dery45

What and where is the TSB to fix this? please help.

Tomyy

You might need to make a determination if the vibration is only present when your car is moving. First, while driving note the RPM when the vibration is most noticable. The try tolding the trottle in the same RPM range while the car is in park. Be patient and listen and feel carfully. Is you notice that you have the same vibration while your car is in park then you have possibly eliminated anything to do with tires, rotors, drive axle, rear end etc.... I would focus on something around the engine or the transmission. As I mentioned, my problem was the rear transmission mount.

Good luck,

Brad

I posted this on the other Lexus site and got some good replies, but wanted to try here as well for more info.... I was told it could be mounts, tires, tranny fluid, etc.

My friend is experiencing another potential "problem" with her LS400. Between about 35-55 mph, it has a rumbling type vibration that can be felt slightly through the steering wheel. Ive driven the car... its not bad, but where the car is otherwise so smooth, its bothersome. The sound is not loud, but it seems to "drum" in your ears. Also, not sure if its linked, but when the temps are cold out, and the engine is not fully warmed, when the car is in 4th gear and at a lower speed under light acceleration, there is a slight whistling/humming noise coming from the car. My old 90' LS400 had a similiar vibration and it turned out being the tires, so it may be the same case with this car. OR, I was thinking that vibration may be something like an engine or transmission mount? I am actually having the same problem on my car.... !!

Lastly, on acceleration from a stop, there is a slight hesitation just after the car starts out. It has a new air filter, so I do not think thats it... I am thinking maybe the throttle body needs to be cleaned?

Any advice appreciated!

I hope I provided enough info... if more details needed to help out, please let me know and I will relay more info if I can.

You have the same problem with my 96 LS400. I took it to my friends transmission shop and found the rear transmission mount is gone bad. The mount is on order so I can't say if this will solve the problem. But before you run out and buy new tires I noticed you mentioned reving the engine while the car is in parked, have you tried that yet? If not try it, leave the car in parked and run the RPMS up to about 2K to 2.5 RPMS, listen and see does it hollow sound comes and goes. If it does it's not your tires or your rear end since your car is not moving. It has to be related to mounts or something like that. I hope this helps. Once I get my motor mount installed I will post the fix.

Brad

Problem solved!!

Reverbitation, hormonic sound. It turned out to be the rear transmission mount. I purchased the mount form discounttoyotaparts.com, for about $44.00. My partner put it on. It not only solved the hormonic vibrations but also greatly inproved the shifting of the transmission, everything feels realy solid not - no jerking around or weard feeling down shifts. In order to check the mount the transmission must be pushed up on with a lift of some sort. The bount is rubber, so if you see it seperating it needs to be replaced.

Brad

These guys - www.carstereohelp.com or Car Stereo Repair, in Florida. They can fix it - great outfit.

Thanks Partner, I'll give the a call

1996 LS400, My radio back lights have been out for a couple of years now there is nothing wrong with the display, it's the light won't come on --at night it's all black. I justed pulled the radio out of my car, took it apart, looked at all the boards for breaks in the solder and found none. I think it's time for the professionals! I'm in San Angelo, Texas. Does anyone know a good repair shop?

thanks,

Brad

I posted this on the other Lexus site and got some good replies, but wanted to try here as well for more info.... I was told it could be mounts, tires, tranny fluid, etc.

My friend is experiencing another potential "problem" with her LS400. Between about 35-55 mph, it has a rumbling type vibration that can be felt slightly through the steering wheel. Ive driven the car... its not bad, but where the car is otherwise so smooth, its bothersome. The sound is not loud, but it seems to "drum" in your ears. Also, not sure if its linked, but when the temps are cold out, and the engine is not fully warmed, when the car is in 4th gear and at a lower speed under light acceleration, there is a slight whistling/humming noise coming from the car. My old 90' LS400 had a similiar vibration and it turned out being the tires, so it may be the same case with this car. OR, I was thinking that vibration may be something like an engine or transmission mount? I am actually having the same problem on my car.... !!

Lastly, on acceleration from a stop, there is a slight hesitation just after the car starts out. It has a new air filter, so I do not think thats it... I am thinking maybe the throttle body needs to be cleaned?

Any advice appreciated!

I hope I provided enough info... if more details needed to help out, please let me know and I will relay more info if I can.

You have the same problem with my 96 LS400. I took it to my friends transmission shop and found the rear transmission mount is gone bad. The mount is on order so I can't say if this will solve the problem. But before you run out and buy new tires I noticed you mentioned reving the engine while the car is in parked, have you tried that yet? If not try it, leave the car in parked and run the RPMS up to about 2K to 2.5 RPMS, listen and see does it hollow sound comes and goes. If it does it's not your tires or your rear end since your car is not moving. It has to be related to mounts or something like that. I hope this helps. Once I get my motor mount installed I will post the fix.

Brad

It's me again. 1996 LS400. After further investiation this is what I see. I got with a friend of mine a my church which owns a transmission repair shop. We went for a ride and this is what we discovered.

The drooning nose with a little vibration is most noticable at 2K RPMs. This is with the car moving or not. With the car in park and running the engine up to 2K RPMs it is a fadding in and out drooning sound at about 2 second intervals. We seem to think it has something to do with some of the mounts ie.. motor, transmission, etc...

