Corey6310

Hey guys im buying a 1993 Lexus LS400 for 500 bucks im test driving it tomorrow. so i got a few questions... when i try to start the car i hear a rolling sound im pretty sure its the starter but im not positive. after its running all the lights in the car start flickering like crazy then it dies and i think thats the alt. and maybe the board in the instrument cluster. the last thing is that i want to clean the motor but its not a honda and i have no idea how to do so, should i just use foam engine degreaser or all purpose cleaner with water?

the car does start it needed a fuse and started right up.
i have $1,000 to spend on fixing this car. the parts arent as expensive as i thought so i can get it running like a new car. so what im asking is how to clean it and if im correct on the starter,alt., and the board in the instrument cluster? oh and if your wondering why its so cheap, it was just a car that the lot owners just threw aside but i brought a battery and some gas and got it going and every thing works perfect on the inside not including the light problem.

moat

Parts for this car can be very expensive (more expensive than bmw or mb)

Weak areas are:
power steering and rack (parts are very expensive).
Instrument cluster, but that can be fix with not too much $.
Suspension parts are very expensive.

Everything else is very reliable unless someone broke them already.

tonyfazt

cool nice car if its up and running

DonCorleone

iTrader: (6)

Flickering dash lights (instrument cluster) could just be a capacitor or three. Or just some superglue needed on the back of the needles, read through the instrument cluster circuit board thread https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...000-bucks.html
Could be fixed for under $10 if you're handy.

Hard to tell what you mean by rolling sound when you try to start it, but the starter is known to go at this age and there is a DIY but it is fairly involved.

Shocks would eat up around $300 if you go for kyb gr2 and install yourself. Inspect all rubber bushings and mounts in the suspension as well as the motor and tranny mounts.

Power steering will start to leak with age after the seals wear down, you can rebuild or buy.

ECU's are known to go bad as well.

But... if you're handy and hit the junkyards and shop smart, you won't hurt too bad. I'm confident once you do all the deferred maintenance with decent parts, and keep up going forward, it will be a long while before you need to do any replacing parts again.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

lol how is that? I can pick up parts for a 1LS the bulk of the time as cheap or cheaper than my old supra. the singly expensive part of the suspension is the front upper control arm. that's IT.

dash lights first stop: http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/lighting/bulbout.html

moat

I was thinking of the weak links: e.g. power steering and rack ... very expensive oem.

Corey6310

ok so it runs like a beast i haven't done anything to it yet but tomorrow im giving it a tune up and replacing the power steering. xD it takes muscles without it. but i hear a rattling sound underneath the middle of the car.. im thinking its the exhaust pipe. do you guys have any idea what else it would be? also about the instrument cluster problem, after the car is running for about 30min to an hour everything comes on out of no where( rpm,outside temp,speed,etc. any idea as to what that might be? Oh and i have up to $1,000 to throw down on this ride and im trying to add an audio system under $400

Corey6310

and if you guys need me to i will post a video if the instrument cluster and the odd sound if I can.