Lexus IS250 4GR-FSE Engine Carbon Build-up (merged threads)
08-19-12, 08:44 AM
#1111
well I will post this AGAIN.. works well as an preventative maintenance to keep your valves clean. But seems most people just wants free fixes from the dealer?
Really, you should be proactive to prevent the problem, much better than waiting until you get a check engine light then beg the dealer to tear down your engine at an early age.
http://vimeo.com/3989681
Really, you should be proactive to prevent the problem, much better than waiting until you get a check engine light then beg the dealer to tear down your engine at an early age.
http://vimeo.com/3989681
08-19-12, 01:11 PM
#1112
well yesterday i think i got my first taste of this. my fiance was driving when all of a sudden she says whats wrong with the car? we weren't at a light or anything, we were just driving along a normal road after exiting a freeway, but no stop. it started to shudder a bit, and she said it felt like we were running out of gas or about to stall, power cutting in/out.
The check VSC came up on the display, traction control light was on, and the CEL was flashing. we limped up to the next light and shut the car off and turned it back on and of course everything back to normal. We'll be taking it to the dealer tomorrow as soon as they open to see whats up.
I want to like this car so much but these things definitely scare me especially with us having bought this used. We are still under powertrain warranty until middle of next year, so hopefully we can enjoy this car the way its supposed to be!
here is what our cluster area looked like...
The check VSC came up on the display, traction control light was on, and the CEL was flashing. we limped up to the next light and shut the car off and turned it back on and of course everything back to normal. We'll be taking it to the dealer tomorrow as soon as they open to see whats up.
I want to like this car so much but these things definitely scare me especially with us having bought this used. We are still under powertrain warranty until middle of next year, so hopefully we can enjoy this car the way its supposed to be!
here is what our cluster area looked like...
08-20-12, 09:45 AM
#1113
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so we took the car to lexus this morning....and of course none of the CEL or other lights are on. The service desk advisor tells us that it'll be about an hours worth of "diagnosing". He said it would involve them taking the car around and driving it for a bit to see if they could replicate the issue. If they can replicate the issue, and diagnose it to be a warranty-able issue, then of course its all covered. if they can't find anything then its $139. what a crock...i'm not paying them $140 to "TRY" and get the CEL to come back on, only to find out that i'm gunna be out all this money because they couldn't do it.
For those who have ran into this situation....what did you all do? i mean i could get my fiance to keep driving it around and replicate the issue but it's happened twice now in 2 days, but i don't wanna pay these guys for nothing...
For those who have ran into this situation....what did you all do? i mean i could get my fiance to keep driving it around and replicate the issue but it's happened twice now in 2 days, but i don't wanna pay these guys for nothing...
08-20-12, 09:53 AM
#1114
Lexus Test Driver
If the light came on, then the code is set in the OBD, tell them to scan and read all pending codes. If there are any (as they should) then any further diagnosis is warrantable. If there are no codes, then, and then only should they charge you for the additional diagnosis if you authorize them to do so after they read the current codes?
Which Lexus dealer did you go to? Kingsway?
Which Lexus dealer did you go to? Kingsway?
08-20-12, 10:06 AM
#1115
if the light came on, then the code is set in the obd, tell them to scan and read all pending codes. If there are any (as they should) then any further diagnosis is warrantable. If there are no codes, then, and then only should they charge you for the additional diagnosis if you authorize them to do so after they read the current codes?
Which lexus dealer did you go to? Kingsway?
Which lexus dealer did you go to? Kingsway?
08-20-12, 10:12 AM
#1116
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kingsway does not exist any longer, we only have the lexus of edmonton on the west end, 170st.
I told them to hold off on it for now. I'm gunna go and grab my own OBD scanner and see if i can pull up any pending codes etc as you guys say they're "stored".
i sent my fiance back to the dealer and had her ask the service advisor if there was a "code memory" or what they would do for "diagnosis". He told her that there was no memory, and that a tech would drive the car around for 30-45 minutes trying to replicate the issue. He said the 1st hour of diagnosis is $139, and anything further would need a call to us and verification to continue first.
i'm not about to pay them $140 to do that, so i think i'll grab my own scanner first or find an independent shop that will pull the codes for us so we can go back in there prepared.
I told them to hold off on it for now. I'm gunna go and grab my own OBD scanner and see if i can pull up any pending codes etc as you guys say they're "stored".
i sent my fiance back to the dealer and had her ask the service advisor if there was a "code memory" or what they would do for "diagnosis". He told her that there was no memory, and that a tech would drive the car around for 30-45 minutes trying to replicate the issue. He said the 1st hour of diagnosis is $139, and anything further would need a call to us and verification to continue first.
i'm not about to pay them $140 to do that, so i think i'll grab my own scanner first or find an independent shop that will pull the codes for us so we can go back in there prepared.
