Road Trip

[jnicoli]

Thinking of driving my 1991 LS 400 from Dallas, TX to Los Angeles, CA and maybe up to Seattle from there too (and maybe back, or not). Pointers on getting it ready for the trip?

1. EGR valve needs replacing, i think.

2. Traction OFF light intermittently comes on

3. A little jerk/jump forward when going from Park to Drive

4. Any tips on minimizing fuel consumption/max miles per gallon?

5. Best route Dallas to L.A.? Good layover spots?

6. Good/great touring tires? (225/60/16)

Thanks for y'all suggestions!

[wwest]

1. n/a

2. Traction OFF??

Or traction diagnostic? If the latter then have the brake system drained and flushed and be sure that whoever does the work uses the extra flush/drain valves at the Traction pumpmotor/accumulator (on the firewall directly in front of the driver) and the one at the ABS pumpmotor (under/behind the engine air filter).

The early LS traction functionality is useless anyway so if this doesn't cure it just pull the power connector at the pumpmotor.

3. Check the U-joints.

4. Read my recent post over on the RX300 thread.

5. The USAF museum in Tucson is an interesting stop.

6. Bridgestone Turanzas for QUIET.

If you're in no real hurry when you turn North I would spend some time in SFO and then Napa valley. The Oregon coast highway is a wonderful drive. Then there is St Helens nearby.

[1UZ-FE]

about number 3-little jerk/jump forward when going from Park to Drive: my car does this too and has done this even since i bought it 4 months ago. There have been some threads about this. Just search on a few key words like "lurch", "park", "drive", and whatever else u think will give you hits. I am not doing anything about this in my car b/c i think its normal.

[FreddT]

Depending on where you live in Dallas:

Take the S-287 through Fort Worth, Childress to I-40 in Amarillo. This avoids going straight North on I-35 through Sherman to OK City to I-40. Lose all kinds of time this way. 287 has higher speed limits now, better than the 80's, for sure. Less cops, too.

I-40 Motels are cheap in New Mexico-Tucumcari, Arizona in Winslow. Speed limit is 75 in NM and AZ-Nice.

I-40 straight to LA. Big decision here-You meet the I-15 at Barstow. You can go to the madhouse of LA (my opinion), or head to No Cal via the 58 to I-5. Then to Seattle or wherever.

Check the tire inflation often. Watch the Chips-Cal State Police-They sit on top of the on-ramps-and then run you down.

Made this trip many times. A lot of fun. Check in to your motel early-by nightfall-avoid a lot of problems.

[blake918]

3. A little jerk/jump forward when going from Park to Drive

My LS has this problem too as well as many others. No one seems to know the anwser to this. Agent 99 recommended checking a tranny engagement solinoid or something like that. I was looking at my repair manual, and they have a section for things to check for "harsh engagemnt." I'll read up and report back.

For the tires, just make sure they have the proper pressure in them. I run my Michelins at the max. 44psi. I find the ride just as cushy as when I had them at 30(they looked flat to me, so I aired them up some more! lol), and I believe this will help your mpg. Also, I'd make sure I had fresh oil and tranny fluid before heading out.

1UZFE, I don't think that this a "normal" problem in my $57k flagship Lexi. ;) I'm going to have this checked out by a tranny specialist that I know soon.

[jnicoli]

thanx for y'all responses. very helpful.

[JPI]

I would check the motor mounts. Most of the Ls400 I look at have broken motors and transmission mount. This is a long drive. Are you moving ?

JPI

[jnicoli]

I would check the motor mounts.  Most of the Ls400 I look at have broken motors and transmission mount.  This is a long drive.  Are you moving ? 

                        JPI

thanks for the suggestion on the mounts. maybe your shop can check the car out prior to me heading out.