Hello,
I posted on the general maintenance site and have got no responses so thought i would check here in the LS400 section. Have a '98 LS400. Bought the car week ago air stopped blowing cold, 80 degrees when checked. Took to mechanic and they say I need a dryer and evaporator (which is super expensive). It has been filled with freon and blowing cold now, not sure how long it will work but wondering if I should go through replacing the evaporator or maybe the freon will last for a while and just replace some freon periodically? Otherwise the car is in great shape and all maintenance is up o date. Any comments would really be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

Wow, that's close to a grand just in parts. I would say just see how long the freon lasts. If it goes quick maybe you can find the parts at a junkyard, as long as they're good. Welcome to the wonderful, and expensive, world of Lexus.

 

I have the same issue with my 98. It stopped blowing cold air and the compressor wouldn't turn on because of the low pressure. I refilled it myself a few months ago and it worked great for about a week at which point the air coming out kept getting warmer and warmer. It is at the point now that the compressor again is not turning on. I am unsure where my leak is but don't have money to try and fix it now either

 

did they actually leak test it and give you the results?

 

Put the dye in R134a, check for the leak first.
It might be just an O-ring which costs you 50 cents.