LX470 Losing Power and Steering While driving - throwing Check Engine and A/T Code (1 Viewer)

[hartsy8]

Hi all! Having some real issues with my 2001 LX470 that now has 250k miles. Truck has been meticulously maintained and has had all maintenance items followed on schedule. Recently, while driving on the highway, the truck lost all power (no give when hitting the gas) and the power steering locked up. I was able to limp off the highway and get a tow. My mechanic said the codes thrown were related to a speed sensor. Great! This made sense! There was a gasket that had started to deteriorate and the sensor was all gunked up. Drove the truck away with no problems after gasket and sensor were replaced. Next day I go to start the car and it will not start.. Same engine and A/T lights presenting. When the tow truck arrives 2 days later the truck starts up just fine. I still end up getting it towed to the shop. This time, since there were no codes, mechanic can find nothing wrong. Checked every bit of wiring he could and could not diagnose the issue, especially since the truck was consistently starting for him.

Cut to several days later, after a day or two of starting and driving just fine. The truck dies pulling out of my driveway... Same symptoms with the same lights. I am able to pull over, cut the engine, restart the car, car starts just fine and all codes go away, and we continue to drive. about 15 minutes later the car dies again on the highway with same symptoms. I able to get to a shoulder, cut the engine, and restart the car just fine, all codes go away, and we are able to drive final 10 minutes to our destination. later the evening the car started just fine and got us home.

Any ideas what this could be? Don't feel comfortable driving the car or having my wife drive it without getting stuff on the highway. What should I be looking for? Any ideas where my mechanic should start?

Appreciate the help!

 

[hartsy8]

Anything I should be trying if it does not initially start?

 

[Trunk Monkey]

You mentioned "all the codes go away" a few times - are you talking lights on the dash, in particular the check engine light symbol? If that turns on, there will be a stored code you can read with a cheap OBD reader.

From your description it sounds more like a fuel issue, has the fuel pump ever been replaced?

 

[hartsy8]

You mentioned "all the codes go away" a few times - are you talking lights on the dash, in particular the check engine light symbol? If that turns on, there will be a stored code you can read with a cheap OBD reader.

From your description it sounds more like a fuel issue, has the fuel pump ever been replaced?

Thanks for the reply! Poor wording on my part, you are correct - I mean the engine lights on the dash all went away. Both the check engine and A/T light. Apologies there, I am working towards a better understanding of how to diagnose and tackle these issues myself! I do not have an OBD reader, probably worth getting at the LX continues to age. How long are those codes stored? When the car started up to go back to the shop my mechanic could not seem to grab any codes with no light on.

I do not believe the fuel pump has ever been replaced. I had the same inkling after the second incident where I had lost throttle for a few seconds before the dash lights came on.

 

[daohaus]

Buy and OBD reader and carry that with you, but look into the fuel pump

 

[hartsy8]

Buy and OBD reader and carry that with you, but look into the fuel pump

I will give that a try... Hoping thats all it is