1994 LS400

Hey Everyone~
Well I have solved most of the little issues I have had in the past two months, but now a new one has come up. It occurs when I turn my steering wheel I get this rubbing feel/sound and if I move the wheel back in forth quickly it makes a "EHEHEHEH" sound just like something is rubbing? It is not loud but a bit annoying. When the car is off it does not do it, when I move the wheel. It is Not a grown sound at all like a failing rack or pump, besides I have a new Rack (maybe some of you remember the genius that installed it GRRR) and a new Power Steering Pump (At Lexus) so what could this be, I am puzzled, Thanks everyone!

bryanb124

My mother-in-laws does the same thing...let me know if you figure out how to solve it...

thanks

bryanb124@adelphia.net

Lvangundy

bryanb124 - at first glance I thought you said 'my mother in law does that.'

The rubbing sound comes from low power steering fluid most of the time.

My rack and pinion has a small leak and is losing fluid slowly. Before I disconnected my power steering ECU, I would get a loud whine and groaning noises whenever I turned the wheel the first few times.

It seems the weather has alot to do with when this problem starts. The colder it gets, the more noticeable it is.

The easy fix is just to replace the fluid with Dexron Type II as the car manual specifies. This is only a temporary fix if the R & P is leaking, to replace it it costs about $500 from the shop.

1994 LS400

Hey ~
See it is not the LOUD WHINEING noise (had that when P/S PUMP went out, replaced) it is just so slight, but I notice it when turning (especially if move the wheel slightly back and forth quickly, that is just me checking it )I will have Lexus look at it when I go in for the next service, I really would like to get it fixed (hate those little annoyances).
Thanks,
Paul

1994 LS400

Hello ~
I think I am going to do a power steering flush (in hopes of solvng this minor issue)
called Lexus and they said they use the T-4 transmission fluid for p/s, and that the LS400 does not use Dexron at all, is this the case with everyone?
they quoted $33.00 a gallon for the T-4, any good ?


Thanks,
Paul

hyperopt

My 91 LS400 uses Dexron for power steering fluid and not Type-IV ATF. Your Lexus tech is wrong when he say LS400 doesn't is Dexron at all. Look up your owner's manual to confirm.

1994 LS400

Hey ~
Well I changed out the Power Steering fluid with fresh Dexron III (II is no longer) transmission fluid (like manual says). I used a turkey baster with a straw on the end to get all the fluid out. (the old p/s fluid was a deep brown almost black color, was not transmission fluid).

When all the fluid was removed I noticed that the micro screen filter was covered in black dirty gunk, so I wrapped an antenna in a cotton cloth and swabbed as much of it as I could get from the bottom when the fluid sat I noticed quite a bit settled dirt/black substance on the screen. I wonder if it was this gunk that could have been causing the problem? So what is the “proper” way to clean the steering system/and filter so maybe I can do it or have it done, did not like to see all that dirt/grime I started the car and the steering seemed to be smoother.

I will see if the problem persists after doing the daily drive on the highway. How long does it take for the fluid to get passed all throughout the steering system? Any input would be great,
THANKS!
Paul