After 9 years, I think I'm done with this car

[Gus_Mahn]

My '03 LS8 is shifting funny again. The damn COP's have ruined the PCM for a second time. The PCM is $700 and is on backorder. Add the flash and new COP's and it'll be a $1500 repair on a $3000 car. With 210,000 miles on the car, it's no longer a car I trust on longer road trips. It's time to replace the car, and I'm going to buy a G37XS.

 

[Telco]

Can't blame you. I'm babying mine along until I get my house built because I can't make major financial changes until it's done. Once we move into the new place though, we'll be getting another car as well.

 

[stugots]

and I'm going to buy a G37XS.

Nice, I test drove one not too long ago. Really liked it.

 

[Gus_Mahn]

Can't blame you. I'm babying mine along until I get my house built because I can't make major financial changes until it's done. Once we move into the new place though, we'll be getting another car as well.

I've a sophomore and a freshman in college, so I have loads of $$ going out. I was hoping for 4 more years, as the car still looks/drives nice. Last time we visited my son 300 miles away, I borrowed my brother's Cruze, so it is time. The G37 is a total, so my wife won't be driving it for a couple of months.

I repossessed my son's Cruze, so the LS will be for sale right away. I'm not sure if I should fix the LS before I sell it or sell it as is. It's a '03 silver/black LS8 Ultimate Sport with factory HID's and backup sensors. It has 210,000 miles and new tires on the good looking 17" chrome wheels last month. It's in very nice shape. Any guesses of it's worth repaired?

 

[Telco]

In my area I'm seeing 03 LSs going for around 3500 to 7500 depending on mileage and condition. Mileage seems to be the big killer though, so without seeing the car or knowing what all is wrong with it I'll take a stab at it and say around 4500 to 5000 if everything is fixed, 3000 to 3500 with problems.

Might make more parting it out.

 

[Jack Flash]

I have to assume the COP's were acting up before blowing away
the PCM ? At least, enough to give you an indication they were
failing ?
Because if you don't read between the lines in your post, it may sound
like the COP's had unnoticeable symptoms, and caused the PCM to fail.
Or is this what really happened....no warning ?

No matter what, it's a painful repair for your wallet.

 

[Gus_Mahn]

I have to assume the COP's were acting up before blowing away
the PCM ? At least, enough to give you an indication they were
failing ?
Because if you don't read between the lines in your post, it may sound
like the COP's had unnoticeable symptoms, and caused the PCM to fail.
Or is this what really happened....no warning ?

No matter what, it's a painful repair for your wallet.

The coils were acting up but I didn't really notice it until I was 5 hours from home in a hilly area. It's flat where we live, and my wife mostly drives the car. She doesn't really notice that type of issue. The day after I got home after two days in hills the PCM starting giving me trans issues. I found a PCM rebuilder who said they can fix it for $175, and the trans portion of the PCM is a common failure on the LS.

 

[M4rk]

I almost pulled the trigger on a G37xS. Long story short, I would only settle for one as a last resort. Boring, uninspiring and uneventful car to drive. Stock handling is awful with tons of body roll, it doesn't give the driver much confidence either - it just felt disconnected, I took it up to 100mph. Quick car though, fast off the line, engine loves to rev, but lacks torque. The car loses speed very easily going up a hill, requiring you to give it more and more gas. Solid interior, S model seats are fantastic, steering is nice and heavy at low speeds. Visibility is so-so in my opinion.

Just my two cents.

 

[Telco]

Might give the Charger a look. The V6 is faster than the LS V8, gets better mileage, handles better and is a more comfortable ride. And, the 2015 V8 will have an 8 speed transmission. Right now this one is leading the pack for us, next year.

 

[1LoudLS]

thats weird, my dads 13' hemi RT maxx did not handle better, and had a lot more body roll through the turns. the base 3.6l V6 is even worse although you don't have to wait for the 8 speed tranny as its already been an option for a couple of years now...

as for it being faster, they run a very high 15 secs with the older 3.5 and now run low 15s with the 3.6 and 8 speed... not really faster

I will give you it getting better gas mileage and heavy body and soft suspension does give it a very comfortable ride.





