michjm

From Minnesota (nearby Canada). I have driven my car at -40C, it kept warm without a problem. It started hard, but once running it was fine. I have probably driven my car at least a hundred times at the -20C temperature you reference and never had a complaint about the heater. If the car you looked at didnt produce heat, something was wrong with it.

I would find and fix the power steering leak. These cars are notorious for the power steering pump leaking and taking out the alternator, thus compounding your expense to fix it. This happened to the previous owner of my '91 LS and also to another friend's '90 LS. Before you replace the pump, I would check the fittings on the pressure side hose first. They are a metal to rubber connection and might leak with the age of the car. I believe you can buy this hose for about $120 online. Another problem with waiting on repairing the power steering leak is that if the leak is increasing, the leak point is getting bigger. Beside the possibility of a complete failure, there is also the possibility that contaminates are getting into the system more easily. If you get moisture and dirt in the rack, it can force the need to replace the whole system, obviously $$$. Spend the time to get your car in the air and find the leak. If it is an easy fix (ie hose), do it and avoid the hassle of explaining the leak when you try to sell the car. If the problem turns out to be more than you want to fix, you know to sell the car to someone before it gets worse and forces you to repair it.

I agree with all the others, your car is taking way to long to get to speed. I have a 91 with 145K on it and it gets there much quicker. It seems that yours should rev through 1st gear faster, especially after 4k rpm. It also seems that you really stall out around 5K in 2nd. This slowing of your upper rpm range could be due to obstructed air flow or a limited fuel supply. Do you have a clean air filter, working MAF, clean fuel filter, proper fuel injection pressure?

My 1991 (145,000mi) is starting to slip/jerk at around 45mph, overdrive on. If I increase or decrease speed, this problem goes away. I dont experience this at any other speeds and it happens when the car is both warm and cold. All other shifting is fine. In talking to a mechanic, he suggested driving it for a day or two with the overdrive off. If the problem goes away, it is the torque converter. If the problem continues, it is the transmission. Does this sound like a good way to diagnose? Would the conclusion be correct? Only 145K doesnt seem right for an LS400 driveline, are there any other suggestions as to what the problem might be? Anyone experience something similar?