This $1,500 Lexus LS430 Makes Me Never Want a New Car Again - 1,500 Mile Report
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- After needing to swap a transmission shift solenoid due to a fault code, I've put well over 1,500 miles on the $1,500 Lexus LS430 project car. This thing runs and drives like a dream and is such a great car overall.
Find out why I think the Lexus LS430 is the best car ever made.
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I love these videos, bro! You and the toyota car care nut motivated me to buy my first LS. Picked up a 2002 LS 430 as a project car, and I'm bringing it back to life! It's nice to know from this video that the VSC light is most likely a break wear sensor! Now, I just need to figure out if I trust myself enough to do the timing belt and water pump job! 😅
Wow, that’s so awesome!! I want to meet him one day. Timing belt seems really scary since it’s a lot of steps and somewhat high risk, but if you follow the manual, go slow and check your work you can do it
@JJinMotion Thank you so much for the motivation! And if you ever get to meet TCCN, bring me too! 🤣
I bought one of these for $1500. The owner thought it had major issues, but was just VVT solenoids and some sensor I don't remember.
A new gas cap might help with the evap code. I just replaced the gas cap on my '08 LS 460 (only because it didn't click anymore after filling my tank) and I had no idea how much a new gas cap could improve my current performance! My normal ECT mode feels like power mode... and the power mode now pushes me back in my seat! If you still have the original gas cap, get a new one. It might be the issue. Even if not, it may restore power to a new level you didn't know was missing.
love your videos man , currently my daily is a 99 ls400 with 293k
Awesome!! Great car. I miss my Celsior. Gonna have to get another one
@@JJinMotionyeah i was surprised you got rid of it after the suspension refresh , but i guess you had bigger priorities by the looks of the baby seats , ill be putting c2b bags on cusco coilovers come summer time
Only because I wanted to get into an LS430 and really couldn’t justify keeping both at the time
@@JJinMotionpersonally i really prefer the facelifted 04-06 look , and would only let go of the 400 if i could find a black /burgundy on black or cinnamon interior facelift 430
Great video! I too have ventured into the LS 430 world and love them!
You know what’s up!
Congratulations man, I hope you will raise them well and to make them always follow the truth, posted just in time I enjoyed the whole episode keep it coming.🌟
Thanks so much! Lots more content to come here
Outstanding series. I have watched since the start of this project. My 04 and 05 are toys that I drive occasionally or take on long trips out of town. Now I too want an 01-03 that has been well used so I can daily drive without any worries.
Thanks so much, I appreciate your continued support. Two LS430s! Now that’s amazing
Love the build. I have a 2006 135k, this is the one car I will not modify. My advice if anyone is looking for one find one with good interior as some parts are no longer available.
very true!
Lovely content Brother, you have a new viewer as well. Keep doing what you do.
Appreciate the love, glad you're here!
Congrats 🎊 on the new family members! 💗 I know the feeling.
Can’t wait to see the new suspension work done 😎
Thanks so much dude! Can't wait too, hopefully not too too long
@@JJinMotion I’m going to follow your guide since I’m still on the original suspension on my 06 and it’s time to refresh it. Last time I checked for all the suspension parts it was like 4k 😱 but probably way cheaper with Amayama.😅
@@GiovanniDamian3UZ Oh boy, I gotta save even more then! I wanna do brakes and stuff too, go even more crazy than the Celsior. Gonna break the bank lol
congrats on the babies man! great update. I'll need a fast 2 or 4 door again someday. Condition those seats! my 00 4runner leather was rock hard. Im hitting it once a week and it makes a big difference.
Thanks homie!! I’ll hit you up
The LS 430 is the best LS in my opinion. But being an LS 400 owner, I must say that the first gen is the bestest! ;-)
When you dropped your trans, you had to remove your exhaust from the cats back. Or maybe you removed the cats too, what I’m saying is, make you sure you installed new exhaust gaskets and install them correctly. I was getting that p0420 code when in reality it was just a minor exhaust leak coming from old gaskets that connect from the cats to the rest of the exhaust. It was really easy to wedge them out, without dropping the exhaust.
I did have some trouble with an exhaust leak shortly after the first fire up. You might be onto something here. I did replace those little copper looking gaskets, though.
