I feel like I am watching the Bob Ross of auto repair. So relaxing and calm. Instead of painting "happy trees" he has his "that's ok" comment when we know it isn't ok. I wish I could be this patient when repairing anything.
I know right? You could just lay down on that cool concrete floor and take a nice nap while he works and describes for the video! ;) I mean, I could if I wasn't old and every fiber of my being didn't hurt constantly! lol
I would definitely lean towards the used transmission, assuming there are no obvious signs of abuse. This thing is a beauty and will be even better when you are through with it.
Used transmission with only 45,000 miles would seem (depending upon the cost and condition) the way to go. It would provide the comfort and security you desire. A balky transmission drives me bonkers.
My vote is get a used transmission. Since this got to 600k and there are many LS430s in the 200-400k range on original transmissions I think a used transmission with low miles should be just fine.
@@tomgroenbeck7620 He never said 400k was low miles. He is basically saying since these transmission are known to live very long lives, a used one with low miles should be a safe bet.
I would definitely get the OEM used transmission with 45,000 miles. That way you can go through it, examine it, and if you're happy with it install it.
yes, but the point is for us to take as much knowledge as we can. most of this is beyond the majority, but the value is to at least have the understanding and language to be able to communicate issues and have issues communicated to us. im not redoing a transmission, but i would love to have the language to discuss it with the transmission specialist
I laughed out loud when his excitement got doused in realizing that he locked himself out with the key inside. A little out of his character being the meticulous guy that he is, but I think that's what made so funny to me. Great content! This series on this LS revival has me checking the channel through out the weekend. More of these "revival" video series please. I wouldn't call it a restoration, but it's really exciting to see neglected cars get a "second life".
@@rhark25 Normally I bet he does roll the window down, but he needed it up specifically for the work he was doing. He would have rolled the other one down, but he undoubtedly thought "what are the odds I actually lock myself out between now and when I finish" X-D
When he got to those two bolts, I knew exactly what he was talking about, but only because I've owned one and did the work myself. What makes me grin working on my Lexii is that half the parts say Toyota. Years ago I owned a Porsche, half the parts on that said VW.
An hour 18 min and 34 sec just flew by. The technical mastery is of course impressive but what really does it for me is how pedantic you are Sir. You clearly get as much satisfaction from making sure all the bits and bites are properly put together, no short cuts nor corner cutting to be seen anywhere. And the cleaning of the hidden parts - beautiful! Completely dig that!
Pedantic? Really? pedantic is almost always an insult, referring to someone who is annoying for their attention to minor detail, or snobbish expertise in a narrow or boring topic. I can't imagine you meant it that way? Or did you? I would say he is meticulous, a perfectionist, punctilious, thorough, accurate many other things but definitely. NOT pedantic.
I don't have one single mechanic bone in my body i lose it everytime i trying to repair something after a day outside watching the sun move east to west end 9you tube diy videos and 2 lexus forums i still be mad about banging my 10mm ratchet on my car's chassis
Go for the used transmission! 45,000 miles? Likely nothing wrong but possible leaks, which you can reseal. That hurdle will be behind you and you'll be closer to the BIG TRIP! This is just such a beautiful , high quality video series revealing to one-and-all DIYers the height of the mountain we possibly face when we take on a high miles car. So many of these repairs reveal clearly those which I could perform myself and which ones would be impossible. Again, you are such an inspiration!
I admire your patience, your knowledge and the methodical way you tackle the problems. There is even some humour in the videos. If only all mechanics were as efficient, the world would be a better place. From the UK, I look forward to the next video.
I’m seriously considering bringing my LS all the way to him when it needs something. It’s refreshing to see someone who takes pride in what they do and does things right. Incredible skill set and great channel with zero click bait.
I'm certain numerous people before me have mentioned how you can eat a scrambled egg breakfast off the shop floor. And it looks pristine video after video. I would not hesitate for a moment to bring my car to this fine gentleman.
@@theredscourge could be fun for him. Hard work can be fun and he did go into this line of work. End of the day it is his choice and I will enjoy watching.
You should be able to reattach the fender liner mounting tab with a plastic welder. They heat up a zig zag metal wire that melts the two pieces together. It’s pretty slick.
Hot melt glue can fix a lot of things too, if the parts are clean & dry. I repaired Ford Expedition hub caps with it 5 years ago & it is still holding fine. I never dreamed that stuff would stick to both plastic and the stainless steel stamping that grabs the lug nuts, but it does. I just went around the inside and welded the 2 pieces together with a thick bead of the hot melt. Of course both surfaces must be completely clean. 409 spray cleaner & an old toothbrush took care of that. Those 6 inch plastic covers are $50 each, & I fixed them for $0.50 of hot melt. Epoxy putty might work. Although epoxy will not adhere to some plastics.
