JdubES300

Are these trannys really reliable? I heard they are pretty much bulletproof. Is that correct. Rate the tranny with your experiences.

SharpLS-96

The information you heard is correct.
I would give it a 10 or a minimum of a 9 1/2 plus.

Are there stories of transmissions going bad? Yes, occasionally but it's quite rare if you ask me.

GRAND_LS 4

iTrader: (2)

You rarely hear about rebuilds here, especially in contrast with Ford/GM boards... sometimes way before the 100K mark.

I would give it a 10 as well. Plus ours only use up 8.7 Quarts instead of 15

JdubES300

someone told me that he had a 1990 ls it had a tranny problem. So he took it to Mcgrath lexus and they put in a rebuilt 1994 tranny in it. And he was saying how there was a different size of manifold compared to the 1994s. So when the car is cold and you shift it to drift, it jumps or jerks a little. Why is that?

SharpLS-96

When he shifts it to "drift"?.....or when he shifts it to "drive" ("D") ?

SharpLS-96

I assume you mean "drive". Anyway, when the car is cold the engine is idling at a higher RPM so the car will jerk/jump because the engine is "racing".

In addition, have him check his motor and tranny mounts. They might need replacing.

JdubES300

Yeah, Drive!! I was thinking of a damn 240sx at the time i guess. lol. So how much would the motor mounts and / or tranny mounts cost? Is this a major problem for him?

BTW, thanks for the quick response.

Christian

Hello,

I would give it a 10. My dads LS400 now has 451000km. On monday I did a complete flush including the stainer in the pan. I used 11 liter of Toyota ATF and the car runs so smooth now even the stuttering at certain speeds is gone.

Chris

persian451

10 when maintained

NC211

I agree with Persian. 10, when maintained, which isn't much more than flushing it with OEM FLUID. Don't go for the cheap stuff, otherwise, you will have problems. Use Lexus / Toyota fluid, it's a MUST. Basically man, the whole freakin' car is a 10, when maintained. You'll have a few rubber parts here and there that'll need replacing "mounts, bushings" but that's about it. If you buy a used one like I did, set aside about $1,500 for these things as time will require them. But hey, you tell me where you can get a used, high milage world class luxury automobile that only needs $1,500 in parts to bring her back to new status? BMW? Better Maintain Weekly. MB? I hear the air in the tires alone cost that much. Mine is a 95' w/ 95k miles. New motor mounts "2 @ $75 ea., 1 tranny mount @ $35, 2 lower ball joints @ $75 ea" and it's like new again. Have a local mechanic install for you, and you're golden.

I use these guys for parts: http://www.toyotaandlexusparts.com/

JdubES300

Well my friend's ls400's tranny will jerk a little when it's cold and he shifts it to drive. I was told it was the tranny mounts. And from the post above, it's $35 for a moiunt, but how hard is it to replace it?

Losiho

For smoothness and durability, it's close to faultless. Lazy torque converter though, but I guess it's the same with all luxury car auto transmissions.

NC211

The tranny mount is one of the easiest parts to replace on the car. If you take to your local exxon shop, they can do it inside of 30 minutes. All you do is put a jack under the transmission, lift it a few inches, undo two bolts, and replace. It's simple. But, if you're going for the tranny mount, go for the two engine mounts as well. They will help with the shifting thump at cold, dramatically reduce engine noise and vibration in the cabin and smoooooooth out that puppy like silk. You will find on this site that replacing the engine mounts can and do make dramatic improvements. The car will always jerk a little when cold, just the way it is. The top items that improve the car?
1) Engine Mounts 2
2) Tranny Mount 1
3) Suspension Bushings / control arms "Expensive"
4) New weatherstrip on doors "brings back that solid door feel, and kills wind noise"

JdubES300

he also told me that the whole car shakes when he is coming to a stop and it shakes also when he acclelerates from a stop.

SRK

The trans in my 92 LS is a 10/10. Amazing gearbox, absolutely smooth and quiet, shifts from park to gear without a jolt, shifts on the move pefectly like it was thought controlled. My 98GS trans is better at full throttle, but a little harsher cold, and sometimes gets confused on an upshift when the throttle is lifted at medium speeds. But it is 11/10 otherwise.
My 94 Camaro z28 got a rebuilt auto at 120k kilometres, and another one at 145k. Both times a failure of the factory parts. Harsh, clanky, noisy, and weak. Only good thing was a 1-2 upshift that barked both back tires at full throttle. But it hurt it to drive it. Traded it on the red GS in a heartbeat and I won't look back.