I bought a 2004 - call it my "Hooptie" and really enjoy watching your LS430 vids - you take it to a level I cant because I have no garage - so just watching you sorting out the Lexus is great. And your a good mechanic esp if you own a beemer - looking forward to your next adventure.
you are a genius. you are so handy on fixing cars. I wish I knew as much as you do
Let’s fire this bad girl up! she runs like a dream 😊😊😊
He is back let’s goooooo
Hell yeah brother!!
Bro please keep the videos up! I have the same year, same color and all 😍 I absolutely love how easy it is to understand your explaining. Please please go into all that detail like you did with the tranny swap 😎 I’m literally building my LS430 with you sitting right next to me 😅
Haha awesome dude!! So many more videos planned, that’s for sure
shift solenoids codes, first check resistance if they are as per specs check wiring integrity and it is mostly the most common reason, on the other hand it is very good choice and well ride enjoy it
Great cars , I used to get a new one every year at work in 2005-07 amazing luxury boat
You are too official man
Look at momma go! That v8 is roaring !
Best car ever made.
💯
Get a smoke machine for that Evanpcode
Awesome cars …..my dream car is always Ls430
You’ll get it one day!
I got my 02 ls430 clean title sky blue metallic color with gold emblems (147k miles) for 4000$ back in 2021. Best 4k ever. Now it's all vipped out. 😊
Have a 06 with 190K will be doing a timing belt in a week. Best car i have owned
I used to have an 05 with the revised headlights. It was one of my favorite cars. I sold that and I bought an ls460. TBH I think I like the Ls430 more. I think I’m gonna go back to it.
I’ve heard that from other folks too!
Great video as always! Looking forward to the suspension overhaul. I just recently bought brand new upper control arms for my LS and all new strut assembly and planning to swap out myself. I’m not a mechanic by any stretch but doesn’t seem too difficult based on other videos. Just curious to how you tighten up the upper control arms? They say you can’t tighten them until the suspension is loaded?
Thanks! Me too. The best way to do that is with a 4 post lift but obviously us driveway guys don’t have that. So you can do it nearly as good by measuring the fender to center of the wheel hub while it’s on the ground, and just hand tighten the bolts. Then jack up the whole knuckle and control arms to match that point with the tire off, measure, and tighten to spec. That’s what I did on my celsior, just less precisely, there’s videos here on the channel
be grateful for the non-navigation model! I have the hilariously outdated Navigation in mine, and I am researching how to convert it to the stype that yours has, so when the display malfunctions i can still operate my HVAC
Definitely! My Land Cruiser has the navigation and it’s very difficult to swap to something else
The nav is definitely a no go. Even navigation from 2018 seems ancient
Looks like you should take it in to get the headlights sanded and polished. Probably the cheapest and most beneficial aesthetic boost you could get on this car.
Yep, my buddy is gonna help me with that as step #1
What about mersedes w124 compare to this LS? About queitnes and comfort?
Id love to do a real head to head one day!
Yessir the vid I asked for lol I love my 1998 Lexus GS300 I got for $1500 exactly a year ago on Jan 31 and did tons of work just like you did except no new trans 😅 but I still want a LS430 so so so bad I just wanted a 2jz an something to handle corners really well while retaining comfort… The dream is to get a Lexus GX470 and hopefully LS430 after 😅
That will be quite the fleet! My buddy has a GX and it’s great, but I still love the Land Cruiser/LX470 more personally
*starter is calling*
Don’t wish that evil upon me
cool rig, i want one
Congratulations, and great job on the LS!
Could both codes be caused by the same thing, like bad cat?
Thanks so much! It’s definitely possible. I was thinking possibly gas cap for the evap one, but not sure about the cat. That one is very surprising
New cars are horrible. These cars are good.
The shocks are blown the suspension is shot 😂😂😊😊
How many miles were on the old transmission. Was the fluid changed on the old one how many miles are on the new transmission
I wanna buy one but man I’ve got the GS350 and the GX470 all rock solid rides.
That’s a killer fleet dude!
I’m averaging 28 MPG on the highway on my road trips (2005 LS) to Las Vegas and sometimes Albuquerque. 40 PSI on tires. Perrelli P ZEROS 245/45-18 all around (I do not know if fuel makes a difference? But I run on 91 octane). I’m averaging between 75 and 80mph; but around the city and short highway trips, I am averaging between 16 and 17 MPG.
