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luxurycars

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  1. I bought a 97 LS400 from a Lexus dealer last month with 93000 miles and I guess that the car is in a decent shape. The car is registered in IL. The Lexus dealer showed me a hard copy of the detailed service record for this car. What is missing is the emission test all through the previous ownership and this surprises me. Literally, it seems to me that there was no emission test done at all as it also reflects in the carfax report. When I asked the dealer about this, I was told that if the car is compatible with the IL emission standards in order to issue new title, registration and new plates. And, since I have all of these issued by the state during purchase, the dealer says it should be fine. But, I dont have a single paper that shows the car had undergone emission test at lest once in its entire life. Though I'm okay with the car's general performance, this thing still bugs me. In addition, I'm moving to a different state in a few weeks that does not require emission to be done. With this, the Lexus dealer in IL says that I should'nt worry about this as the other state does not require emission test for this car. In the interim, I wanted to have a voluntary emission test done before I leave IL. I called up the local emission test center (EPA) but they said that they could'nt find my car's details (VIN and plate number) in their system and the testing cannot be done. The dealer says that state is very slow and takes a lot of time for the update. By then, i had to leave IL with all sort of vague responses from all side. To have a thorough check and peace of mind, I'm planning to conduct an"On board diagnostics (OBD-II)" to uncover hidden problems if any. With this, i hope the proper functioning of the emission system and the physical presence of catalytic converter could also be determined. Has anyone done this before? If yes, can I still to a Toyota dealership or only Lexus? what would be the typical cost? Please advice. I'm sorry for the long post. Your input is welcome. Thanks
  2. 1997 Lexus LS400 I have (1UZFE) with 93000 miles, I wonder if I can start using Amsoil synthetic oil (5W-30) for enhanced performance and low oil change frequency (about 15000 mil). I see that the proper procedure is to use Amsoil engine engine flush fluid to clean all the engine deposits, varnish etc and then switch to amsoil synthetic oil for the engine at this time and hopefully for the transmission later on). Do you have positive experince with Amsoil? Pl reply if you have some. What is the extended warranty you'd suggest? I see a lot of companies but its very subtle to distinguish what's scam. Pl advice. Thanks very much.
  3. Does anyone know the lexus recommended tire pressure for a 1997 Lexus LS400? I'm asking this as I do not have the owner's manual yet and did not see a sticker in the door jamb displaying such info. Thanks
  4. Thanks very much. Because this is my first car with and with a lot of expectations for a long drive, I just post questions that are out of my reach. Hopefully in a couple of months, I should be contributing too. Thanks Congrats on the new car and welcome to the club. As is mentioned above, at 93k you should find out if the 90k service was done. If not, then you'll need to do the TB or run the risk of major damage to the engine when she goes. Very important: change the WP, tensioners and pulley when doing the TB. Down the road if a pulley seizes, you'll be going back in there all over again to replace it. For an idea of what's invoived, look up the procedure at http://www.lexls.com/. I would do this before going on any trips! Also get as much history as you can. The dealer might give you the name of the previous owner or get a carfax for some info. I'll also agree with the rest, stay away from the shops you listed. If Lexus is too expensive, Toyota does the same quality work for a lot less. Good luck and enjoy your new ride.
  5. Hi patcom; kc92hatch; Lexusfreak; IansLexus; Blayd: Thanks very much for your replies. That is good to hear that its perfectly normal. By the way, I'm planning on for a long drive to the east coast from Chicago next week. Because its a long trip, i guess it'll not hurt to have the vehicle (97 ls400) checked by a mechanic for preventive maintenance. At this time, I don't plan to go to a Lexus authorized dealer for service as I'm afraid I'll get heavy bills. Do you know someone reliable in Chicago area? How about Firestone/Pepboys or Midas? I have heard that these are complete ripoffs. Any suggestions? Do you think purchasing an extended warranty is worthwhile? If yes, do you have any recommendations? Thanks in advance.
  6. I have a 97 LS400 and I bought with 93000 miles on it from a Lexus dealer. The car seems to be fine but I have a few concerns. When the car is parked (before driving say in the morning before starting off to work), I see no possible fluid leaks in the ground under the hood. But after I come back from a drive and park it for sometime, i see a water like fluid leak in the ground under the hood. When touched, it has water's consistency? Is this a problem or is it normal and related to A/C usage? The second concern is that I did not bother to seal the deal based on the availability of owners manual. But now, i realize its importance and I guess I made a mistake. I cant even check basic things such as optimal inflation pressure and the recommended fluids (engine/trans/brake etc) to be used for this specific LS400 model. I pushed the dealer for this but was not fruitful. I'm planning to buy a 97 model owners manual from a different source assuming that the manual should be good for this car too? Would that be okay? Your insights would be welcome. Thanks
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