JJN LS-400

hey guys ! first time lexus owner here, with a problum! i recently bought a mint 1990 LS-400 with with low miles for cheap! it was parked a few years ago and never driven since! older couples car that needs sum TLC! so far nothing but a tune up and a altenator and new rubber! I am loving it ! well I noticed recently checking the power steering fluid that, foamy bubbles were in the P.S. resivior and a little low ! i top'd off with dextron-III and few days later i hear a whinning from the p.s. pump! checked it out and level was fine and no leaks but that foamy froth in the resiviour! now its a super loud whine when i turn the wheel and starting to leak out of the cap very little! i researched this car alot b-4 i bought it and i am aware of the P.S. problums with 1st gen. LS-400! but i am hoping that it is sumthing small i can fix before i end up replacing the P.S. pump and another altenator! can sum one plz help! thnks so much!

Gunnut

I'd try cleaning the screen and doing a flush. Bubbles would mean there is air in the system somewhere. Make sure to keep it topped off and keep checking for leaks.

JJN LS-400

I went today 2 my local machanic 2 have him take a look and give me an opion. he told me he would say it was a bad pump itself ! so i am really confused now! if it wasnt for the 30 below wind chill and a lack of a garage i would of dived rite into this head first! so i just wana try 2 stop the lil prob. b-4 the big 1 ****! and buying another altenator again! so n-e-one by chance have step/step info. on exsactly how to do this procedure and the does and dont's? i would very much appriciate n-e-help! stay tuned!

Och

iTrader: (3)

Check out lexls.com, it may have a tutorial. Also, check the sticky threads in this forum.

RA0806232

Had the same problem with my 91. Took it to my local mechanic and they used a special machine they have to siphon and clean the pump and the whole steering system while the car is running. They then replace the old fluid with a synthetic oil. The pump was super quite after this but because of the idle control valve being bad it sucks some of the oil out. I top it up with Dexron III which is compatible with the synthetic but now that I am getting more Dexron in there the pump is again starting to make a small amount of noise when it is cold but only for a few seconds after the car is started. The mechanic told me there was a lot of "debris" in the old oil they sucked out.