SL's fleet news - New LS400 back with me again 01-04-2026

[mark165]

That looks in fantastic condition, thanks for writing all that up. The revival phase is always the most niggly.

Headlight levelling seems a little odd? Got to be something innocent, surely?

After looking outside at my shonky old toyota collection, your tales of Miss SL give me hope for the future with my kids!

[Angrydicky]

That Lexus looks a really nice example, wearing its miles well. Looks like you've done well there.

Carina E still going strong, it's just ticked onto 140k and no problems to report. He's been checking the tyre pressures and levels every week but he said it doesn't seem to use any oil. He's just treated it to a new rear wiper blade to go with the fronts I replaced for him as the old one disintegrated. 

He still absolutely loves it, and intends to keep it going as long as he possibly can. It is a solid old car that inspires confidence unlike fragile and overcomplicated moderns. When we get some time off that coincides he's bringing it up here to do the discs and pads on my ramp, as well as a more thorough rustproofing and check over underneath. He's definitely got the bug as he asked me for first refusal if I decide to sell my Rover.

The bodywork is pretty good on it so I would say it's got a good few years left in it yet. Any sign of that rear light yet? (nudge)

[stuboy]

12 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

 

very nice

[Richard_FM]

Nice to see a new addition to your fleet.

[Spottedlaurel]

Well, it's not the battery so seems like it'll be the alternator then. Just hope it's that the previous (2018) repair wasn't as effective as it could have been, and not the rebuilt PAS pump leaking onto it....

I presume someone local like Panks could rebuild both if need be. Probably better to repair decent quality original components than buy modern replacements?

[Angrydicky]

Car Electrics in BSE is amazing for alternator/starter repairs and doesn't charge a lot either.

[chatsharris]

The auto levelling can sometimes be attributed to the potentiometer behind one of the rear wheels, the rod likes to break after a while.  Parts used to be very expensive, so instead of paying 400 quid, I got a 25p metal BBQ skewer, bent it in the right places, threaded through and bent off.  Dutch MOT subsequently passed!
Looks like a lovely example though, just out of interest, how much did the cambelt and water pump change set you back?  I have sadly no information if mine has ever had it done and it's creeping up to 200k...

[cort1977]

3 minutes ago, chatsharris said:

The auto levelling can sometimes be attributed to the potentiometer behind one of the rear wheels, the rod likes to break after a while.  Parts used to be very expensive, so instead of paying 400 quid, I got a 25p metal BBQ skewer, bent it in the right places, threaded through and bent off.  Dutch MOT subsequently passed!
Looks like a lovely example though, just out of interest, how much did the cambelt and water pump change set you back?  I have sadly no information if mine has ever had it done and it's creeping up to 200k...

Was going to say, that this may be the issue.

The arm breask and can be fixed but even a replacement part is not that much now, I got one for mine when I had it and it was around £30 as I recall.

These remain the only car of mine that my family liked, should never have sold it.

[Spottedlaurel]

51 minutes ago, chatsharris said:

The auto levelling can sometimes be attributed to the potentiometer behind one of the rear wheels, the rod likes to break after a while.  Parts used to be very expensive, so instead of paying 400 quid, I got a 25p metal BBQ skewer, bent it in the right places, threaded through and bent off.  Dutch MOT subsequently passed!
Looks like a lovely example though, just out of interest, how much did the cambelt and water pump change set you back?  I have sadly no information if mine has ever had it done and it's creeping up to 200k...

Thanks for the info. Daughter's BF is a bit of a whizz when it comes to automotive mechanisms so I'm sure we can sort something. Although if we can source a complete unit for the price suggested by @cort1977 that would be great.

Cam belt and water pump swap was included in the purchase price so I can't answer that I'm afraid. I was more relaxed about it on the white Mk1 as they reputedly have a non-interference engine but we didn't think it wise to take chances here.

Effectively this is going to be a bit of a shared car, with me adding others to the insurance as they become old enough.

 

[Spottedlaurel]

I haven't had a great start to life with the new LS400:

As previously reported the battery light was on and of course it was the alternator and not just it needing a new battery. That's now been rebuilt by a local company.

Mission creep! The lack of heat and low coolant level was from a leak, where an O-ring on the water pump wasn't fully sealed. But investigating that led to the discovery of a previous bodge which could have been the cause of it coming off the road a few years ago. I think it's the tensioner (or a pulley?) that bolts in where circled above, which had been repaired with a thread insert that was installed at an angle so nothing lined-up. The pulley was throwing the belt off line, and someone had given the bolt a whack to get it as straight as possible! It's beyond drilling out and having a new insert fitted, but mercifully it's in the oil pump housing and not the block so they've managed to source a new one which should be fitted next week.

What is interesting/mildly concerning is that the last cam belt change shown in the paperwork was undertaken by a Lexus main dealer in 2019. Surely they saw this problem then, or did they cause it? Or is there some paperwork that's strategically missing?.....

Anyway, one good thing is that they checked the PAS pump and at least that previous repair seems to be doing its job. Shame that the alternator failed again after just a few years and relatively modest mileage (they were both rebuilt in 2018).

[Spottedlaurel]

Let's try again!

Got the to the garage and mine was in good company:

After several road tests and making sure it was all good they were happy to hand it over.

Made it back home with no warning messages and the temperature gauge sitting where it should, now need to put some miles on it!

[Schaefft]

Nice to finally see it home! In so many cases issues of older cars aren't the fault of the car but either cost savings at the wrong time or bodged work. Glad it got sorted!