Love this series. For the trunk, you can put stick on rubber bumpers or plugs over/into the holes that were drilled for the plate. The benefit of this will also be the plate won't clang against the panel and cause scratches
I had no idea that the design and assembly of this model was so complicated. The manufacture of a machine this complicated is truly a marvel; and to do it at a price that is affordable is even more amazing.
I bought my first Toyota about 2 years ago a 2009 Highlander hands down the best vehicle I’ve ever owned just fluids and brakes so far. Now coming up on 200,000 miles and she drives so smooth and quiet I see other cars on the road some new making all kinds of wacky sounds I’ll definitely be sticking with Toyota. My neighbor has an 08 with 360,000 miles original engine and trans he told me just brakes,radiator,fluids and a starter.
Hey I had a similar Toyota issue with the transmission check transmission harness connector. Seal failed Basically all the pins rusted out. You might think it's shift solenoid is not ! It's by the driver's side. Perfect time to replace when you drop the pan
Another vote for the used transmission. Also, tough break on that tab snapping off of the bumper. We've all been there! Get some good epoxy from a body shop and glue it back on. Not like it's some super structural part. It just has to hold that plastic panel.
love how you clean everything before you put it all back together. a true mechanic able to take things apart and put all the screws and gromulets back.
I used 2 velcro tape (same color of the panel) on the sides of the door panel pocket and call it a day. It never went down and could use it like it supposed to
I too talk to my cars nicely. Some cars are temperamental and will fight you on every bolt. Talking to them politely will assure you a smooth process 😂
I have a 2003 with "just" 140,000 miles that you've inspired me to keep as my forever car (owned since 62,000 miles). Looks just like this one - same color and everything - including being a Seattle area car. Get the used transmission and have it ready to go after your trip 🙂 Love the channel!
A nice detail job really helps one stick to their decision to keep their old car for longer, and there's many detailing videos on UA-cam if you wanted to do it yourself.
I would go with the used/salvage yd. trans. Yes w warranty. Love your channel, your experience etc and yes I love my Hilux. It's tough as a hammer a will be operating when I'm gone. Keep up the good work. God bless you.
Yes to the used tranny. Id like to think the genius of this series is the fact this "restoration/maintenance" is something many of us would like to do some day, therefore going with a solution thats common and wont brake the bank makes sense. This would be the route regular folks like myself and most of your viewers would go with if found in the same situation.
he payed 4 grand ($) for this? But on the uk auto trader I can find these cars for about 4 to 6k (£) with 500k less miles. yes it’s not quite the same currency to compare but I wonder if he could have found the same car with far less miles, and less headaches! For roughly the same or slightly more money.
This man is the gold standard 🥇 when it comes to auto tech work. His ability to do his job efficiently as possible while still being mindful of the care factor of the customers car. Although this is his car, he still treats everyone else's like it's his own.
My family owned two LS430. My dad had to have one after he drove mine. Love this series and your attention to details. I will have to replace tilting motor soon and this video will come in handy, so I won’t be breaking any plastic trim.
27:37 in my European LS400 (99) the door won't lock you out like that. Even if the door is in lock position when it's open, the mechanism will unlock itself as you close the door, that system has prevented me from getting locked out a couple of times already. And it's independent of the battery power because I have tried with the battery disconnected too, so it's a hardware design feature for safety.
Total car care nut vintage material. Like how you throw all the nuts and bolts onto the floor mat because you know where every one goes ! I use a magnetic bowl for these loose nuts and bolts. the patience and calmness is amazing. Interesting to see the tap & die work being done, never used one and might have to pick up a set now after watching how easy they are to use. After watching your previous video and hearing that the CrossClimate 2's are noisy i researched tire rack today and sure enough they have a 8.7 rating, and the Defender2 are i believe 9.0 or 9.2 Definetely will be going to get them instead for my 2002 ES 300. less money too compared to the Cross Cimate 2's
Even though this video is almost the length of a movie, I pay closer attention to watching this video than many of the blockbuster movies. My 06 GS300 has many similar problems to this 600K Lexus: the noisy steering motor, the broken license plate screw, the stripped thread for the engine beauty cover, the missing underbody panel clip, etc. This video will be immensely helpful to address my Lexus issues. Thanks!
Yet again, I love this video! It's not 10-15 minutes long, it's a whole hour and then some to enjoy! I laughed when you mentioned pulling the door panel off, because I literally did the same on a very close friend of mine's '05 LS 430 on Monday to replace a window motor and regulator (OE of course!). We also replaced the door mirrors (again, OE) on both doors; they would not lock in place and fold during normal driving. Unfortunately, being a desert car, the inside of the door was extremely dusty and a lot of cleaning up was required. Ended up taping a disposable, plastic table cloth around the door opening to prevent any dust going inside and thoroughly blowing everything out with an air gun. The car only has ~39,000 km (~24,400 mi) on it and was inherited from his late father, so it has immense sentimental value. I got kid gloves on when we do any work on it.
