Apologizes up front if this has been discussed before; i'm new to 'CL'.

My 2001 Lexus LS430 passenger side pressure pulsation damper assembly is leaking...Medic! We got a bleeder!

How do I release fuel pressure in the rail before removing the pressure damper? Does the pressure damper just 'twist/turn off'?

I've ordered a new damper and both gaskets. Any advice from CL pro's is much appreciated and will be obeyed.

Sean - sh01

 

Welcome to CL

Please take a look at the attached pages to see if your questions are answered...

 

Many thanks - the .pdf is a huge help. A lot more involved than i first envisioned but seems doable. Will post an update on Wednesday with my success or next hurdle......

 

It just unscrews with an open end wrench on the underside. It will be quite tight. And keep in mind that the upper and lower gaskets are different.

 

rkw77080 and 911LW - Advice was spot on! Easy replacement - no leaks - gas smell gone.

Many thanks to you both!

 

Bumping an old thread.

Did you have to release the fuel pressure by pulling fuel pump relay/fuse and letting motor die?

What did you use to loosen and torque down the new fuel dampers?

 

Glad this thread popped back up as mine has a gas smell that I have not identified yet but will definitely look at this now. The pdf just mentions putting towel underneath but on a reddit thread they mention the pressure is gone after a day or so anyway being idle and show pictures of the small leak.

 

Seen 3 to 4 posts recently in the ls430 FB group of these cars catching fire!. Let me know what yours turns out to be. Also, if you do the dampers, what all you had to remove to get to them.
I just put a fire extinguisher in mine and always carry a gallon of water lol.

 

This reddit thread tells what they did. Looks like pretty easy to do visual inspection. Does yours have a gas smell. May not even notice if not in garage. https://www.reddit.com/r/LS430/comme...ation_dampers/

 

I do park in garage and haven't noticed. But it's 20+ yrs old, so thinking of changing it proactively with OEM ones.

 

Pulsation dampers fly under the radar and are typically ignored until there is an obvious issue.
They are a wear item as the rubber diaphragm inside will harden over time.
Replacing them will make the engine run smoother, even if they are not leaking.
Someone in the Reddit thread said he only replaced one because the other was not leaking.
If you're going to replace, do both so each rail performs optimally.

 

You are so right about that. I have seen a lot of posts about poor unstable idle and being rough and this is the first time I have seen anything about these dampers.

 

Looked at mine today and completely dry with dust all around it. You don't even have to take the engine cover off to check. Just with a flashlight look on both sides at back and very easy to inspect. As for proactively replacing at 189k I am not going to do that. The smell I have is after it sits a few minutes there is a faint gas smell towards the rear. Checked under hood and fuel door and no smell.