lexus again. Note that I EMail these thoughts to the Fletcher Jones Service Department. We have a great forum here, and it's almost comforting to think that they might wonder if their questionable practices are under scrutiny. Nah, they could care less. Thanks, TanS and the rest.

Hey, Tansupplyman, I watched my antenna when I switched back and forth between AM and FM, and there was no change in antenna height. It stayed the same height until I shut the radio off. Are you sure it changes height? If so, then this antenna, which was completely changed less than 2 years ago, is malfuctioning again.