1991 Lexus LS400

THIS LEXUS LS400 CAUGHT ON FIRE DURING SMOG CHECK AND BOTH NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WERE ON FIRE AND 2 FIRE EXTINGUISHERS WERE USED. THE CAR IS STILL DRIVE-ABLE AND ONLY TAKE VERY SHORT SHORT "STOP AND GO" TRIPS IF YOU REALLY WANT IT GO FROM POINT A TO B. I HAVE ATTACHED 2 PICS ON THE SMOG CHECK PLACE AND A REPORT FROM THE SMOG CHECK PLACE BEFORE IT CAN FINISHED THE SMOG TEST PROCESS. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND GOT A LEXUS ES300 1998 SIMILAR PROBLEMS WHICH HE SPENT AND REPLACED FUEL INJECTORS, TUNE UP, MAF, OXYGEN SENOR ETC BUT GET NO WHERE.. IT IS DEFINITELY AN INTERESTING ACADEMIC CASE AND ALSO A UNSAFE VEHICLE IN THE PUBLIC; WELL, I DO NOTICE EVERYONE GETS THEIR ATTENTION STARTS LOOKING AND SMELLING. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -- THE 2 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS BECAME RED-HOT AFTER CHANGING AN ALTERNATOR FROM O'RIELLY AND IT WAS SUSPECTED TOO MUCH "UN-BURNED" GAS FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND BURNT AT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS; A LOT OF EMISSION CONTROL PARTS CHANGED SUCH AS 2 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, MAF, TUNE UP, MUFFLER CHECKED, PRESSURE PUMP CHECKED AND AMONG OTHER THINGS BUT NO RESULT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 LEXUS LS 400. THE CONTACT WAS EXITING A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS AT LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE FRACTURED AND HAD CAUSED THE BRAKE FLUID LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE OTHER THAN FILING A COMPLAINT FOR THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,625 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,900. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF UPDATED 09/12/11

ITS WELL KNOWN THAT THE POWER STEERING/ALTERNATOR SETUP ON THE 1990-1994 LEXUS LS400S ARE POORLY DESIGNED. THE POWER STEERING PUMPS ARE KNOWN TO SPRING LEAKS. THEY ARE LOCATED DIRECTLY OVER THE ALTERNATOR CHARGING SYSTEM AND THE LEAKING FLUID SHORTS OUT THE ALTERNATOR, LEADING TO FAILURE. I HAVE HAD TWO OF THESE AND BOTH WERE LEAKING AND AFTER RESEARCHING, ITS HARD TO FIND A 1990-94 LS400 ON THE ROAD THAT DOES NOT HAVE A LEAKING POWER STEERING PUMP. THE PUMP SEALS SHOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER MANUFACTURED, PLACED IN A DIFFERENT CONFIGURATION, OR A "ALTERNATOR GUARD" PLACED OVER THE ALTERNATOR TO KEEP THE FLUID FROM SEEPING INTO THE ALTERNATOR CAUSING THE PREMATURE FAILURE. I HAVE SEEN A COUPLE OF THESE WITH FIRES IN THIS AREA AND CAN UNDERSTAND IT BEING A POSSIBILITY WITH THE POWER STEERING OIL LEAKING DOWN INTO THE ALTERNATOR. SO, NOT ONLY DO THE PUMPS LEAK EXTERNALLY (THEY ALSO LEAK INTERNALLY AND SUCK INTO THE ENGINE), BUT THEY ALSO RUIN THE ALTERNATOR AND CAUSE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. ANOTHER PROBLEM AREA WITH THIS SAME CAR IS THE HVAC CONTROLS WILL TURN BLACK AFTER A FEW YEARS, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD, BECAUSE YOU CANNOT SEE WHAT YOUR HEATING/DEFROSTER SETTINGS ARE AT NIGHT. *TR