What did you do to your GS today?
The following users liked this post:
jonathancl (04-13-19)
#2523
Brake reservoir cap went bad today !
1. Replace two new front rotors with upgraded stainless brake lines and OEM pads.
(tried to use the vacuum line tool to bleed the air out from these two new bake lines but failed ;
yet the old fashion diy bottle work out fine)
The rubber seal of brake fluid reservoir cap got broken during the bleeding process.
Now the car is undrivable due to bad cover !
Does anyone know the Lexus part number for this brake reservoir cap assembly ?
2. Fine tune the spring preload of my 3 years old Stein Flex Z coilover to factory setup.
2001 gs430
(tried to use the vacuum line tool to bleed the air out from these two new bake lines but failed ;
yet the old fashion diy bottle work out fine)
The rubber seal of brake fluid reservoir cap got broken during the bleeding process.
Now the car is undrivable due to bad cover !
Does anyone know the Lexus part number for this brake reservoir cap assembly ?
2. Fine tune the spring preload of my 3 years old Stein Flex Z coilover to factory setup.
2001 gs430
Last edited by diamondgs4; 03-15-19 at 10:19 PM. Reason: Need help on Lexus part number
#2524
Rookie
1998 GS 400 - Let it die or Rebuild?
Trying to decide what to do with my 1998 GS 400 - 110k Miles.. It's in pretty mint condition but starting to fall apart since its kept outside and been slowing fighting off problems.
- Biggest one - Passenger side back carpet is getting soaked over and over from maybe Sunroof, cleared both fronts but have not got the backs yet, just bought heavy guage wire and will try to poke it down tomorrow.
I can feel the carpet underlay is still wet even thought I dry the carpet by sticking my fingers down where the seat cables attach - still all went under there.
Probably need to pull seat and carpet up to dry it - sigh
- Had to replace the exhaust - so bought a $400 Steel Catback of Ebay - deleted a bunch of resonators and now it looks and sounds nice. Wrooooooom
- Still have NOT done the Timing Belt (was due at $100k) as this will cost about $1800 and the cars worth $5000 max. Also it does nothing for me, its just preventive maintenance as it drives perfectly fine. Always a little weary of timing belts on old cars my old Honda Accord was perfect
until I had the timing belts done - then it was never the same. But can't let it go forever either have to decide sort of all or nothing and I am already $1000 into it with the custom exhaust.
- Spent a couple hours cleaning up the Sunroof Area - all still works but the actual sunroof top trim is pretty beatup in between the glass and edge is some 1cm of not sure what that is, something that's now hard and crunchy if it was rubber at some point. Can't tell...
- Bought the 3M headlight cleaner gonna buff em up they are not bad and new ones cost $1000 for two little too much to bother with that and I already replaced the HIDs couple years back.
- Disabled the steering wheel so it doesn't come out and SQUEEEEEEEEEEEK at me every time I get in.
- The front ball joints OR the newish control arms(replaced 2 years ago) are Squeeeking like a mouse constantly on turns and over bumps. Eee ee eeeee eeee eee makes it sound like an old beater. Last mechanic just packed with grease said nothing wrong they just make noise.
Taking it to a good shop up the street from me nice guy I know get him to look it over as well as my 3 Check Engines lights which is 02 Sensor , Transmission, something else. Thing is the shifting is all totally fine - no idea. O2 will just ignore.
- The weatherstripping is starting to peel off from doors - just bought some glue from Can Tire for that to start gluing back on the doors.
- Car needs a good interior detailing
- The outside is nice as I have had many panels repainted except the top, no one really see's the top much.
So I have spent about $1000 and need to spent $1800 Timing Belt, $500 or so Leaks and Detailing, $500-$1000 Ball joints and squeaking, whatever else comes up. So all in would be about $4000 sunk into a car worth $5000 lol none of this really increases the value much I could sell for same and not do all the extra work really.
Who here is still driving their 1998 GS 400 around?? You keeping it ?
1998 GS 400 Black on Black stock everything
- Biggest one - Passenger side back carpet is getting soaked over and over from maybe Sunroof, cleared both fronts but have not got the backs yet, just bought heavy guage wire and will try to poke it down tomorrow.
I can feel the carpet underlay is still wet even thought I dry the carpet by sticking my fingers down where the seat cables attach - still all went under there.
