Alexander the o.k.

Sorry. Just got here. In the future you could try this: Go to Start/Run and type in... sfc /scannow Make sure that you put a space in front of the slash or you'll get an error message. After the scan finishes the applet just goes away unless a problem is found. A corrupt or replaced file gets replaced from the backup stored in the Dllcache folder or from the Windows CD. If Windows File Protection cannot locate the correct file, it prompts you for the location. The windows cd is a must for replacing these 'lost' system files. You can do some additonal research and find command switches here: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=310747

Knute

Show stopper :) ;)

That pic will probably prove to be the low water mark. What part of the country? Not near NoVa or DC I'll wager. We're still at about 1.87/reg and it just dropped from 1.99. Mid grade is $2.01.

Hope it's a fun one for ya, and as always, Cheers! :cheers::cheers:

There....

Washington Dc

Late to the party as usual, but anyway. Hope it was a good one.

Our prayers are with you Army. Cancer is never trifling, no matter how early caught, or 'benign'. Just be thankful it was caught early. Watch out for those Army 'scapel jockeys' tho. Never have heard much good about 'em. Put pressure on him in a subtle way, let him know people are watching, and will eval his performance and make a stink, if need be. Otherwise you're just another operation. Good luck, and keep us posted. God Speed.

I would agree in principal with the heater control valve being stuck in the semi open position. You may be able to test this. Just look for a small valve high up on the left side firewall (on a '92 anyway) with a hose attached at the 6 o'clock position, and a cable (coming from the firewall) at the 9 o'clock position. This is your heater control valve. When the engine is hot, put temp on 85 *, then pull on the cable to ( help me here guys, either all the out, or push all the way in) to open it to allow the hot coolant to flow into the heater core. If it is stuck, say halfway, then that's your problem. Replace it. Then do the flush and put in Toyota coolant only.

Welcome to the LOC, my Russian friend. You are among friends here, and I am sure there will be many interesting discussions! We are very curious about life in post communistic Russia. Is it better than it was in the old days? In the old days, there were queues 200 meters long for toilet paper and bread. Lines 500 meters long for meat. Everyone waited,and waited for their cheque from the Government so they could eat. Even if it is hard now, is life really as hard as it was in the old days? Or is it harder to make a living now? What do you do for fun? How expensive is gasoline? Do you think the old guard (and communism) will come back? Sorry for all of the questions, but I am curious. By the way, your English is excellent. I only wish I understood Russian as well as you understand English.

When did it start doing this? After maintenance/oil change/ PS flush? Does it do this at start up, or when hot? Have you pulled engine codes yet? http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/intro/codereading.html Post them here. You have an obd1 so all you need is a paperclip, and a pencil. Could be a combo of things. Try checking the infamous trunk hinge wire harness. Open the trunk. On the left side you will see a wire harness on the left hinge. After repeated openings and closings the wires inside that harness become fatigued and frayed. Then they start shorting out. Then sputtering, stalling, and everything you describe. This is a design flaw and lexus knows it. If this describes your problem, then remove the plastic bracket on the left hinge, strip down the harness, untwist all the wires, re-connect, then re-tape. Make sure to leave off the hinge bracket that ensures tension on the harness. Just let the whole mess swing free and loose. In my case, problem solved, and no spending thousands of dollars in diagnostics, parts, and tech snafus. Best of all, it's free. Takes about 30 minutes.

This same type of problem happened to me about a year ago. This smooth world class car started balking, cutting out, lurching, wild rpms, dash flickering, just seemed ready for the junk yard. It happened all of a sudden. No warning. I thought the engine was toast. Now it's smooth as silk w/ 255,000 miles on it. Open the trunk. On the left side you will see a wire harness on the left hinge. After repeated openings and closings the wires inside that harness become fatigued and frayed. Then they start shorting out. Then sputtering, stalling, and everything you describe. This is a design flaw and lexus knows it. If this describes your problem, then remove the plastic bracket on the left hinge, strip down the harness, untwist all the wires, re-connect, then re-tape. Make sure to leave off the hinge bracket that ensures tension on the harness. Just let the whole mess swing free and loose. In my case, problem solved, and no spending thousands of dollars in diagnostics, parts, and tech snafus. Best of all, it's free. Takes about 30 minutes. http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...=90&t=50087

I swear, it's like talking to myself reading you guys. Well done RX and lenore. Message is 100% on target. Self reliance, not dependance on BigGov is indeed the key. Obama represents the same ol BigGov, just with a shifting of (our) assets to his pet ideals. More of the same, with just a twist of lemon, to make it taste a little better/ different. Something 'new' to talk about. Just more of the same. No fundamental change. It's all talk, talk talk, ad nauseum. Washington is a machine, and no one person will change it for the better. It will keep on churning out the same handouts (but to obama peeps instead of bush peeps), and chew up and spit out 'mavericks', or conform whoever is in office, to it's proscribed program. Anyone who thinks differently, is naive at best, and deluding themselves at worst. The power is really in your own hands. Not some fly by night politico. Or one who is bought and paid for. Take control of your own future. Do not wait on BigGov to proscribe it for or to you. Whichever way it goes, we're all still hosed (read over-taxed, and made into sheeple). Sorry, but the current crop of politicos is less than awe-inspiring. Rant off.

I have 255.000 and no smoke at startup. It sounds like the valve seals are going. No big deal as long as the neighbors don't complain. Just keep an eye on: 1 oil level, or it could be : 2 ACV valve (A.K.A. -- IAC) on PS pump. There is an issue with the acv (IAC) valve leaking PS fluid back into the block, IIRC. Actually, google is our friend, here ya go: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...showtopic=49084 Does that describe it? Then go here: http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/steering/pspumpremoval.html And read the IAC part, and how to plug it.

Welcome to the LOC. The excellence of these fine automobiles, while not quite legendary, is something close. My son who now has his learner's permit can easily make the distinction between my old '92 ls400 with a quarter million+ miles on her, and his mom's 2 year old VW wagon. Quote; 'dad, your car is just way smoother'. Her hackles go up when she hears that, so the boy just keeps it between he and I.... ;) The level of refinement in my mind, IS legendary.

Hilarious! Thanks E! :) As someone else has said, it's funny yet frightening at the same time. :o: Either way it all goes, we're all hosed. We may soon have a VPILF in oval office. As Letterman might say, "My, oh My" I may be moving to the Great White North, or Brazil or something very, very soon. Both candidates frighten me, but I'll still go GOP, then move. :(

:cheers: :cheers::cheers: ~~~~Happy belated B/D SMOOTH! HOPE IT WAS A GOOD ONE~~~~ :cheers::cheers::cheers: