j5ive

Hi,

I've got a 96 LS400. Because I'm considering selling the minivan, I might need to retrofit the top tether anchors to the rear deck. (required by law in Canada for forward facing child seats)

I know that the North American spec cars are pre-drilled, and simply require part number 73709-20010 to be purchased per child seat position. However, I have seen photos of this retrofit kit. And honestly, it's not pretty.

Now, I understand the 2000 LS400 comes with the top tether anchors installed, and comes with a color coded cover piece. So my questions are:

1: Will these cover pieces work with the retro kit tether anchors? I've found the part number for the black covers to be 73717-50011-C0.

2: If the covers won't work with the retrofit anchors, can I install the 2000 anchors, which I've found is part number 73708-50020, in my 1996?

I know I'm nit-picking, but it's a Lexus, and I don't want to ruin the nice interior look if I can help it. and I doubt many, if any of you, will have first hand experience with what I'm asking, but maybe someone with a 2000 can check what their tether anchors look like under the covers, and see if they look anything like the retrofit ones as seen in this thread. At least then we might be able to see if the covers might work, or if the 2000 anchors mount similarly.

Thanks for your help.

unylex

Did you ever figure this out? I'm in the exact same situation.

Kansas

The OP hasn't been on this forum since 07-18-15 so I wouldn't expect him to answer.

If one is to believe what's stated on https://csftl.org/tether-anchor-retrofitting/ , all vehicles manufactured from 1989 on are set up for the installation of child seat tether anchors.

Does the parcel shelf in your 1995 LS400 have markings that show where the tethers would be installed? I've seen older vehicles that have markings or even plugs where the anchors go. If the anchor locations are not marked on the parcel shelf, you might have to find the holes for the anchors either from the trunk or by looking under the parcel shelf. It's pretty easy to remove the back seats of an LS400 - I did it both the 1990 and 2000 LS400's that I used to have.

Wait! Here's a post about how a person found the pre-drilled anchor holes in a 1990 LS400 - his technique might work for yours: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...tml#post540935

If you install the anchors, it would be nice if you tell/show people on this forum how you did it.

unylex

I have a 1995, no markings. I ordered the CRS listed in the owner's manual. Should be here this week. Ill post an update.

find holes, cut through fabric, bolt in anchor

i was interested if there are covers for the anchor system so it isn't an eye sore, but im not too concerned at this point. ​

unylex

update on this. I did get the tethers installed. NOTE: the holes are pre-drilled but not marked. You can feel where they are through the fabric. The owner's manual details the positions as well.

The kits listed above as well as the part numbers in the manual, are not the complete kits. They are just the bolts/washers/locking clips. The actual anchors are a different numbers (I didn't find them yet, so can't share...see below).

Lexus/Toyota have a program to get the kits installed for free (meaning no cost on parts or labor). They partnered with SafetyBeltSafe, USA for this program. You just need to fill out an application, they send you a certificate, then you take that with you to the dealer to get everything installed. I did it, and it's pretty painless, just takes a little bit of time with the back and forth. Note, the service bulletin info is on the certificate, make sure the dealer refers to it for full information on what parts are needed, etc. The dealer I took it to never heard of the program, and they didn't order the correct parts the first time.

See here for more details: https://www.carseat.org/Events_Media/0_ToyotaIP.htm

refrigman

The kit for my 1995 LS400 consists of 73709-12010 bracket sub assembly and 04731-22012 CRS kit. The Eugene, OR dealer knew nothing of the program. My local Toyota dealer could not do anything even though Toyota has an identical program. This is done as a warranty program under PR008-03.1.0L.3059 and to enable billing and payment for the dealer must be done through Lexus. I had to not only pay $5 for a certificate from SafetyBeltSafe USA but also call the dealer for an appointment, call 800 745-7233 or 310 318-5111 to speak to the director of the program, have her call my dealer with Lexus corporate contact info for a person knowledgeable of the program, and then drive 150 miles roundtrip to that dealer. There was then no cost to me to have the anchor installed behind the center rear seat position. Up to 3 anchors can be done but I only needed one. They even gave me a free exterior car wash. If you want to avoid a long drive to a non-local Lexus dealer it looks like about a 5 minute job to install this anchor once you locate the rear shelf indentation through which to thread the bolt into the preinstalled anchor nut. I located the nuts by looking first from the trunk into the area forward of the rear center speaker and the cardboard bulkhead behind the rear seat. Then I felt for the indentation under the cloth covering behind the rear seat inside the cabin and cut out the cloth above that. I then poked a stiff wire through the indentation and into the opening in the threaded nut into the trunk area ahead of the speaker to help the technician locate the opening. The cost of those 2 parts is probably less than the cost of a drive to a distant dealer. All that is done to install is to thread a bolt through the anchor and a spacer into the preinstalled nut and hand tighten firmly. This program which began in 2008 was renewed in 2018 with a letter sent by the organization to all Lexus dealers but is rarely used and virtually unknown among the dealers. With some perseverance it can, however, be done successfully. Good luck.