Your PS reservoir LIES !
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CL Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: 565 St Peter NOLA
Your PS reservoir LIES !
Decided to gradually replace my PS fluid with the ol' turkey baster method. Take a little out and replace every day until your fluid looks new again...
Started removing and couldn't understand why the level was not going down I finally shined a light inside the reservoir to find it empty while the level on the outside remains the same. The fluid stains the inside of the reservoir and creates an illusion of fluid staying at a constant level even if it's actually bone dry. Same thing happens to the plastic dip stick on the cap so don't trust it either. A new reservoir is around $200 but a new cap is about $20 so I'll settle for a cap and only trust the dipstick when checking in the future. Both pics taken with the reservoir completely empty.
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CL Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: 565 St Peter NOLA
The 430 is somewhat new territory to me. I've been dealing with the PS woes of the 400 for what seems like an eternity! I found the new location of the ACV on the 430 and was happy to find it bone dry!!! I don't know what Lexus did, besides designing a new pump, but the issue seems to be fixed. I'm really starting to appreciate everything the 430 offers...
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2015
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From: Dubai
All ps resies do go black after years of use. Some vehicles you can remove it and clean it. What I do is every 2 to 3 engine oil chang I empty the resi and refill. It's a cheap way to make surre your ps pump & rack last for a vary long time. And on the plus side the resi stayed cleaner for longer. One liters of ps flowed give u about 2.5 to 3 suck & fill.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
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From: PA
Would there be air in the system if the reservoir is empty? This reminds me of my snowblower, didn't change the oil in 7 years or so (just not into it, way too big and ran poorly from year 1 anyway as some small engines do--electric start broke, and a new starter was like $130? Pull start ever since...), and the dipstick is permanently etched. When I did change the oil, the new oil is clear, and cannot be seen on the dipstick, because it's black at the full mark....
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,564
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From: PA
All ps resies do go black after years of use. Some vehicles you can remove it and clean it. What I do is every 2 to 3 engine oil chang I empty the resi and refill. It's a cheap way to make surre your ps pump & rack last for a vary long time. And on the plus side the resi stayed cleaner for longer. One liters of ps flowed give u about 2.5 to 3 suck & fill.
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CL Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: 565 St Peter NOLA
sgretchko
The cap couldn't be easier to replace. The part number is 44305-2805. It'll cost between $18 to $24 depending where you buy it. I'd try a Toyota dealer first and your Lexus dealer as a last resort.
Simply unscrew it, check your fluid and throw the old one out, then screw the new one on. Done!
The cap couldn't be easier to replace. The part number is 44305-2805. It'll cost between $18 to $24 depending where you buy it. I'd try a Toyota dealer first and your Lexus dealer as a last resort.
Simply unscrew it, check your fluid and throw the old one out, then screw the new one on. Done!
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Thread Starter
CL Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: 565 St Peter NOLA
Johnhav430
Just to clarify I intentionally emptied the reservoir with the car turned off so no air was sucked into the system. Also the hose between the reservoir and pump is approx 4 to 5 inches long so there is still fluid there but don't ever let it get to that extreme.
Just to clarify I intentionally emptied the reservoir with the car turned off so no air was sucked into the system. Also the hose between the reservoir and pump is approx 4 to 5 inches long so there is still fluid there but don't ever let it get to that extreme.
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 208
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From: Dubai
Johnhav430
Just to clarify I intentionally emptied the reservoir with the car turned off so no air was sucked into the system. Also the hose between the reservoir and pump is approx 4 to 5 inches long so there is still fluid there but don't ever let it get to that extreme.
Just to clarify I intentionally emptied the reservoir with the car turned off so no air was sucked into the system. Also the hose between the reservoir and pump is approx 4 to 5 inches long so there is still fluid there but don't ever let it get to that extreme.
one thing I don't recommend is sucking the fluid wile the engine is running.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
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From: PA
Johnhav430
Just to clarify I intentionally emptied the reservoir with the car turned off so no air was sucked into the system. Also the hose between the reservoir and pump is approx 4 to 5 inches long so there is still fluid there but don't ever let it get to that extreme.
Just to clarify I intentionally emptied the reservoir with the car turned off so no air was sucked into the system. Also the hose between the reservoir and pump is approx 4 to 5 inches long so there is still fluid there but don't ever let it get to that extreme.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...ml#post5119855
This thread is suggesting a bleed even if exchanging with the turkey baster method, and it would seem that the bubbles are gonna come up and out....
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/mai...al-method.html
Last edited by Johnhav430; May 4, 2017 at 05:07 AM.
Lexus Test Driver
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From: PA