JayD

I am not sure as it went to the mechanic. It has been reset, and the check engine light is off. However, it had gone on before the problem hit.

Thanks for your response. My understanding, and I could be wrong, is that the water pump is not a small deal. I was quoted a very high price. I was told it was because one has to take apart almost half the engine to get to the pump... To do the MAF, water pump, and oil leaks: $3,200... But what I am really hoping to know is if folks agree with the defective MAF Sensor diganosis...does this fit the symptoms I originally posted awhile ago? Thanks again! Jason (aka Jay)

Hi All: hope everyone had a great holiday season! Okay, it took me awhile, and the car sat for 5 weeks in the driveway, but I did have it checked by a good mechanic. He stated that the initial problem was that "the MAF sensor was defective." apparently these are not cheap... other problems were that the water pump is leaking (modestly) which it was not doing when i brought it in: pretty severe oil leaks, from the valve cover gasket. Also noted the fan belts were cracked... Does his diagnosis seem to answer my original question as far as what was wrong??? I am at the crossroads as far as whether to pull the trigger on this LExus (over 200K miles) or try to fix it one thing at a time. The MAF is supposedly about $750-850, and about an hour to install. I was thinking I might be able to run a used one down for a couple hundred? Then perhaps use a seal from autozone or the likes to try to fix the pump? the leak is not that bad, but I have no idea if this will work.... Then i could go after the oil leak... Trying to figure out if it is worth trying to get this done, or if I am hoping against hope. ALso curious if this diagnosis makes sense. Any help...including where to buy used Lexus parts...would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Jason

Huh, that makes sense. Thank you very much for the responses, and I will check that out. Very much appreciated, Jay

If no one has any advice, I am hoping for possibly a good referral to someone in the sf bay area.... much thanks! Jason

Hi Group: New Member question here, and thank God I found this group! I have a 92 LS 400 with a bit over 200K miles on it. No major problems thus far. I drove the car about 55 miles to work, then at the end of the day got back in and when i turned it on it seemed okay, but then there was very little power once i started moving. I would press on the gas and the car would only move very slowly and without much power. I stupidly drove it about half a mile, and then it started smoking from underneath. I immediately pulled over and had the car towed to my mechanic. My mechanic, who is great with cars in general, is not a Lexus specialist. He reported that there was too much gas in the system (he could smell it even coming out of the exhaust pipes!) and also that the electrical had seemed to shut down, and he could not get in to "talk" to the car's computer, or whatever it is. He suggested i tow it to someone who handles more japanese imports than he does. Any suggestions/recommendations? I had thought it was a transmission problem right off the bat, but hopefully I am wrong! Any help you could give would be great!! Thanks, Jay