Schaefft's Bargain Barge Extravaganza - '92 Lexus LS400 joins the Fleet

[Split_Pin]

Yes its the JLR v3.0 and has no problem connecting to the engine (i.e. the BMW bits) its most other things it won't recognise, PDC being one.

[Gaffer]

Could it not be finding it because the module is completely dead?  If its the same as our 2010 the pdc module is in the n/s rear corner and fills up with water, ask me how I know 🤣

[Split_Pin]

5 hours ago, Gaffer said:

Could it not be finding it because the module is completely dead?  If its the same as our 2010 the pdc module is in the n/s rear corner and fills up with water, ask me how I know 🤣

I will check tomorrow, cheers!

[83C]

On 19/10/2025 at 16:55, Split_Pin said:

Mine is a 2004 and I selected 2002-2005, do you think I'd have more luck  with the 2006-2012 years?

Mine’s a 2006 and some diagnostics work in the 2002-2005 menu, some in 2006 and others in 2007-2012 - seems to depend on which modules were fitted. 

My iCarsoft is the CR Pro though, does all makes and models. 

[J-T]

On 19/10/2025 at 16:46, Split_Pin said:

Yes its the JLR v3.0 and has no problem connecting to the engine (i.e. the BMW bits) its most other things it won't recognise, PDC being one.

I had a bit of carry on with mine getting it to connect/read certain modules. I can’t quite remember the sequence now as it’s not in front of me but on either my Range Rover or my S Type, I had to use a different menu rather than going thru Jaguar - S Type - V8R. There was another which was more generic, in which it would connect to pretty much everything.

[Schaefft]

As most will have seen by now a new car has joined the fleet of eclectic vehicles here at casa Schaefft, and I think it really is a special one. It's @Spottedlaurel's 1992 Lexus LS400!

The battery is there for a reason. Like pretty much every LS400 out there this one will need an alternator soon! That didn't stop me in the end from driving it back the 270 odd miles from Norfolk to Hexham where I arrived in comfort and style (photo taken in Newcastle since it got dark quickly).

The problem is that the alternator cannot output enough juice to power the headlights when idling. Its alright once on the road as the higher rpms will make sure the alternator spins quick enough to charge the battery but standing in traffic it'll quickly kill the battery, especially with other consumers like the blower motor or radio on. I have to look up the part numbers again but having rebuilt the alternator in my Celsior before (as seen here) it shouldn't be too much trouble.

I'll see if I dare taking it on another long trip before the winter properly sets in, there's a list of things that will need doing aside from the alternator/powersteering pump that hopefully gets tackled over the winter months. Despite already owning it's Japanese market cousin (my Celsior) I'm excited to own a very early LS400 in the quintessential Lexus spec, Diamond White Pearl on Silver Metallic with the Sandstone Beige interior!

The car came with some paperwork including this "Lexus Club Service Plan" which reveals what dealer sold the car when new (and probably registered it on the last day of the quarter to get those registration numbers up). T. W. Hawkins Toyota/Lexus in Ewell, long gone as there was a petrol station there all the way back in 2008 where the dealership forecourt would have been.

Not sure if this dealer sticker would have come from them, I'll need to take a better photo of it:

A few interesting details about the owner here. Unsurprisingly it was originally bought as company car, here he had a cellphone installed in 1994!

You can't own an executive car in the 90s and not have a cellphone! The handset is long gone though.

Not entirely car related but that should paint a pretty good picture. And yes, with this being a London car I can say that the Kensington address of the owner is quite fancy (and the street it's at filled with some pretty glorious cars over the years as far as I can tell on streetview).

I've also got Lexus service records in his name all the way until 2001, unfortunately no paperwork beyond that until Spottedlaurel took over in 2020 aside from a few MOTs from the previous owner (from 2012) and service stamps from 2003-2011 in Suffolk.

It looks like it was well taken care of throughout it's life though, its got its battle marks and age related issues here and there but its certainly worth spending a little bit of money on. Stay tuned!

 

[juular]

@MrsJuular swapped the rectifier and regulator in her LS400 alternator as it succumbed to the usual problem of being covered in steering fluid.

Tagging here, as at the time she found a relatively cheap way to get the right parts for it.  

[Schaefft]

15 minutes ago, juular said:

@MrsJuular swapped the rectifier and regulator in her LS400 alternator as it succumbed to the usual problem of being covered in steering fluid.

Tagging here, as at the time she found a relatively cheap way to get the right parts for it.  

Yeah, that's what I did and will do again, these are easily rebuildable once out of the car. Carbon brushes as well.