I have a MINT 05 LS430 ML black on black with 113K miles. I LOVE watching these videos. I am hooked and watch them from beginning to end. You are amazing, thank you for making these videos. Can’t believe your turned this into your project car, I feel so lucky! Happy wrenching
Try some of that Lucas oil trans fix, people have had good luck with that stuff (and I know its just a temporary band aid to the issues). But definitely in the mean time try to find a good used trans, although it would be really cool to see how long the original will go. 😉
Seriously... the amount of time and effort you spent for the license plate bolt speaks volumes of your commitment and professionalism on this project. I'm enjoying streaming this entire series on the playlist. Well done sir!
When you get that thing detailed, I highly suggest Chicago Auto Pros! They will make it like NEW! Better yet, you can probably get a make sense collab video out of it ;-)
@@johngreydanus2033 yes but if all it needs is a solenoid even at that price and the fluid looks not half bad it should be plenty reliable, and the bragging rights of the original engine and trans
If you know the provenance of the used transmission, that is an option. If you really want to know what you have, then go with the rebuild. I 2nd, 3rd and 4th all of the other positive comments. I really enjoy watching you work. It is very informative and somehow, very calming!
do you think you could give us a summarized price list for everything you had to update? I am curious how much long term ownership of these vehicles is - although this would be a more extreme ex w/ 600k! thanks for recording all this
I agree with other viewers put in a used good transmission, and check out before installing. Thank you for restoring this classic LS430. I’m learning so much, because I own a 03 LS430 w/ 203k miles.
The one thing I have to say about the transmission issue is that if you replace or rebuild the original then in a way it wont be a true 1 million mile car when it gets to that point, itll have had a major drivetrain component replaced. Otherwise, when it comes to reliability a used transmission in this case is probably the most cost effective and sensical option. You coupd also play qround with a used transmission solenoid if you really wanted to, at very least you could see how far that gets this thing.
Being on this voyage with you brother has been pretty amazing so far. Unfortunately I haven’t owned a Toyota for over 3 decades now but still miss that 5 spd EFI truck. On my own journey working on my 200k tdi jetta. Working on the thermostat and coolant now and just discovered what they call the recommended service position. Basically where you remove the front end from the game and expose the front of the motor and the turbo. After this stop on the journey I get to move onto dropping the front axle and removing the entire exhaust system from the back of the engine to the tailpipe to replace a blocked up DPF system since VW decided that a few model years it needed to be welded closed so it couldn’t have a filter or be cleaned out easily.
You are THE Lexus expert mechanical virtuoso. You did an OUTSTANDING JOB with the door locks on my 2001 Lexus GS430 (157,000 miles)! Go with the 45,000 mile trans. See you maybe next year? Keep up the great videos, amigo
Just did the same door lock actuator repair to my 2010 Prius last week. A previous body shop had destroyed the weather seal, so I had the joy of replacing that a few days later(after I ordered a new one). 50F day, so I can confirm the butyl residue doesn't come off easy. A "secret" is good old WD-40 and a whole lot of rags. The actuator on a gen3 Prius is noticeably smaller, without the extra plastic shells, so I was able to get it out by maneuvering it around the window channel. Very not fun the first time, but much easier once you know how to twist it around the right way after that first time. The Toyota repair manual says to take out everything, including the glass, which is why it's such an expensive repair at a dealer. Now I have to go finish the washing and detailing of my old Prius, because I just got word my new Prius is about to arrive at the dealer this weekend. :)
I wish I had a real mechanic like AMD near me. AMD has in depth knowledge of Toyota/Lexus and he is very detail oriented. We all need a mechanic like AMD, not a fancy waiting room, not a sweet talking lady at the front desk, not a big screen TV, not a comfy sofa, not high end coffee... We need a mechanic who can put back all the bolts and nuts back to the car. I remember I took my MB OM642 to fix the known oil cooler leaking problem in a reputable shop, when I got my car back, a lot of bolts and nuts were gone.
Agree...just replaced an engine in a '99 Tacoma with 367,000 miles with same engine out of an '02 4-Runner. We found one in a salvage yard still in the wrecked 4 Runner...it had been sitting there 10 years but only had 136,000 miles on it. Runs like a new one.
Used transmission is by far the best option. Lowest cost and proven reliability with some small warranty from reputable seller. Thank you for committing to providing cost breakdown.
I did exactly the same thing with the fender liner on an 05 Camry. I left the bottom cover off, drove it down the highway and heard that same noise you did.
Car Care Nut, you make my day! Look forward to your videos, especially in light of the kaos and immoral actions of our leaders and young people. Got Bless!
Love the episode. I need you to understand, I drive for a living and own a Buick lacrosse. Watching your content makes it a joy to enjoy my job. I really respect the drive because of your channel. Thank you so much car care nut. Love it
My non professional opinion is to get a used transmission (assuming that you can verify the mileage and maybe the service history of it). Also if you go this route you can give us tips on what to do and not to do when installing used transmissions (such as fluid changes and how deep to go into reconditioning the new one to maximize its longevity without spending a ton etc.) Either way this project is amazing, and you really are a role model for the automotive industry. I was wondering though how you are going to put another 600,000 miles on it if you don't have a long commute...
