98KYLS400

Hey guys,,,just purchased a 98 LS 400 for my wife about 3 weeks ago. 1 owner and every available factory option minus nav,,,even the dealer installed radar detector. 107,000 miles on the clock and most of the service records. This is our second Lexus,,,the first being a 03 IS model,,which my wife loved but was waaaay to small for our family of 3 boys. I have noticed a whine from the dreaded power steering getting louder. I checked the fluid level and it is just a tad low and dirty looking. My question is this,,if Im not mistaken the 98 is a second gen?? and is the power steering fix n flush thread for the first gen the same??? Might be a stupid question but not completely sure and if there is any differences what are they? Oh yeah,,,purchase price for the car was 9500 just wondering if I did OK. The car is in gorgeous condition and almost flawless. Gold on tan. Not absolutely crazy about the color but it is a Lexus. Tnks for any and all input,,,,,Damon

Kansas

The power steering pumps on the 98-00 LS400 are infinitely more reliable than the ones on the gen 1 LS400. I lost count of the number of new and rebuilt PS pumps my 90 LS required over the 0-183,500 miles I had it. My 00 LS400 -- virtually the same as your 98 LS -- is still on it's original PS pump at 117,000 miles and doesn't leak any fluid.

The PS pump on my 00 LS doesn't put out any whine but the AC compressor does a little. Press the "Off" button on the HVAC control and see if your whine goes away. I don't think the fluid in my PS pump has ever been replaced unless the repair shop I use has done it without documenting it on the service ticket. Unless I'm missing it, I don't see anything in my 00 LS maintenance booklet about needing to ever replace the PS fluid.

McSwine

I had a whine on my 2000 that I assumed was my power steering pump, but went away when I replaced my alternator.

Schnitz

iTrader: (5)

Don't know about the pump but you did alright on the price if the timing belt had already been done.

98KYLS400

Hey guys thanks for the input. Maybe its just me but it does seem to whine n groan a little when turning the wheel. All scheduled maintenance has been done to date on the car. It drives beautifully but at slower speeds you can hear that whine and groan. There are absolutely NO leaks either. You could eat off of the engine,,,its that clean on top and underneath and everywhere in between.