2008 LS460 overheating when caught in standstill traffic
#2
Pole Position
It only overheats in standstill traffic? No other time?
That usually means your fans are not working. Stand still traffic=no air flow. It's the fans job to provide it, perhaps your fans aren't coming on or a temp sensor is inoperational and it's not telling the fans to come on.
That usually means your fans are not working. Stand still traffic=no air flow. It's the fans job to provide it, perhaps your fans aren't coming on or a temp sensor is inoperational and it's not telling the fans to come on.
#4
Former Sponsor
AtlantaAl - Fellow Atlanta (south-side) buddy here. All us ATL guys are willing to help where we can. The guys replying above give excellent info for a starting point. With your car cranked and the hood up, turn your A/C on and check under the hood. A fan should be running, at least when the engine is fully warmed up. Probably even with a "cold" engine ... if the A/C is on. But for sure when warmed an A/C on.
Of course don't stick any fingers in there (sorry if that is obvious). If there is no running fan (can't remember if there is 1 fan or dual), shut the engine off and check your fuse panel. I don't know off hand if it will be a fan fuse, or fan relay. But if one or the other of those have gone bad, it is an easy / inexpensive fix. Of course, if one of those have gone bad, the problem could be bigger. But confirm that first. Fuses are obvious if they are bad. Relays, well you can do a relay swap, but you'll have to expect other lights on during the course of this. And a look-see for codes with the Carista app could be helpful also.
J.O.
Of course don't stick any fingers in there (sorry if that is obvious). If there is no running fan (can't remember if there is 1 fan or dual), shut the engine off and check your fuse panel. I don't know off hand if it will be a fan fuse, or fan relay. But if one or the other of those have gone bad, it is an easy / inexpensive fix. Of course, if one of those have gone bad, the problem could be bigger. But confirm that first. Fuses are obvious if they are bad. Relays, well you can do a relay swap, but you'll have to expect other lights on during the course of this. And a look-see for codes with the Carista app could be helpful also.
J.O.
#5
Driver School Candidate
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Thanks very much for all of your suggestions and advice. I will troubleshoot as you outlined J.O. and will post back with what I find.
Thanks again!
AA
Thanks again!
AA
#6
How many miles on your car?
I ask because there is a high probability that the radiator is blocked and dirty. Dirt gets stuck between the radiator, the condenser and the under tray. The only way to get that dirt out is to pull the radiator and vacuum and spray it clean.
You can try to stuff a hose in between the fan and rinse it out but if its that bad where its overheating doing a deep clean is the best solution. Assuming that the fans are working.
I ask because there is a high probability that the radiator is blocked and dirty. Dirt gets stuck between the radiator, the condenser and the under tray. The only way to get that dirt out is to pull the radiator and vacuum and spray it clean.
You can try to stuff a hose in between the fan and rinse it out but if its that bad where its overheating doing a deep clean is the best solution. Assuming that the fans are working.
#7
Racer
BE CAREFUL OF THAT SMALL OVERFLOW/FILL TUBE THAT SITS ON THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR. !! If you are exploring around the radiator area and bump into it, you may break the tube off of the radiator resulting in needing a new radiator. Poor design by Lexus!!
There is hex cap near the upper radiator hose. make sure the things have cooled down before opening it and checking the coolant level. Don't rely on what is in the overflow tank where you add coolant. If that thin rubber tube is clogged then it is not feeding coolant into the radiator. Mine was clogged front someone fixing the broken tube with epoxy glue. Of course if you try to remove the rubber tube then you may break off the plastic tube connected to the radiator.
There is hex cap near the upper radiator hose. make sure the things have cooled down before opening it and checking the coolant level. Don't rely on what is in the overflow tank where you add coolant. If that thin rubber tube is clogged then it is not feeding coolant into the radiator. Mine was clogged front someone fixing the broken tube with epoxy glue. Of course if you try to remove the rubber tube then you may break off the plastic tube connected to the radiator.
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