dmsrated

01' GS300
I recently had a check engine light come on and went to the dealership to check it out. They told me it was the mass air flow sensor and was running on its peak and really shouldn't drive and should get it fixed. Scaring me like that I got fixed for $700. Once finished, I drive off the lot, few miles down the engine light comes on again...WTF. So i take back right away and they do more tests...
They said my Coolant is leaking somewhere into one of my spark plugs which then results the spark plug to flood and to turn to the water and misfire...or something like that. I lost him as soon as he started talking. So is this true? He tells me to get GM coolant sealer and to crush it and put it in the radiator which should seal it. Otherwise he said it would cost like $3500 to fix.

1) Does anyone know where all 6 spark plugs are located?
2) Can I still drive the car, and for how long?
3) What are my solutions to locate the problem and fix it. He said to find out the
problem, he would need to do high pressure test.
4) Will a gasket blow off if I keep driving.

Does any one have tutorials w/images to change spark plugs, coolant and brake fluid flushes?

Thanks.... Please help.

JeffTsai

iTrader: (1)

Wow...I would run away from that dealer ASAP!

Heed my words: GOTO ANOTHER SHOP!

That's insane how much they're charging you for those repairs. Sounds like some of those fixes they're recommending are just tempoary patch jobs. If you have time, ask or call around and I gaurantee you will find much better pricing.

dmsrated

Thanks....but are you familiar with the problem or hear of it. I just wanted to make sure they werent BSing around with the issue atleast so I know what to tell the next shop. They said roughly $3500.

LexFather

I've never heard of that before. Welcome to clublexus, please SEARCH or go to this sticky on Sparkplug/coolant help

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=288923

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

dmsrated..you should file a complaint. They ripped you off. the Mass air flow sensor itself is only $150, and you can install it yourself in 1 minute. 2 bolts and a connector....

LexFather

Yeah, I was gonna edit my post that your dealer is awful

JeffTsai

iTrader: (1)

The leak from the spark plug area can be one of 2 things. Either the throttle coolant hose is leaking...or you have a bad headgasket. That's the only 2 ways you're going to have coolant in the spark plug area. The other leak, if it's a bad radiator should only cost a few hundred to replace...not $3500. Seriously man, do yourself a BIG favor and take it to another shop to get a second opinion.

dmsrated

I went to a local auto zone and got a check engine test done, and the codes they gave me were P0171 and P0174. Any idea, does any one know how to drain the coolant.

dmsrated

is the headgasket easy to replace and is the throttle coolant hose same as the upper radiator hose. From that hose i can see small amounts of coolant seeping out.
Thanks

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

headgasket is not "easy' as in a sense that it's something a normal joe can do. You'll need to take out the the throttle body, intake manifold, cylinder head, and various sensor connectors. It's not impossible if you're mechanically inclined.

Coolant hose and upper radiator hose is not the same. The throttle coolant hose is small and it's connected to the throttle body itself. As for the upper radiator hose, it's the large hose that connects from the radiator to the engine. Are you leaking from a small or very large hose?

LexFather

The link I put in this thread has the codes. SEARCH

Eric00GS3

I've had coolant in one of my spark plugs which tripped the CEL light. The dealer is right the coolant shorts the circuit by allowing the charge to pass through the liquid and not its intended route, thus causing the misfire. On mine it was obvious because there was a charred area on the side of the spark plug from the charge passing through the coolant.

The coolant got into the spark plug hole when I was changing the spark plugs. I disconnected the throttle body coolant hose to allow an easier access to the spark plugs and the coolant came out and settled in the spark plug hole below. Just blew forced air into the hole to clear out the coolant and the problem was fixed.