Seeking Advice on Troubleshooting 2014 Lexus ES Hybrid Issues: Black Smoke, Power Loss, and Increased Fuel Consumption

Hey there, sounds like you're dealing with quite the mess! For context, I'm not a professional mechanic but I've dealt with my fair share of car gremlins. I had a somewhat similar situation with my 2012 Lexus GS Hybrid not too long ago. Check engine light came on and it stalled more often than it should have. The cause turned out to be a defective wiring harness/plug. I took it to my local mechanic that I've been going to for years. They did the usual diagnostics tests, and then told me that the defective wiring harness/plug was messing with the engine. The total cost of repair and labor was 95€. Of course, this might not be the exact same problem with your ES Hybrid, but I figured my experience could still give you an idea about what to expect. Do you know when the last time your car had a thorough check-up? It's usually a good idea to know its overall state. Let me know if this was helpful and if there's anything else you need information about. Cheers!

Hey, appreciate your quick response! Yeah, it does sound like a similar situation with your GS Hybrid. I haven't thought about the wiring harness. Good point! My car had its last thorough check-up at the last service, not too long ago at 82,072 km. The mechanic didn't mention any issues then, but I guess there could have been something developing. I'll definitely take your advice and have it checked out. This gives me a good starting point for the conversation with my mechanic. Thank you for sharing your experience, that does put my mind at ease! Cheers!

Hello again, you're welcome! It's quite interesting how these pesky car issues sneak up on us, isn't it? Honestly, in most situations, even a recent inspection wouldn't predict upcoming faults since they can develop suddenly. Given your car's symptoms, it could indeed be the wiring harness or it could be something completely different. But don't worry! A good service team will be able to diagnose the issue quickly. One more thing, I learned from my ordeal is to keep chronicling the symptoms as detailed as possible—it really helps the mechanic have a clearer picture rather than ambiguous statements like 'engine isn't working well'. Keep us updated on the situation. Good luck at the garage, I hope the repair won't burn too big a hole in your pocket! Stay safe and cheer up, your Lexus will be back to its smooth ride in no time! Cheers!

Hey, couldn't agree more, it's like the car has a mind of its own. Story of every car owner's life, aye? And yeah, you're right. Even with regular checks, something or the other can pop up anytime, leaving us guessing. Excellent suggestion about detailing the symptoms; I'll make a note of it. Could make a lot of difference in troubleshooting. Fingers crossed that it's nothing too serious, and the good ol' machine gets back on its feet quickly without leaving me broke. Thanks for all the advice. Really appreciate it! Will update you on what happens. Until then, cheers and take care too!