Hello,
I am having the same PS issues with my 93 LS400. At first I was having to add fluid about once a week. Now it is worse and it has to be added two or three times a week. I do have the terrible smoking on startup. I have noticed a little leakage on the ground but not that much. has it been determined that you can indeed just seal off the control valve and not replace it without creating any issues or doing damage? If so, can someone give me detailed instructions on how to do this?
I have a 91 LS400 with 177K miles. I already went through the white smoke on startup headache a couple years ago and replaced the idle-up valve. If this happens again, I'd just plug it with a bolt as described in other posts on this forum. I had a power steering fluid leak that started small a few months back and I saw the high pressure line leaking and ordered a new one. The leak was slow at first, so I was lazy and just kept topping off the fluid, putting off the installation. It suddenly got much worse, then the whole pump blew and the alternator went bad. I had to get towed to a garage that quoted me $950 for the repair, even with using the line i already bought. I've now had to replace the high pressure line, power steering pump and alternator now instead of just the line. I declined the repair and paid the shop $65 for the diagnosis (I already knew exactly what was wrong) and to replace my original Lexus battery terminals, which they threw out, including the plastic covers, with new generic ones. (Didn't catch this until it was too late). I then did this repair all myself, saving about $500 in labor. I cleaned the solenoid too. I really wish I had fixed that leak when I first saw it and hadn't waited. Good luck to all. (The info on this forum has been a HUGE help)
I have a bad PS leak. I think its the idle up valve.
It smokes on startup (heavy white smoke). It also has drips under the car. I have been told its the idle up valve, others say steering rack.
I have read were so many have changed it, but no one has seemed to have posted any detailed step-by step instructions or photos of this procedure.
I have searched and searched to find dead links, etc, but wondering if someone can please post a detailed step-by-step instructions on how to remove the idle-up valve (with the going under the car procedure and not removing the fan, radiator hoses, fan clutch, etc), as I want to put that 14x1.5 plug it and and block the lines on the intake. I have been told so many different things and so confused.
I didnt see anything about steering "shudder" in the main thread. As some of you may know, I recently plugged my idle-up valve and bypassed the vac lines, because of leaks and smoking on start-up.
However, even before this, about three weeks ago, I started getting this occasional "shudder" feel from the steering wheel on sharp turns at low speeds. I thought it was when the fluid was getting low, but it did it today after it was refilled with fluid.
I didnt see anything about steering "shudder" in the main thread. As some of you may know, I recently plugged my idle-up valve and bypassed the vac lines, because of leaks and smoking on start-up.
However, even before this, about three weeks ago, I started getting this occasional "shudder" feel from the steering wheel on sharp turns at low speeds. I thought it was when the fluid was getting low, but it did it today after it was refilled with fluid.
Is it possible its air in the lines, or?
Thanks.
Maybe its just finally the power steering pump's time to die.. It is a 91 and 223k used, correct?
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1997 ES-gone
taking care of family's '98 GS300, 2002 GS300,
2004 LS400<--- For sale, Silver with 58k, $22,800
'06 GS430 <--new member
(1991 LS400) Well, just when I thought all was well, my power steering is "acting up" again. To recap, I had blocked the idle-up valve and re-routed the vac lines, then I had a leak at the return line, replaced it and all was well. No more smoking and no more leaks! Fluid is staying full and is full now.
I was told to expect it to be harder to turn at LOW speeds, but other than that, it would not be noticable. Well, oddly, I could not even tell it at first... for several days, even at very low speeds the steering would turn very easily. I was puzzled. Then it got to where it sporadically would be harder to turn, then it would be easy again. Then it got to where even at higher speeds it was harder to turn, then easy again.
Well, today its been a pain. I drove my Mercedes most of the day, but had to go back out to the bank, so I took the Lexus. On the way, all was fine... steering was a breeze. I stopped the car, went in the bank. Came back out and started it and the wheel was quite hard to turn... even when moving and at speeds, I could tell it was not wanting to cooperate. I came home, but had to go back to town to pick up some dinner for grandpa... again, steering required a great deal of pressure to turn. Driving back, almost all the way home, the steering became very easy to turn again... even when I am completely stopped and at idle. What gives? When it was acting up and was hard to turn, it had some assist I know, because when the car turned off, its almost impossible to turn.
I am just so confused as to whats going on and getting really frustrated again.
I have a post on this somewhere... my dad blocked mine for me. It was not that hard... and can be done from underneath. I have photos of how the hoses are supposed to run after its blocked too. The leak could be from the return line (back of the reservior)... thats where mine was leaking like crazy.... easy replacement as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gchitwood
Hello,
I am having the same PS issues with my 93 LS400. At first I was having to add fluid about once a week. Now it is worse and it has to be added two or three times a week. I do have the terrible smoking on startup. I have noticed a little leakage on the ground but not that much. has it been determined that you can indeed just seal off the control valve and not replace it without creating any issues or doing damage? If so, can someone give me detailed instructions on how to do this?
This was posted on another thread so I thought it should go here....im new sorry for the double post.....
I have a 91 ls I just bought Monday and im having the same typical problem. Smoke out the tails after sitting a while and hard to steer at low speeds. If the internal leak is the ACV...what are the symptoms of the external leak. I see some tranny fluid on the engine cover on the bottom and Im worried about the alternator. Can I just pull the 2 vac lines and plug the holes and the intake/tube holes to stop the smoke? If it's not leaking from the nipples is there another place I will be losing fluid externally that I can check? Im really happy to have this new project but this seems to be the only glaring problm with the car as all the other maintenance has been done. Any help is really appreciated.
I didn't read the whole thread but thought I'd post what I did for the leaky ACV. I tried looping the tube but eventually it built up enought pressure to leak. I replaced the o-rings on the ACV (they had gotten very hard). I found them at a place that sold RC hobby stuff.
I've now had to replace the high pressure line, power steering pump and alternator now instead of just the line. I declined the repair and paid the shop $65 for the diagnosis (I already knew exactly what was wrong) and to replace my original Lexus battery terminals, which they threw out, including the plastic covers, with new generic ones. (Didn't catch this until it was too late). 
I then did this repair all myself, saving about $500 in labor. I cleaned the solenoid too. I really wish I had fixed that leak when I first saw it and hadn't waited. Good luck to all. (The info on this forum has been a HUGE help) 
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