RVH

My LS400 is still the best car I've ever owned. It's as smooth as silk on the highway and is luxury at it's finest.

I have two problems:

1. Power steering pump is bad, leaks excessively and needs to be replaced. Estimate of about $800 from the local shop.
2. The car blows blue smoke when it's started if it's been sitting for more than an hour or so. The smoke goes away in a matter of minutes. People have told me it could be a valve job or head gasket or rings (and, I'm not smart enough to know the difference.) But, estimates for this range from $1,000 to $2,500.

Given the car has $0 KBB value, but still runs great (when it's filled with power steering fluid) and after a minute or two so it's not blowing blue smoke (which is terribly embarrasing), is it worth it to keep plowing money into a car 18-yrs old?

Some opinions please?

Bob

PS, it would hurt, but I could afford it.
PPS, local Lexus dealer says to trade it, that they can deal with it for parts, etc.
PPS, I recently put $450 into new tires.
PPPS, it recently passed inspection even with the smoke but they said that it's probably need a new catalytic converter within a year.

RA40

iTrader: (6)

A power steering pump rebuild is a less costly route. As far as blue smoke, read through this thread:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...ing-bible.html

If the drive line and engine are otherwise good, you'll have to weight the cost factor relative to a replacement car. At some point, it will be time to let it go to avoid excessive spending...

Asia-H.T.

iTrader: (9)

Get a new power steering pump, or rebuild it. Shouldn't cost $800,-

Probably the ACV on the steering pump feeding oil to your engine, Or is your engine consuming it's own oil?

akitomk3

iTrader: (2)

It seems like the 2 problems you have you can really live with it until it is fixed. You can still drive the car w.o PS...just PITA. You're probably consuming a bit of oil but don't qoute me on that. And thats no reason to get rid of the car, also with new tires...i would just drive it then fix the PS first then move on from there. If your car is straight with everything else i wouldn't give it up that easy.

Bill Dowd

Also check the power steering valve in front of the power steering pump my wasn't working and it caused me to lose PS fluid

7schulz

Even $800 to fix it is only about 1.5 months payments on a new car. Keep it.

67rivdog

iTrader: (1)

My 92 had the "smoke when starting" issue. I blocked off the valve mentioned in the power steering bible thread and it hasn't smoked a puff since.

Also, does your PS pump leak under the car or do you find that you just need to fill it often? The above fix cured my disappearing fluid problem as well.

Good luck

williamb82

where do you live? i can fix the power steering pump for a fraction of that cost. rebuild kit from toyota is only like $50 iirc(though all thats usually needed is the shaft seal, maybe $3) and takes what, ~10min to pull the pump? $800 is a huge ripoff. i havent pulled the pump yet, but it only took me 10min to pull the altenator, and that included removing all the plastic intake crap thats in the way from the top.

seriously, all your pump likely needs is the shaft seal. only place it can really leak from on the pump itself, unless you got a line thats leaking, or the rack is leaking.