0a's 1999 Lexus LS400 Mk4 (Barge 1-5 Content)
Discussion
Well the Lexus continues to run superbly.
I’ve spent lockdown doing some odd jobs which have included fixing the always -on washer light. The float on the sensor absorbs water over time and becomes heavy causing it to permanently sink to the bottom and indicate as if the tank is empty. I therefore affixed some additional polystyrene which gives it the additional buoyancy it needs - presto light functions correctly.
Also removed and cleaned the ignition switch which would infrequently cause the car to power down until the key was touched when it would power back up again. Over lubrication of grease in the switch from factory was the root cause!
Timing belt will be due soon - bit of a job so tucking some pennies away!
I’ve spent lockdown doing some odd jobs which have included fixing the always -on washer light. The float on the sensor absorbs water over time and becomes heavy causing it to permanently sink to the bottom and indicate as if the tank is empty. I therefore affixed some additional polystyrene which gives it the additional buoyancy it needs - presto light functions correctly.
Also removed and cleaned the ignition switch which would infrequently cause the car to power down until the key was touched when it would power back up again. Over lubrication of grease in the switch from factory was the root cause!
Timing belt will be due soon - bit of a job so tucking some pennies away!
I had the timing belt and water pump done a while ago at my local main dealer, it wasn't too eye-watering. The service was great. The thermostat housing had corroded badly and they had to get one from Japan but it only took a couple of days. In the mean time I had a new Lexus to run around in.
Not quite as cheap as I remembered!
Parts (all Lexus, obviously) and all plus vat:
timing belt £49.29
tensioner £79.25
water pump £132.57
thermostat housing £151.11
coolant £46.56
labour £333.79.
Total £799.14 plus vat = £958.97
It would have been just under £800 without the thermostat housing. Not cheap but it's a keeper so I don't mind looking after it. The water pump they took off looked as good as new so you could take a punt and not do that but for the sake of £150 I'd rather do it.
Parts (all Lexus, obviously) and all plus vat:
timing belt £49.29
tensioner £79.25
water pump £132.57
thermostat housing £151.11
coolant £46.56
labour £333.79.
Total £799.14 plus vat = £958.97
It would have been just under £800 without the thermostat housing. Not cheap but it's a keeper so I don't mind looking after it. The water pump they took off looked as good as new so you could take a punt and not do that but for the sake of £150 I'd rather do it.
I've just had the cambelt, waterpump and tensioner etc done on ours at a Toyota specialist and paid circa £860 all in whilst the main dealer wanted circa £1200 although that did include a "service" as part of a deal they apparently had on.
I don't know how comprehensive the service was going to be but as I had a full service carried out last year when I bought the car it was only due an oil and filter change this year which only cost £50 at my trusted local.
The £300 saved is going towards the full respray I want done...........God I love this car!
I don't know how comprehensive the service was going to be but as I had a full service carried out last year when I bought the car it was only due an oil and filter change this year which only cost £50 at my trusted local.
The £300 saved is going towards the full respray I want done...........God I love this car!
T369 continues to perform admirably. MOT'd yesterday after 18 months since last extension. Two side light bulbs were all that was required - zero other advisories. Now on 94,742 miles.
I also had the timing belt and water pump changed recently at a specialist as well as changing the oil, oil filter, air filter and cabin filter myself.
The clonk previously identified was a bushing that had perished in the NSF strut bar/control arm. I don't think these are obtainable from UK dealers (entire arm inc. bushing is but it's £££ so I had 2 bushes shipped over from Japan for £40 all in.
https://www.amayama.com/en/genuine-catalogs/epc/le...
She's now spot on.
I also had the timing belt and water pump changed recently at a specialist as well as changing the oil, oil filter, air filter and cabin filter myself.
The clonk previously identified was a bushing that had perished in the NSF strut bar/control arm. I don't think these are obtainable from UK dealers (entire arm inc. bushing is but it's £££ so I had 2 bushes shipped over from Japan for £40 all in.
https://www.amayama.com/en/genuine-catalogs/epc/le...
She's now spot on.
rovermorris999 said:
Nice to see it's going well. Mine is the same, 166k now. Thanks for the link to that Japanese site, very useful.
Have you ever had a starter motor issue? Mine occasionally won’t fire on the first turn, in speaking to fellow Lexi owners it would seem that the contacts within can perish over time. A £10 parts fix but frustratingly the starter is at the bottom of the V so it’s a job to get to it. I’ll wait for the weather to improve before making a trip down to my guy on the south coast for a fix. It’s not an issue right now but will only get worse.
j4ck100 said:
Have you ever had a starter motor issue?
Mine occasionally won’t fire on the first turn, in speaking to fellow Lexi owners it would seem that the contacts within can perish over time. A £10 parts fix but frustratingly the starter is at the bottom of the V so it’s a job to get to it. I’ll wait for the weather to improve before making a trip down to my guy on the south coast for a fix. It’s not an issue right now but will only get worse.
No, thankfully not. The one thing I dread, as you say, the inlet manifold has to come off. If you do have to fix it I'd be inclined to fit a new motor from Lexus, not a rebuild or pattern. It'll hurt financially but I've had problems with pattern and rebuilt stuff in the past on other cars and here it sits in a very hot place so needs to be the very best you can buy IMHO.Mine occasionally won’t fire on the first turn, in speaking to fellow Lexi owners it would seem that the contacts within can perish over time. A £10 parts fix but frustratingly the starter is at the bottom of the V so it’s a job to get to it. I’ll wait for the weather to improve before making a trip down to my guy on the south coast for a fix. It’s not an issue right now but will only get worse.
I had the contacts replaced in my LS 400 starter about 4 years ago and no problems since. Most info I've found is that the repair lasts as long as the original. Mine goes in for an MOT tomorrow, but with lockdown it's only done 1200 miles since last one. Last year I changed timing belt and drive belt along with new plugs. All tensioners and water pump were replaced on previous change 10 years ago, but all still fine. My car needs some paintwork - top of screen and N/S rear, so may go for that this year. It still drives great at 180k.
Pete
Pete
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff