2014 Lexus ES Hybrid Issues: Black Smoke, Engine Light, and Suspected Fuel System Sensor Fault

Hey! I can definitely relate to your challenges. I had a similar bother with my 2011 Lexus RX Hybrid a while back. My rig had much the same symptoms - intermittent engine shutdowns, reduced power, weird exhaust odor, you name it. Turned out the culprit was not the Low pressure fuel system sensor, but actually a slew of nagging cable connection issues. It wasn't earth-shattering but could've turned into a serious issue over time if overlooked. The mechanic spotted the problem during a routine inspection (good thing I didn't ignore the flashes from the check engine light). Crucially, it was the cable connections to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) that were faulty. The signals being sent to the ECU were erroneous due to the dodgy connections, causing subpar engine performance and those unusual shutdowns. I'd suggest having your mechanic make a thorough check-up of the car, and specifically, inspect the cable connections. If they're corroded or loose, a simple fix should be enough to get your ride smooth and groovy once again. Good luck with it! Let us know how you get on.

Hey there, Thanks for sharing your experience - sounds all too familiar! Interesting to know that dodgy cable connections were causing you all that hassle! It's a good point you've mentioned about getting a thorough check-up, too - I'm gonna keep that in mind when I take my Lexus in. Just a quick one, if you don't mind - do you recall roughly how much you had to shell out to get these issues sorted? And since you've had it fixed, have you come across any new troubles related to the same thing? Looking forward to hearing back from you in your own time. Cheers!

Hey! Your question got me into a bit of a time-travel mode there! I remember the mumbo jumbo of cables and connections, and the bill that came along. As far as I recall, the repair costs for the defective cable connections were around 95€, give or take. It wasn't too harsh on the wallet considering the smoother ride it assured me afterwards. Now, in terms of any new issues, I've got a positive update for you. Since that trip to the mechanics, all has been well and good, knock on wood! Specifically answering your query about the Low pressure fuel system sensor, it was indeed fixed during that appointment. And thus far, it seems to be doing its job without a hitch. Hoping it goes as well for your Lexus when you take it in. Do keep us posted about the check-up outcome. Fingers crossed you get back to enjoying those smooth Lexus drives real soon! Cheers!

Hey! I appreciate you taking the time to dig into memory lane with that! It's a relief to hear that the cost wasn't as astonishing as I feared. Even more comforting though is knowing your Lexus has been in shipshape since then - here's hoping it stays that way. As for the Low pressure fuel system sensor, it's quite interesting to learn that yours got sorted in the same mechanic visit. That's really valuable info and I'll be sure to get mine checked out too. Once I've seen the mechanic and got the checks done, I'll definitely keep you in the loop about what they find. Maybe then I can finally get rid of that bothersome idle stalling and get back to the good old Lexus drives. Thanks a ton! Cheers!