You mentioned you were going to talk to your buddy who is an expert on detailing? I would be careful on your LS in regards to machine buffing? Only because it is a 24-year-old pain job. I believe Lexus used three coats of clearcoat on your year model; but I’m not sure how thick your clearcoat might be. I dunno. If I were you, I would just stick with the Claybar process of cleaning your paint job just to avoid paint fading in the future because you do have a dark color… I don’t know…. Just a tip.
I'm getting about the same mpg in my 2005, with the same tires and wheel size. JJ's fuel economy might improve with a more grandpa driving style. My '98 LS400 gets even better fuel economy, low 30's pure highway.
if im dying im flyin
Um, you lost me there with the shift solenoids, or maybe I missed something? You meter-checked three, not saying where the 3rd came from - new part? 1st was from the bad trans, 2nd from the trans on the car (open ckt). But the 3rd (12.3 ohms - "old, old trans". So maybe you replaced the trans twice)?
They drive better than new cars,and you can fix everything yourself !
Great video I drive a Lexus gs430 350000 miles going
Big numbers, nice!!
What year is your GS? How long have you had it for?
Are we having manic episodes about Toyota still?
I’m in the process of buying my dream vehicle.100 series Landcruiser or 2004-2006 ls430.Since you have both.If you had to choose just 1.Which would you choose as a daily.Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. I live in New York.daily commute to work is about 25 miles 1 way. I drive to Virginia about once a month.Thanks
Oh man, sooo hard to pick one. I’ve had both an LX470 and the LC equivalent, the LX470 is far better of those two. But both have amazing cargo capacity, can be seven 7 seats, extremely capable off road, even totally stock. I’d drive the Land Cruiser anyway, but it gets horrendous gas mileage. Like, 12mpg combined bad with my 33s on it lol. Those trucks are pretty under powered too, even the VVTi models. But they’re just amazing overall and I love mine.
The LS430 is nearly the opposite in almost every way. Tons of power, amazing highway cruiser (the LC is too, honestly), better gas mileage, unparalleled ride quality, superbly quiet, etc.
They’re both expensive to maintain OEM though so be prepared for that.
They’re both amazing vehicles and have their respective places in my garage. If I HAD to only keep one, I’d sell both and get another LX470 honestly lol. Mainly since I can go almost anywhere with the 100 series but stuck to pavement with the LS.
But every time I drive the LS, I love it more and more
@@JJinMotion Car Care Nut just posted a video about used Lexus and Toyotas and he thinks the older Landcruisers are a bad choice for a daily driver- parts are extremely expensive and the vehicle is better suited as a collector car. As a second car, I can certainly understand why one might want one, especially one in mint, collector condition.
He talked about 80s and older. I’m talking about the 100 series. He briefly mentions 100, but that’s neglected high mileage examples. There’s are plenty of well taken care of LX470s out there, even some LCs
At what interval should i change my transmission fluid? I have 2005 with 115000 KM and its in mint condition
I’d recommend watching the car care nut video on transmission fluid. Some risk involved if it’s never been done
I'd do at least 3 drain and refills with the OEM fluid. Measure exactly what comes out and put back in the same amount through the fill hole, with the transmission at room temperature and the new fluid also at the same temperature. Remove the fill hole bolt before you start draining the fluid, its a little bit hard to access under a small cover. 24 mm if I remember right.
I have a Poor Man's Lexus , a loaded 2006 Avalon I bought with only 24k on it. I want an old Lexus LS430 next.
I'm not mad at an Avalon! But you're right, LS430 is a big jump up
@@JJinMotion I'll keep thinking about it and one will appear.
Absolutely! Speak it out into the universe
The Avalon is a fine automobile and with 24k miles that car isn't even broken in yet.
The Lexus sedan is nice but there is more of a premium and it is slightly more temperamental, more demanding. The Car Care nut explains it very well in his restoration videos of his 600k mile LS.
That Avalon will get you through many years very well and be just as nice as an LS.
But if you want to sink your funds into an old LS then by all means.
@@marcodarko6941 I will examine my motives before unloading the cash ! The Avalon will probably go for another 200k miles !
Saw one last yr with broke timing belt. $1200. Used motors are
I’ll take it!