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JeffreyV

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Everything posted by JeffreyV

  1. I think it could be your throttle position sensor. It's under the hood, attached to the throttle body. You can get one on-line for about $75. If you research lexls tutorials, there are photos and info on how to replace. It's pretty easy. http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/
  2. After new spark plug wires, distributer caps and new throttle position sensor, my engine missing/chugging at 45-50 mph disappeared for 2 months. It has come back (but not nearly as bad) with the cold weather (40 degrees in the morning). I'm thinking it could be the thermistor which monitors the coolant temperature and once warm enough allows the transmission to shift into overdrive or the converter to go into lock-up. I think I'll let the car idle for 15 minutes before I drive and see if it still misses/chugs. Maybe the throttle position sensor setting has changed and needs to be reset. At any rate, my normal car mechanic is good and won't work on a Lexus. He says you fix one thing and something else breaks. I think this is the last Lexus I'll own. I like the car, but it's aggravating.
  3. Most mechanics would say it's long overdue. But, my LS400 is a 1992 and no problems with any hoses. I'd leave them alone.
  4. Let us know what the bill was too!
  5. I have the same problem with my 1991 LS 178,000 miles. Its intermintent and only does it when its real Hot out (90degrees) and the car is fully warmed up. I also just replaced the transmission fluid and the transmission filter. However, I used Dextron III fluid( the valvoline website says the dextron III is fine for this car, but not totally sure). What I think is happening is the transmission is shifting from first gear directly into 4th gear instead of going to second and third.. I am assuming the computer must be gettting bad signals from some sensor to cause this to happen, or a problem with the valve body. I need help on this issue also, I dont want to pay the Dealer more than the car is worth to get it fixed. Before you do anything else, be sure to check the wiring harness inside the trunk. It's in the channel on the hinge on the driver's side. Apparently it can short out and cause all kinds of seemingly unexplained problems. Search for "wiring harness."
  6. I'm having problems with my 1992 LS400 torque converter lock-up. It can't make up it's mind to engage or not. Pleaes let me know if you resolved your problem and if it was the transmission's temperature sensor. I know that they keep the transmission from locking until the car is a operating temp. I was considering trying to disconnect the torque converter - but, maybe it's just a temperature sensor! Write me here and/or at byerjv@yahoo.com THANKS!
  7. YES, IT STOPS CHUGGING/JERKING IF I PUT THE BREAK ON AND MAINTAIN 45 MPH USING THE GAS PEDAL. IF I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK IT STARTS CHUGGING AGAIN. THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO... DISCONNECT THE LOCK UP FEATURE OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER. I'M THINKING I'LL ASK MY MECHANIC. HAVE YOU TRIED DISCONNECTING IT YET?
  8. I'm still having problems with the car "jerking" when the lock-up feature of the torque converter tries to engage at about 45mph. It comes and goes. Last week the car was fine, but it's been chugging again for four days now!!! I'm considering just disconnecting the electronic lock-up feature. Does anyone know exactly where it's located on a 1992 LS400? Is it attached outside the transmission? Is it easily disconnected? Thank you!
  9. Tony, It sounds like the motor and transmission mounts are the problem to me. After they are replaced the problem you are describing will likely go away. Transmission failures in LS400s are rare. The only failure I have ever heard of was a transmission with over 600,000 miles! For that reason, used LS transmissions are very inexpensive. There is one on my local Craig's List for $100! I don't think you will have to worry about that though. Wasn't there a defect with the ECUs on 2nd-generation LS400s that caused a problem like this? I have seen it discussed on this forum before. Try searching for "ECU" and maybe you will come across the same thread I have seen. ________________________________________________________________________________ ___________ I found this explanation on the internet.... 1991 Lexus LS400 review from North America "The essence of quality" What things have gone wrong with the car? At 485,000 miles this Lexus has been tested. Problems over the 11 years of ownership: 1. Power steering pump leaking badly at 95,000 miles. 2. A 'faint' engine 'miss' between 40 to 45 mph at time of purchase. The torque converter was replaced years later and the problem disappeared. Endless tune up parts were replaced to remedy this problem earlier, but nothing helped until the torque converter was replaced. ................................................................................ .............................................................
