PjLex

I was driving along fine. Getting ready to stop, going about 25 or 30 mph. Suddenly my car develops a super rough idle, the NO VSC control light flashes on. And it dies. I try to start it again and it just turns over and over. Come back a few minutes later, and give it some gas as i start it. I cranked it , and cranked it and it seems like it is starting up a little. Very low rpm like 200 or 300. Engine is really moving alot. Starts up and just cant get above 500 rpm,,,,, rough as hell and sounding like total crap. I try to again, same thing, cant get above 500 rpm and engine makes a bad noise and dies. After that I got it towed to the shop.
Bring it to the repair shop. They look at it and tell me there is alot of noise coming from the bottom end. And that the engine is probably ****ed.
With all this no leaking oil, oil pan is ok. No leaks of any kind.
Would it even be worth looking in to the check engine codes? Or dropping the oil pan to see inside?

dicer

So either it is a 1989 or a 2000, am I correct? Maybe its an LS400 or a ?

PjLex

1998 Lexus Ls400

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

Def check the codes and report back.

alien1974

get it plugged in to see what codes its kicking up, sounds like the air flow meter to me

AandSC

Sounds as if it's an engine mechanical failure. Mileage and maintenance history? I'm betting valve cover removal, compression check and probably oil pan removal to determine extent of damage.

PjLex

245,000 miles. Been taken care of well. Regular oil changes, etc.

dicer

Sorry I missed it in the title.

I would suspect the crank position sensor.

aptoslexus

You brought it to a repair shop and they didn't even pull the codes or do a diagnostic? Wtf?
Watched a Shrodingers Box video last night about a Jeep with some similar symptoms. Turned out to be a faulty fuel pump.

PjLex

Thanks for sharing that video. Yeah, its the roughest idle i have ever seen. I mean, It doesnt even get up to idling about 200 rmp. Seems more like only two cylinders are firing or something extremely weird. Engine struggles and shakes all over the place. Very unlike the regular smooth V8 in the LS400.

I asked the shop what it would cost to pull the oil pan to take a look. They were adamant that, doing any more work to the car is a complete waste of money. They said we already know that the engine is blown.

Has anyone heard of a 1998 ls400 engine blowing like this? I am really shocked. I have never been stranded before with this car and it has never broken down before. I got it four years ago with 195,000 on the odo. I changed the timing belt. and It has been my only car since then. It really shakes my confidence in Lexus. I am considering getting a used car again, most likely a Lexus. But some of my friends are saying I am crazy for buying a Lexus again. Any thoughts?

PjLex

This is for DICER. You are correct, I originally did not have all the info in the title. After you said something I updated the title to include more of the vehicle info.

thanks

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

first thought, find another shop! what kind of shop does not pull codes and notify you?!?! they sound very fishy to me. tow it outta there and get another quote.

pull the oil dip stick yourself to see if there is oil in there. it is highly unlikely for a motor to just seize unless something catastrophic was done like no oil! i'm with the fuel pump issue too. a faulty pump will cause your symptoms too!

PjLex

Its got oil in it. Changed the oil about 1000 miles ago. Even after it broke down, didnt leak any oil.

the car is at Rick's Japanese car care in Thousand oaks, ca. Seems like they are honest. I guess the engine is making so much noise from the bottom end that they don't even need to pull the codes. They already know the engine is blown.

dicer

It could be a slipped timing belt too. If your hearing noise, there is likely some mechanical problem.
Used and not so well used engines are pretty easy to come by. If the car is in super good condition and not real high miles its worth the $1700 or so the engine and changing it would cost. Depends on who's doing it I guess for that cost. Add about 500 to do timing belt stuff on the replacement engine before its installed too. You can't get another car for that.

Rough idle could be timing and not something coming apart in the lower end of the engine. When the lower stuff goes its either slow down and seize or a bang when it breaks, or a knocking noise. Valves hitting piston tops would be knocking noise and missing.
Unless something did fall into the timing belt area or broke off, we need to hear it.

PjLex

Before the car was mechanically sound and ran good. The body was the sore spot. It had extensive hail damage. Looks like a golf ball, although the paint is still in great condition. And it got side swiped in the rear quarter, so damage on both sides.