Need advice on a maintenance schedule on my 1995 LS400

"TeenageCarNut" (1995lexusls400) 07/26/2015 at 16:55 • Filed to: None

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If you have not read about my LS400, please do so !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

I’m aware that there is already a predesignated maintenance schedule for the my car, but I am rather obsessive about having everything working properly. With that being said, here is my situation.

I bought the car about a week ago, and it came with 82,000 miles on the clock. The car was recently serviced at a Lexus dealer, but acceleration doesn’t feel quite as fast as I expected it to be, and the pedal travel is rather long.

It’s next scheduled service is October 23rd, but I feel very uncomfortable waiting so long to get it serviced. What are some things I can do in the mean time? Better yet, what is a good maintenance schedule for this car?

Thanks- Andrew

sony1492 > TeenageCarNut 07/26/2015 at 17:07

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I know that in a sc400 w/ the same trans and motor only puts 180 of that 260 horsepower to the ground, on top of the power being overrated from the factory.(made about 230hp new)

HammerheadFistpunch > TeenageCarNut 07/26/2015 at 17:08

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I wouldn’t sweat it personally. These aren’t fast cars, even a little, and the pedal travel is long intentionally. Im not saying its 100% how its supposed to be, but I wouldn’t doubt it. As for service, there isn’t anything other than fluids really up to 100k, especially if its just been serviced.

DogonCrook > TeenageCarNut 07/26/2015 at 17:20

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I’d do the brakes, it’s your first car have somebody help you and join a forum for your car, but it’s something you’ll want to know how to do if you do your own maintenance. Little things like that can make a huge difference in how the car feels to you and even how you drive it, sometimes more so than mods that actually do change it’s performance. If it bugs you, it will do so every time you use it and will effect how you feel about the car in my experience.

blacktruck18 > TeenageCarNut 07/26/2015 at 17:22

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Just go by the owners manual, when you go to the dealer for service they will try to add on extra stuff. It’s so they can make extra money. Do what the manual says and don’t worry about what they say. All of that being said, I have heard many good things about Lexus dealerships, you might not have to worry about them trying to screw you too much.

As for the accelerator, I can’t help you there. I don’t know much about Lexi

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > TeenageCarNut 07/26/2015 at 17:37

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Pedal travel on that car is going to be long to make it feel smooth...if you had a shorter throw, you might get jerky acceleration until you get used to driving it. Lexus would have wanted to maximize the smooth feel of a test drive for a first time owner, so there you go. And I wouldn’t expect it to feel particularly quick...that’s a big car, and while it was quick in it’s class at the time, a modern V6 Camry would have it’s way with it.

That said, you’ve bought an absolute gem of a car. I was a big fan of those when I worked at Lexus, we always saw them come in with 200-300k miles and the interiors still looked great. Nice purchase.

Noah - Now with more boost. > TeenageCarNut 07/26/2015 at 17:47

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DUDE. I am in the market for exactly this. 95-97 because power bump, weight loss, airbags, and the good lights. If you don’t mind me asking, how much did you pay for it? I wonder if I should give up on craigslist and start hounding Lexus dealers

Noah - Now with more boost. > TeenageCarNut 07/26/2015 at 17:49

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Aaah looks like you have the same exact budget I do. So, how did you wrangle a sub hundred thousand mile LS400 out of a Dealer’s hands for that much? Teach me your ways lol.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > TeenageCarNut 07/26/2015 at 18:15

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I say go by how you feel. I do my oil ever 3-ish months or 3500-ish miles. my car’s supposed to go some 10K between changes. start a pattern and keep it

Your boy, BJR > TeenageCarNut 07/26/2015 at 18:56

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I’m gonna go ahead and give you the “seriously dude, chill out” advice. It was recently serviced and is a Lexus with under 100k miles on it. hell, I can think of NEW cars that I'd trust less than that. Just enjoy your car for the summer and don't worry until it's time to worry.

JGrabowMSt > TeenageCarNut 07/26/2015 at 18:56

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Oil change: 8000 miles

Trans fluid: Once every 3 years

Rear Diff: Once every 3 years

Brake Fluid: every other year

Air filters: As necessary (cabin and engine intake). Don’t forget to check and keep an eye on the PCV system, if it has a filter of any kind, or if it’s just a spring type valve. PCV valves can go bad and be very hard to identify if you’ve never had experience with it, I suggest putting it high up on your list of things to do sooner rather than later.

Spark Plugs: 50k or 5 years, whichever comes first

Tires: As necessary

Also, given the age, I would consider having the airbags looked at as far as age. I never thought I would add this to my own to-do list, but back in December I had an accident where the airbags deployed. The car was 9 years old and everything was fine, but lets be honest, the moment you find out if they do indeed work is when you need them. 90% of people have never even thought of having them looked at, but it’s certainly a Lexus dealer thing to be able to check the sensors. It may cost you a couple hundred, they may do it for free, but either way, it’s cheaper than an ambulance ride, hospital trip or worse.

Everything else lets you just be prepared for the inevitable borked part. I follow this general schedule for my cars, and it hasn’t let me down. Things break, but if you keep up on the important stuff, nothing should be catastrophic.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > HammerheadFistpunch 07/26/2015 at 19:42

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It was decently fast (150mph), it just wasn’t quick.

TylerLinner > TeenageCarNut 07/30/2015 at 15:58

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Buy yourself an original factory service manual, and it will tell you all the intervals, and how to do all the maintenance.