Q: I am thinking of buying a 98 Lexus LS400 with 200,000 mi for $3000. IT runs great and is in beautiful condition. Check Engine light is on 1998 Lexus LS400
My 98 lexus LS400 has a lighted check engine light and a diagnosis indicated it needed a neutral safety switch replacement. What other problems should I suspect that would cause this switch to malfunction? Is there a way to check the starter when replacing it to rule out starter issues?
My car has 208000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Recommended Services
| Pre-purchase Car Inspection | Get a Quote |
Hello - as to the starter question, if the starter starts to spin immediately after you turn the key to the "Start" position, spins the motor over briskly without strange noises, hot or cold - the starter is probably fine. I recommend a pre-purchase inspection performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to the location of the vehicle, give it a thorough inspection, and give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs. You will then make a much better informed purchase decision.
The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our
terms of service
for more details
Get an instant quote for your car
Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing
What others are asking
Car squeaking when driving
Hello. I will assume your vehicle is equipped with a manual transmission as it sounds like you are shifting gears yourself. The symptoms you've given are leading me to a malfunction in your clutch assembly, or engine and transmission assembly...
Spark plug
It's never a good idea to drive a car with a misfiring engine! If the misfire is due to a bad spark plug as you are presuming, there could be secondary ignition voltage feeding back to the ignition system which...
Is it better to just change trans fluid instead of flushing the whole system?
When it comes to vehicles over 5 years or 60,000 miles, my preference is to drain the transmission through the pan and replace the filter, especially if the transmission has never been serviced. The sales pitch is of course that...
Truck will act like it is not getting enough fuel when cruisng. RPMs drop then comes back up or under load
Hello. I think you have called it, this is almost certainly a fuel supply issue. Installing a fuel pump pressure gauge which can be observed while driving will confirm this. Sources could include a worn out fuel pump (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuel-pump-replacement), a...
AC manifold gauges show no pressure on high or low side.
The a/c system would need to be pressure tested to check to see if the condenser got damaged and leaked all the refrigerant out or a component like the compressor front seal failed. Have a mechanic like one from YourMechanic...
Transmission will not sift up from low
What you are describing may be a sign of low transmission fluid (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/transmission-fluid-service) or a faulty transmission control solenoid. As you know, automatic transmissions use pressurized hydraulic fluid to change gears. Every time a gear change is required, the car's...
Battery light flashes on n car is hard to turn. Then light turns off n I have control of car
Charging system output should be verified against factory specifications as the alternator may be failing or have failed thus accounting for the battery light. It is also possible that the serpentine belt does not have adequate tension and thus is...
Car diagnoses says bad thermostat and shop said they had to replace the whole housing system as it isn't separate
I have verified that the thermostat is only replaced with the housing since the housing and thermostat are built together and not sold or replaced separately.
car is overheating. When driving temp creeps up and when idle it slowly goes down. smells like antifreeze when turned off
To pinpoint the cause of the overheating, an overheating diagnostic is required. Be sure not to drive the car if it is overheating because overheating can warp the cylinder head and/or engine block causing costly damage. The most common causes...
Related articles
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Lexus LS 600h L
The The “h” stands for hybrid, and while you might hope to get greatly improved gas mileage for your effort to go green, that shouldn’t be your motivation for buying this model. The 600h L offers a mere 1 mpg...
The Best Used Cars to Buy to Maximize Resale Value
A A car is not an investment. An investment, by definition, increases in value. A car is a necessary purchase, and it will never appreciate in value, with the possible exception of classics and antiques. So, as a used car...
Lexus Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Car Program
Drivers Drivers who are in the market for a used Lexus vehicle may want to check out cars under their certified pre-owned program. Many manufacturers have a certified pre-owned (CPO) program, and each one is set up differently. Read on...
Browse other content
Maintenance
Cities