amcdonal86

I thought I'd follow up on this. It turns out it had something to do with the HVAC system, although I'm still not sure what. Perhaps a piece of detritus was lodged somewhere down the line. I was driving 200 miles on the highway one day, and I realized that my HVAC wasn't blowing very hard at all. Even adjusting the temperature did nothing. Finally, I resorted to turning the fan on the highest setting. Still very little airflow. Then I began to cycle between different modes (face, legs, etc.) at high speed. Gradually the airflow was restored to its normal level. Upon exiting the highway later, I realized that the humming sound was inexplicably gone! However, this would make sense, as the noise happened above a fixed speed threshold. Does anyone else have some theories as to what happened? I'm thinking this would've made a great "stump the chump" moment for Car Talk.

I'm not sure if the TRAC system behaves really differently in your first-gen model than in my second-gen, but the TRAC system in my car is really useful. Testing it out in an empty parking lot, which TRAC on in the rain, it intervenes before the tail really starts to hang out (although it is still possible to spin out, but only if you do it intentionally). Without the TRAC, it's not that hard to spin out. My tests were all at around 20mph. And yes, it is very ironic coming from you!

Glad I wasn't the only one who was thinking of "My Cousin Vinny"!!! Actually, the traction control in my '97 appears to also modulate the rear brakes individually. Then again, it appears that the second-gen LS had 4 channel ABS, and the first gen only had 3 channel, which probably prohibited using the brakes with the TCS.

Christ on a crutch!!!! How did you put that many miles on it in 3 years?!

Looks good!

Welcome to LOC! Before this post, I was worried you were deluded into thinking that the LS400 is some sort of race car!

The Lexus LS400s have open differentials with electronic traction control, not limited slip differentials. Both wheels do not necessarily spin equally.

Of course it's not accurate. I never said it's not a true luxury car. I said it's not a proper luxury car, and I'm willing to stand by that.I did say that I don't think it's a serious competitor, but that is for other reasons (brand recognition is one of those things...). We're all entitled to our own opinions, you know.

I don't know why you keep harping on the Rolls' lack of technology. And why would you expect a Rolls to be inspiring to drive? If the (essentially) FWD Acura RL was the best driving luxury sedan on the market today, I still wouldn't consider it a proper luxury sedan. Why should the A8 be any different? We will just have to agree to disagree. I'm more of a purist when it comes to defining cars.

Very good advice!

Welcome. Looks like you got a clean looking LS400. Enjoy it! Fix all those issues, too!

Jeez, Rolls Royce has not, until recently under BMW, been known to approach the epitome of technology. There is a big difference between workmanship and technology. OK, Alan, let me get this straight. You would have me tell my 84 year old neighbor two doors down that "his" black 2006 Mercedes S500 4Matic sedan is not "a proper luxury sedan" while his wife's gold Mercedes S500 rear wheel drive sedan is "a proper luxury sedan"? I suspect he would take exception to that. :o You're just glossing over the word "proper" as if it doesn't exist. I am not saying that AWD luxury sedans are not luxurious sedans. I am saying that they are not necessarily proper luxury cars. (By the way, what on earth does technology and workmanship have to do with being a "proper" anything?) Browsing through some definitions of proper, some that pop out at me are: "Called for by rules or conventions" "Strictly following rules or conventions" For many decades, the convention has been that luxury cars have a FR layout, so strictly speaking, to me, a PROPER luxury car is just that. And what better example of a proper luxury sedan than the quintessential luxury car, the Rolls Royce Phantom? In the same light, I do not consider the Nissan 370Z a proper sports car. It may be a great performance car, but it is not truly lightweight or toss-able enough to be considered a proper sports car. However, something like a Honda S2000 would, in my mind. Buy whatever you want, I will take my luxury sedan in RWD form! I get annoyed that the Audi A8 is not available in RWD. (Nor is any Audi for that matter.) When I drive my LS, even though it is Japanese, I feel a real connection to the glorious luxury sedans of Rolls Royce, Mercedes and other European brands that established the segment long ago. I think the connection would lose some of its appeal if my LS were FWD or even AWD.

It sounds like the noise is coming from inside the car. Perhaps your steering column needs lube or something? Have you tried taping the sound from outside the car?

.....

I believe the AWD model would be less of a proper sedan, but it is still a RWD based platform. I also don't consider the Acura RL a proper luxury sedan because it is heavily FWD based (and for many years was available only with FWD). Is a Rolls Royce AWD? :)

What color is your car?

A proper luxury car is RWD, IMO! Just like (in general) a proper sports car has 2 seats, no roof, a stick, and is RWD. It irks me that if you don't opt for the quattro option on the A4 and A5 (maybe A6?), the standard option is FWD! I'm not saying that the A8 isn't beautiful, but it's bland. Just looks like a big Passat or something. And I don't think the interiors are that great. Look at the surround around the shift gates. That's the same one that is on my friend's '99 Jetta!!!! I also don't think Audi has the same sort of brand recognition as Mercedes or BMW.

The LS does not satisfy every itch for me, but it is a damn good car. I could see buying another one in the future, but it will probably not be my next car. Regarding the Audi A8, I do not believe they are a serious competitor in the flagship luxury car market. It looks incredibly bland, and, by the way, it's not a proper luxury sedan! (Proper luxury sedans are V8 with RWD!)

I would like to find older ones, but none of them are on youtube!!!!

Make sure you are in park and that you are NOT pressing the brake. I thought my memory seats were broken until someone told me you can't have your foot on the brake! Mirror memory will still work with your foot on the pedal, though.

I was doing that. It was up to about 2500 rpms. Sounded higher because the cars against that wall. You never race the engine past 2500 rpm? You sound like billydpowell!!!! :D

Not sure. For me, it seemed that since the problem only occurred when the car was fully warmed up that it had to have something to do with the fluid.

Well, I gave up on trying to get that solenoid nut off, but I continued to do the power steering fluid flush. Made a HUGE mess. The popping sound is gone!

There is the link for everyone else. Did you ever figure out what the problem was?

Well, I started half of a power steering fluid flush before it got dark outside. This job is a pain in the !Removed!. By the way, how the hell did you guys get that solenoid nut off? I've pounded it pretty hard for a while, and it's getting kind of messed up.