Da Hapa

Hi everyone.

Recently, my wife and I purchased a 1997 LS400 Coach Edition from my parents. They've owned the car since new and only got rid of it when they purchased a new 2006 LS.

All maintenance has been done on time and at Lexus dealers (primarily Stevens Creek Lexus in San Jose, CA). The vehicle has roughly 128,000 miles on the clock and runs quite well.

Before purchasing the car, we had Tustin Lexus peform the same level of inspection on the car that they would to certify the car as pre-owned. $200 later and the only things that came up were:
1) worn motor mounts
2) worn tranny mount and
3) questionable wiper blades.

We had the motor and tranny mounts replaced and I did the wiper blades.

My problem is that now that the mounts have been replaced, the car behaves strangely when it is shifted from P or Neutral into gear. Essentially, the car rocks back and forth as if it was being slammed into gear. The issue is much worse when the motor is cold as the rev's are higher while the motor is warming up but it's still noticable when the engine is warm.

Shifts while the car is driving are still buttery smooth.

As you'd expect, we took the car back to the dealer and they say this is perfectly normal for an LS of this generation. We countered that he car never did that before and they said it would have when it was new but that since the mounts were collapsing it was masking that and Lexus designed the mounts to cushion any vibrations (that makes sense) and the downside of soft mounts is this weight shift (doesn't make sense).

Neither our old RX, our old IS, our current LX or any of my parents other LS cars have done this. And something doesn't seem right to me but I have no way of calling BS on the dealer.

Any input/thought from you guys would be greatly apprecaited.

Thanks.

RA40

iTrader: (6)

I hate when stuff like this happens after some service. How bad or obvious is it when the car is warm? I'd take it to one of the other Lexus shops recco'd on this forum for a second opinion. Or this one:

Dynamic Auto Services
Ted
8241 Bolsa Ave.
Midway City, CA 92655
(714) 899-2939

Although I have not had mine in for service, I've sent a handful of peeps over, including family and they have very positive remarks about his service and pricing.

Da Hapa

Nobody here has a 95-97 LS400 and is willing to tell me if my concern is valid or not?

I know my issue isn't sexy but... a little help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Rice

I have the same car.

Depending on how much it rocks when you shift, it could indeed be perfectly normal. On the other hand, if you think that it rocks or kicks more than normal, there are other bushings that can cause this. First, there are the 2 drive shaft bushings. Then there are the rear diff. bushings. My rear diff. bushings are worn and I do feel a slight kick when I shift. I hesitate to fix it though because the whole diff. has to come out and I don't want to spend the bucks. This car is a 97 after all.
Hope this helps.

Da Hapa

Thanks. What I find weird is that the car didn't behave this way until after I spent several hundred dollars replacing motor and tranny mounts.

I appreciate your feedback.

Kansas

Of course it is not normal for an LS400 -- "the car rocks back and forth as if it was being slammed into gear."

Any dealer who says so is just trying to get you to go away.