B.Lee

(tap, tap) is this thing on? LOL. Do I have to offer free beer and deer jerky to get your attention? LOL

I am posting this b/c search tool on the site is looking all jacked up currently and I am not able to see the search results so I am posting this. I was looking for similar posts/replies so I didn't have to post this. 1996 Lexus LS 400 - approx. 180k miles, car has been sitting in the driveway and started periodically (every month or two) and power steering is stiff. Started after sitting for the one or two months. Fluid level is full/fair condition, no leaks. Power steering is stiff at times and okay at others. I am looking for confirmation of the location of the screen/filter for the ps system. I have seen where some have said there is one in the bottom of the fluid resv. and also another located somewhere at the rack itself. I am also wondering if this could be the solenoid on the rack (speed sensitive) and how to check the solenoid for proper operation. Thank ya! Brian

Geez, you guys talk about it like it a good thing. I'm dyin' ova heeya trying to figure the consequences of this. well i mean whats the worst they can do? you have called them (hopefully) and your trying to take certian precautions to make sure it gets reset. what have you done so far? I have a call in to Lexus Cust. Serv. - 1.800.255.3987. I spoke to a gentleman that is going to "research" the issue and reply back to me in 48 hours. I'll keep the group posted. ya see no need to freak out :D they've got you doccumented and everything. you'll prob have to take it back to the shop (wonder how much thats gonna cost ) I got a call back from the guy at Lexus Cust. Service about 20 mins. later - VERY FAST REPLY. He states he talked to a tech (probably from the in-house tech line dept.) and that is has been known/documented to have happend several times. There is no known correction/cause for the resetting of the odometer. He stated since the veh. has over 100K miles then there shoudl be no concern/interest from the state (TN) government in regards to odometer fraud. He advised me I have the following options: 1.) Buy a new cluster and have it reprogrammed with estimated mileage * Why woudl I do that if I can just get mine reprogrammed? 2.) Buy a used cluster and have an aftermarket company reprogram to estimated mileage mine reset at. * Again - why woudl I do that if I can get mine reprogrammed? 3.) Have and aftermarket company that works on clusters and has programming capabilities reprogram odometer to the estimated mileage. * This is the cheaper option but finding a company that is wiling to do this is the hard part. I guess I will draft a document with time/miles and sign/notorize it as mileage history to the best of my knowledge so that it will be avail. for the next owner.

Geez, you guys talk about it like it a good thing. I'm dyin' ova heeya trying to figure the consequences of this. well i mean whats the worst they can do? you have called them (hopefully) and your trying to take certian precautions to make sure it gets reset. what have you done so far? I have a call in to Lexus Cust. Serv. - 1.800.255.3987. I spoke to a gentleman that is going to "research" the issue and reply back to me in 48 hours. I'll keep the group posted.

Geez, you guys talk about it like it a good thing. I'm dyin' ova heeya trying to figure the consequences of this.

Some more pictures to show you what I was doing. I'm not sure if there is a way to caption each of them but it shows the fuse panel I am referring to and the wires I cut and what they look like. Brian.

I guess it wouldn't hurt would it?

I have a call in to the local dlr about reprograming the mileage. I had it through state inspection 2 weeks ago so the mileage was documented then. Waiting for the service advisor to call me back. We'll see what he has to say when he calls back. Brian Advisor called me back and stated they wouldn't touch the car. So I have now contact & filed a complaint with the NHTSA. I'm sure it will only take 6 months to hear anything back. If I do I will keep you guys posted. B.

I have a call in to the local dlr about reprograming the mileage. I had it through state inspection 2 weeks ago so the mileage was documented then. Waiting for the service advisor to call me back. We'll see what he has to say when he calls back. Brian

I could have. Now everyone is more focused on trying to convince me I have no idea what I am doing. Well, think what you want. I traced all the wires/cords (before I cut/removed) any of them and they were all part of the hands free system. Remember, this was an aftermarket set-up. I removed 2 wires from the fuse block that were laid in the fuse slot and then the fuse was pushed into position on top of the wires. Everything I removed was connected to the handsfree set up. I removed all the wires but cut the ones going down going behind the console to where the handsfree mechanism mounted. If cutting wires would have caused the odometer to reset then why does it still work? It still registers mileage as your driving. Right?

