Hey CL. My name's Jesse. I hail from South-Western Ontario and have a 1998 GS400. Originally it was my grandfather's car, but he sold it to me 2 years ago for $7500 because he bought a new RX350 and doesn't use the GS anymore. If I've done this right, there should be a picture here:



So on to why I joined this forum. I'm looking for some advice on what I want to do:
I'm really not a huge fan of the whole 18-20mpg city that I get (supposedly) and am wondering what I can do to increase my fuel economy via modifications that (ideally) won't cost me an arm and a leg.
My second issue is the ABS. About 2 months I noticed that the ABS would "buzz" and activate while I was slowing to a stop. The brake pedal would pulsate, all that good stuff. I went along with it for a while, but needless to say it's annoying . I consulted a mechanic and he told me that one of the wheel speed sensors were acting up and sending a false signal to my ABS unit that I was losing traction. He suggested that I pull out the ABS fuses during the summer months and replace them shortly before winter so I have ABS when I need it. Well, I did that, but the fuses were stuck and I managed to mangle the first one to the point where the prongs are still in the fuse box and separated from the rest of the fuse . How can I get the prongs out, and how to I get the other fuses out without destroying them too?

Later on, when I have the car fixed up to my liking, I want to get it looking a little more presentable at small meets. Things like rims, intake system, rotors and pads, and exhaust are on the short list. I may also look at doing a fiberglass hood and trunk when I have a lot of time to kill.

Thanks for reading

 

welcome to the club

 

welcome to CL.. looks really clean..

 

welcome to CL

MPG on gas bugs the hell outta me too , change the air filter, make sure you have enough air in your tires, etc.

 

Sounds like you're getting decent gas mileage as it is. Cleaning your MAF sensor and throttle body should yield positive results, as well as driving with a feather foot.

 

Hey there Jesse! Welcome to Club Lexus

 

welcome TO THE CLUB! Enjoy modding and having fun.

 

welcome to cl!

 

Welcome this forum is full of good info. Literally I have just signed up and already saved hundreds off repair bills and found better ways to buy parts below dealer..

I am also curious as to how to improve gas mileage. I seem to be averaging around 25 mpg on the highway and 15-18 around town. I have only recently bought my GS400 so I do not have many miles to compare yet.

 

Thanks for the warm welcome! I've found a lot of great information already, but I'm still trying to solve my fuse issue. It almost seemed like the fuse leads were fastened in place, because I pulled the guts of the fuse out without the leads. Did I just lose my patience and yank it too hard, or is there something I am not aware of?

 

Welcome to CL

 

Welcome to CL, clean gs!..

 

Welcome! Sorry I can't help on the fuse but what kind of mechanic tells you to pull the fuse instead of fixing the wheel speed sensor??

 

The mechanic I go to was my auto teacher back in high school. He works in a high school where a lot of students don't have money for premium car repairs so he suggests ways to get student vehicles back on the road for less. Being a teacher, he gets paid the same amount if he fixes 10 cars as he would if 0 cars came though the shop. Although I trust this man with my life, I understand where the confusion may have come from in having a mechanic suggest a method to fix it without getting paid.