Bali26

MAF? Sparks? Coil?

Just do it yourself. Its not that hard.

Treat your engine like a computer.

check thermostat

I think you should have one of those mobile mechanics come over and take a look. Should cost you about $50 to $100 for a diagnose.

Then at least you will know whats wrong with the car and we can help you fix it.

Just messing around with the electricals might break something else, making a diagnose even harder.

photos !

Black smoke and rich sounds like unburnt fuel, and sudden power loss sounds like it might be an ignition problem.

For example one coil going out and car is running on 4 cylinders.

Humm maybe your coolant is not circulating for some reason. Water pump? The radiator inlet and outlet hoses should get very hot when thermostat opens up and coolant starts flowing though. You should just let the mechanic deal with it since it started after timing belt replacement.

I was just suggesting to look at the simple things first.

Its normal for gauge to be at midpoint.

You ran the engine without coolant in it? ! All you had to do was replace the thermostat.

Alternator

there is also an alternator fuse that may be blown...could that be an issue u know. if so, i believe it still needs replaced, how do i take it out. i tried but i couldnt get it.

I doubt its the fuse. Check the fuse box near the battery. I got mine rebuilt for $150 and put it in myself. This is after I had the power steering leak fixed for abour 6 months (but that was the cause, so you need to fix that first).

The replacement will be done from below. Take off serpentine belt. Remove one nut from top. get under car. Remove round plastic wire plug from alternator. Remove hold downs for AC pipes. Remove other bolt from bottom. Twist the whole alternator so that you can unscrew the second wire. Carefully maneuver out the alternator. Its a tight squeeze. Kinda like your car having a baby....

Alternator

Motor mount replacement DIY: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=348679

I would not try to open the door with a slim-jim. My friend locked his keys inside his 1997 LS and had the door opened that way. After that, the lock mechanism, door handles, and alarm did not work properly. All of the hardware inside the door had to be replaced at a very high cost. I don't remember the exact figure, but it was several hundred dollars.

klausbj, what kind of shape is the windshield in? A new windshield only costs about $150, and at that age, it probably needs replacement anyway. You may as well break that to get inside. It is certainly the least expensive piece of glass to replace. You would spend the same amount hiring a locksmith.

A mobile glass guy might be able to save you the hassle of cleaning up the glass by removing it instead of breaking it.

Thermostat.

Then, sparks, wires, distributor caps etc. Use premium gas, full air in tires.

Since it cools off when in motion, your thermostat is probably stuck close. New one is about $20.

Once again, Its the thermostat dude.

Since it cools off when in motion, your thermostat is probably stuck close. New one is about $20.

Or it could be something relatively cheap like the throttle position sensor. Hard to diagnose online.

This is not completely true

Which part is not true?

Well its easy to remove the thermostat and check it. At room temperature it should be fully closed. Then if you drop it in boiling water it opens up.

Also if it is stuck open the temp gauge needle will not go past halfway mark like it should.

Also if when the car is in motion the temp needle drops, thats a bad sign too.

Here you go: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...showtopic=14708

bali,

could you expound on this a bit?

what is the connection?

Hi,

Thermostat prevents engine coolant from going to the radiator to be cooled until the engine heats up to the right temperature. It is at this point the ECM starts regulating the fuel by listening to the O2 sensors. Before this the engine runs rich (to heat up cat convertors)

So if your thermostat is bad (stuck open usually), engine will never reach proper temperature and your engine will run rich giving you very bad mileage.

I was doing all this stuff and still getting 13mpg city. Then i changed my thermostat for about $20. (Needle was below half mark)

Now I get 19mpg.

In my 91 ls400, I just jack up drivers side (at the jacking point), and am able to easily remove the filter as well as drain bolt.

Also i haven't changed the gasket last couple of times. There is no leak.

Whole thing Takes like 10 minutes.

yes the rectangular box is attached to the pipe. There is a bolt on the passenger side. Take it out carefully..

There is a fill hole for engine right next to the thermostat.

Welcome, Seems like coils were your problem. Trying to fix electricals is risky...

I think Its near the left rear wheelwell. Theres a cover on it. Should be same procedure as 91. Search.