Coolant temperature shot way up
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 769
Likes: 55
From: ma
I would check, in this order:
1) fluid level. If it is low, fill it up, and see if it leaks out again in a day or two of driving.
2) Watch when running to see if the electric fans turn on. If not, you need a new switch or fan.
3) Take to shop and have the thermal valve replaced, as they do eventually fail. It could be stuck shut.
It could be other things (blown water pump, clogged radiator, etc), but the car is too young for those to be likely.
1) fluid level. If it is low, fill it up, and see if it leaks out again in a day or two of driving.
2) Watch when running to see if the electric fans turn on. If not, you need a new switch or fan.
3) Take to shop and have the thermal valve replaced, as they do eventually fail. It could be stuck shut.
It could be other things (blown water pump, clogged radiator, etc), but the car is too young for those to be likely.
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 0
From: 808
Have you owned the vehicle from new? If not, the coolant system might have been neglected prior to your purchase and clogged arteries in the radiator caused it to need to be replaced.
If you owned it from new and did the proper maint, then there is no way it should have gone bad at 68k miles.
If you owned it from new and did the proper maint, then there is no way it should have gone bad at 68k miles.
I thought I did all the required maintenance. There's obviously a slow leak while driving, cause the reservoir needs refilling almost daily, but no puddles appear when parked.
That just happened to me a few weeks ago.
My '04 started to overheat while driving. The dealer checked it and found that the radiator was leaking and needed to be replaced. Although I still have a few months left on my CPO warranty, which would have covered it ($750 or so), the service tech mentioned that my '04 fell within a range of VIN numbers that had bad radiators, and that Lexus "extended" the original factory warranty on those cars and would replace them. (So I was double covered.)
I searched here and did find some posts about the radiator problems from posts in '05 and '06, since that's when the original warranties ran out on the new '04 cars.
Before you pay for the replacement, have the service folks look this info up and see if your car is in the covered group.
Good luck.
My '04 started to overheat while driving. The dealer checked it and found that the radiator was leaking and needed to be replaced. Although I still have a few months left on my CPO warranty, which would have covered it ($750 or so), the service tech mentioned that my '04 fell within a range of VIN numbers that had bad radiators, and that Lexus "extended" the original factory warranty on those cars and would replace them. (So I was double covered.)
I searched here and did find some posts about the radiator problems from posts in '05 and '06, since that's when the original warranties ran out on the new '04 cars.
Before you pay for the replacement, have the service folks look this info up and see if your car is in the covered group.
Good luck.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,507
Likes: 38
From: Bethlehem Twsp. Pennsylvania
Keep us posted,I wonder if it was really the radiator that is the problem.
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 0
From: 808
After further searching, I've found TSB #0503/NHTSA #10019326 which states "RADIATOR MAY CRACK AT THE BASE OF ONE OR MORE OF THE RADIATOR TUBES, RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAKAGE - CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM - WARRANTY COVERAGE ENHANCEMENT. LEXUS. *TT " per allautoworld.com. http://www.allworldauto.com/tsbs/NHT...tin_96947.html
I've also read that this TSB covers only RX's produced in Canada and only owners who live in cold areas. Not hard evidence, but that's what I've found online so far. http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums...t=#entry276208
All Hawaii Lexus vehicles are from Japan, so that could be why I never received that TSB letter back in '05/'06 unlike some other owners.
I'm going to the dealership with my folks on Monday to talk with the service manager to set this straight. Not sure why the Japan-made RX is not included in this TSB. I'll keep you all informed!
I've also read that this TSB covers only RX's produced in Canada and only owners who live in cold areas. Not hard evidence, but that's what I've found online so far. http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums...t=#entry276208
All Hawaii Lexus vehicles are from Japan, so that could be why I never received that TSB letter back in '05/'06 unlike some other owners.
I'm going to the dealership with my folks on Monday to talk with the service manager to set this straight. Not sure why the Japan-made RX is not included in this TSB. I'll keep you all informed!
CL Community Team
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,869
Likes: 394
From: Ohio
MY dealer mentioned that my car, an '04 which was built in Japan, fell within a range of VIN numbers for the special extended warranty for a leaking radiator. I found posts here on CL discussing the problem several years ago. Also, when told that it was a radiator leak, I mentioned that I had no puddles on the garage floor, and was told that was not unusual. My guess is that since the car went hot only after 10 minutes or so of driving, that the leaking was only when under pressure.
They replaced the entire radiator and some hoses and charged me nothing although, as mentioned, my CPO warranty would have covered that costs anyway.
They replaced the entire radiator and some hoses and charged me nothing although, as mentioned, my CPO warranty would have covered that costs anyway.
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,566
Likes: 1,390
From: Austin, TX
If you are loosing coolant (where you need to add every week), ask for a pressure test of the coolant. The device looks like a football pump and it attaches at the radiator cap and the tech just pumps it up. At times the radiator cap needs replacement.
Salim
Salim
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 0
From: 808
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 0
From: 808
Went down to the dealership today. Spoke to the service supervisor (manager was not it). Our VIN doesn't qualify and we didn't receive a letter either about the radiator, so the only option he gave us was to call the 800 customer service line.
Planning on speaking with the service manager tomorrow when dropping the RX off to ask for either a goodwill fix or some sort of discount, especially since this is the 3rd Lexus I've bought from them! (Actually, it's the 4th in our family - folks had a '98 ES prior)
Planning on speaking with the service manager tomorrow when dropping the RX off to ask for either a goodwill fix or some sort of discount, especially since this is the 3rd Lexus I've bought from them! (Actually, it's the 4th in our family - folks had a '98 ES prior)
CL Community Team
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,869
Likes: 394
From: Ohio
I think your only shot is to apply for some of that sweet Federal Bailout Money; auto dealers, even high-end dealers, are a little short on cash right now, and I would not expect too much in the way of a "goodwill fix."
But there's never any harm in asking.
Good Luck.
But there's never any harm in asking.
Good Luck.
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 0
From: 808
We dropped it off Tuesday around 7:30am and picked it up today around 10am. They kept it overnight in order to do a test run, wash, etc. And according to them, there was a whole lot of stuff that needed to be removed in order to replace the radiator. Just an FYI, the radiator was leaking from the top, left corner.
We are totally appreciative with the dealer's goodwill repair discount. That's how you get repeat customers!
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