Lexus ES 350 Overheating issues led to radiator replacement but still unfixed
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Lexus ES 350 Overheating issues led to radiator replacement but still unfixed
Hi,
My 08 ES 350 started overheating on the first coldest day of winter in Michigan. I bought this car a month and a half ago and never faced any issue. It has 120k miles and one morning while I was going to work, the heating wasn't working as there was only cold air coming in. I started driving to let the air circulate in the system and when I was on the freeway, the car started overheating. I pulled over right away and diagnosed to see the radiator with no coolant (possibly a leak). Got it diagnosed at Midas and a radiator replacement was suggested. Towed the car to my local mechanic and he replaced the radiator. However, the heating still didn't start working and he says that one hose gets extremely hot while the other doesn't show normal operation. He even says he changed the thermostat in order to fix the issue and now the heating started working and the car doesn't overheat as he left it on for 2 hours. He isn't someone who does water pump replacement so he is advising me to take to another mechanic who would do it for me. He says its very strange and shouldn't be happening. I am worried as the head gasket is probably not harmed since I pulled over as soon as the needle started moving towards the red and there is no white smoke from the exhaust. He even replaced the serpentine belt as it seemed worn out resulting in inefficient pump operation but still the circulation has not been restored perfectly. Any help would be greatly appreciated as to what might be the issue and if the replacement of water pump would fix it? Also, he says I can drive it currently (not safe) but there isn't 100% circulation of the coolant from the radiator to the engine and back. Please help.
Thanks.
My 08 ES 350 started overheating on the first coldest day of winter in Michigan. I bought this car a month and a half ago and never faced any issue. It has 120k miles and one morning while I was going to work, the heating wasn't working as there was only cold air coming in. I started driving to let the air circulate in the system and when I was on the freeway, the car started overheating. I pulled over right away and diagnosed to see the radiator with no coolant (possibly a leak). Got it diagnosed at Midas and a radiator replacement was suggested. Towed the car to my local mechanic and he replaced the radiator. However, the heating still didn't start working and he says that one hose gets extremely hot while the other doesn't show normal operation. He even says he changed the thermostat in order to fix the issue and now the heating started working and the car doesn't overheat as he left it on for 2 hours. He isn't someone who does water pump replacement so he is advising me to take to another mechanic who would do it for me. He says its very strange and shouldn't be happening. I am worried as the head gasket is probably not harmed since I pulled over as soon as the needle started moving towards the red and there is no white smoke from the exhaust. He even replaced the serpentine belt as it seemed worn out resulting in inefficient pump operation but still the circulation has not been restored perfectly. Any help would be greatly appreciated as to what might be the issue and if the replacement of water pump would fix it? Also, he says I can drive it currently (not safe) but there isn't 100% circulation of the coolant from the radiator to the engine and back. Please help.
Thanks.
Last edited by razzuh; 01-05-18 at 08:30 AM.
#2
I bet the head gasket is unharmed since you stopped the car on time.
Do you have any info if somebody replaced the water pump before?
Those water pumps from 04/06 to 03/09 were trouble, they were ready to leak even after 10000 miles but the impeler was trouble free since it is made of metal.
Bad recirculation means bad impeler. Impeler can go wrong if it is made of plastic. That means somebody replaced the watee pump before, but then I know that no company makes the water pump for that engine with plastic impeler.
Now, the recirculation.
How he found out that there is not enough recirculation through the engine?
Do you have any info if somebody replaced the water pump before?
Those water pumps from 04/06 to 03/09 were trouble, they were ready to leak even after 10000 miles but the impeler was trouble free since it is made of metal.
Bad recirculation means bad impeler. Impeler can go wrong if it is made of plastic. That means somebody replaced the watee pump before, but then I know that no company makes the water pump for that engine with plastic impeler.
Now, the recirculation.
How he found out that there is not enough recirculation through the engine?
#4
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
I bet the head gasket is unharmed since you stopped the car on time.
Do you have any info if somebody replaced the water pump before?
Those water pumps from 04/06 to 03/09 were trouble, they were ready to leak even after 10000 miles but the impeler was trouble free since it is made of metal.
Bad recirculation means bad impeler. Impeler can go wrong if it is made of plastic. That means somebody replaced the watee pump before, but then I know that no company makes the water pump for that engine with plastic impeler.
Now, the recirculation.
How he found out that there is not enough recirculation through the engine?
Do you have any info if somebody replaced the water pump before?
Those water pumps from 04/06 to 03/09 were trouble, they were ready to leak even after 10000 miles but the impeler was trouble free since it is made of metal.
Bad recirculation means bad impeler. Impeler can go wrong if it is made of plastic. That means somebody replaced the watee pump before, but then I know that no company makes the water pump for that engine with plastic impeler.