Probably need to pull seat and carpet up to dry it - sigh
- Had to replace the exhaust - so bought a $400 Steel Catback of Ebay - deleted a bunch of resonators and now it looks and sounds nice. Wrooooooom
- Still have NOT done the Timing Belt (was due at $100k) as this will cost about $1800 and the cars worth $5000 max. Also it does nothing for me, its just preventive maintenance as it drives perfectly fine. Always a little weary of timing belts on old cars my old Honda Accord was perfect
until I had the timing belts done - then it was never the same. But can't let it go forever either have to decide sort of all or nothing and I am already $1000 into it with the custom exhaust.
- Spent a couple hours cleaning up the Sunroof Area - all still works but the actual sunroof top trim is pretty beatup in between the glass and edge is some 1cm of not sure what that is, something that's now hard and crunchy if it was rubber at some point. Can't tell...
- Bought the 3M headlight cleaner gonna buff em up they are not bad and new ones cost $1000 for two little too much to bother with that and I already replaced the HIDs couple years back.
- Disabled the steering wheel so it doesn't come out and SQUEEEEEEEEEEEK at me every time I get in.
- The front ball joints OR the newish control arms(replaced 2 years ago) are Squeeeking like a mouse constantly on turns and over bumps. Eee ee eeeee eeee eee makes it sound like an old beater. Last mechanic just packed with grease said nothing wrong they just make noise.
Taking it to a good shop up the street from me nice guy I know get him to look it over as well as my 3 Check Engines lights which is 02 Sensor , Transmission, something else. Thing is the shifting is all totally fine - no idea. O2 will just ignore.
- The weatherstripping is starting to peel off from doors - just bought some glue from Can Tire for that to start gluing back on the doors.
- Car needs a good interior detailing
- The outside is nice as I have had many panels repainted except the top, no one really see's the top much.
So I have spent about $1000 and need to spent $1800 Timing Belt, $500 or so Leaks and Detailing, $500-$1000 Ball joints and squeaking, whatever else comes up. So all in would be about $4000 sunk into a car worth $5000 lol none of this really increases the value much I could sell for same and not do all the extra work really.
Who here is still driving their 1998 GS 400 around?? You keeping it ?
1998 GS 400 Black on Black stock everything
#2525
Trying to decide what to do with my 1998 GS 400 - 110k Miles.. It's in pretty mint condition but starting to fall apart since its kept outside and been slowing fighting off problems.
- Biggest one - Passenger side back carpet is getting soaked over and over from maybe Sunroof, cleared both fronts but have not got the backs yet, just bought heavy guage wire and will try to poke it down tomorrow.
I can feel the carpet underlay is still wet even thought I dry the carpet by sticking my fingers down where the seat cables attach - still all went under there.
Probably need to pull seat and carpet up to dry it - sigh
- Had to replace the exhaust - so bought a $400 Steel Catback of Ebay - deleted a bunch of resonators and now it looks and sounds nice. Wrooooooom
- Still have NOT done the Timing Belt (was due at $100k) as this will cost about $1800 and the cars worth $5000 max. Also it does nothing for me, its just preventive maintenance as it drives perfectly fine. Always a little weary of timing belts on old cars my old Honda Accord was perfect
until I had the timing belts done - then it was never the same. But can't let it go forever either have to decide sort of all or nothing and I am already $1000 into it with the custom exhaust.
- Spent a couple hours cleaning up the Sunroof Area - all still works but the actual sunroof top trim is pretty beatup in between the glass and edge is some 1cm of not sure what that is, something that's now hard and crunchy if it was rubber at some point. Can't tell...
- Bought the 3M headlight cleaner gonna buff em up they are not bad and new ones cost $1000 for two little too much to bother with that and I already replaced the HIDs couple years back.
- Disabled the steering wheel so it doesn't come out and SQUEEEEEEEEEEEK at me every time I get in.
- The front ball joints OR the newish control arms(replaced 2 years ago) are Squeeeking like a mouse constantly on turns and over bumps. Eee ee eeeee eeee eee makes it sound like an old beater. Last mechanic just packed with grease said nothing wrong they just make noise.
Taking it to a good shop up the street from me nice guy I know get him to look it over as well as my 3 Check Engines lights which is 02 Sensor , Transmission, something else. Thing is the shifting is all totally fine - no idea. O2 will just ignore.
- The weatherstripping is starting to peel off from doors - just bought some glue from Can Tire for that to start gluing back on the doors.
