Driving down the freeway the other night and the LS started acting up.

The symptoms seem to be that when power is required of the engine at low RPM's (i.e. light to moderate acceleration, hills, etc.) there is shuddering and low power output. As soon as the engine shifts to a lower gear the problem dissapears. It also tends to shudder lightly when in Drive at a standstill. Placing the Shifter in N or P solves this problem. Attempting to apply power with the brakes engaged produces the same shudder in the engine.

This problem sounds familiar though like others have had this problem. The only blessing is that I have a hard Check Engine light that won't go away so I will take it to the stealership when I get back from my trip out east and have them fix it (hopefully).

Just thought I would post this little problem and keep ya'll posted as to what fixes the discrepancy for future reference.

Driving down the freeway the other night and the LS started acting up.

The symptoms seem to be that when power is required of the engine at low RPM's (i.e. light to moderate acceleration, hills, etc.) there is shuddering and low power output. As soon as the engine shifts to a lower gear the problem dissapears. It also tends to shudder lightly when in Drive at a standstill. Placing the Shifter in N or P solves this problem. Attempting to apply power with the brakes engaged produces the same shudder in the engine.

This problem sounds familiar though like others have had this problem. The only blessing is that I have a hard Check Engine light that won't go away so I will take it to the stealership when I get back from my trip out east and have them fix it (hopefully).

Just thought I would post this little problem and keep ya'll posted as to what fixes the discrepancy for future reference.


stop by an autozone and ask them to read your pcm. They can pull the code and we can chew on it a little before you go in to the stealership.

So I finally got back from NJ and took the LS to the shop. On the way the engine was violently shaking which pretty obviously tells me that a cylinder or two ain't firin'

Well, here's the fix. Turns out my head gasket blew out and oil began to foul the spark plugs. Sound pretty simple to me but apparently pulling the head, replacing the gasket and plugs is a $1000 job. Thank god for warranties.

The one thing that pisses me off is that the dealership always assumes that you have abosolutely zero knowledge about cars. I went in and told him that my car was pretty much undrivable and I was having what seemed like muliple misfires with a acrid smell coming from the exaust (not to mention terrible gas mileage). So he tells me that the engines computer will compensate for any problems and I can continue to drive the car until later in the week when he has an opening... "Yeah, but the computer can't do S*&T when theres no spark A$$HOLE."

Other than that jerk they did a good job. Plus I got to drive a '04 Town car for a couple of days. Nice car...but I'm glad to be back in my LS :steering

was it the valve cover gasket? glad you have you car back at any rate. many of us have been there and can appreciate the feeling of getting back in to your car and riding down the road with the big cheesy LS grin.

was it the valve cover gasket? glad you have you car back at any rate. many of us have been there and can appreciate the feeling of getting back in to your car and riding down the road with the big cheesy LS grin.

Yeah, I'm a dork...I wrote head gasket.

After driving on that pillow of air that the TC gives you it feels like I have no suspension on the LS... But then again can a TC take a 40 mph turn at double the speed... I think not. :L

I guess it was under warranty. Yeah the TC can put yu to sleep. I just wanted to make sure they did the work they said they did is why I asked if it was th VC gskt

Glad you got it fixed.

We need to take a poll to see how many people have NOT had to do this job.

Glad you got it fixed.

We need to take a poll to see how many people have NOT had to do this job.


I am affraid everyone has.

I am affraid everyone has.
And those of us who haven't don't want to jinks ourselves. :N

And those of us who haven't don't want to jinks ourselves. :N
knock on wood.

And those of us who haven't don't want to jinks ourselves. :N

Oh...good point.