ES - 1st to 4th Gen (1990-2006) Forum for all 1990 - 2006 ES300 and ES330 models. ES250 topics go here as well.

Losing my mind

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-16-16, 06:32 PM
  #1  
Jimynutz
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
 
Jimynutz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: California
Posts: 13
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Losing my mind

New to the site, I'm glad I found it. I have a 1996 es300 with 260k plus miles. I got it in January and the car has run amazingly. Problem is I power washed it on Friday and the check engine light turned on Saturday night. Now driving the car shuts off like I turned the key off. I wait a little bit and it starts right up idles normal, I put it in gear and it'll misfire or bog down and shut off. I unplugged he battery for an hour while I checked all connections and made sure everything is dry. I checked fuel pump the filter and so on. It starts fine idles and drives for a second and cuts out. I just don't know what to do anymore.
Old 10-16-16, 08:29 PM
  #2  
fortitude
Intermediate
 
fortitude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: CA
Posts: 477
Received 73 Likes on 63 Posts
Default

When referring to power washing - my guess would be you power wash the engine bay? You need to use a scanner to read the check engine light codes.
Old 10-17-16, 06:28 AM
  #3  
Stereorob
Lexus Test Driver
 
Stereorob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,579
Received 100 Likes on 69 Posts
Default

big mistake.. NEVER power wash the engine bay on an old lexus. I did that twice and it severely screwed with the car. lesson learned. id rather have a filthy engine that runs right then a clean one that freaks out. I just wipe mine down now. ill spend an hour or so cleaning it by hand with rags and all purpose
Old 10-17-16, 06:58 AM
  #4  
BDSL
Lexus Test Driver
 
BDSL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ontario
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 0
Received 14 Likes on 14 Posts
Default

When shampoo the engine, you need to cover all electrical components.
I have shampoo'ed on the engine bay on all my vehicles....some old vehicles (1991). You just have to be careful where you are spraying the water....
Old 10-17-16, 05:16 PM
  #5  
Hayk
Lead Lap
iTrader: (1)
 
Hayk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: NJ
Posts: 4,105
Received 293 Likes on 232 Posts
Default

You gotta check your electrical connections. I would check the spark plug wells and the air intake sensor, then go from there.
Old 10-17-16, 08:29 PM
  #6  
surgeon0
Pit Crew
 
surgeon0's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: CA
Posts: 157
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts
Default

Agree with above posts. It will work fine once it is "more" dry. Had a problem like this when I washed my honda without engine on. Normally wash with engine on and after it has warmed up. It did not start for a while and kept dying after 5-10 secs. When it does stay it was very low idle, one move and it turns off.

To speed it up you can spray wd-40 or another agent on the electrical connectors to help water expel. I got water into the coil connectors. I also had good luck with using leaf blower to dry the engine bay. Or it needs a really hot day for it to dry off good.

As for washing, have been using garden sprayer with dish soap with good luck. I either use garden hose to rinse or user the sprayer again.
Old 10-18-16, 06:58 PM
  #7  
Jimynutz
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
 
Jimynutz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: California
Posts: 13
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Getting better

Originally Posted by fortitude
When referring to power washing - my guess would be you power wash the engine bay? You need to use a scanner to read the check engine light codes.

the intake itself was terrible. I stuck the shop vacuum hose in there and started scrapping as far as I could. So this morning I put it all back together and connected the battery, started right up and I let it idle for about 10 minutes, I got in and gave it some throttle and it shut off. Waited a couple of seconds and it fired up. I parked it and just a bit ago I went on a test drive and it ran ok I was very light on the throttle on my way back in got on it a bit and around 4500 rpm it started to hesitate it didn't shut off. When I got home I revved the engine and it was fine. I left it running and went inside for a couple of minutes and whenI came out it had turned off. I fired it back up and I revved it again and at 4000rpm it acted like it was hitting the rev limiter right now I have a fan in the engine bay to see what happens in a few
Old 10-19-16, 06:43 PM
  #8  
speedkar9
Lexus Champion
 
speedkar9's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,729
Likes: 0
Received 119 Likes on 90 Posts
Default

Sounds like a defective throttle position sensor and/or faulty idle air control valve.
Old 10-19-16, 09:14 PM
  #9  
Jimynutz
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
 
Jimynutz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: California
Posts: 13
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default I think I'm done

I tried posting pictures of the throttle body and intake manifold the other day. And I guess it didn't work. Well it's Wednesday night and this morning I put everything back together again, I went through EVERYTHING two or three times. I went on Facebook and asked a page from a community I follow if anyone had a scanner is could use and all the people trying to make a buck came out. But twice as many wanted to help me out for free. I didn't want to drive it since I had my nephew with me so this guy came over, put the scanner on and nothing showed up. We talked for a little bit helps said to call him if the light lites up and he'd be back. So when I was free I drove the snot out of the car, it ran like a champ. I think the trans kick down cable might need adjusting, it shifts real quick and at slow speeds like 35 it's already in over drive at light throttle. Getting on the freeway is more fun. All this mess because I wanted to clean up the engine because I'm planning on replacing the timing belt and the components that I should replace, water pump, oil, pulleys and so on. Any tips would be great. I need to replace the driver's side cv joint,I'll do both, they are pretty cheap at auto zone. Driver side tie rod ends I'll do both side. Should I replace the whole thing, I'll think about it. While I was taking things apart the intake boot started to fall apart, I have tons of duct tape holding it together, where can I get another one other than the junk yard. What about aftermarket parts, does anyone make headers for it. Just in case it's a 1996 es300 260k +miles. I plan on getting 500k. I think I've mentioned it before the motor hasn't been a part. It does have another trans. I'll keep posting stuff since it's been a great car and this site and the people in it are great, thanks everyone for the suggestions, your feedback is important to me, so now you know
Old 10-24-16, 01:06 PM
  #10  
Jimynutz
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
 
Jimynutz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: California
Posts: 13
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by speedkar9
Sounds like a defective throttle position sensor and/or faulty idle air control valve.
I ran the scanner and indeed it was code p0121 . What are some procedures that I can do to check and make sure that's part is the problem. Just to eliminate other possibilities. In similar words what's the process of elimination
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
SC93
Performance & Maintenance
4
10-03-21 02:33 AM
GS FONZy
IS - 1st Gen (2001-2005)
4
12-25-13 07:56 PM
JesLet
Maintenance
5
11-13-13 07:02 AM
Fireblaze
Performance & Maintenance
18
06-26-07 09:48 PM



Quick Reply: Losing my mind



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:33 PM.