Ecm Or Engine & Tranny Problems?
Out of Warranty
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,925
Likes: 13
From: Houston, Republic of Texas
Black smoke is indicative of a rich mixture - somehow too much fuel (or too little air) is reaching the combustion chamber. Check the cheap stuff first; the air filter to be sure it is clean, or if a "high performance" filter, that it was not over-oiled. That could contaminate the MAF rather quickly.
The O2 sensors are another matter. Mine failed at about 60K, but with no more excess dramatics than a CEL. It's possible that one of the failure modes of an O2 sensor is the presence of an excessively rich mixture "burning" downstream in the exhaust or cats, creating a high temperature that is burning the sensor(s). In this case an excessively rich mixture caused by a fouled MAF could possibly cause the O2 sensors to fail as well.
Lexmex gave a great explanation/solution about a month ago here: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=219555
It doesn't sound like a tranny problem, but just the response of the ECM trying to deal out the best compromise of the power requested (throttle position) and power output.
If you suspect a sludging issue, have your dealer drop the pan and inspect it. While sludged '99-'00 6-cyl 3.0L Toyota engines got a lot of press, the actual problem was really quite rare.
The O2 sensors are another matter. Mine failed at about 60K, but with no more excess dramatics than a CEL. It's possible that one of the failure modes of an O2 sensor is the presence of an excessively rich mixture "burning" downstream in the exhaust or cats, creating a high temperature that is burning the sensor(s). In this case an excessively rich mixture caused by a fouled MAF could possibly cause the O2 sensors to fail as well.
Lexmex gave a great explanation/solution about a month ago here: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=219555
It doesn't sound like a tranny problem, but just the response of the ECM trying to deal out the best compromise of the power requested (throttle position) and power output.
If you suspect a sludging issue, have your dealer drop the pan and inspect it. While sludged '99-'00 6-cyl 3.0L Toyota engines got a lot of press, the actual problem was really quite rare.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: MI
Originally Posted by disco_y2k
i had the O2 sensors go out twice on my 1999 RX300. it did drive and respond like you discribed. it kinda ran like it was being flooded with too much fuel and the transmission would not ship at the right times as well.
about the engine, if you do have damage to pistons or other internal parts, there is a factory defect that makes the oil turn to sludge over time and therefore the oil isnt being circulated properly. lexus and toyota do not advertise this fact but they do recognize it. they extended the warranty on the motor because of this. if you do find that yours is starting to sludge up make sure you make them replace the entire motor with a new one! dont let them clean it up or rebuild it. as i am sure you know by now, if you complain enough lexus will give you whatever you ask for.
i had them replace my entire motor under warranty back in 2002 i believe. took them 6 weeks but it was done correctly. FYI the warrany extension is for all of the toyota 3.0L 6 cylinder motors used in that time period.
disco
about the engine, if you do have damage to pistons or other internal parts, there is a factory defect that makes the oil turn to sludge over time and therefore the oil isnt being circulated properly. lexus and toyota do not advertise this fact but they do recognize it. they extended the warranty on the motor because of this. if you do find that yours is starting to sludge up make sure you make them replace the entire motor with a new one! dont let them clean it up or rebuild it. as i am sure you know by now, if you complain enough lexus will give you whatever you ask for.
i had them replace my entire motor under warranty back in 2002 i believe. took them 6 weeks but it was done correctly. FYI the warrany extension is for all of the toyota 3.0L 6 cylinder motors used in that time period.
disco
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