Picked up a 1998 LS400. The idea is to make it less “grandpa” like for my 14 YO. We will not be joining stancenation but I think we will probably drop it some and figure out an after market set of wheels as well. One of the first things I’d like to do is replace the head unit with a nice double din with CarPlay, for navigation and such. I’ve been reading here and I can’t decide if I want to replace the head unit and buy the part, can’t remember the name right now, that keeps all the other speakers and amp working or if I just start fresh.

The car had great dealer service history until 2012, the guy I bought it from has had it about 5 years so there is only about three years “lost”. It’s not perfect visually, front fascia has some paint missing from 177,000 miles, interior is very nice for a car of this age.

 

Alright, I’ve run into my first issue and have been reading a lot to try to figure it out. I drove this car about 200 miles on Saturday with zero issues, cruise set at 80 and it ate miles up.

yesterday I noticed there was slight hesitation at partial throttle but no check engine light. Today I drove it and it had the same hesitation and then it threw a code, P0171, and then the car wouldn’t start again and I had to be towed home.

I’ve read that it’s possible that the P0171 could be the drivers side oil control valve, but would that cause a no start situation? The car hadn’t been driven much over the last year and I filled it with premium before I took it on the road Saturday.

any help?

 

I don't have any advice, sorry. But I've had my 98 LS since 98, and it has for years been affectionately known as "Grandpa". My 15-year old is looking forward to driving it as soon as he gets his driver's permit. I hope your kid does well with it.

 

According to all the threads on CL and related lexus forums, the only plug and play harness adapters for double din are the Beat-Sonic SLA-xx's. These are discontinued basically everywhere though, so you might have to take the car to a professional audio shop that can solder a custom harness for you. I'm not sure if this would retain the factory amp & sub, but if not it's a hell of a lot easier to wire in an aftermarket one to an aftermarket head unit.

 

seems available to me, but if you have nak you're outta luck:
https://www.beatsonicusa.com/stereo/...ic-sla-22.html

shamless plug: i have a now discontinued beatsonic kit, brand new for 95-97 non-nak for sale:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/market/954834


to the OP, welcome and getting a newer HU will really update the car with more interface with your smart phone and Bluetooth. as for your CEL code, i have not seen that personally but from my searching i would start checking for vacuum leaks around the intake. likely a small fitting can break off as the plastics are brittle over time or there is a cracked line somewhere. also check your PCV valve. the thread below is for a GS400 which share the same engine (1UZ):
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...-solved-2.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...lly-fixed.html

ls400 specific:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...periences.html

 

Yeah, we’ve had vacuum leaks to find on other cars of ours that doesn’t worry me too much. The fact that it died and wouldn’t restart the other day has me concerned a bit, I’ll have time this weekend to try to narrow it down. Should I hear the fuel pump when I turn the key?

 

I've been told that the fuel pump only runs when the engine's running.

 

So, I had to get it towed home a couple days ago, would just crank and not start. I didn’t have time to mess with it until today and.......it started right up. I have done zero things to it, weather about the same. Weird.

 

check the simple things like the battery terminal. then chase down a possible fuel pump issue.

 

would a fuel pump not work one day then three days later work fine? Just took if for a 20 minute drive and it was as if nothing was wrong.

 

it’s possible.

 

When you say it wouldn't start, what was the symptom, cranked but didn't start? or No crank?
My '98 had a no crank and found that the positive battery cable would be just loose enough to cause the no crank.

 

crank and crank and crank. Just wouldn’t start, then I went outside a few days later just to give it the old college try and it’s started right up as if nothing was ever wrong. Pretty weird.

 

Next you'd have to see if it's getting spark. IIRC if the security chip is misbehaving then you'll get cranking, but no spark or fuel.

 

probably the starter is going. its common on the 98.