LS - 1st and 2nd Gen (1990-2000) Discussion topics related to the 1990 - 2000 Lexus LS400

First Generation LS Concerns

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-06-06, 03:44 PM
  #1  
azari
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
azari's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MD
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default First Generation LS Concerns

I've got a '91 LS, with 99000 miles. Just wanted to compare and see if you guys experience the same things. So here are the 2 issues:

1) When coming to a stop, the last downshift is somewhat noticable. There is a little jerk/kick. I think it's more noticable when making the stop gradually.

2) When shifting from Park into either Reverse or Drive, the transmission sort of kicks into gear and there is a jerk. Now, of course this is felt more when the car is cold (engine RPM is high). But even when the car is completely warm and the RPM has reached the normal level, there is a kick. My friend's Camry does not do this at all; you would not even know if he's shifting from P to R or to D.

Do you guys have these problems?

Thanks
Old 11-06-06, 04:39 PM
  #2  
mobilyte
Pole Position
iTrader: (3)
 
mobilyte's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: IL
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

inspect/replace the following...tranny fluid, diff fluid and the tranny mount.
Old 11-06-06, 06:06 PM
  #3  
azari
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
azari's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MD
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

I did have the transmission flushed, and differential fluid changed about 20000 miles ago. Did not change the transmission mount, however.
Old 11-06-06, 09:13 PM
  #4  
blange400
Driver
 
blange400's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I had a '91 with 144K miles and no issues with trans shifting.
It should be buttery. I agree mounts and fluids.
Old 11-07-06, 07:56 AM
  #5  
91LS400vgb
Pit Crew
 
91LS400vgb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: NJ
Posts: 196
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Azari, did you use Toyota Type-IV fluid when you had the tranny flushed? This has been discussed many times - many independent shops will use a multi-vehicle fluid or worse yet - Dexron.
Old 11-07-06, 11:16 AM
  #6  
persian451
Lexus Test Driver
 
persian451's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: California
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

yea, you must use Toyota T-2 or T-4, whichever is available. I agree on the tranny mount, pretty fix. You can do it yourself.
Old 11-07-06, 01:26 PM
  #7  
azari
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
azari's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MD
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default yes

yes, I certainly had the Type IV transmission fluid put in, no doubt.

Overall, how do the transmissions in the first gen LS hold up? Are they bullet proof like the engines are? Anybody with major transmission problems/replacements? if so, after how many miles?
Old 11-07-06, 01:48 PM
  #8  
KilaWombat
Lead Lap
iTrader: (1)
 
KilaWombat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 598
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Mine shifts like that as well, when the car is cold. (Jerks between P and R)




Originally Posted by azari
I've got a '91 LS, with 99000 miles. Just wanted to compare and see if you guys experience the same things. So here are the 2 issues:

1) When coming to a stop, the last downshift is somewhat noticable. There is a little jerk/kick. I think it's more noticable when making the stop gradually.

2) When shifting from Park into either Reverse or Drive, the transmission sort of kicks into gear and there is a jerk. Now, of course this is felt more when the car is cold (engine RPM is high). But even when the car is completely warm and the RPM has reached the normal level, there is a kick. My friend's Camry does not do this at all; you would not even know if he's shifting from P to R or to D.

Do you guys have these problems?

Thanks
Old 11-07-06, 03:36 PM
  #9  
persian451
Lexus Test Driver
 
persian451's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: California
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by azari
yes, I certainly had the Type IV transmission fluid put in, no doubt.

Overall, how do the transmissions in the first gen LS hold up? Are they bullet proof like the engines are? Anybody with major transmission problems/replacements? if so, after how many miles?
a properly maintained LS400 tranny will last you forever. I always told ppl, that this first gen LS engine/tranny will go easily 500k miles w/o any major problems. Given the proper scheduled maintainence
Old 11-15-06, 02:45 PM
  #10  
1uzfelbc
Rookie
 
1uzfelbc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: California
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

i have a 91 also and when i first got it, it had 260,000 and it did the exact same thing but now mine is gone but now the transmission is slipping when trying to take off on the freeway (bad slipping). what you should do is change your tranny fluid often, yours is probaly like that because the fluid is dirty so do change often with toyota fluid only. this is a critical moment so make sure you take care of the tranny from NOW because if you don't your tranny will end up like mine.
Old 11-15-06, 03:15 PM
  #11  
dj.ctwatt
Lead Lap
 
dj.ctwatt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Thailand
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Could also be a tranny mount. . . happened to my 90 LS400
Old 11-15-06, 07:40 PM
  #12  
mobilyte
Pole Position
iTrader: (3)
 
mobilyte's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: IL
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

the a341e tranny is absolutely bulletproof! nothing short of blatant abuse/neglect will do harm. didnt change my fluid until ~150k miles, still runs and shifts without a hitch.
Old 11-15-06, 07:48 PM
  #13  
Khiladi
Driver
iTrader: (1)
 
Khiladi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: CA
Posts: 118
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I got the same P to R jerk. Everything else is silk. So how do you go about changing the tranny mount? Anybody got a cost on this or part number?
Old 11-15-06, 07:55 PM
  #14  
azari
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
azari's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MD
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default ...

Yea, I should have mentioned that in every other aspect the transmission seems to work perfectly fine: buttery smooth upshifts/downshifts during driving, no slipping or anything like that. Even the little jerk I mentioned when coming to a stop is really not that big; since I know it's there I sort of look for it. Maybe a new driver wouldn't even notice it.
Old 11-19-06, 12:51 AM
  #15  
azari
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
azari's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MD
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

On a different topic, I was checking out something under the hood today and noticed that the general area shown with the red arrow is a bit wet. What's causing this? is it engine oil? what's the fix?

thanks
Attached Thumbnails First Generation LS Concerns-ffdf_3.jpg  


Quick Reply: First Generation LS Concerns



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:19 AM.