ls400 driver seat belt

Oskar,

Check the guide for the seat belt where it enters the pillar. If the belt is frayed, some fine sandpaper on the guides will allow the belt to pass through the guide more freely.

Where is the power steering fluid leaking? Is it leaking from the PS pump pulley shaft seal or hose connection or rack?

Also, is it worth it to rebuild the power steering pump? Oh Oskar, it certainly is! This is a known problem with old 400's. The leak is apparently doing no harm - until it fries your alternator. And it will fry your alternator. Have a look under there ans see how wet and oily it is - and that's just on the outside.

You can rebuild the pump with new seals or get a recon. The difficult bit is undoing all the connections to the pump in the first place. But you've got to do it. (There are tutorials on the web for the whole process - see

Enjoy.

Jon

The belt is NOT frayed. So what does this mean? I don't know exactly where the PS pump is leaking, just that it needs more fluid every month or 2. I'll take a good luck soon. Where do I get the rebuild kit? From Lexus dealer?

Oskar

The belt is NOT frayed. So what does this mean? I don't know exactly where the PS pump is leaking, just that it needs more fluid every month or 2. I'll take a good luck soon. Where do I get the rebuild kit? From Lexus dealer?

Oskar

The smart thing to do is to find where the fluid is leaking before you buy any parts. You may be able to get a rebuild kit from a Lexus dealer but check the instructions that Hillbilly Jon posted the link for to make sure that you don't need any special service tools like seal drivers.

I think that if the alternator is wet with PS fluid, the implication is that it's the pump leaking, not the rack or high pressure hoses. You will have trouble getting a more precise location for the leak (s). My understanding is that on this age vehicle, it's usually the pump seals that go. The seal kit is a Lexus part. I got mine at a discount via the web. You need quite a well-equiped workshop to do the job (and have enough bits around you to get away without using special tools). As Ray O says, look at the pictures on that link.

Jon

HI, I've seen the website on the link, it's an excellent website! since it's holiday season, I haven't had time to get under car and get a good look at where leak is coming from. so for the driver seat belt, do I just get a good used driver seat belt? Is there anything I can do to fix it without changing the belt assy? Thanks, Oskar

HI, I've seen the website on the link, it's an excellent website! since it's holiday season, I haven't had time to get under car and get a good look at where leak is coming from. so for the driver seat belt, do I just get a good used driver seat belt? Is there anything I can do to fix it without changing the belt assy? Thanks, Oskar

Hi Oskar,

I apologize for my advice regarding the belt. When I posted my response, I was thinking of the accessory drive belt for the power steering pump, not the seat belt.

I think that the seatbelt may have an electrical tensioning device that is released when you disconnect the seatbelt. If pressing the seatbelt release makes a difference, take a look at the receptacle and make sure that there is nothing gummed up or jammed in there. I think that there may also be some kind of connection to the dome light switch in the door. Carefully peel back the rubber boot that covers the dome light switch in the door frame, spray the switch with WD-40, and re-install the rubber boot.