GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005) Discussion about the second generation GS300, GS400 and GS430 (1998 - 2005)

Problems when it rains. HELP PLEASE!!!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-23-06, 09:24 PM
  #1  
mosesgolf
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
 
mosesgolf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: California
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Problems when it rains. HELP PLEASE!!!

I have a 98 GS400 and love it but lately it's been giving me problems when it rains. After driving it in the rain, the electrical system goes haywire. The power windows stop working, the AC doesn't work, power locks don't work, sometimes I can't put the car into reverse or drive and the last time it stalled whenever I put it into drive. This has been happening the past year and it always happens after a big rain storm. After everything drys out, the car goes back to normal. Anyone have ideas on what's going on?
Old 05-23-06, 10:00 PM
  #2  
samster
Pole Position
 
samster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: NYC
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

is ur fuse boxes completely sealed? interior ones or the ones under ur kick panels? anyway for water to get into the fuse boxes under the hood and the ones by the door? is the rubber cover on ur driverside door completely in? watertight? check those 1st i would assume since its a problem of the rain its prolly because of stuff exposed to water
Old 05-24-06, 06:10 AM
  #3  
GWELEX
Lexus Champion
 
GWELEX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Alaska
Posts: 1,772
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

This isn't going to be easy to resolve. Does the car work alright if it has just been sitting in rain storm? Or does it begin to mess up after being driven in rain storm? If it's after driving I would guess it's from road spray and probably some connection under the hood getting wet from missing body components. If does it after just sitting there I would venture to guess it's a leak into an interior component. I know this doesn't help much but it might limit your search area.
Old 05-24-06, 06:41 AM
  #4  
DASHOCKER
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (2)
 
DASHOCKER's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYC
Posts: 12,191
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
Default

Do you have weather stripping surrounding the engine bay?
Old 05-24-06, 06:58 AM
  #5  
Dx3
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (13)
 
Dx3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Posts: 10,681
Received 8 Likes on 7 Posts
Default

Does the area around your kick panel ever get wet??

Jonny
Old 05-24-06, 07:02 AM
  #6  
GSoup
Lexus Fanatic

 
GSoup's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: The Rotten Apple
Posts: 5,095
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
Default

Make sure the compartment to your ecu is secured and closed. Also check the rubber gasket on it. For so many components to go haywire I would bet on something going on with the main ECU

Last edited by GSoup; 05-24-06 at 07:17 AM.
Old 05-25-06, 09:58 PM
  #7  
mosesgolf
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
 
mosesgolf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: California
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by DASHOCKER
Do you have weather stripping surrounding the engine bay?
The one on the passenger side is missing. Can this cause problems? It doesn't seem like a big deal.

Kick panel area is dry. I took it apart and it seemed dry.

Main ECU was all dry as well.
Old 05-25-06, 10:00 PM
  #8  
mosesgolf
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
 
mosesgolf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: California
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by GWELEX
This isn't going to be easy to resolve. Does the car work alright if it has just been sitting in rain storm? Or does it begin to mess up after being driven in rain storm? If it's after driving I would guess it's from road spray and probably some connection under the hood getting wet from missing body components. If does it after just sitting there I would venture to guess it's a leak into an interior component. I know this doesn't help much but it might limit your search area.

Happens after driving.

On a couple of occasions, the starter would crank by itself. It was like it was posssessed.
Old 05-26-06, 03:32 AM
  #9  
DASHOCKER
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (2)
 
DASHOCKER's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYC
Posts: 12,191
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by mosesgolf
The one on the passenger side is missing. Can this cause problems? It doesn't seem like a big deal.

Kick panel area is dry. I took it apart and it seemed dry.

Main ECU was all dry as well.
Its not wet now, but probably gets a bit of moisture on rainy day. Just go to an autoparts store and buy the off the shelf weather stripping with 3m backing that is the closest in size to the OEM stripping.
Old 05-26-06, 06:18 AM
  #10  
GWELEX
Lexus Champion
 
GWELEX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Alaska
Posts: 1,772
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by mosesgolf
Happens after driving.

On a couple of occasions, the starter would crank by itself. It was like it was posssessed.
This is beginning to sound like you're missing one or more of the lower engine bay splash sheilds. What you need is a photo of the under carriage of complete stock GS and compare it to yours. A loose connection under the hood could also be part of the problem. This combination when combined with the force of the water spray hitting the loose connection COULD be shorting things out. When you get the issue resolved let us know what it was.
Old 05-26-06, 04:40 PM
  #11  
mosesgolf
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
 
mosesgolf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: California
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by GWELEX
This is beginning to sound like you're missing one or more of the lower engine bay splash sheilds. What you need is a photo of the under carriage of complete stock GS and compare it to yours. A loose connection under the hood could also be part of the problem. This combination when combined with the force of the water spray hitting the loose connection COULD be shorting things out. When you get the issue resolved let us know what it was.
Ok. I think I know what the problem is as I was able to duplicate the conditions. I had a windshield crack from a pebble and took it to an autoglass repair shop a while back. Apparently they did a lousy job. I put a garden hose to the windshield by the area that may have been causing the problem which was the driver side fuse panel. I kept the garden hose there for about 10 minutes to simulate a big rain storm and sure enough the problems came back. Anyways, taking it to the dealer on Tuesday to rectify the situation. Thanks gentlemen for the advice.

Last edited by mosesgolf; 05-26-06 at 05:28 PM.
Old 05-26-06, 07:41 PM
  #12  
GWELEX
Lexus Champion
 
GWELEX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Alaska
Posts: 1,772
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

This is good news and information to tuck away in the memory banks. Was the windsheild completly replaced or just a chip repair?
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
memoalkati
IS - 1st Gen (2001-2005)
0
03-02-18 11:55 AM
michaelw
GS - 1st Gen (1993-1997)
5
01-19-14 10:37 AM
Exthultu
SC- 1st Gen (1992-2000)
1
09-27-10 01:32 AM
young's 96
GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005)
7
07-06-09 12:22 PM
gkim
GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005)
4
02-24-09 09:35 PM



Quick Reply: Problems when it rains. HELP PLEASE!!!



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:05 PM.