But I came up with another theory (THE EXHAUST). So I checked a moment ago and found a tread where someone mentioned the exhaust as a possibility. My Lexus sits a lot sometimes as I am ususally in my truck. About a week ago a nice gentlemen flagged me down while I was on the Highway and informed me that there is a lot of water coming out of my exhaust pipes. As I checked it was nothing to be allarmed about, just extra (clear clean water) built up in the exhaust system. I'v been driving it everyday for over a week now. I wonder if something rushed out inside the cataytic converter or muffler which is cauing a drooming hormonic/vibration.

Has anyone experieced this??????????????????

Thanks Brad

I'd like to start a discussion regarding the Lexus LS460 Navigation lock-out and what we, as a group, can do to persuade Lexus that we, the folks who both purchase and use these cars, should be the ones to determine when we use our navigation system and how.

Recently, on a trip in Florida, I needed to re-route around some traffic. I knew where I wanted to go (a POI I knew). My wife, in the passenger's seat, was perfectly able to use the navigation system, were it not for the fact that it was locked out while we were in motion. I had to pull into a parking lot to make the selection. The traffic was so bad that getting back in took over 10 minutes (Orlando, go figure). The navigation system that was supposed to save me time ended up being more hindrance than help.

This has become not only an annoyance, but a danger. Stopping on the highway, which is what some folks might do, or pulling off at an exit or on a side road just to choose another destination -- especially for the passenger to do the selection -- is both ludicrous and insulting.

I have more stories, but I'm sure you share most of them.

These features are "locked out" while the car is in motion, and I believe (as I think many of you may) that the use of these options should be our choice -- not the car maker's choice.

• Choosing a different destination (POI, Address, Phone, etc.)
  
• Choosing an album to play by selecting it directly, rather than having to page through them one-by-one
  
• Dialing a phone number when using the telephone
  
• Other features "locked out" during forward motion
  

What I want, and what I believe we all expect, is for Lexus to make these features available to us at no additional charge (haven't we already spent enough on our car purchase?) in the form of an updated software release for the car, a software "hack" or an after-market "modification" that is approved by Lexus. I don't want to tell them how to do it, I just want to persuade them to do it.

So, let's start the discussion. If you are willing to become part of the solution, please post.

I agree. It is wonderful to know that Lexus is concerned about our well being. But we are Adults and are capable of making adult/responsible decisions. Almost anything we utilize today comes with a precauction, even the toilet seat, razor blades, or sipping straws -- It is up to us to use everything responsibly.

open your roof, look along the front support bar area and you should see two black rubber bumper stops that it rests againsts. Those have compressed down too much over the years, and is causing the roof to rub on them. My 95 did the exact same thing when I bought it. I put two pieces of cloth based tape over them, and it never rattled again for 3 years and 50k miles. I my last world of being a movie crew member, the tape was referred to as "gaffer's tape", yellow, orange or black. I'm not sure if you can buy it anymore at the local hardware store, but it's worth a look, and a very cheap fix.

It's those two rubber bumper stops/mounts...... the frame is sliding back and forth ever-so-slightly against them, creating the squeak/rattle.

That's exactly where the sound is coming from. I looked through my junk drawer and found some peal and stick velcrow. I cut two small pieces of the cloth side and stuck them to the spot. I think that got it. Before I could just push up on the that corner of the roof and make it squeak, this time it didn't make a sound. YOU ARE THA MAN!!

THANKS,

BRAD

What year is your LS? I ask, because there has been a documented history of a "drooning noise" problem from the rear, the differential mounting area that reverbs along the back crossmember and from there throughout the car's underside, primarily directly under you, and a little towards the back. I believe they addressed this with the gen 2 models "95+". My 95 had a little noise, but was eliminated with new rear differential mounts, altough I believe the third mount, which is the bolt on the passenger side that attaches up into the floor of the car, has a rubber insulator ring as well. I never changed that one, but it was on my immediate list, if I had kept the car.

There is a TSB out there for the droaning noise, I might still have it at home. But before i go hunting around for it, what year is your LS?

It is Feb 1996

The actual sunroof or the cover?

I guessing your talking about the vinyl interor cover on the inside. I'm having a hard time firguring it out. I remember I had my wife press againt the forward right hand corner of the cover while I was driving and that did dampen it. If it is the cover what is the best way to fix it?

Brad

It is rpm speed related if shifting out of overdrive makes it worse. The rear end of the tranny is still spinning at the same speed so it has to be engine related. Start with engine mounts and idlers fan blades and harmonic dampener . Then make sure the engine is running right.

That makes plenty of sense. I was thinking it has to do with the engine or something in that area. I will have it checked out. Thanks partner.

On the passenger side front corner my sunroof creeks all the time now. Any flew of the car frame causes a creeking sound. I 've tried oil and tighening screws with absolutely no sucess.

Any Ideas will definately be appreciated.

Brad

This is wierd. When crusing at about 40MPH, trans in overdrive, there is a reveberating vibration and sound coming from (I don't know where). When I shift out of overdrive amd hold my speed at bout 40 it gets worst. Tires are pratically new, I just had them balanced. There is no pulling of the steering wheel. The vibration/harmonic and not coming through the steering wheel. I keep leaning towards something on the drive train or transmission. Maybe even an engine mount or something? :chairshot:

Can anyone help!!!

Thanks,

Brad

I have a 1996 LS400 The radio display on the radio is fine. But none of the buttons nor the display back lights will come on. It's not a problem during the day, but a night I can't see a thing.

Any Help will be appreciated,

Thanks,

Brad