A few maintenance questions
05-20-13, 09:41 AM
#1
A few maintenance questions
Is there a procedure to test if the electric cooling fan is working properly? I drove back to my office today, it's about 83 degree's, with the ac running. Parked and popped the hood just to listen to the motor for a min and noticed the electric fan was not running with the car in park and the ac on. I thought that fan comes on whenever you use the ac or does it turn on when needed?
I travel often with work and park my car at times for weeks. My father started her after a few weeks and he said he heard some valve noise that smoothed out after a min of idling. I have also heard a little valve noise when I let her sit for a while and at first start up. Any recommendations on this? She has plenty of fresh oil and I also had the lower oil pan gasket replaced recently. I wonder if it would be good to have a family member start the car every 3 days or so so all the oil does not drain from the upper engine. Suggestions welcome.
I travel often with work and park my car at times for weeks. My father started her after a few weeks and he said he heard some valve noise that smoothed out after a min of idling. I have also heard a little valve noise when I let her sit for a while and at first start up. Any recommendations on this? She has plenty of fresh oil and I also had the lower oil pan gasket replaced recently. I wonder if it would be good to have a family member start the car every 3 days or so so all the oil does not drain from the upper engine. Suggestions welcome.
Last edited by Lavrishevo; 05-20-13 at 10:32 AM.
05-20-13, 10:27 AM
#2
Just unplug the fan and hook voltage up to the connectors. Thats how the FSM says to test it. It should fire right up for you.
As long as you start cars and fully warm them up around once a month (as in actually driving it) thats good enough to charge the battery and get all the fluids circulated. Oh, and run the A/C too, even if its cold out. Air conditioners are notorious for malfunctioning in places with cold winters and short summers, like here in Colorado, because the system sits idle for 8 months out if the year, the seals dry up, and the refrigerant inevitably leaks out.
My old Coupe Deville was maintained like that for most of its 37 year life, and all the underhood rubber (all of it being original) was still very soft and pliable when i started changing it out just due to age.
As long as you start cars and fully warm them up around once a month (as in actually driving it) thats good enough to charge the battery and get all the fluids circulated. Oh, and run the A/C too, even if its cold out. Air conditioners are notorious for malfunctioning in places with cold winters and short summers, like here in Colorado, because the system sits idle for 8 months out if the year, the seals dry up, and the refrigerant inevitably leaks out.
My old Coupe Deville was maintained like that for most of its 37 year life, and all the underhood rubber (all of it being original) was still very soft and pliable when i started changing it out just due to age.
Last edited by YoshiMan; 05-20-13 at 10:32 AM.
05-20-13, 11:05 AM
#3
Thanks for the suggestions Yoshi,
I did figure out the fan question. I called a Lexus dealer and they said the fan does have its own thermostat and only comes on when needed. I went back out and turned her on and let the AC run to see if the electrical fan would turn on and sure enough it did. I guess I just did not give it enough time.
When I asked about valve noise the service rep did mention that valve lash can become an issue over time but he said it really was not worth doing anything until it becomes a problem. I would like to avoid hard cold starts for the sake of the motor though. I am thinking that starting the car every 3 days or so would be good instead of letting her sit for a few weeks without circulation of the oil.
I did figure out the fan question. I called a Lexus dealer and they said the fan does have its own thermostat and only comes on when needed. I went back out and turned her on and let the AC run to see if the electrical fan would turn on and sure enough it did. I guess I just did not give it enough time.
When I asked about valve noise the service rep did mention that valve lash can become an issue over time but he said it really was not worth doing anything until it becomes a problem. I would like to avoid hard cold starts for the sake of the motor though. I am thinking that starting the car every 3 days or so would be good instead of letting her sit for a few weeks without circulation of the oil.
05-20-13, 12:28 PM
#6
Lexus Champion
usually fan or fans sensor issues will show up as either the car running a bit hot at idle or A/C being anemic at idle or both!
05-20-13, 12:34 PM
#7
Lexus Champion
and after years of working as a mechanic at a Lexus dealership, I can assure you that it is not the master mechanics doing the oil changes, it is the high school flunkies!
if you want to make oil changes really easy, get yourself a Fumoto valve, these are engineered to full Lexus quality, I love em!
Last edited by LScowboyLS; 05-20-13 at 12:38 PM.
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05-20-13, 01:10 PM
#9
some afternoon when you have time, clean out your oil control valves, drivers side if usually the culpert but I went ahead and done the rhs also.. this could be your valve noise.. make sure the snap action is good... if you need to go look at a new one and see what I mean.
Last edited by billydpowe; 05-20-13 at 01:13 PM.
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