bradland

Decided to gradually replace my PS fluid with the ol' turkey baster method. Take a little out and replace every day until your fluid looks new again...
Started removing and couldn't understand why the level was not going down I finally shined a light inside the reservoir to find it empty while the level on the outside remains the same. The fluid stains the inside of the reservoir and creates an illusion of fluid staying at a constant level even if it's actually bone dry. Same thing happens to the plastic dip stick on the cap so don't trust it either. A new reservoir is around $200 but a new cap is about $20 so I'll settle for a cap and only trust the dipstick when checking in the future. Both pics taken with the reservoir completely empty.

Jabberwock

The reservoir definitely stains so it is best to check visually by looking directly into the container. Thanks for sharing the pics.

bradland

The 430 is somewhat new territory to me. I've been dealing with the PS woes of the 400 for what seems like an eternity! I found the new location of the ACV on the 430 and was happy to find it bone dry!!! I don't know what Lexus did, besides designing a new pump, but the issue seems to be fixed. I'm really starting to appreciate everything the 430 offers...

Fixman

All ps resies do go black after years of use. Some vehicles you can remove it and clean it. What I do is every 2 to 3 engine oil chang I empty the resi and refill. It's a cheap way to make surre your ps pump & rack last for a vary long time. And on the plus side the resi stayed cleaner for longer. One liters of ps flowed give u about 2.5 to 3 suck & fill.

LS430Lexus

Replacing the cap seems reasonable. A part number and source, along with some instruction on how to replace it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Johnhav430

Would there be air in the system if the reservoir is empty? This reminds me of my snowblower, didn't change the oil in 7 years or so (just not into it, way too big and ran poorly from year 1 anyway as some small engines do--electric start broke, and a new starter was like $130? Pull start ever since...), and the dipstick is permanently etched. When I did change the oil, the new oil is clear, and cannot be seen on the dipstick, because it's black at the full mark....

Johnhav430

This got me curious as I've seen it online, and in multiple LS430s in person. Fluid is never red? My carfax shows it was done at 36k, and it was done again about about 83k under my watch, and the fliuid still is not red, it's more a clearish black (I also saw my trans fluid after 1 drain and fill, black [supposedly 54% old fluid after one drain/fill])....

bradland

sgretchko
The cap couldn't be easier to replace. The part number is 44305-2805. It'll cost between $18 to $24 depending where you buy it. I'd try a Toyota dealer first and your Lexus dealer as a last resort.
Simply unscrew it, check your fluid and throw the old one out, then screw the new one on. Done!

bradland

Johnhav430
Just to clarify I intentionally emptied the reservoir with the car turned off so no air was sucked into the system. Also the hose between the reservoir and pump is approx 4 to 5 inches long so there is still fluid there but don't ever let it get to that extreme.

LS430Lexus

Bradland, thank you. This sounds like my kind of repair. Inexpensive and easy, I think I will give it a try.

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

I just flushed my system my disconnecting the return line and I noticed the same thing about the reservoir.

Fixman

to get air out of the ps system all you need to do after topping the resi is to start the care and cycle the setting from full left to full right (or vise versa) a couple of times, then topup Aegean. And after a trip or 2 recheck and top up if required. It's not good but it's ok if the ps pump run for a mint without fluid.
one thing I don't recommend is sucking the fluid wile the engine is running.

Johnhav430

I was always taught that with fluids, to not let the level go below min., but if you do, perform a bleed procedure...meaning if one drove normally, and saw the reservoir to be dry, imho it would be topped off, and bled....I'm tempted to do the same with a HFT pump, but have avoided it for not wanting to have to have the system bled...does this imply the air will come out the top, like with coolant?

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...ml#post5119855

This thread is suggesting a bleed even if exchanging with the turkey baster method, and it would seem that the bubbles are gonna come up and out....

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/mai...al-method.html

LudeAEM

What fluid do our cars take? ATF? Actual PS fluid?

Johnhav430

This says Dexron III, i.e. ATF

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...-do-i-buy.html