I really hope for the new 2015 that they dont use the same spinning shifter knob the Rams and durangos use, twice now since my dad has traded his charger in for a ram, after starting the car, the knob just spins and doesn't shift any gears, give it 10-20 mins and it will work fine after a restart or two. been to the dealer after both times, and they can't find a problem or replicate it

 

[Telco]

2012 Charger SXT (they didn't have a 2013 or 2014 listed)
http://www.autorooster.com/0-60-times/dodge/charger/
0-60: 7.4 sec (5-Speed)
0-60: 6.8 sec (8-Speed)
15.3 seconds in the quarter (I stand corrected, the LS is 0.2 seconds faster)
292 hp @ 6350 rpm
Torque: 260 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
Fuel Economy: (5-Speed) 18/27 / (8-Speed) 19/31 mpg

2003 Lincoln LS
http://www.autorooster.com/0-60-times/lincoln/ls-2/
0-60: 6.8 – 7.4 sec (exactly the same as listed by the Charger depending on trans, slower time probably 1st Gen)
1/4 mile: 15.1 sec (wonder which gen?)
HP: 252 hp @ 6100 rpm(2000-2002)
HP: 280 hp @ 6000 rpm (2003-2006)
Torque: 261 lb-ft @ 4300 rpm (2000-2002)
Torque: 286 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm (2003-2006)

No idea now whether they got more power out of the newer Charger V6, but then who really wants a V6 anyway?

On handling, I have only my own LS to compare the Charger to and that may be the actual problem, but it handled better and felt a LOT better at speed than my LS does. I don't like taking my LS over about 90 because it just doesn't feel like it likes it much, but the Charger felt stable while going over 110MPH.

This is the shifter they are supposed to be using.

 

[Upstairs Chris]

... I don't like taking my LS over about 90 because it just doesn't feel like it likes it much, but the Charger felt stable while going over 110MPH..

Listen, I am by no means like some of these new members who think their first V8 car is as fast as the millennium falcon, but if there is 1 thing this car does well it's speed stability. To be fair, it's been a while since I was on stock springs and the old original shocks but I can't remember too much difference in at speed stability. With Eibach's, and new sport springs this thing feels solid as a house at 90mph. I usually cruise around 90 and it feels very stable and comfortable.

 

[LS4me]

View attachment 828470378


Listen, I am by no means like some of these new members who think their first V8 car is as fast as the millennium falcon, but if there is 1 thing this car does well it's speed stability. To be fair, it's been a while since I was on stock springs and the old original shocks but I can't remember too much difference in at speed stability. With Eibach's, and new sport springs this thing feels solid as a house at 90mph. I usually cruise around 90 and it feels very stable and comfortable.

Ditto.... I spent some minutes in triple digits (before I got "caught" by my wife) on the 10 in west Texas. On stock springs the car was very stable with no front-end lift or lightness. On the other hand, my son's '87 Mustang GT convertible felt down right dangerous at anything over 70ish.....

 

[1LoudLS]

...I don't like taking my LS over about 90 because it just doesn't feel like it likes it much

I dont think you have some seriously worn parts then, mine loves speed and is extremely stable above the triple digits, smooth and straight all the way up to the sadly low speed limiter. which coming back from knoxville last week, burned an entire tank of fuel before I even got to cincinnati hitting it more than a few times.

This is the shifter they are supposed to be using.

that one should be fine, I just don't trust that italian volume knob BS...

 

[Jack Flash]

but then who really wants a V6 anyway?

I do. We pay the highest gas prices in NA. At 5$ a gallon for regular, it's robbery.

 

[Upstairs Chris]

Ditto.... I spent some minutes in triple digits (before I got "caught" by my wife) on the 10 in west Texas. On stock springs the car was very stable with no front-end lift or lightness. On the other hand, my son's '87 Mustang GT convertible felt down right dangerous at anything over 70ish.....

Yeah, seriously. If the road is nice, I can get to over 100 before my fiance or mother will event notice.

 

[joegr]

Yeah, seriously. If the road is nice, I can get to over 100 before my fiance or mother will event notice.

Yeah, I won't say that I have been in the 130's, but if I had, it would have been because I didn't even realize it until I looked down at the speedometer.