OK, What exactly what were you "doing" to the master cylinder ? Did the battery run down before you were done "doing" the master cylinder ? What procerure did you use, Factory spec "doing" the master cylinder or shadetree work ? What fuses did you pull and replace ? Was the battery charged when the fuses were pulled and replaced ? Or were they replaced when the battery was dead ? Lets start there and do an online diagnosis the best we can. The master cylinder was replaced. removed the two nuts and two hydraulic lines and installed new unit. Bleed all 4 wheels and tried running car while trying to bleed at accumulator (this never worked for me). I then rebleed all 4 wheels again. I don't "think" the master cylinder r/r woudl have anything to do with it. So now I start to think electrical. What electrical did I do: * I unplugged connector at the pump by the master cylinder to remove in an effort to locate bleeder (per alldata) but never found. Re-installed pump and reconnected connector until heard click. * I also was checking the parking brake cable under the dash looking to see if there was an adjustment for the parking brake cable. While under there I noticed what looked like a bunch of aftermarket wiring. Then I realized it was the old hands free kit that was in the car when my parents bought it. I removed the 2 wires from the fuse block that powered the handsfree unit and then proceeded to remove trim panels to trace the unit to the back seat. I removed the unit fromt he back all the way to the front until the cables disappeared behind the center console. all the wires I cut I know for sure 100% were part of the hand free system. During the removal process of this hands free phone system I had 3 doors open, the trunk open and all the interior lights were on due to the doors being open so it's at this point I assume the batt. died becuase the next night when I went to work on it the batt. was dead. Also while under the dash I removed the fuses one-by-one checking them to make sure I hadn't bumped something and tripped one in all my fumbling under the dash. I pretty much took out all the fuses in the fuse block under the dash. No relays, no fuse links just the small blade fuses themselves. * I also disconnected the rear brake pad sensor during r/r of r brake pads and new rear rotors. * and as mentioned prior I hooked up my OBD II scanner also. * about 3 weeks ago I did the timing belt, w/p, etc. and when I got done and turned the key the mileage was correct. Now I did the brakes and pulled a few fuses and now it's 0 miles. If still need to know what fuses I pulled let me know. I pretty much pulled all of them at the fuse block by the driver's left foot. Thanks, Brian

Pics as requested . . .

For entertainment purposes only - right? Kinda like the glass bowls/pipes in the plastic case on the counter at the gass station with the hand written sign on a brown paper bag that reads: "For Tobacco Use Only" - right? LOL. Brian

Tell me what you want. Just the odometer or do you want the tripometers too? It may be Sunday night when I get them uploaded. I'm leaving after work today to drive 4 hours north to Lexington, KY to visit my wife's family. NOTE: I also hooked up the generic OBDII scanner and it retrieved no DTC's either (trouble codes). Brian

the odometer and tripometers both work normal.

I agree, Have never heard of an ODO resetting itself to 0, Not even trip A&B This is my point!!!!!!! I work at a aftermarket exteneded warr. company and I'm quite handy with cars. I know that mileage doesn't reset to 0. This is was is freaking me out. It obviously wasn't intentional better yet how in the world could it have happened? It has TOTALLY blown my mind. Does anyone know where mileage is stored (i.e. ECU, instrument cluster, etc.). I'm just wondering if there is any way to get it back to the correct mileage?

I was doing the master cylinder on the car. It's an extra car my parents have owned for about 9 or 10 years. The batt. ran down one night so it was charged while still in the car and connected. I also r/r'd some fuses while removing a hard wired cell phone set up that was in the vehicle when it was purchased years ago. I put the car back together last night after bleeding the brake system and happend to look down and both trip odometer and the regular odometer had all reset to 0 miles. Does anyone have any idea why the odometer would reset to 0 miles? I never touched the ECM or cluster assy. I'm really puzzled how this happened. BTW, I have been using the valet key. This is crazy. I thought this was supposed to be vertually impossible to do. Brian Nashville, TN

1996 LS400 - 165k I'm looking for the strut/air shock assy. that attaches to the parking break pedal. The one on the car now has no resistence. If you pull out the rod it stays and if you push it in it stays. Is this correct? If it's bad I need to replace it. Can you get me a price/part # w/shipping to zip code 37075 and let me know the availability? Thanks, Brian

I'm new to the board. I'm working on my mothers 1996 LS400 w/165k miles. I'm a do-it-yourselfer and have pretty extensive automotive knowledge. I have a few random questions: 1.) I was checking the parking brake out on the car and was looking under the dash. I found the gas strut on the parking brake pedal is toast - it has no resistance. while under there I noticed a black push button switch near the courtesy light under the kick panel. Does anyone know what this switch is for? I looked at the back of the switch and it is a Toyota brand switch (not aftermaket). 2.) Had to replace the master cylinder on the vehicle also. veh. has traction control and ABS. Instructions say to operate the pump by turning the vehicle on. Is there a way to operate the pump manaully while under the hood if this doesn't work? Does anyone have specific instructions on the bleeding procedure. I have access to Alldata but it's not very clear/precise in what it says to do. 3.) As mentioned in #1 the parking brake strut that returns the parking brake pedal to the up position is no good. Does anyone know where I can get one of these besides the dealer? Thanks for your help everyone, Brian Nashville, TN