Рік тому
You are incredible! Such knowledge on car repair! I'm a Ford vehicle owner, 24 new Ford cars, since 1979. I think my next car will be a Lexus or Toyota for a lot reasons. Thank you for all that you do!
Had a ’07 GS450h that had left rear door not locking. Found a used door lock actuator for 20 bucks and decided try to replace DIY. That bar for the window was not meant to be moved easily and it took me half an hour to remove and there wasn’t enough room for actuator to come out. After I finally got it out I wasn’t very hopeful, but reassembly went a bit better and I the best moment was to install it and test it like you did, it worked! What a feeling.
Unfortunately, the torque converter clutch issue is very common on Toyotas. I don't know why that is, but flushing the transmission generally takes care of that.
Used transmission with 45K miles sounds like a good choice. Pray that it was not abused and regularly serviced. Thanks for your content and advice. We bought a new 4Runner last year because of you and Scotty K. Best vehicle we've ever had!
I love the video of the tilt motor. My LS 430 project car came from auction with a steering wheel that flops up and down. Like the threads are stripped. This footage gives me the confidence to dig in. Back to the garage for me!
New drinking game: Every time "600,000" is mentioned in the series....drink up". Trivia question: What number Part of the series has the most "600,000 mile(s)" mentions?! How many were there?
Every time I turn on a car I roll one of the windows down. This has saved me from locking myself out dozens of times!! Keep at least one window halfway down until you start driving!!
Swap the transmission. My cousin had Toyota yaris in Dubai. He drove it above 1 million Kms. Replaced the transmission at around 700,000 km. Used transmission from scrap worked well
Boy o boy, so many details when it comes to dealing with all that plastic stuff. I'm sure the manual covers little or nothing about all these details. Experience is the key.
I feel like I am watching the Bob Ross of auto repair. So relaxing and calm. Instead of painting "happy trees" he has his "that's ok" comment when we know it isn't ok. I wish I could be this patient when repairing anything.
Great analogy !!
Nice way of putting it lol now that you mention it you’re right
Love this comment
I know right? You could just lay down on that cool concrete floor and take a nice nap while he works and describes for the video! ;) I mean, I could if I wasn't old and every fiber of my being didn't hurt constantly! lol
I felt the same way after the last video, I even feel some Mister Rogers vibes when he says “that’s ok”.
I would definitely lean towards the used transmission, assuming there are no obvious signs of abuse. This thing is a beauty and will be even better when you are through with it.
Agreed! :)
I trust your instincts; get the used transmission, new solenoid, valve covers, everything….watching….!
Yes, used transmission is the way to go.
Used transmission with only 45,000 miles would seem (depending upon the cost and condition) the way to go. It would provide the comfort and security you desire. A balky transmission drives me bonkers.
Of course, the good used transmission is the best option!
My vote is get a used transmission. Since this got to 600k and there are many LS430s in the 200-400k range on original transmissions I think a used transmission with low miles should be just fine.
And we know he would properly take care of the transmission, so it would last him the entirety of ownership
400k mi isn't quite "low miles".
@@tomgroenbeck7620 He never said 400k was low miles. He is basically saying since these transmission are known to live very long lives, a used one with low miles should be a safe bet.
!00% Used is the way to go
I would definitely get the OEM used transmission with 45,000 miles. That way you can go through it, examine it, and if you're happy with it install it.
Most people can't do that tho....trans usually require a specialist, hence all the transmission shops
yes, but the point is for us to take as much knowledge as we can. most of this is beyond the majority, but the value is to at least have the understanding and language to be able to communicate issues and have issues communicated to us. im not redoing a transmission, but i would love to have the language to discuss it with the transmission specialist
I laughed out loud when his excitement got doused in realizing that he locked himself out with the key inside. A little out of his character being the meticulous guy that he is, but I think that's what made so funny to me.
Great content! This series on this LS revival has me checking the channel through out the weekend. More of these "revival" video series please. I wouldn't call it a restoration, but it's really exciting to see neglected cars get a "second life".
That's why you always leave a window down while you're working 😀
I wanted to hear the beep after locking with the remote, but he didn't.
It was refreshing to see that even someone so meticulous is human once in a while.
@@rhark25 Normally I bet he does roll the window down, but he needed it up specifically for the work he was doing. He would have rolled the other one down, but he undoubtedly thought "what are the odds I actually lock myself out between now and when I finish" X-D
I thought you had to disconnect battery first so airbag didn't go off.
Your vast knowledge of these cars down to what's inside the door panels bolt by bolt is mind boggling. Keep up the great work and content!
Seconded! Nobody else on youtube has this wealth of knowledge about the entire line of a single manufacturer's vehicles going back 20+ years.
