Lexus LS 400 History and Cylinder Head Replacement

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Categories: Cylinder Head Tips

 

History of the Lexus LS 400

The Lexus LS 400 is a full size luxury sedan and serves as the flagship for the luxury line of vehicles for Toyota. This vehicle has a rich history and has seen years of growth from its initial release in the 1980s. The Lexus LS 400 started development in 1983 with a release in 1989 and cost $1 billion to create and market.

The vehicle was designed explicitly to be an export as Lexus’s other luxury lines didn’t have much international attention. It gained wide attention upon release and has currently five generations of vehicles. This line has been a trailblazer for luxury brands and the LS 400 was among the first luxury sedans to feature an automatic tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with SRS airbag, powered/adjustable shoulder seat belts, and an electro-chromic rear-view mirror.

The fourth generation as well even debuted the first production eight-speed automatic transmission and an automatic parking system. Initially, the Lexus LS 400 had a 4.0-liter 1UZ-FE 32-valve V8 engine, capable of 190 kilowatts (250 hp) and 353 newton-metres (260 ft⋅lbf) of torque. The horsepower on the engine was an impressive 290 hp @ 6000 rpm.

The Lexus LS 400 is a great example of the evolution of a luxury brand that has years upon years of market and technological research to make one of the best luxury vehicles that compete with other brands vying for the same attention.

 

 

LS 400 Awards and Recognition

The Lexus LS 400 earned several awards and recognitions over the years. Here are some of the notable awards it has received through the years:

  • Canadian Car of the Year, Wheels Car of the Year, and Top Gear Limousine of the Year (1991)
  • World Car of the Year, International Car of the Year (2007)
  • D. Power’s long-term Vehicle Dependability Study, the Lexus LS has been the most reliable car for fifteen consecutive years.
  • 2007 Innovation Prize for the LS 460 (safety innovation award for pre-collision alert system)

 

 

Common Lexus LS 400 Problems

You would be hard pressed to find a vehicle that has not had problems with it and the Lesus LS 400 is no exception. With years of it being on the road there are bound to be a few problems that have sprung up and it’s important to know what they are so that you can look out for them and catch them early before they get worse.

 

  1. Front Suspension

Many have reported that with age, the front suspension starts to make noises. This is most noticeable when coming to a quick stop and a replacement will fix the problem

  1. Transmission Code

If you experience choppy deceleration, have issues trying to engage overdrive, or notice a check engine light with diagnostic trouble code P0770, then you may have problems with the torque converter. It’s best to get a professional transmission diagnosis to see what your next steps could be.

  1. Rear Window Sunshade

A minor but potential annoying issue many have commented on is that the motor for the rear window sunshade in the Lexus LS400 is known to fail. This can be fixed with a replacement.

 

 

LS 400 High Mileage Stories

Many see high mileage as a sign that your car is ready to be replaced, but that is not always the case. Cars with high mileage can be just as good as a car with low as long as proper maintenance and component replacements are made. If you’re on top of your car with regular checkups and quickly tend to breaks and repairs, who knows how many miles you can get out of your vehicle. One owner of a Lexus LS 400 knows that very well and he has accrued over 1 million miles on his Lexus.

Matt Farah explains in this article how he did it and it cost him $17,000 in maintenance, plus $4,500 per year for the commercial insurance to reach that one million mark. Just like Matt, there are many others who share stories of high mileage Lexus LS 400s such as in this video where the owner has over 200,000 miles. You can find many forums as well where users boast about the numbers they reached while giving helpful tips and tricks to others looking to reach high mileages as well.

 

 

Lexus LS 400 Cylinder Heads

Cylinder heads are an essential component of any vehicle. Cylinder heads can help to extend the life of this sedan for years if it is taken proper care of. If a cylinder head gets cracked, it can result in coolant leaking into a combustion chamber and engine destruction calling for, sometimes, total engine replacement. Not caring for your vehicle’s cylinder head or ignoring problems that may happen can lead to even more issues so it is in your best interest to look out for signs so you can extend the life of your beloved Lexus LS 400.

 

Buy Replacement LS 400 Heads @ Clearwater Cylinder Heads

Clearwater Cylinder Heads understands what goes into replacing and renewing cylinder heads and will dedicate time and care to making sure you have a positive purchase experience.

If you notice anything wrong with your cylinder head or need a replacement, then Clearwater Cylinder Head is happy to help with our incredible product expertise and large cylinder head selection. With over 25 years of experience and a “laundry list” of cylinder head products, Clearwater Cylinder Heads is the best option for new and refurbished heads in North America. Feel free to contact Clearwater Cylinder Head Inc. toll-free at 1-800-572-1963.

 

TOYOTA LEXUS RX SOLARA HIGHLANDER 3MZFE 3.3 V6 DOHC CYLINDER HEAD 03-07 REBUILT

 

TOYOTA LEXUS RX SOLARA HIGHLANDER 3MZFE 3.3 V6 DOHC CYLINDER HEAD 03-07 NO CORE