  10. The entire surface was coated with black deposits. I used a toothbrush and throttle body cleaner.
  11. I wanted to pass along a little info... My check engine light was on and would go off after I drove about 20 minutes. It would stay off, but come back on after about two or three of those short 2 or 3 mile errand runs. I had my mechanic check and he said it was showing lean mixture on the left bank, but he said that he could find nothing wrong. I lived with the light coming on and going off for almost a year. Then I decided to clean the throttle body... that was four weeks ago. The check engine light has not been on since. :)
  12. You adjusted the throttle position sensor, but did you clean the throttle body??? After 50,000 to 60,00 miles, they can get very dirty. Normally the gas peddle will start sticking, which indicates it needs to be cleaned. A clean throttle body will help air flow smoother and make your car run better.
  13. I don't want to break the covers so how do I pop them off? A friend told me to put some WD-40 into the switch and then blow air into the switch. Do these switches rust very easly? I have had several people say that they should dry out eventually then they will work OK again. Just use a flat blade screwdriver... Insert it under the black plastic, and pry it off... don't pry on that wood insert piece. The entire piece should come out easily. I had mine out a few months ago to clean the contacts on the passenger side.
  14. Instead of disconnecting the hose, plugging the return, fighting to get the hose back on and making a mess, etc. It's much easier this way.... turn the car on and let it run at idle speed. Remove the power steering cap. Use a wet-vac with a smaller hose taped to it so it fits into the reservoir. As the car is running and pumping the fluid, suck some out, down to the screen near the bottom of the reservoir, then refill... keep doing it until you are happy with the color of the fluid being sucked out. (Use a clear piece of hose so you can see the color of the fluid). An added benefit is that the wet vac sucks out the crud that has accumulated on the filter/screen near the bottom of the reservoir. byerjv@yahoo.com
  15. rtd; Alternator dead. Replace alternator with new/rebuild. Clean the power steering rack solenoid filter (about every 30K miles). Flush & replace power steering fluid. Is the power steering filter easy to get to? Where exactly is the filter? I've always checked the fluid but never knew there was a filter. Thank you! byerjv@yahoo.com
  16. Did you ever get the 92 LS400? I got mine from Miller Motor Car in Florida one year ago. It had 58,000 miles on it. $6,500.
  17. This is fantastic news! I hope the problem doesn't come back. Please keep us posted if it does! Another 30 miles today on a smooth, level road running at 55 to 60mph... no jerking. It used to start jerking at 45mph... I think it was the lock-up feature trying to engage. Now at 45 I can't feel anything, but can watch the rpm drop. I attribute it to cleaning the throttle body. WELL, I SPOKE TOO SOON. THE COLD WEATHER RETURNED AND THE CAR IS JERKING AGAIN AT AROUND 40 - 55 MPH. I READ THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND FINALLY AFTER A FEW YEARS OF REPLACING NUMEROUS ENGINE TUNE UP PARTS TO NO AVAIL, INSTALLED A NEW TORQUE CONVERTED AND IT SOLVED THE JERKING PROBLEM. I THINK I'LL HAVE TO DO THE SAME. byerjv@yahoo.com
  18. I believe that BP gas contains no ethanol. My 92LS400 gets about 21 MPG going back and forth to work in good weather. It's an 8 mile trip with just a few lights and stop signs. I think it has probably decreased to below 20 lately because of winter, warming it up, etc. It gets 26 MPG on the highway at 65 mph. But, my driving here in SC is all on level ground and it's normally warm. Although... then the A/C gets used every day in the summer.
  19. It kinda sounds like the engine backfires right before it starts. You might just have to let it go until it gets worse. Have you had a recent tune up and throttle body cleaned? Might not hurt to try some injector cleaner and some dry gas in the tank. She had her plugs/wires done about 30,000 miles ago by her previous owner. Timing belt/water pump was done about 17,000 miles ago. Throttle body I'm not sure has ever been done. Is there a particula injector cleaner any of you guys have used that you could recommend? Or could I just pick either one? I'm not sure what you mean by "dry gas in the tank." I assume you mean put the injector cleaner in the tank when it's empty before I fill up gas? Thanks for the info Ray If you're not sure if it's ever been done - remove the air ducting and clean the throttle body (on the inside). You should use a spray can of throttle body cleaner from your parts store... with a small red plastic tube connected to the spray nozzle. I found exactly how to do it (with photos) at www.mobiloil.com. Search for (Cleaning Engine Throttle Bodies). Dry gas is something that will mix with any water that might be in your fuel tank so that it will burn with your fuel rather than make your engine run rough or freeze in the gas line. Some brands of fuel injector cleaner also take care of water in the gas tank. My mechanic recommends Sea Foam. Available at Wal-Mart.