- Car needs a good interior detailing
- The outside is nice as I have had many panels repainted except the top, no one really see's the top much.
So I have spent about $1000 and need to spent $1800 Timing Belt, $500 or so Leaks and Detailing, $500-$1000 Ball joints and squeaking, whatever else comes up. So all in would be about $4000 sunk into a car worth $5000 lol none of this really increases the value much I could sell for same and not do all the extra work really.
Who here is still driving their 1998 GS 400 around?? You keeping it ?
- Biggest one - Passenger side back carpet is getting soaked over and over from maybe Sunroof, cleared both fronts but have not got the backs yet, just bought heavy guage wire and will try to poke it down tomorrow.
I can feel the carpet underlay is still wet even thought I dry the carpet by sticking my fingers down where the seat cables attach - still all went under there.
Probably need to pull seat and carpet up to dry it - sigh
- Had to replace the exhaust - so bought a $400 Steel Catback of Ebay - deleted a bunch of resonators and now it looks and sounds nice. Wrooooooom
- Still have NOT done the Timing Belt (was due at $100k) as this will cost about $1800 and the cars worth $5000 max. Also it does nothing for me, its just preventive maintenance as it drives perfectly fine. Always a little weary of timing belts on old cars my old Honda Accord was perfect
until I had the timing belts done - then it was never the same. But can't let it go forever either have to decide sort of all or nothing and I am already $1000 into it with the custom exhaust.
- Spent a couple hours cleaning up the Sunroof Area - all still works but the actual sunroof top trim is pretty beatup in between the glass and edge is some 1cm of not sure what that is, something that's now hard and crunchy if it was rubber at some point. Can't tell...
- Bought the 3M headlight cleaner gonna buff em up they are not bad and new ones cost $1000 for two little too much to bother with that and I already replaced the HIDs couple years back.
- Disabled the steering wheel so it doesn't come out and SQUEEEEEEEEEEEK at me every time I get in.
- The front ball joints OR the newish control arms(replaced 2 years ago) are Squeeeking like a mouse constantly on turns and over bumps. Eee ee eeeee eeee eee makes it sound like an old beater. Last mechanic just packed with grease said nothing wrong they just make noise.
Taking it to a good shop up the street from me nice guy I know get him to look it over as well as my 3 Check Engines lights which is 02 Sensor , Transmission, something else. Thing is the shifting is all totally fine - no idea. O2 will just ignore.
- The weatherstripping is starting to peel off from doors - just bought some glue from Can Tire for that to start gluing back on the doors.
- Car needs a good interior detailing
- The outside is nice as I have had many panels repainted except the top, no one really see's the top much.
So I have spent about $1000 and need to spent $1800 Timing Belt, $500 or so Leaks and Detailing, $500-$1000 Ball joints and squeaking, whatever else comes up. So all in would be about $4000 sunk into a car worth $5000 lol none of this really increases the value much I could sell for same and not do all the extra work really.
Who here is still driving their 1998 GS 400 around?? You keeping it ?
#2526
Its a beautiful car and well worth fixing. But for most people using the forum, it's a DIY kind of mindset. My suggestion is to lean to do the work yourself, save money and gain experience, or sell it as is to someone that will be happy to get a low miles GS4 and wont mind doing the maintenance at all. As you said, you wont be making more value in the car. The maintenance is expected for its millage and blue book value doesn't increase. If you aren't mechanically inclined, it's probably best to let it go. It surely needs a lot of suspension and engine maintenance. The cost of which will be beyond it's value to have done professionally.
But one could argue that getting everything fixed might still be cheaper than a new car note depending on what your buying of course.
Fyi, my 98 gs400 is more of a garage queen lately and I only drive her on nice days. Way more in parts than the value of the car but that the nature of the hobby. Good luck.
#2527
Lexus Test Driver
Same here, original owner '99 GS400 w/233k. You definitely need to break up the repairs as it can get expensive to do them all at once. With my indy I was able to take care of a lot of big items at my leisure (like TB/WP, spark plugs and motor mounts). I just did one large repair at a time. Once the major items are done it's just regular maintenance after that. Is it worth it? I think so. Even at 20 years old it is almost the perfect daily - comfortable, reliable and still fast enough to pass someone in traffic if I need to.
#2528
Yet we do all our work ourselves, and if we can't fix it, we replace it.