When he got to those two bolts, I knew exactly what he was talking about, but only because I've owned one and did the work myself. What makes me grin working on my Lexii is that half the parts say Toyota. Years ago I owned a Porsche, half the parts on that said VW.
I agree!
An hour 18 min and 34 sec just flew by. The technical mastery is of course impressive but what really does it for me is how pedantic you are Sir. You clearly get as much satisfaction from making sure all the bits and bites are properly put together, no short cuts nor corner cutting to be seen anywhere. And the cleaning of the hidden parts - beautiful! Completely dig that!
Pedantic? Really? pedantic is almost always an insult, referring to someone who is annoying for their attention to minor detail, or snobbish expertise in a narrow or boring topic. I can't imagine you meant it that way? Or did you? I would say he is meticulous, a perfectionist, punctilious, thorough, accurate many other things but definitely. NOT pedantic.
I think he was thinking "pedagogy" @@Cocora22
"THAT'S OKAY" DRINKING GAME 😂
Bring forth the Patron!!
*(Burp) Agreed. Cheers!*
“May The Lord Bless You and Keep You!”
It’s a joy and an honour to watch your videos.
Kindest wishes from an automotive engineer
I appreciate my 2012 Corolla so much more now! Not having all the "bells and whistles" reduces repairs!
What’s ur next car a 1912 Ford Model T? As reliable as the Corolla is an LS430 is even more reliable.
@@Mabeylater293 obviously not, no steering motors, not so many underbody panels, no power seat, etc.
@@InternetDude and according to his logic, “no problems/reduced repairs”. 😂😂😂😂
Less bells and whistles, less things to go bad when they do eventually go bad
I'm loving my 5th generation 4runner for the same reasons
Be very careful not to let this car stress you out too much, AMD. I see that your hair has thinned considerably since the last episode.
I don't have one single mechanic bone in my body i lose it everytime i trying to repair something after a day outside watching the sun move east to west end 9you tube diy videos and 2 lexus forums i still be mad about banging my 10mm ratchet on my car's chassis
LOL
LOOOOOOL
😂
He got a haircut! 😂
Go for the used transmission! 45,000 miles? Likely nothing wrong but possible leaks, which you can reseal. That hurdle will be behind you and you'll be closer to the BIG TRIP! This is just such a beautiful , high quality video series revealing to one-and-all DIYers the height of the mountain we possibly face when we take on a high miles car. So many of these repairs reveal clearly those which I could perform myself and which ones would be impossible. Again, you are such an inspiration!
I admire your patience, your knowledge and the methodical way you tackle the problems. There is even some humour in the videos. If only all mechanics were as efficient, the world would be a better place. From the UK, I look forward to the next video.
The used transmission sounds like the best way to go. That's going to be a great car when you're finished with it. Your new haircut looks good too.😊
I’m seriously considering bringing my LS all the way to him when it needs something. It’s refreshing to see someone who takes pride in what they do and does things right. Incredible skill set and great channel with zero click bait.
I’m in the UK and thought the same 😂
I'm certain numerous people before me have mentioned how you can eat a scrambled egg breakfast off the shop floor. And it looks pristine video after video. I would not hesitate for a moment to bring my car to this fine gentleman.
Swapping out the transmission makes sense, but watching a rebuild would be fun.
For his family and his sanity, he should get a used transmission. But I agree, I would enjoy seeing a rebuild. I'm watching either way.
I think the compromise would be get a used transmission and tear the old one apart and show the condition. That would be nice
Fun for us, or for him? I kinda doubt it would be anything resembling fun for him X-D
@@theredscourge could be fun for him. Hard work can be fun and he did go into this line of work. End of the day it is his choice and I will enjoy watching.
You should be able to reattach the fender liner mounting tab with a plastic welder. They heat up a zig zag metal wire that melts the two pieces together. It’s pretty slick.
Hot melt glue can fix a lot of things too, if the parts are clean & dry. I repaired Ford Expedition hub caps with it 5 years ago & it is still holding fine. I never dreamed that stuff would stick to both plastic and the stainless steel stamping that grabs the lug nuts, but it does. I just went around the inside and welded the 2 pieces together with a thick bead of the hot melt. Of course both surfaces must be completely clean. 409 spray cleaner & an old toothbrush took care of that. Those 6 inch plastic covers are $50 each, & I fixed them for $0.50 of hot melt.
Epoxy putty might work. Although epoxy will not adhere to some plastics.
Love this series. For the trunk, you can put stick on rubber bumpers or plugs over/into the holes that were drilled for the plate. The benefit of this will also be the plate won't clang against the panel and cause scratches
A believer and a perfectionist. I love it.
I had no idea that the design and assembly of this model was so complicated. The manufacture of a machine this complicated is truly a marvel; and to do it at a price that is affordable is even more amazing.
Put in the 45,000 mile transmission! If I was you I'd put OEM new fender liners on if possible. Keep the LS videos coming I'm really enjoying them.
