This results in loose screws (the frickin bolts on the rear brakes were loose on one side!), loose electrical components, just loose things in general, and things that are off ever so slightly causing things like no contact when it comes to a button. Or a key.
One more example really quick before I tell you what happened yesterday and drove me nuts!
I had installed a new Engine Temperature Sender. In the LS400 and some other cars, this is the unit that sends temperature readings to the gauge in your dash. I was driving when I decided to bang on the top to possibly get it to move. Sure enough - it must have been stuck and popped all the way up before gradually being pulled down all the way again over time...
What happened when I banged on the dash is however funny in retrospect and completely screwed at the time. I saw the needle go off but all of a sudden, all the lights went off and gaugea died. Great. I thought I broke the whole thing because the car was still on!
I got home, cursing all the two miles, until I go to turn the key to shut off the car and it clicks, moves a millimeter, and my lights are back on.
So now I know that the part of the ignition where you stick the key in is looser than an old meat purse. This leads me to what happened.
I turn the car on yesterday and as soon as I shift to reverse, the car turns right off. What?! I turn it back on, it goes into reverse, goes into drive as I am re-parking it after vacuuming, and then shuts off again when I put it in park.
I should mention that there is something ELSE loose that makes a clank when I shift gears sometimes. It comes from the front tire area so I always assumed the front brakes have a part loose or something that hits metal going from forward to reverse and back, understand?
Well this sound happened every time the car shut off.
Throwing me off completely. Now I'm thinking is this a transmission problem even though the (probably unrelated) clank sound isn't coming from the transmission. So I'm freaking out at this point until I collect my thoughts later.
Remember how the key is loose? I noticed it moves freely a couple millimeters when the car is on. I moved it a little and the problem hasn't happened again thankfully.
I don't even mind changing a transmission in this car because it's my baby but I can't afford that now!
It made me remember something however. Even though the car has had fu trans fluid since I got it, I never changed it. I don't even wanna see how bad it is until I change it tuesday.
This type of car is NOT for something who doesn't deal with challenges well nor is it for someone who can't constantly find the problem him or herself because it would cost too much.
In a case like that, don't buy a $300 Lexus like I did. I did it with the dream of having it completely rebuilt eventually.
I had a discussion with somebody about my car. I told him that I've put probably 1.8k into the car so far and he said I'm a dummy for not just buying one without any damage for the same price.
However, even now at this point in life where I have a crap job and I'm starting a business, I can't save that much money to have all at once. It's just easier to spend $300 initially, then another $150, then another $80, etc. until your car is running correctly.
To me, this also has the benefit that when you're done, you will have replaced all of those items that tend to go around 200-300k miles and if you do it correctly, you can have a Lexus LS400 as close to original and right out of the factory as possible, for what? $10k? It cost $45k new... $70k in today's prices. So if this is the car I really want... and no, I don't want a newer one because I love THIS model, then is $10k really not worth it? Remember, that gets you a $70k car that is as close to factory reliability and standards as you can get unless you find one with 5,000 miles on it.
In which case, it's still going to cost $10k!
The man that said that to me is my pops who calls himself a car enthusiast. He has rallied before. That's who gave me the E30 BMW that I had. So what happened? The two family cars are now Ford Focuses, both automatic. This Lexus that is three times their age not only has a better interior but drives smoother and kicks those cars' asses in everything except fuel economy. Mine isn't but the LS is definitely more reliable too if you compare these cars as new.
What is my point? Not much... Just an observation as to how life can suck the blood out of you. Pops has been going through depression and some other issues. I think he needs some medicine. Maybe a new rally car is in order... Just saying...
I didn't dare tell hm that I'm going to eventually spend way more money on this car than is actually smart but his idea was to run it into the ground and junk it. You can do that to that Focus, sir!
(Stock Focuses are really bad in my opinion. Inside all you hear is a bunch of crazy sounds coming from half the systems in the car and the quality is just shite. Ofcourse, I like the faster spec ones. It's not a bad front wheel drive sporty car in that case especially for rallying.)
I'm leaving you guys with a picture of my still-dirty engine bay and you tell me if you see anything that's off. Also, if you have suggestions as to what to do with the ACV for the power steering - please let me know! I know to basically plug it but can I run the vacuum hose that comes out right in front of the Lexus logo on the engine to the small air hole that is found on the air intake assembly and is where the other hose for the PS pump goes. In a working system, one of these is where the air comes out of to go to the PS pump and then is returned to the intake, correct? I've only seen one person do this. It makes sense to send the air back but I don't know how much difference there is besides just plugging it. Thanks guys!
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