My girlfriend just bought a 2009 IS 250 with 80,000 miles from Carmax. She was passing a car on the freeway when the car suddenly died. The check engine light came on and it wouldn't start. After about 15 minutes she was able to start the car again. She never had this problem before and hasn't had it since. Any ideas?

 

Maybe have to do something with recall double check with Lexus dealer.

 

Battery and Fuel Pump, are you in Toronto Canada ? my friend 2009 Lexus IS250 also died on Highway couple days ago lol he has the car towed to his shop, he's a mechanic.

Your girlfriend 2009 IS250 and my friend 2009 IS250 were made by the same GUY and Production line and the QC guy, because they died at the same time.

 

Suddenly dying with on the freeway with 80K miles? That sounds like carbon build up. Return that **** to CarMax and get your money back. The car is a piece of ****..

 

Loose battery cable from pre-purchase inspection perhaps?

 

When my alternator quit so did the engine. Would not run with the defective alt.

 

Gville350 and Lexustom got the answer.

 

Carbon don't leave you in the middle of Highway bro, never ever, carbon would misfiring slugging stuttering weakening the Engine, it stalls only when you stop the car if its a major build up, but in that case you wouldnt drive the car right ?

My friend 2007 IS250 AWD was something like carbon build up, now his car drives like new because he listened to my theory of how an Engine works. His car rarely service except oil change

i changed out his spark plugs, put in Mobile 1 synthetic, change all dealer's transmission transfer and diff cases fluids. filled up Super Supreme gas for at least 2 weeks, dealer's air filter, reset his ECU by unplug the battery, yep new battery too, Lexus battery.

I told him to drive hard drive like a pro Racer, push the RPM to 4-5k RPM all the time on highway for 2 weeks, after 3 weeks, he just called me and said i'm a God, his car drives perfect now, gear shift and engine respond much better now. He has 135k Miles on his car by the way.

If you leave the car sit for 6-8 months, you wouldnt expect the car to drive normal, ecu code will pending, the car would not pass Emission test ! if you drive the car like an old man the car would die fast. every engine will have carbon deposits, more or less it will !

YOu can check the forum and Google how many of drivers like us get problem with Carbon and how many of normal driving get carbon issue ! push the car to the limit sometimes not good for the transmission but its good for the Carbon cleaning. Just don't hit REDLINE with your RPM you're be fine.