I bought my first Toyota about 2 years ago a 2009 Highlander hands down the best vehicle I’ve ever owned just fluids and brakes so far. Now coming up on 200,000 miles and she drives so smooth and quiet I see other cars on the road some new making all kinds of wacky sounds I’ll definitely be sticking with Toyota. My neighbor has an 08 with 360,000 miles original engine and trans he told me just brakes,radiator,fluids and a starter.
the keys locked in the car was hysterical. I love the additional comments such as "that's fine"
This is the best series you’ve had so far. I immediately tune in as soon as I see an episode!
3:36 call it the "Golden Goose".. a befitting name.. 😄😄😄
Amazing patience , knowledge and skills . Your videos are fascinating to watch ! Many thanks from Florida !
Your videos are always a delight to watch, and this one was no exception!
Keep the transmission for now, but a used low mileage transmission will be the way to go!
Excellent... careful repair... regards from Athens Greece..
I love the attention to detail and care you give for every task you accomplish very refreshing and I wish more mechanics were this way!
Hey I had a similar Toyota issue with the transmission check transmission harness connector. Seal failed Basically all the pins rusted out. You might think it's shift solenoid is not ! It's by the driver's side. Perfect time to replace when you drop the pan
Another vote for the used transmission. Also, tough break on that tab snapping off of the bumper. We've all been there! Get some good epoxy from a body shop and glue it back on. Not like it's some super structural part. It just has to hold that plastic panel.
love how you clean everything before you put it all back together. a true mechanic able to take things apart and put all the screws and gromulets back.
This is a great series. I am really enjoying it
nice to see a mechanic that really cares. I can sleep well now that i know that there is mechanics like you that cares.
I used 2 velcro tape (same color of the panel) on the sides of the door panel pocket and call it a day. It never went down and could use it like it supposed to
"And it went back in, thank you Lexus for that" amazing humor with things that are annoying. Great video, keep the series coming.
Put in the used transmission. Then do a teardown of the old one to see what was going bad with it.
Your shop is so beautiful I cannot believe how clean your shop is
"Please don't break, please don't break" literally me working on my '02 the entire time!
*Ha!, ha! So right!*
I too talk to my cars nicely. Some cars are temperamental and will fight you on every bolt. Talking to them politely will assure you a smooth process 😂
This is now my favorite channel on UA-cam!
I have a 2003 with "just" 140,000 miles that you've inspired me to keep as my forever car (owned since 62,000 miles). Looks just like this one - same color and everything - including being a Seattle area car. Get the used transmission and have it ready to go after your trip 🙂 Love the channel!
A nice detail job really helps one stick to their decision to keep their old car for longer, and there's many detailing videos on UA-cam if you wanted to do it yourself.
I had my transmission rebuilt on my 2002 LS 430 Ultra. Cost $2,500. 3 yrs ago. Been going strong ever since.
I would go with the used/salvage yd. trans. Yes w warranty. Love your channel, your experience etc and yes I love my Hilux. It's tough as a hammer a will be operating when I'm gone. Keep up the good work. God bless you.
Yes to the used tranny. Id like to think the genius of this series is the fact this "restoration/maintenance" is something many of us would like to do some day, therefore going with a solution thats common and wont brake the bank makes sense. This would be the route regular folks like myself and most of your viewers would go with if found in the same situation.
Hi Chris here from UK. Put used transmission into car. I had 2 LS 400 in the nineties. You are are a magician with the Lex
he payed 4 grand ($) for this? But on the uk auto trader I can find these cars for about 4 to 6k (£) with 500k less miles. yes it’s not quite the same currency to compare but I wonder if he could have found the same car with far less miles, and less headaches! For roughly the same or slightly more money.
This man is the gold standard 🥇 when it comes to auto tech work. His ability to do his job efficiently as possible while still being mindful of the care factor of the customers car. Although this is his car, he still treats everyone else's like it's his own.
What a joy to watch you working on it ! Thank you! :)
27:30 🤣🤣🤣
My family owned two LS430. My dad had to have one after he drove mine. Love this series and your attention to details. I will have to replace tilting motor soon and this video will come in handy, so I won’t be breaking any plastic trim.
27:37 in my European LS400 (99) the door won't lock you out like that. Even if the door is in lock position when it's open, the mechanism will unlock itself as you close the door, that system has prevented me from getting locked out a couple of times already.
And it's independent of the battery power because I have tried with the battery disconnected too, so it's a hardware design feature for safety.
*Interesting EU-market feature. Willing to bet there are others, such as your dealer disabling the 250 km/hr (155 MPH) limiter. Cheers!*
Im enormously impressed by your emotional control, whatever good or bad happens nothing disturbs your zen like calm. Your knowledge is also dazzling.
I see a post by The Car Care Nut and the 600K Lexus update, I click the like button.
