1993 Ls400 Engine Quits When Put In Gear

MARKMADDEN · June 25, 2009

I HAVE A 1993 LS400 WITH 92,00 MILES THAT IS A GEM, I RECENTLY RODE DOWN THE STREET AND THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING RUFF, I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION STOPPED FOR A MOMENT THEN RESTARTED AND IT RUNS GREAT BUT WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR IT DIES. LOCAL ADVANCED TRANSMISSION SHOP CLAIMED IT WAS BAD TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER THAT WAS CAUSING IT, THEY HAVE REBUILT THE CONVERTER, TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED SOME EXPENSIVE SELINOIDS AND TO NO AVAIL IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING, CAN ANY ONE HELP WITH SUGGESTIONS WE ARE LOST IN NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS AT THE MERCY OF NEW FREINDS RECOMENDATIONS.

MiLexus · July 10, 2009

Hi man! Sounds like serious trouble. Did solve it yet?

Check the cable that is gooing to the gearbox from your throtle valve. There where the throthle padle cable is comming out on top of your engine you wil probably find 3 cables. One from the foot pedal. One from the cruise control and one going to the gearbox. The gearbox one is also going the same direction as the pedal cable. The plastic black isolation of this cable can come loose out of his metal socket where the cable is adjusted. Metal little pins that are integrated in the plastic cable isolation can hang on the mount and cause the cable inside to be tensioned when the gas pedal is not down and the throtle valve is closed. The gearbox then thinks the engine is revving up and he want to transmit the power. Because the engine is not revved up and idling it will directly shut down your engine. So pull the extra isolation rubber from the gearbox cable on top of your engine. Check if the black isolation underneeth is on its place. If not put it back right in the hole. Do not forget to greese the cable as this was partly the cause of the problem. When the cable is too dry or dirty it pushes the isolation out of the socked when letting go the throtle pedal.

Try this. It might work and be this simple. I have had this problem. Maybe you have the same. Then ask back your money and show them what it was. call them names and drive the LS for 1000000 more miles.

Cheers!

ROYT · July 11, 2009

Also check the inhibitor switch, that stops you starting the car in 'drive'.

Manc · July 11, 2009

Aren't some garages cheeky - if they dont know they should tell you or just shut up and do some investigating (at their own cost for their own experience) and how could they give it you back knowing its still the same, hand you the keys in one hand and take your cash with the other - all with the huge smile on his face, which we now know is not a courtesy smile - its a big fat cheeky grin of thanks and see you

I took my Ls to Lexus as i was passing to investigate where my p/s leak was from............an hour later they told me it was the gearbox that was leaking.

I took it home gutted it was going to cost me a fortune, then promptly found it was just an old clip that had no bite any more so i replaced it with a £1.50 jubilee clip and hey presto it fixed the leak. No gearbox oil leaking on my car i had a look while i was under.

I believe its possibly fraudulent, a way of obtaining money by deciept, mis-selling etc

or just thick mechanics (sorry, technicians) who dont know if the computer doesnt.

MiLexus · July 12, 2009

Aren't some garages cheeky - if they dont know they should tell you or just shut up and do some investigating (at their own cost for their own experience) and how could they give it you back knowing its still the same, hand you the keys in one hand and take your cash with the other - all with the huge smile on his face, which we now know is not a courtesy smile - its a big fat cheeky grin of thanks and see you
I took my Ls to Lexus as i was passing to investigate where my p/s leak was from............an hour later they told me it was the gearbox that was leaking.

I took it home gutted it was going to cost me a fortune, then promptly found it was just an old clip that had no bite any more so i replaced it with a £1.50 jubilee clip and hey presto it fixed the leak. No gearbox oil leaking on my car i had a look while i was under.

I believe its possibly fraudulent, a way of obtaining money by deciept, mis-selling etc

or just thick mechanics (sorry, technicians) who dont know if the computer doesnt.

True. Garages are f***ers. They charge €300 for just one tranny at the lexus dealer here in Holland. I found them on the internet for $23 each!!! So first they ask silly prices and then they charge labour and at the end you sometimes are stuck with the same problems but then $1000 less in your pocket.That's why I prefer to do everything my self. All my cars never see a garage. only for MOT. I also have a TVR. Never took that to a garage too. Its probably the only reliable TVR in Holland becourse of that ;-)

But Hey! This topic was started to help the pour guy with is transmission problems. So anyone have simmilar experience as the topic starter and a good solution for him??

I really like to hear if this was the thing or not.

Cheers!

steve2006 · July 12, 2009

I HAVE A 1993 LS400 WITH 92,00 MILES THAT IS A GEM, I RECENTLY RODE DOWN THE STREET AND THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING RUFF, I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION STOPPED FOR A MOMENT THEN RESTARTED AND IT RUNS GREAT BUT WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR IT DIES. LOCAL ADVANCED TRANSMISSION SHOP CLAIMED IT WAS BAD TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER THAT WAS CAUSING IT, THEY HAVE REBUILT THE CONVERTER, TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED SOME EXPENSIVE SELINOIDS AND TO NO AVAIL IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING, CAN ANY ONE HELP WITH SUGGESTIONS WE ARE LOST IN NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS AT THE MERCY OF NEW FREINDS RECOMENDATIONS.

Crazy as it may seem have you checked the main culprit for strange happenings on the early LS i.e the trunk hinge wiring loom?

MARKMADDEN · July 14, 2009

I HAVE A 1993 LS400 WITH 92,00 MILES THAT IS A GEM, I RECENTLY RODE DOWN THE STREET AND THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING RUFF, I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION STOPPED FOR A MOMENT THEN RESTARTED AND IT RUNS GREAT BUT WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR IT DIES. LOCAL ADVANCED TRANSMISSION SHOP CLAIMED IT WAS BAD TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER THAT WAS CAUSING IT, THEY HAVE REBUILT THE CONVERTER, TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED SOME EXPENSIVE SELINOIDS AND TO NO AVAIL IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING, CAN ANY ONE HELP WITH SUGGESTIONS WE ARE LOST IN NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS AT THE MERCY OF NEW FREINDS RECOMENDATIONS.

Crazy as it may seem have you checked the main culprit for strange happenings on the early LS i.e the trunk hinge wiring loom?

THE MECHANIC HAS SENT THE MOTOR COMPUTER TO BE CHECKED AND THE COMPUTER TECH SAYS IT HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PART THAT CONTROLS THE MOTOR WHEN PUT IN GEAR AND THEY ARE FIXING THE COMPUTER, THIS IS WHAT MY MECHANIC IN FLORIDA SAID THEY SHOULD HAVE CHECKED FIRST, THEY SHOULD GET IT BACK TOMORROW AND WE WILL TEST IT.