LS - 1st and 2nd Gen (1990-2000) Discussion topics related to the 1990 - 2000 Lexus LS400

P/S air control valve - R&R tips? (1st gen)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-22-16, 04:19 PM
  #1  
peterls
Instructor
Thread Starter
 
peterls's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ca
Posts: 752
Received 58 Likes on 43 Posts
Default P/S air control valve - R&R tips? (1st gen)

I have the OEM P/S air control valve which has been sitting around for ages, and I never got around to changing it. Now finally, the old one is so bad that it pushed out the vacuum lines and the car is hissing like a snake. Since I have the new one, I don't want to just delete it, at least for now.
I want to replace it today or tomorrow, but I am concerned because I am not sure what problems I will run into. I seem to remember people saying "you need a skinny wrench" (was it 17mm?), like the ones that they make for bicycles... others say there is no space there, so your wrench has to be less than 6" long... and so on.
Anyone done it recently and still remembers what wrench they used?
I have a nice adjustable one that has relatively thin jaws:
https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-90-94...ustable+wrench
Will that one work? Any other pointers?
Thanks!
Old 08-22-16, 06:12 PM
  #2  
dicer
Lead Lap
 
dicer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: ca
Posts: 4,525
Received 97 Likes on 89 Posts
Default

Well if they would put up the sticky that I asked for along time ago we could find the fix for that problem. Its about changing the small orings in it. Don't toss the bad one I very likely can be fixed. I did a write up on here some place about it.
Old 08-22-16, 08:06 PM
  #3  
Banshee365
Instructor
 
Banshee365's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: FL
Posts: 971
Received 97 Likes on 80 Posts
Default

This is the best way I have found to remove it. A 17mm crow foot on a 1" extension. Piece of cake. The issue is that, with a standard length wrench, the sway bar is in the way. The angle of the valve is such that you can't get at it from angles other than right where the sway bar is. I think you could get away with a stubby combination wrench though you may have to tap on it with a hammer and a piece of wood or something to break it loose. With my long handle 3/8 ratchet and this combo with the crow foot it was beyond easy.

Gotta have the right tool for the job. The single crow foot will set you back around $15 at your local NAPA I think. It has to be a full open end crow foot, not a flare nut crow foot.




Old 08-23-16, 10:51 AM
  #4  
peterls
Instructor
Thread Starter
 
peterls's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ca
Posts: 752
Received 58 Likes on 43 Posts
Default

Thank you Banshee!
Does the ratchet have to be flex head to fit in there? I only have a straight one, but will buy a flex head if necessary.
Old 08-23-16, 11:14 AM
  #5  
peterls
Instructor
Thread Starter
 
peterls's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ca
Posts: 752
Received 58 Likes on 43 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by dicer
Well if they would put up the sticky that I asked for along time ago we could find the fix for that problem. Its about changing the small orings in it. Don't toss the bad one I very likely can be fixed. I did a write up on here some place about it.
Hey dicer, I tried to find your older posts with the idea about o rings, but no luck. I will keep my old PS AC valve to see if it can be fixed by replacing o rings. can you give me some pointers?
Old 08-23-16, 02:07 PM
  #6  
sha4000
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
 
sha4000's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: N.Y.
Posts: 6,858
Received 339 Likes on 292 Posts
Default

here you go.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...ystem-diy.html
Old 08-23-16, 03:14 PM
  #7  
Banshee365
Instructor
 
Banshee365's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: FL
Posts: 971
Received 97 Likes on 80 Posts
Default

The ratchet does not have to have a flex head.
Old 08-23-16, 05:34 PM
  #8  
dicer
Lead Lap
 
dicer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: ca
Posts: 4,525
Received 97 Likes on 89 Posts
Default

Get me a dicer sticky. I post pictures of stuff and its all lost search pulls up zero for me.
Old 08-23-16, 06:04 PM
  #9  
peterls
Instructor
Thread Starter
 
peterls's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ca
Posts: 752
Received 58 Likes on 43 Posts
Default

Same here. I've spent at least an hour using search engine and going through your posts today and - nothing...
Old 08-23-16, 06:05 PM
  #10  
peterls
Instructor
Thread Starter
 
peterls's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ca
Posts: 752
Received 58 Likes on 43 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Banshee365
The ratchet does not have to have a flex head.
Great, thank you Banshee!
Old 08-23-16, 07:25 PM
  #11  
RA40
Super Moderator
Senior Moderator
iTrader: (6)
 
RA40's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: California
Posts: 20,851
Received 472 Likes on 362 Posts
Default

I looked as well and came across the same thread that sha4000 linked. Any threads that would be candidates to the FAQ, PM us. We read the discussions but among all that goes through Club Lexus keeping track can be challenging unless it is called out.
Old 08-23-16, 07:36 PM
  #12  
sha4000
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
 
sha4000's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: N.Y.
Posts: 6,858
Received 339 Likes on 292 Posts
Default

What about lexls?

http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/steer...mprebuild.html
Old 08-24-16, 02:54 PM
  #13  
peterls
Instructor
Thread Starter
 
peterls's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ca
Posts: 752
Received 58 Likes on 43 Posts
Default

In all honesty, I think the info that Banshee posted is truly valuable, and hopefully we can add it to the P/S sticky/bible. No one has explained the tools used as well as Banshee, and no one has come up with a better setup to remove the Air control valve than Banshee. Most posts I found were recommending short and/or thin wrench, which is not the most elegant solution.
Old 08-24-16, 03:07 PM
  #14  
RA40
Super Moderator
Senior Moderator
iTrader: (6)
 
RA40's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: California
Posts: 20,851
Received 472 Likes on 362 Posts
Default

Can the valve be removed topside or does one have to get under the car? Nice that a crow foot will get in there. If it can be removed topside this potentially makes the swap much easier-faster.
Old 08-24-16, 03:17 PM
  #15  
uuuuu
Rookie
 
uuuuu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: sc
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Here's another thread, for reference.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...-up-valve.html


Quick Reply: P/S air control valve - R&R tips? (1st gen)



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:26 AM.