 

[LS4me]

I do. We pay the highest gas prices in NA. At 5$ a gallon for regular, it's robbery.

Don't necessarily believe the V6 MPG myth. The V6 LS gets a whopping 1MPG better than the V8 (city or freeway); no matter what the sticker may say. It's a physics thing......

 

[1LoudLS]

I would rather have the ford 3.7 V6 over what we have every day...

but then again, I would also rather have just about any V8 over what we have...







honestly, the LS would have been a real formidable foe if they had the 3.5TT back then!

 

[regiment1]

I've a sophomore and a freshman in college, so I have loads of $$ going out. I was hoping for 4 more years, as the car still looks/drives nice. Last time we visited my son 300 miles away, I borrowed my brother's Cruze, so it is time. The G37 is a total, so my wife won't be driving it for a couple of months.

I repossessed my son's Cruze, so the LS will be for sale right away. I'm not sure if I should fix the LS before I sell it or sell it as is. It's a '03 silver/black LS8 Ultimate Sport with factory HID's and backup sensors. It has 210,000 miles and new tires on the good looking 17" chrome wheels last month. It's in very nice shape. Any guesses of it's worth repaired?

I have a feeling if you don't repair it, it will go for parts.

 

[Telco]

I would rather have the ford 3.7 V6 over what we have every day...

but then again, I would also rather have just about any V8 over what we have...

honestly, the LS would have been a real formidable foe if they had the 3.5TT back then!

Yep, and just think of what it would have been if they'd tweaked the engine bay to put a 4.6 in there, or put in a 5.0, either of which they could have built the car around when they were in the first design phases.

I stand by what I said, because I was the one driving both cars 2 months ago, but I do concede that my car's suspension may be the actual problem even though I've had 20 year old cars (older cars are a preference) that didn't wear their suspensions out nearly as badly as the LS seems to.

 

[kevinspann]

My '03 LS8 is shifting funny again. The damn COP's have ruined the PCM for a second time. The PCM is $700 and is on backorder. Add the flash and new COP's and it'll be a $1500 repair on a $3000 car. With 210,000 miles on the car, it's no longer a car I trust on longer road trips. It's time to replace the car, and I'm going to buy a G37XS.

Out of curiosity, what kind of shifting problems is it having? I picked up an LS that does some...odd things. Shifts HARD, and clunky. Starting to wonder if the PCM is the issue in mine...

 

[Gus_Mahn]

Out of curiosity, what kind of shifting problems is it having? I picked up an LS that does some...odd things. Shifts HARD, and clunky. Starting to wonder if the PCM is the issue in mine...

It shifts hard into reverse from park and fairly hard from park to drive. It slams 3rd and 4th gear. Any modern trans shop should be able to trouble shoot it. They used an ampmeter on mine and saw that the computer amperage was low indicating no computer control of govenor pressure. The first time the PCM failed 3rd and 4th shifed hard and there was a shudder into one of those two gears. I found a company on eBay that says it's a common issue on the LS and can fix it for less than $200 including return shipping, and no reflash will be necessarry.

 

[Jack Flash]

I found a company on eBay that says it's a common issue on the LS and can fix it for less than $200 including return shipping, and no reflash will be necessarry.

Glade to see you found an alternative to a new one. Will certainly bring repair costs down, even if
your feeling towards the car has not...

Maybe for future reference for other members, putting a link to this EBay company may be good.

 

[kevinspann]

It shifts hard into reverse from park and fairly hard from park to drive. It slams 3rd and 4th gear. Any modern trans shop should be able to trouble shoot it. They used an ampmeter on mine and saw that the computer amperage was low indicating no computer control of govenor pressure. The first time the PCM failed 3rd and 4th shifed hard and there was a shudder into one of those two gears. I found a company on eBay that says it's a common issue on the LS and can fix it for less than $200 including return shipping, and no reflash will be necessarry.

Perfect, thanks. That's very similar to what mine is doing, but nearly all of the shifts are hard (hard enough to chirp the tires). Along with a shudder into 4th. Also seems to be confused...it'll shift into 3, then 4 quickly, then back to 3 (even with the SST).