  20. It kinda sounds like the engine backfires right before it starts. You might just have to let it go until it gets worse. Have you had a recent tune up and throttle body cleaned? Might not hurt to try some injector cleaner and some dry gas in the tank. She had her plugs/wires done about 30,000 miles ago by her previous owner. Timing belt/water pump was done about 17,000 miles ago. Throttle body I'm not sure has ever been done. Is there a particula injector cleaner any of you guys have used that you could recommend? Or could I just pick either one? I'm not sure what you mean by "dry gas in the tank." I assume you mean put the injector cleaner in the tank when it's empty before I fill up gas? Thanks for the info Ray If you're not sure if it's ever been done - remove the air ducting and clean the throttle body (on the inside). You should use a spray can of throttle body cleaner from your parts store... with a small red plastic tube connected to the spray nozzle. I found exactly how to do it (with photos) at www.mobiloil.com. Search for (Cleaning Engine Throttle Bodies). Dry gas is something that will mix with any water that might be in your fuel tank so that it will burn with your fuel rather than make your engine run rough or freeze in the gas line. Some brands of fuel injector cleaner also take care of water in the gas tank. My mechanic recommends Sea Foam. Available at Wal-Mart.
  21. I used a wire to check for engine and transmission codes after work today. All I saw was rapidly and consistently flashing Check Engine and O/D Lights. OK - no problems stored in the computer. So, I decided to clean the throttle body. I sprayed it until it was spotless then oiled the shafts of the throttle blade inside the throttle body. A 20 mile drive and no jerking whatsoever. I think it might be too good to be true. But I came across a 19 page explanation of the TOYOTA ELECTRONIC CONTROL TRANSMISSION today. Wow, it explains everything about shifting, lock-up, etc. It also said "says “The throttle position sensor (connected to the throttle body) gives the Electronic Control Unit an indication of engine load to control shifting and lock-up timing.” Hmmmmm??? It says that Toyota's lock-up works in all gears except first... If the shifter is in "D" position. It also talkes about the water temp sensor which prevents shifting into O/D or lock-up until the coolant reaches a predetermined temp. If anyone wants a copy, I'll scan it. email me at byerjv@yahoo.com.
  22. I've had a couple cars that pulled to one side. It was due to a tire separating on the inside. Some people call it radial pull. I had a Camry recently aligned, and tires were rotated front to rear. The car pulled to the right REAL bad after that. Then they cross-rotated the tires which solved the problem.
  23. It kinda sounds like the engine backfires right before it starts. You might just have to let it go until it gets worse. Have you had a recent tune up and throttle body cleaned? Might not hurt to try some injector cleaner and some dry gas in the tank.
  24. It never jerks when I shift into drive or reverse. It only jerks when trying to maintain a steady speed on level ground in both 3rd gear and in overdrive (most noticeable at 45 to 55 when in overdrive).... never in 2nd. It's a continual jerking every 1/2 a second or so. It feels like the engine is stumbling, but I'm almost sure now that it's the transmission. I'll take a look at the codes.
  25. This is a long thread. Speed sensor maybe. To me sounds more like "Off-Throttle-Shock". NC described it as "It's reverse torque through the driveshaft". Lexus has a TSB for it. Looks not a cheap fix, but apparently works: I had seen that thread, but mine is a 1992. Also, someone said that if you take your foot off the gas with "Off-Throttle-Shock" then it would jerk... Here's part of the thread.... "Doug, crucial question: Is it doing it when you take your foot off the gas, like it's jerking a bit? Say you're just cruising at that 45-50mph window, nothing aggressive, then you take your foot of the gas to coast....is it jerking then?................ Response: It is just jerking when I let off of the throttle just a bit. If I am accelerating, even very slowly, there is nothing but smoothness……...it's you engine computer...you have what is known as "Off-Throttle-Shock", which is part of the largest technical Sevice bulletin ever issued on the car. I had this too on my 95." So, I'm thinking it's the lock-up on the torque converter. I think it's probably meant to lock-up in both 3rd gear and in overdrive. That's when it jerks. I haven't been able to make it jerk if I drive with the shifter in 2nd gear and keep it around 1500 to 2000rmp, just like when driving about 50 mph in overdrive. I'm going to see if it can be disconnected. Does anyone know if the lock-up feature can be unplugged/disconnected on a 1992 LS400? Temporarily - as a test. Thank you!
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