wizhill

Hey Savon,

My ES also has about 7500 miles, and they just fixed this same problem on mine. They pulled the engine and resealed the timing belt cover. ::sigh:: This is after my transmission failed, my navigation failed twice (taking out all climate control with it), a strut leaked out all over my garage floor, etc. I sent a letter to Lexus asking them to replace the car, and they've agreed to do so. But now, after reading the posts from purebliss, I'm worried that my replacement may have the same problem. This stinks.

savon

I understand what you are saying after all that has happened to your car. I personally have lost confidence driving my car for long trips. I am going to wait until they address or fix these issues before I replace it with new one (if I decide to go with Lexus). I think you shoud be happy they are replacing your car without running you around. Just cross your fingers, there isnt that much you can do at this point. Who knew, after so many years of high quality built cars, toyota (especially lexus) would screw up so big.

ES350Bob

Crawled under the car this am and the spot I'm seeing seems positioned right under AC condensate line as I had thought and the only oily subtance I came across was on one black metal strut attached to engine, minor amount of oil which may have happened when they filled it, last night the neighbor insisted again I have an oil leak from what he had seen. I'll just keep an eye on it, but for now seems as though if there is one it is VERY minor, if not it is what I had believed, AC condensate line. Thanks Savon, Wiz and pure for bringing it to our attention.

jjbodean

i called bs on the gs350 thread because purebliss also claims there had been a production stop on the model, which i know for a fact is not the case. when someone make claims like that that i can easily debunk it tends to hurt the credibility of other claims made in the same thread. the jury is still out on this issue for sure.

still waiting for an answer from purebliss regarding his capacity at lexus. he stated he works for corporate - wish he would elaborate on this....

ES350Bob

jj,

If he directly answered your question about his capacity he'd very likely get fired, stop and think about it.

As for the stop production, he has backed off that somewhat but that is not to say he was not told by others as he stated that which caused the misinformation if it is misinformation rather than he himself making up something.

Oddly and very revealing, days after his GS thread, we now have 2 ES owners reporting they experienced exactly what he was warning about.

With your contacts, maybe you could directly ask if there is a kit coming out to address this chain cover which to me seems more important.

static

Oil getting into Coolant system? Isn't it MUCH worse if coolant gets into the oil and if one is possible, isn't the opposite also possible?

I lost an engine in a Blazer this way (coolant in the oil).

ES350Bob

Static,

I don't think it is the case the coolant is getting into the oil or the other way around, it is just that they need to pull the engine to fix this, so there will be a coolant loss doing this, or as some may be doing, removing the radiator to access this issue and repair it, same thing, loss of coolant when removing the radiator.

wizhill

Hey Bob, the leak I had was very minor. If driven daily and parked overnight there was never a drop. On several occassions when the car sat for 3-5 days without being driven was when I'd notice quarter-sized oil spots. A very minor problem, agreed, but troubling never the less for any new car, no less a Lexus.

onsknht

FWIW - - An oil leak from the timing chain cover which is a part that covers the front of the cylinder head could have required removal of the head to machine/grind down a piece of flashing or a recess to add sealant... Removal of the head always requires replacement of the gasket. This gasket seals the head to the block and coolant passes through the head and the block. The coolant would have needed to be drained in order to remove the head.

ES350Bob

wiz,

Thanks, I will be sure and keep an eye on it esp. since you describe it is that small when showing after sitting a few days.

What I saw so far, other than the neighbor claiming "AC condensate spots dry--- this doesn't--" to stir me up I guess....LOL..., is what looks like 1 large drop at best dribbled down a flat black strut, part of motor mount structure I believe that allows engine to pivot under stress.

Other than that no oil at all anywhere else showing up.

macaide

I don't know if this helps anyone or if the 07 Camry V6 has the same engine as the new ES350, but I just took my 07 Camry V6 in for its first 5,000 mile oil change and was told then of an oil leak. I was told the front seal had to be replaced. I haven't picked the car back up yet, but hope this is the end of my problems.

John5000

Read it and weep, Lexus has released the rumored oil leak TSB for the GS and IS. I noticed some oil on the front of my IS350 motor during the last oil change, thought I was just imagining things. This is like my third major issue with this car, I am starting to get P*SSED!!!

http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forum...D&page=2&pp=30

EG001-07 GR-FSE SERIES ENGINE OIL LEAK

wanderer99

wizhill - with a new trans, engine pulled and multiple nav failures amongst other things... man, I feel for you. How do you feel about getting another ES?

Savon - I hear you about lost confidence. I lost confidence in my car months ago, and that was before my first trans even had the TSIB valve body fiasco installed. If you lose confidence in the car, it doesn't help any when the manufacturer insists on installing a TSIB fix into your car that they know doesn't work.

John5000 - thanks for the TSIB link. This is definitely an issue now.

Purebliss - thanks for posting things as you see and hear about them. Sure, they're embarassing to Lexus but I think we have a right to know. Your information is greatly appreciated.

jjbodean - thanks for weighing in on the other side of the equation, it's nice to try and keep a balance. I'm always interested in what you write from the Dealer perspective. If I was a dealer, I'd be sweating all this stuff right now from a quality angle. Are the dealers voicing concerns to Lexus about the apparent quality slips this year?

The good news from all this (if there is any) is that some people in Lexus must have been fired by now. They must have been - they've been taking major QA shortcuts. If they haven't been fired, then things are only going to go further downhill as those same people continue to make the same decisions. Those decisions have led us to where we are today. I can't believe this is how Lexus the manufacturing company is in 2007. I guess 2008 can only get better from here!

ES350Bob

John5000,

Thanks for posting the TSIB link and welcome to the forum!

I noticed it indicates it pertains to 06 models even though we have already had several reports it involves 07 models too. Lexus is behind on this issue for 07 models.

Wanderer,

I do not believe the right people at Toyota/Lexus have been fired and likely will not be for some time as unlike a private company it can take years to get rid of bad apples in a public company. Our first clue of progress for owners will be when our CL members report they are offered their money back first trip to dealer service for the transmission, until then, the wrong people are still in charge at Toyota/Lexus.

GS2006

Even the CEO expressed concern about QA as they have grown. CEO new this was comming