Poizun

So the dealership gave it back to me and said the only reason the car was overheating was becuase of a bad thermostat. Well, that turned out to be false because it started overheating on me again today. i drove it for about 40 miles, then it started to overheat. For some reason, everytime i pull up to a red light or stop sign, i seem to hear bubbling noises. Also, the cap on the resuvoir wont seem to stay on, and there is coolant all over the right side of my engine. My mechanic told me it sounds like there is too much pressure in the radiator. The dealership said that they might have to replace the radiator for me, any other suggestions?



Where that hose just cuts off at the resuvoir, is that normal? or is it suppost to hook to something else?

Any of your help is greatly appreciated!

92ES5sp

No its supposed to be like that. This is a bad deal man. I think you have a blockage somewhere, or your water pump has failed. Regardless I hope it all works out for ya, and hopefully the dealer will fix the problem instead of just throwing random parts at it.

cnstarz

lemon law; take it back now and find another lexus, or make sure they fix it for free.

swifty562

yup! best deal.

if they can't fix your car within 3 trys, i think they buy it back off.

and yea fixing the car should be at dealer expense.

Poizun

they are the ones that are getting the car fixed they just loaned me a acura integra. i just wanted to get a second opinion from my mechanic to let them know what i expect from them.

i also told them to take pressure readings from the heads to make sure it isnt a head gasket issue.

i bought the car for 5k. its a 96 ES300, Leather, and it has 118k miles.

does that sound like a decent deal?

cha41ppy

A couple thoughts:

I had heard that at times combustion gases can make their way into the coolant passages (via head gasket leak?) and overheat the liquid itself while pushing it outward through the reservoir.

Also, the rubber tubing hanging off the top of the reservoir cap - shouldn't that be hanging into the reservoir itself? Isn't that how the coolant feeds into and out of the reservoir tank? I'm not positive and it's too cold and dark to go outside right now to look at my car, but I'll check tomorrow. I'm most likely wrong anyways, just a wild guess.

Hope everything works out and they take care of it. Remember to push them hard, they will do everything they can to ensure that YOU keep the car since they have already made the sale and don't like to give out money.

Poizun

there is already a tube heading into the reservoir. that one seems to just contunue no where.

jet_jockey

that tube is just for when the reservoir is completely full, so the water has somewhere to go. If you've replaced your radiator cap, i'd guess you might have one of several issues. water pump problem (seems to be more frequent with the ones with plastic impellers), bad radiator cap, blockage in the system, power steering pump issue (if yours has a power steering driven fan), or a cracked head/head gasket issue.

Poizun

how much does it cost to get these issues fixed, im just wondering caz that dealership is mos definitly paying for this ****.

GiantsInFL

the lemon law depends on the state you live in, I live in Florida and had the same problem. In Florida the lemon law doesnt apply to used cars. The dealer wouldnt undo the deal, but he is fixing whatever is wrong with it and covering the labor, I just have to pay for the parts. Obviously without any one of us seeing the car its all best guess, but I'm tell you man I am in the exact same situation you are in (except the dealership didn't give me a loaner) and after them trying a few different things (thermostat, cap replacement, hydraulic fan hose), it ended up being a blown head gasket. The car was still riding smooth as can be, but after driving it on the highway for a while it would start to over heat. Best of luck to you, I have yet to take my car home yet and this is the 2nd week I have owned it.

Poizun

damn, sorry to hear that man, yeah here in MD the lemon law doesnt apply to used vehicles as well. they got it in the shop right now and i guess there gonna take care of it. i just hope they do it in a timely manner.

best of luck to you man.

GiantsInFL

Yea, obviously it is my fault because I signed the as is bill of sale without taking the car to my mechanic. So legally the dealership could have told me "oh well, you bought it as is." But they are trying to fix it, I just think its bad buisness to sell a car that has that kind of problem without taking care of it first, before you set it out for sale.

Thats why when I read your initial post about what happened to you and the year of the car you bought, it was like reading my own story. Sucks, but as long as they fix the problem and thats the end of it, than I couldnt be happier to own the car.

Poizun

yeah the way i look at it - they fix it now i aint gotta worry abotu it later.

P_M_G

I'm guessing water pump. I had exact same issue with my '94 when I got it...about 2 weeks after buying it started overheating a bit - mechanic said it was a bad thermostat. Replaced it and it all went to hell - same boiling noises and everything - was the water pump.

Unfortunately I got mine from a private seller and had to pay for it myself!

GiantsInFL

yea I know on mines, I will have to change the timing belt and water pump eventually. Luckily my inlaws know a mechanic who will change them and not over charge me on labor. And that is true, at least they have changed things that I dont have to worry about changing later on.

If I didnt want the car so badly (its a beautiful car), and spent just about all of my familys income tax money on it, I would have gotten rid of it. But I'm trying to be as patient with it as I can.