Total car care nut vintage material. Like how you throw all the nuts and bolts onto the floor mat because you know where every one goes ! I use a magnetic bowl for these loose nuts and bolts. the patience and calmness is amazing. Interesting to see the tap & die work being done, never used one and might have to pick up a set now after watching how easy they are to use. After watching your previous video and hearing that the CrossClimate 2's are noisy i researched tire rack today and sure enough they have a 8.7 rating, and the Defender2 are i believe 9.0 or 9.2 Definetely will be going to get them instead for my 2002 ES 300. less money too compared to the Cross Cimate 2's
Love your channel and videos! Keep them coming AMD
Even though this video is almost the length of a movie, I pay closer attention to watching this video than many of the blockbuster movies.
My 06 GS300 has many similar problems to this 600K Lexus: the noisy steering motor, the broken license plate screw, the stripped thread for the engine beauty cover, the missing underbody panel clip, etc. This video will be immensely helpful to address my Lexus issues. Thanks!
That's great looking forward to seeing more in a few weeks!
Yet again, I love this video! It's not 10-15 minutes long, it's a whole hour and then some to enjoy!
I laughed when you mentioned pulling the door panel off, because I literally did the same on a very close friend of mine's '05 LS 430 on Monday to replace a window motor and regulator (OE of course!). We also replaced the door mirrors (again, OE) on both doors; they would not lock in place and fold during normal driving.
Unfortunately, being a desert car, the inside of the door was extremely dusty and a lot of cleaning up was required. Ended up taping a disposable, plastic table cloth around the door opening to prevent any dust going inside and thoroughly blowing everything out with an air gun.
The car only has ~39,000 km (~24,400 mi) on it and was inherited from his late father, so it has immense sentimental value. I got kid gloves on when we do any work on it.
I really look forward to these brilliantly long repair blogs 😶....I am transfixed for over an hour🤩
You can't just change your gender for an hour.
I have a MINT 05 LS430 ML black on black with 113K miles. I LOVE watching these videos. I am hooked and watch them from beginning to end. You are amazing, thank you for making these videos. Can’t believe your turned this into your project car, I feel so lucky! Happy wrenching
Try some of that Lucas oil trans fix, people have had good luck with that stuff (and I know its just a temporary band aid to the issues).
But definitely in the mean time try to find a good used trans, although it would be really cool to see how long the original will go. 😉
Like the hair cut. Love the way u explain things so calmly. Thanks for your time and blessings for God. We all need that.
AMD, Nice tires!!😁
Seriously... the amount of time and effort you spent for the license plate bolt speaks volumes of your commitment and professionalism on this project. I'm enjoying streaming this entire series on the playlist. Well done sir!
When you get that thing detailed, I highly suggest Chicago Auto Pros! They will make it like NEW! Better yet, you can probably get a make sense collab video out of it ;-)
Its a pleasure to watch your kind of specialist be working. So much new things to know.
I would definitely see how long that original transmission can go! Change the fluid and see what happens maybe
Sure, but he is all about reliability and dependability; don't think we will see a video of him going home by Tow Truck.
@@johngreydanus2033 yes but if all it needs is a solenoid even at that price and the fluid looks not half bad it should be plenty reliable, and the bragging rights of the original engine and trans
If you know the provenance of the used transmission, that is an option. If you really want to know what you have, then go with the rebuild. I 2nd, 3rd and 4th all of the other positive comments. I really enjoy watching you work. It is very informative and somehow, very calming!
do you think you could give us a summarized price list for everything you had to update? I am curious how much long term ownership of these vehicles is - although this would be a more extreme ex w/ 600k!
thanks for recording all this
I agree with other viewers put in a used good transmission, and check out before installing. Thank you for restoring this classic LS430. I’m learning so much, because I own a 03 LS430 w/ 203k miles.
The one thing I have to say about the transmission issue is that if you replace or rebuild the original then in a way it wont be a true 1 million mile car when it gets to that point, itll have had a major drivetrain component replaced. Otherwise, when it comes to reliability a used transmission in this case is probably the most cost effective and sensical option. You coupd also play qround with a used transmission solenoid if you really wanted to, at very least you could see how far that gets this thing.
Being on this voyage with you brother has been pretty amazing so far. Unfortunately I haven’t owned a Toyota for over 3 decades now but still miss that 5 spd EFI truck.
On my own journey working on my 200k tdi jetta. Working on the thermostat and coolant now and just discovered what they call the recommended service position. Basically where you remove the front end from the game and expose the front of the motor and the turbo. After this stop on the journey I get to move onto dropping the front axle and removing the entire exhaust system from the back of the engine to the tailpipe to replace a blocked up DPF system since VW decided that a few model years it needed to be welded closed so it couldn’t have a filter or be cleaned out easily.
You are going to get a lot of offers for that Lexus when you are done.
You are THE Lexus expert mechanical virtuoso. You did an OUTSTANDING JOB with the door locks on my 2001 Lexus GS430 (157,000 miles)! Go with the 45,000 mile trans. See you maybe next year? Keep up the great videos, amigo
Just did the same door lock actuator repair to my 2010 Prius last week. A previous body shop had destroyed the weather seal, so I had the joy of replacing that a few days later(after I ordered a new one). 50F day, so I can confirm the butyl residue doesn't come off easy. A "secret" is good old WD-40 and a whole lot of rags.
