jeremy8701

My name is Jeremy I'm new here I bought a 08 lexus es350 about a month ago the car had 150000 miles it ran perfect the interior was in real good shape and the body was in good condition. Then all of a sudden it started running hot. So I flushed the radiator and took the water pump off it looked like it was in good shape but since I had it off I replaced it then I took the thermostat out and tested it on the stove with boiling water it opened and closed but still replaced it since I had it out. Put everything back together and filled with Asian red 50/50 mixture. Turned the car on the top radiator hose would get hot and the fans would kick on but the lower radiator hose would never get hot and heater would blow cold air. I was at a lost so I took it to the shop they told me I had air in the system so they ran a vacuum on it and filled it back up with coolant and told me it was working fine they said they drove or 5 miles both times they tested it. My dad and mom picked the car up for me because I was working when I got home I drove the car and after the engine heated up the heater was still cold the car ran hot again got back to the house again the back flow tank was full and bbn leaking a little from the top not much the lower radiator hose was cool. There is no milky stuff under my oil cap my oil dipstick is clean I just changed the oil a week and half ago and there was no oil and coolant mixture when I drained the oil and there is no white smoke coming from my tailpipes someone. I'm bring the car back to the shop because they did charge me $135 and the problems not fixed they didn't drive the car long enough to see the problem can anyone please help me out I love the car ot beautiful and drivea so smooth I just want to fix this problem thankyou for all your advice in advance.

nevernu

loose V-RIBBED BELT// faulty TENSIONER ?

jeremy8701

When I replace the water pump I took my serpentine belt off and it was almost new so I didn't replace it and I also took both tensioner pullys off the one right below the thermostat housing spins good but the one on the other side didn't spin a good but it did spin. I'm just praying it is not a blown head gasket like I said it doesn't show all the sighs but you never know. I paid $5300 after tax title and license and I love the car it's my first lexus so I will get it fixed no matter what I'm just hoping to come out a little cheaper than a $2500 head gasket job know I can work on my own car just that job is a little much for me to do without a proper garage and tools for the job.

nevernu

faulty new thermostat/improperly installed thermostat?

jeremy8701

I tested the new thermostat on the stove with boiling water and it did open and close I bought it from advance auto parts I might have put it in wrong. The cars going back to the shop today so I'll ask them to check it for me thank you for the information like I said I can do a few things but I'm at a loss right now I just don't bbn understand because the car is running good it is just overheating I would think with a blown head gasket the car would run like crap and i would be able to tell like with not starting on the first try or rough idling.

jeremy8701

Thanks for the advice it is a blown head gasket. So here's what I decided to do since I just bought the car a month ago and the interior is in perfect condition and also the body the engine had 154000 miles on it I'm bringing it to my dad's friends shop who's going to find a good used motor with around 60 or 70 thousand miles on it and just do a motor swap it will problely end up being the same cost or cheaper than a head gasket repair and with the new engine my car will be in perfect condition and last me alot longer.

nevernu

too bad, sounds like a used engine is the way to go