Lexus repairs performed at Lexus will make most 20yo Lexus' have zero-value. Yet great cars if you can source and install the parts yourself.
#2529
And if only for inspiration, here’s a snippet of a “20 year old” GS400...
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SynDragon (03-19-19)
#2530
Rookie
Same here, original owner '99 GS400 w/233k. You definitely need to break up the repairs as it can get expensive to do them all at once. With my indy I was able to take care of a lot of big items at my leisure (like TB/WP, spark plugs and motor mounts). I just did one large repair at a time. Once the major items are done it's just regular maintenance after that. Is it worth it? I think so. Even at 20 years old it is almost the perfect daily - comfortable, reliable and still fast enough to pass someone in traffic if I need to.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Wet Carpet - OK will do this as I can't leave it like that its a crime
- Driver Door Actuator - must do or I am manually locking it .... depends on cost
- Weatherstripping - can do this pretty easy
- Ball joints - not sure cost but can't drive it SQUEAKING so must do it
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big stuff or stuff that can wait
- O2 sensor - don't care
- Timing Belt Kit pro install - $1800 - no
- any other major stuff that won't die in 5000miles
So I think just putting like $2000 more into it for day to day stuff would make most sense then sell it in 2 years for someone else to start doing major work?
#2531
Moderator
iTrader: (1)
Honestly, as much as I would like it to be true, these 2GS aren't anywhere near the level of car that a new sports saloon like the Giulia, Genesis, or the Stinger are. If Lexus tried to sell the 2GS as a current model, it would get laughed out of the showrooms. At it's peak, it wasn't even really the top of its class (BMW M5 takes that title), now it's a relic. An actual 20 year old car, even less so, since (as you're finding out) you will be fixing problems for the rest of its life. There will always, always be something wrong with it. So unless you are actually prepared to spend the time learning how to repair it on an ongoing basis, these cars are not worth keeping around. It will just continuously leak money while providing mediocre performance in every aspect, compared to a modern car. If you make $300/hour and you don't like actually working on your car, just get something new and all you have to worry about is washing it and taking it to the dealer for its service schedule, instead of trying to figure out why this or that solenoid stopped working, or where that rattle is coming from, or how long you have before your balljoints let out. At this point in its life cycle, the 2GS is an "old car". If you want a project car, the 2GS can be rewarding. If you want a reliable sports saloon that "just works" all the time, you need to get something more recent.
Last edited by firelizard; 03-17-19 at 12:29 AM.
#2532
Rookie
Yeah well the Gulia may be fun under warranty but I think a nightmare when its not. Really I guess maybe I have been lucky but I bought the Lexxus in 2012 for $3000, in the past 7 years i have done
- brakes - reg maint
- $500 two control arms
- $500 new starter
- $100 new battery
I can't think of anything else , its never broken down on me once, never left me stranded, never cost me much other then gas for 7 years running. So I have already gotten unbeatable value of it.
It's just now started to seem like OH OH the fun is over. Poor old car just time is beating her down. Maybe I will just fix the water leak and call it a day, drive it till the Timing belt explodes.
but you can see that with 7 good years it's hard to let it go haha. I will see what the shop up the street wants for the Squeaking fixing, fix the water issue myself , then stop there I guess.
- brakes - reg maint
- $500 two control arms
- $500 new starter
- $100 new battery
I can't think of anything else , its never broken down on me once, never left me stranded, never cost me much other then gas for 7 years running. So I have already gotten unbeatable value of it.
It's just now started to seem like OH OH the fun is over. Poor old car just time is beating her down. Maybe I will just fix the water leak and call it a day, drive it till the Timing belt explodes.
but you can see that with 7 good years it's hard to let it go haha. I will see what the shop up the street wants for the Squeaking fixing, fix the water issue myself , then stop there I guess.
#2535
Rookie
So I have pulled the Seat , easy, and taken off 1 piece of Carpet Trim, but I am bit hesitant to take off a bunch of trim , not worried about getting it OFF but with 20 year old clips etc they tend to break off vs come off nice. Took me longer to get the seat bolt covers off then the seat, and 2 cracked on the way off. Not a big deal but don't want to bring up carpet and then have it look like a sack of loose skin from there on out... Debating cutting a small hole or two to dry out the underlay similar to one that was done for the seat cabling. Anyone pulled carpets and put them back clean?