The actuator on a gen3 Prius is noticeably smaller, without the extra plastic shells, so I was able to get it out by maneuvering it around the window channel. Very not fun the first time, but much easier once you know how to twist it around the right way after that first time. The Toyota repair manual says to take out everything, including the glass, which is why it's such an expensive repair at a dealer.
Now I have to go finish the washing and detailing of my old Prius, because I just got word my new Prius is about to arrive at the dealer this weekend. :)
I wish I had a real mechanic like AMD near me. AMD has in depth knowledge of Toyota/Lexus and he is very detail oriented. We all need a mechanic like AMD, not a fancy waiting room, not a sweet talking lady at the front desk, not a big screen TV, not a comfy sofa, not high end coffee... We need a mechanic who can put back all the bolts and nuts back to the car. I remember I took my MB OM642 to fix the known oil cooler leaking problem in a reputable shop, when I got my car back, a lot of bolts and nuts were gone.
No brainer, the used transmission is the way to go, with 45K is like new
I agree. Go for it.
Agree...just replaced an engine in a '99 Tacoma with 367,000 miles with same engine out of an '02 4-Runner. We found one in a salvage yard still in the wrecked 4 Runner...it had been sitting there 10 years but only had 136,000 miles on it. Runs like a new one.
Used transmission is by far the best option. Lowest cost and proven reliability with some small warranty from reputable seller.
Thank you for committing to providing cost breakdown.
A long video from the car care nut... I wouldn't ask for a better youtube notification ❤
I did exactly the same thing with the fender liner on an 05 Camry. I left the bottom cover off, drove it down the highway and heard that same noise you did.
Car Care Nut, you make my day! Look forward to your videos, especially in light of the kaos and immoral actions of our leaders and young people. Got Bless!
Love the episode. I need you to understand, I drive for a living and own a Buick lacrosse. Watching your content makes it a joy to enjoy my job. I really respect the drive because of your channel. Thank you so much car care nut. Love it
My non professional opinion is to get a used transmission (assuming that you can verify the mileage and maybe the service history of it).
Also if you go this route you can give us tips on what to do and not to do when installing used transmissions (such as fluid changes and how deep to go into reconditioning the new one to maximize its longevity without spending a ton etc.)
Either way this project is amazing, and you really are a role model for the automotive industry.
I was wondering though how you are going to put another 600,000 miles on it if you don't have a long commute...
You are incredible! Such knowledge on car repair! I'm a Ford vehicle owner, 24 new Ford cars, since 1979. I think my next car will be a Lexus or Toyota for a lot reasons. Thank you for all that you do!
When are we going to see, "My Toyota is broken..... That's OK" T-shirts 😁
Had a ’07 GS450h that had left rear door not locking. Found a used door lock actuator for 20 bucks and decided try to replace DIY. That bar for the window was not meant to be moved easily and it took me half an hour to remove and there wasn’t enough room for actuator to come out. After I finally got it out I wasn’t very hopeful, but reassembly went a bit better and I the best moment was to install it and test it like you did, it worked! What a feeling.
Unfortunately, the torque converter clutch issue is very common on Toyotas. I don't know why that is, but flushing the transmission generally takes care of that.
Used transmission with 45K miles sounds like a good choice. Pray that it was not abused and regularly serviced. Thanks for your content and advice. We bought a new 4Runner last year because of you and Scotty K. Best vehicle we've ever had!
BUY THE USED TRANSMISSION IF IT TRULY ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES.
I love the video of the tilt motor. My LS 430 project car came from auction with a steering wheel that flops up and down. Like the threads are stripped. This footage gives me the confidence to dig in. Back to the garage for me!
New drinking game: Every time "600,000" is mentioned in the series....drink up". Trivia question: What number Part of the series has the most "600,000 mile(s)" mentions?! How many were there?
i really admire how you know and use your tools.
Definitely my favorite mechanic on UA-cam! I listen to these videos while I am at work and catch a lot of very good information.
Every time I turn on a car I roll one of the windows down. This has saved me from locking myself out dozens of times!! Keep at least one window halfway down until you start driving!!
Swap the transmission. My cousin had Toyota yaris in Dubai. He drove it above 1 million Kms. Replaced the transmission at around 700,000 km.
Used transmission from scrap worked well
I love watching you and admire your genius in car mechanics.
Boy o boy, so many details when it comes to dealing with all that plastic stuff. I'm sure the manual covers little or nothing about all these details. Experience is the key.
I really appreciate the meticulous attention to detail while bringing your LS back to like new condition. Keep up the great videos.
The Toyota Sifu..........A joy to watch and learn from the master.
The 45k used transmission is by far the best option plus, the car paid for 56 cents of the bill already! Love your Channel