08-20-12, 10:16 AM
#1117
Lexus Test Driver
Have your gf impress the SA by telling him that according to OBD-2 specs, that all cars 1995 and newer, are required to store pending codes unless overwritten, and then, have her ask for a service manager.
08-20-12, 10:18 AM
#1118
that's bull, they pulled codes from my car multiple times before the fix. lexus even has a machine they use while test driving it trying to replicate the issue and although they felt nothing in my car it was having issues.
08-20-12, 10:27 AM
#1119
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we're gunna grab our own scanner and see if i can get into the stored codes to see. She's also going to check out wilson's auto tech "toyota/honda" independent specialists to see if they'll be a bit more helpful. i hate being thought of as a complete dolt by service advisors, should be the other way around
08-20-12, 10:41 AM
#1121
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the only problem with us here is that we only have 1 lexus dealer (another opening in the fall), so its not like i can take it to another place...
08-20-12, 11:15 AM
#1123
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well I'm just out of ideas...
Hooked up my autel maxiscan ms409 to the obd and it linked up fine. checked both the engine and a/t units and neither had any codes in either stored or pending.
The first instance we had was Sunday morning around 2am and then again Sunday afternoon.
I guess I'll just keep the scanner in my car and wait for the next one...unless Lexus has some sort or magical scanner? at least I just saved myself $150
Hooked up my autel maxiscan ms409 to the obd and it linked up fine. checked both the engine and a/t units and neither had any codes in either stored or pending.
The first instance we had was Sunday morning around 2am and then again Sunday afternoon.
I guess I'll just keep the scanner in my car and wait for the next one...unless Lexus has some sort or magical scanner? at least I just saved myself $150
08-20-12, 03:24 PM
#1124
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well I'm just out of ideas...
Hooked up my autel maxiscan ms409 to the obd and it linked up fine. checked both the engine and a/t units and neither had any codes in either stored or pending.
The first instance we had was Sunday morning around 2am and then again Sunday afternoon.
I guess I'll just keep the scanner in my car and wait for the next one...unless Lexus has some sort or magical scanner? at least I just saved myself $150
Hooked up my autel maxiscan ms409 to the obd and it linked up fine. checked both the engine and a/t units and neither had any codes in either stored or pending.
The first instance we had was Sunday morning around 2am and then again Sunday afternoon.
I guess I'll just keep the scanner in my car and wait for the next one...unless Lexus has some sort or magical scanner? at least I just saved myself $150
I had the exact same problem as you, a dealer here in the bay area told me the same stuff and sure enough they couldn't replicate the issue. I refused to pay the $140, basically played dumb about how the warranty worked, and then contacted corporate. The dealer gave me back the car a day later and said they would work with corporate for a solution, however if they couldn't ok the repair then I was on the hook for the money.
I called up another local Lexus dealer, talked to the SA and explained my issue. He held on to the car for a bit and got the repair approved by corporate. I never heard from the original dealer again, and got the piston replacement completed.
I have no idea why some dealers are so difficult with these documented repairs, it almost seems like they either don't want to admit these cars have issues(since they get paid either way) or they are trying to look good in the eyes of Lexus corporate. some times it's just the SA that's the problem, sometimes the dealer is at fault.
08-20-12, 03:37 PM
#1125
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I had the exact same problem as you, a dealer here in the bay area told me the same stuff and sure enough they couldn't replicate the issue. I refused to pay the $140, basically played dumb about how the warranty worked, and then contacted corporate. The dealer gave me back the car a day later and said they would work with corporate for a solution, however if they couldn't ok the repair then I was on the hook for the money.
I called up another local Lexus dealer, talked to the SA and explained my issue. He held on to the car for a bit and got the repair approved by corporate. I never heard from the original dealer again, and got the piston replacement completed.
I have no idea why some dealers are so difficult with these documented repairs, it almost seems like they either don't want to admit these cars have issues(since they get paid either way) or they are trying to look good in the eyes of Lexus corporate. some times it's just the SA that's the problem, sometimes the dealer is at fault.
I called up another local Lexus dealer, talked to the SA and explained my issue. He held on to the car for a bit and got the repair approved by corporate. I never heard from the original dealer again, and got the piston replacement completed.
I have no idea why some dealers are so difficult with these documented repairs, it almost seems like they either don't want to admit these cars have issues(since they get paid either way) or they are trying to look good in the eyes of Lexus corporate. some times it's just the SA that's the problem, sometimes the dealer is at fault.