Now, the recirculation.
How he found out that there is not enough recirculation through the engine?
#5
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
#6
When you ran out of coolant did you find the source of the leak. Did they perform a coolant system leak test. Did they bleed the coolant system after the installation of the radiator and thermostat. Did they verify that the weep hole in the water pump was not leaking. So far I'm not convinced that the mechanics that you are taking the car to know what they are doing. Have either a Toyota or Lexus dealer give you a diagnosis or someone who specifically services these type of vehicles.
#7
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
When you ran out of coolant did you find the source of the leak. Did they perform a coolant system leak test. Did they bleed the coolant system after the installation of the radiator and thermostat. Did they verify that the weep hole in the water pump was not leaking. So far I'm not convinced that the mechanics that you are taking the car to know what they are doing. Have either a Toyota or Lexus dealer give you a diagnosis or someone who specifically services these type of vehicles.
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#8
Lexus Champion
Hi,
My 08 ES 350 started overheating on the first coldest day of winter in Michigan. I bought this car a month and a half ago and never faced any issue. It has 120k miles and one morning while I was going to work, the heating wasn't working as there was only cold air coming in. I started driving to let the air circulate in the system and when I was on the freeway, the car started overheating. I pulled over right away and diagnosed to see the radiator with no coolant (possibly a leak). Got it diagnosed at Midas and a radiator replacement was suggested. Towed the car to my local mechanic and he replaced the radiator. However, the heating still didn't start working and he says that one hose gets extremely hot while the other doesn't show normal operation. He even says he changed the thermostat in order to fix the issue and now the heating started working and the car doesn't overheat as he left it on for 2 hours. He isn't someone who does water pump replacement so he is advising me to take to another mechanic who would do it for me. He says its very strange and shouldn't be happening. I am worried as the head gasket is probably not harmed since I pulled over as soon as the needle started moving towards the red and there is no white smoke from the exhaust. He even replaced the serpentine belt as it seemed worn out resulting in inefficient pump operation but still the circulation has not been restored perfectly. Any help would be greatly appreciated as to what might be the issue and if the replacement of water pump would fix it? Also, he says I can drive it currently (not safe) but there isn't 100% circulation of the coolant from the radiator to the engine and back. Please help.
Thanks.
My 08 ES 350 started overheating on the first coldest day of winter in Michigan. I bought this car a month and a half ago and never faced any issue. It has 120k miles and one morning while I was going to work, the heating wasn't working as there was only cold air coming in. I started driving to let the air circulate in the system and when I was on the freeway, the car started overheating. I pulled over right away and diagnosed to see the radiator with no coolant (possibly a leak). Got it diagnosed at Midas and a radiator replacement was suggested. Towed the car to my local mechanic and he replaced the radiator. However, the heating still didn't start working and he says that one hose gets extremely hot while the other doesn't show normal operation. He even says he changed the thermostat in order to fix the issue and now the heating started working and the car doesn't overheat as he left it on for 2 hours. He isn't someone who does water pump replacement so he is advising me to take to another mechanic who would do it for me. He says its very strange and shouldn't be happening. I am worried as the head gasket is probably not harmed since I pulled over as soon as the needle started moving towards the red and there is no white smoke from the exhaust. He even replaced the serpentine belt as it seemed worn out resulting in inefficient pump operation but still the circulation has not been restored perfectly. Any help would be greatly appreciated as to what might be the issue and if the replacement of water pump would fix it? Also, he says I can drive it currently (not safe) but there isn't 100% circulation of the coolant from the radiator to the engine and back. Please help.
Thanks.
#9
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
First thing to do is pressure check and putting dye in the radiator to detect exhaust fume. Does the rad. blower come on when temp. rises? Water pump is a possibility too as well as radiator cap. If pump is weak you can feel the rad hoses one should be cool vs. the other should be pretty warm meaning water is circulating. Did you ever do cooling system flush? This sort of problem is best dealt with specialty shop.
#10
Did you check the coolant level?
#11
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
#12
Did you check it after the repair?
#13
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
#14
If the mechanic said the coolant was not circulating after he replaced the thermostat and radiator, that leaves the water pump. I can think of only the thermostat and water pump affecting circulation like this. The water pump has a broken impeller or the impeller blades have corroded down to where the fins are not 'grabbing' the water. It's also possible the thermostat was installed incorrectly or it's faulty.
#15
The coolant level rising in the rad is from expansion as the engine (and coolant) heats up, and is normal. I don't think the cooling system is full if you only have a small amount of coolant in the expansion tank. Install the rad cap and warm up the engine until the temp gauge gets into the mid-range. Shut the engine down, let the coolant cool down and then check the coolant level in the expansion tank. If the level is not between the F and L marks add coolant mix to bring it up to the correct level.