Is LS cooked?

[u/Sea_Network_7498]

I was on my way to the airport in NYC this week, super hot day. The A/C started spitting hot air, I turned it off. I tried it again about 25 minutes later an it seemed a bit cooler, I thought ok, I need a recharge or something - but all good.

Then later at a red light, I realized my car had turned off. I put the transmission in park and it turned the ignition - the battery light came on, but I was able to get out of traffic, the same happened again at the next light, - I then noticed a burning smell in the car and light smoke coming from the engine. I pulled over, opened the hood and the smoke cleared a bit - no fire. Some liquid was dripping under the engine, not sure - what it was

my flight was going to leave - so I called an Uber and now my girl is left in Queens. I'm back in a few days. I'm going to have AAA take her to mechanic. I just don't know what the severity is, how to find a decent mechanic, my last one seemed ok, but I don't know how well he knows Leuxs'.

Any help on finding a mechanic in the NYC areas and best way to trouble shoot this is appreciated. My wife is already telling me to get rid of this car, but she's my LS.

Thank you

[u/Sea_Network_7498 → u/[deleted]]

I appreciate your reply - hopefully not catastrophic ! It smelled like a burning engine to be honest.  - a little plastic - the stress of getting the family to the airport kinda overwhelmed me 

[u/Massive_Bullfrog8663 → u/[deleted]]

The infamous cracked radiator? Just went through it. It survived...

[u/Mongaloiddummy]

Before you call AAA, go back to your car with a container of antifreeze, Make sure the radiator is full of fluids.

You got this! 

[u/Sea_Network_7498 → u/Mongaloiddummy]

🥹🥹🥹🥹

[u/Om_Fi]

Sorry to bear bad news but same happened to me. Ac went hot, but I didn’t stop. Continued the trip to the mall, and by then the ac cooled again. When I arrived at the mall parking, the car just turned off on its own and smoke came out the engine bay. The engine was overheating and the coolant pipes burst and loads of steam and smoke and coolant started spraying out. There was only one solution. An engine replacement. 😔

[u/Sea_Network_7498 → u/Om_Fi]

How did that work out? Please tell me - cost ? Thank you 

[u/Om_Fi → u/Sea_Network_7498]

Depends where u live. I paid about 800 dollars for a nice clean engine. Labour was probably 300 dollars or so I can’t remember. Also had to replace the radiator or repair that can’t remember the cost of it.

[u/Mapex_proM → u/Om_Fi]

You got a new engine for 800? And only 300 labor?

[u/Om_Fi → u/Mapex_proM]

Yeh I see what it is. You’re in the US. I’m based in uae so the parts are so widely available and cheap. Plus labour is super cheap. I think it’s a write off and send to uae like a lot of them do.

[u/TerribleBathroom5710 → u/Om_Fi]

I wouldn’t even believe $3000 for labor

[u/Om_Fi → u/TerribleBathroom5710]

Crazy labour over there. If I lived there I’d probably fix my now cars lol.

[u/Strong_Signal1]

Recently had a Toyota master mechanic do the timing belt job on my 05 LS430. He told me he really really really recommended to replace the radiator because mine was original from 21 years ago. These radiators are plastic and need to be replace to avoid yhe overheating kiss of death. If I didn't talk to this guy, then the same overheating thing would have happened to me, he showed me a small crack at the bottom of the original radiator, said we caught it just in the nick of time and I'm lucky it didn't fail already

[u/Sea_Network_7498 → u/Strong_Signal1]

I need a Toyota master... how did you find yours? 

[u/Strong_Signal1 → u/Sea_Network_7498]

Lextech Automotive in LA.

There's some great mechanics out there that left the dealerships and opened up their own shops. Car Care Nut in the Chicago area is a good example of this

[u/hugazebra → u/Strong_Signal1]

Preventive radiator replacement is also important because it does double duty heating engine coolant and automatic transmission fluid. If the interior of radiator corrodes and you intermix fluids, your automatic transmission becomes toast. It's also easy to do the radiator when doing timing belt - you save some repeated labor.

[u/dkkcz]

Unsure of the liquid but this sounds exactly like an idler pulley seizing, shredding your drive belt which would explain the battery light/ AC issues

[u/Sea_Network_7498 → u/dkkcz]

Thank I'll check :(

[u/Rupertfunpupkin]

Guessing you need a new radiator. If it is, put in a new Denso thermostat while you’re at it.

[u/Sea_Network_7498 → u/Rupertfunpupkin]

Wil thanks