IT'S  THAT  TIME 

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa) 02/08/2019 at 09:27 • Filed to: TAX RETURN BALLIN

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NEW WHIP WHO DIS? It’s no secret that my 2003 Mazda6 V6 5MT with 160k on the clock has been, to put it gently, a massive pain in my ass. To remedy this and keep myself from spending damn near a car payment every month in parts and oil I’m going to throw this last round of parts I have sitting around onto the car and toss it up on Craigslist. Wife’ll drive the Sportcross, and I’ll drive this. For those keeping track, the Mazda6 was bought to replace my NB, and this replaced the 6. So in essence I replaced an NB Miata with an LS400. Keep it fresh.

1998 no-this-is-not-matt-farah’s-million-mile-Lexus LS400. 230k on the clock, timing belt and rear wheel bearings just done. Sadly no nakamichi, this is a fairly low-range model with the Pioneer stereo and leather memory seats, no air suspension (thank god), and a brake warning light despite every bulb working (new bulbs have lower internal resistance than old ones, I need to add a resistor to the 3rd brake light to solve it).

Power is from a 290hp 300lb-ft 4 liter 1UZ-FE VVT V8 going through a 5 speed automatic to an open rear differential. It sucks premium gas, gets better fuel economy than my IS300 (fucking HOW ) and does some pretty sick one-wheel burnouts (of course I tested this on the drive home). Ride? Smooth other than a slight vibration at 70 (feels like a front wheel out of balance). Not floaty, but soft. Wind noise is almost nonexistant and engine noise straight up doesn’t exist.

Things to do: Detail it , get my spare key cut, try to fix that tail lamp warning light, replace cracked driver door handle, Android Auto/Apple Carplay head unit (eventually), window tint (this summer) .

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/08/2019 at 09:44

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Jake Makes Rational Decisions And So Should You

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/08/2019 at 10:00

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I saw 3 pedals & it was missing something.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 02/08/2019 at 10:03

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One can make rational decisions and still have bad luck, lol.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/08/2019 at 10:04

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I always loved these, sadly all the decent ones are far out of what I want to spend. Not surprising it gets better mileage than your IS, it’s got an underworked V8.

You should add Muffler Delete to your “To Do” list, that motor sounds amazing opened up.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/08/2019 at 10:23

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LMAO my 330k Lexus has the same brake light problem even though every bulb is working.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 02/08/2019 at 10:57

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No, no he should not. This is bad advice and you should feel bad.

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/08/2019 at 11:08

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Welcome to the ls400 master race. There is starting to be a lot of LS owners on here these days. I love my 1997 

V12 Jake II- New and Improved! > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/08/2019 at 11:35

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So that’s why my fucking rear light warning won’t go out! That light has been on for months but I never drive my LS anymore so it doesn’t bother me much these days. I’m immensely jealous of you 5 speed and VVT-i, the 4 speed absolutely slaughters gas mileage. 

V12 Jake II- New and Improved! > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) 02/08/2019 at 11:37

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I thought about it, but it’s not really performance oriented enough to warrant it. I’d do it with an LS 430 if I still had one, but for now the only car I’d consider it on is the S600.

V12 Jake II- New and Improved! > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 02/08/2019 at 11:38

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Same here lol, just LS things I suppose. 

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/08/2019 at 11:38

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Oh also my dad fixed the brake light today. Make sure you are using 921 bulbs in the 3rd brake light. That should fix it.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > V12 Jake II- New and Improved! 02/08/2019 at 11:38

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The best way to tell is to start the car, sit there for a moment, and then push the brake. If the warning comes on when you hit the brake it is almost certainly an issue with the internal resistance of the third brake light.

One thing I’m planning on doing is swapping out the coolant temp sensor. When they age out they’ll start reading low which also kills fuel economy.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > V12 Jake II- New and Improved! 02/08/2019 at 11:40

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My dad fixed it with factory 921 bulbs in th e 3rd brake light. Apparently I’m dyslexic and put 912s in it.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 02/08/2019 at 11:41

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Higher wattage than other physically-similar bulbs?

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/08/2019 at 11:42

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Nope. I just had the wrong bulbs in there haha.

Milky > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/08/2019 at 11:55

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ENJOY. DAT. V8.

I cut off 2 resonators and 2 mufflers, leaving the cat. Would recommend.  

Sounds like this:

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) 02/08/2019 at 12:15

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Counterpoint:

I’m sorry if you don’t like wonderful V8 sounds.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 02/08/2019 at 12:46

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Counterpoint: fucking no

V12 Jake II- New and Improved! > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/08/2019 at 13:59

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Yep, that’s exactly how it happens for me. I figured it was a resistance based trigger, but I had no idea it was because of newer bulbs. 

V12 Jake II- New and Improved! > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 02/08/2019 at 14:00

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Hmm, I followed the bulb guide in my manual and it stayed on, maybe I bought the wrong bulb or something. 

daender > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/08/2019 at 20:18

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Smart buy!

Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 02/08/2019 at 20:42

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See, now you’re straight up copying me, now. Except that I went from the titanium NB directly to a SILVER LS400, not a white LS.

I had that brake light warning all the time, too. If my LS didn't constantly eat fuel pumps, I would still be driving it.