Hello, just got a 1996 LS400 last saturday and now stumbled upon this web site. the car was dealer maintained since its birth. it has 75k miles on it so far.

I was wondering if anyone out there can point me to things I should be aware of on this car? (high % of failure items, items that may go wrong, etc) I would like to watch them and be ready if/when they happen.

btw, I am really enjoying this car!

Thank you in advance!

 

Welcome to the club and congrats on a fine purchase.

I can't help much with the other stuff since I am fairly new as well.

 

Welcome to the club, I been lurking around here for a few years, and just got my 98LS on Monday, love everything about it. Good luck, and enjoy.

 

Congrats on your new purchase. My first Lexus is a pre-owned 93 LS4. I traded it around 95K miles and not a single problem.

 

well since yours is close in year to mine ('97), I'll offer 2 issues that I've dealt with that seem to be fairly common complaints here.
1- hood shocks go soft. You have a choice. Either go to the dealer and pay an exhorbitant price or replace them with aftermarket hood shocks at a very small price. You will need to cut the 4 end bolts off your original soft shocks and replace them onto the car. The aftermarket shocks then just pop onto your original bolt ends. There is a picture tutorial on this website and from someone not particularly mechanically inclined, it is a very easy job.

2-front (and rear) suspension squeaking. Usually rubber bushings wearing out and becoming glazed.
Doing a search on the website will give you numerous threads that refer you to aftermarket suppliers that will offer you better bushings. Cheapest deal is front sway bar bushing replacement even from the dealer.
Or you might get lucky by isolating which bushing is making the noise and lubricating it thoroughly with something like WD-40.

Whatever you find on your car that doesn't appear to be working properly, do a search on this website first because for sure, someone here has already addressed the issue, and it will save you time and money to learn from other's solutions.

Congrats on your purchase, too.

 

grizzly660, I have a 96LS also you can do a search in the galleries under my screen name ,I have a lot things out there..........................By the way the 96LS does not have many things go wrong with it.........PM me if you have any problems .....................................Good Luck.................MIKE

 

Thank you all for the replies. I appreciate the help and advice!