crizq0

Got my dad's 1998 LS400 and have been driving it around for the past year. Car has been through the arizona snow in the winter and red dirt/dust for 4 months and now in Las Vegas enduring the 100+ deg weather.

Haven't really done any maintanence to the car accept getting the water pump and timing belt replaced. As well as regular oil changes. Changed the air intake filter and it was full of red arizona dirt. Besides that I don't think my dad has really done anything really to maintain the car.

Can someone give me a list of things I should do to my car to keep it running smoothly. I'm a DIY'er but would gladly take my car in to an auto shop to do the more difficult jobs.

Thanks!

deanshark

Welcome to CL. You could either search this section or search the maintanence section to find out what the other members are doing for maintanence at certain mileages. (which you didn't mention) Either way your best bet is to search. You'll get all the answers you need and you'll find some DIY tutorials. Or you can just check Edmunds; http://www.edmunds.com/car-maintenance/guide-page.html

randal

Arizona snow, huh? For some reason, I do not have any sympathy

As deanshark mentioned, the mileage is really important. However, having had regular oil changes and the water pump and timing belt changed is a really good thing. These are the very important ones.

The other things to have done are transmission fluid changes and coolant (which was done with the water pump change). Brake and rear diff fluids should have been changed several times as well. Plugs at 120k miles or so.

Welcome to the forum!

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

if you have no records of doing them, or cant remember, do a trans fluid change (check the dipstick, if its black/dark brown, have a low pressure fluid exchange done) and rear diff fluid change, as well as coolant flush. Brakes as needed and PS fluid as needed.

once all is up to par, coolant, trans change, and rear diff are all due at 30k mile intervals. I forget if brakes are part of that, but would be a good time to do them as well.

crizq0

Thanks for the help everyone! Will definitely get those done.

The "search button" will be my new friend. Lots of great info in the forum.

billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

Changed the air intake filter and it was full of red arizona dirt
I assume you were talking about the air filter for the engine..... but dont overlook the cabin air filter either, they can clog up and restrict the air flow.
You should have an owners manual that will tell you all this information.