dealer can't figure out this problem, says to change engine!
02-12-04, 10:44 PM
#1
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
dealer can't figure out this problem, says to change engine. WTF?
Anyways, the car is not mine. It is my GF's sister's car. The car is a 1998 GS300 with about 130k miles on the odo.
I tried some searches, but was unsuccessful. Probably, not searching for the correct items...
anyways: here's the details ->
About a month ago, the car started to have some odd behavior. The brake light would come on and off. I ended up filling up brake fluid. Brake light went away.
Then a week later, the car got a Check Engine Light. Not so long afterwards, the VSC and VSC off lights both came on at the same time. So basically, the car had a lit Check engine light, VSC, and VSC off.
She took it into the dealer about two weeks ago, the dealer said that the car needed a new VVTI sensor
and a new timing belt. Okay, she told them to go ahead with the work. They also noted that everything
else seemed to check out fine. Fluids were all good and idle of the car was excellent. They recommended that she replace the brake pads and rotors. She also gave them the green light for it. The service rep told her that the car should be good to go after the repairs. COOL!
Two days later, the car was done. She went to pick up the car. TO HER SURPRISE, the dealer decided that they would change the water pump without her consent. The dealer had never informed her about the additional water pump part. The service rep went on by saying that the original one was cracked.
It was leaking coolant all over the place. HM... I never smelled coolant or saw a puddle of coolant on the ground. FISHY.... They ended up charging her only for the part when she questioned them about
changing the original service agreement and not informing her about the additional part. She paid and drove it for about three days. Driving normally, again... the Check engine light, VSC, and VSC off lights came on again. She called up the dealer and they told her to bring it back. Fine, so... a day later she brought it back. They told here that it was fixed again. So, she drove off with the check engine light, VSC, and VSC off lights gone.
Four days later, the lights were back. She called the dealer. The told her to bring it back again. At the dealership, a different service rep told her that they could not do anything because of the number of miles on the car. (HM... I never knew Lexus vehicles expired after a certain number of miles to Lexus service)... They told here that the engine would probably have to be replaced... and that there was a lot of gummy deposits on here pistons. WTF??!?!?! They said that they could not do anything else.
--- Hm... so, basically... paying $1200 for service and parts for repair before
was for nothing? ----
anyways, I took a look at my service book... which by the way doesn't compare to the HONDA / ACURA HELMS books... these service books suck!!!!! 2 parts of spelling mistakes, grammar mistakes,
and information that goes nowhere. SAD... ok... so after about 30 minutes of digging through the book, I found out that the VSC, VSC off, and check engine light all on meant that the ABS ecu was malfunctioning. So, before I go remove the ABS ecu out of my GS400... has anyone had this problem before? if so, what was the fix? I've traced all of the circuit paths... and it basically boils down to two things... abs ECU or a malfunctioning relay... any help would be great! thanks!
by the way...
does anyone know who I can contact to inform corporate
LEXUS of ignorant service personnel? THIS ENTIRE
ORDEAL IS MAKING MY HONDA SERVICE LOOK BETTER...
I tried some searches, but was unsuccessful. Probably, not searching for the correct items...
anyways: here's the details ->
About a month ago, the car started to have some odd behavior. The brake light would come on and off. I ended up filling up brake fluid. Brake light went away.
Then a week later, the car got a Check Engine Light. Not so long afterwards, the VSC and VSC off lights both came on at the same time. So basically, the car had a lit Check engine light, VSC, and VSC off.
She took it into the dealer about two weeks ago, the dealer said that the car needed a new VVTI sensor
and a new timing belt. Okay, she told them to go ahead with the work. They also noted that everything
else seemed to check out fine. Fluids were all good and idle of the car was excellent. They recommended that she replace the brake pads and rotors. She also gave them the green light for it. The service rep told her that the car should be good to go after the repairs. COOL!
Two days later, the car was done. She went to pick up the car. TO HER SURPRISE, the dealer decided that they would change the water pump without her consent. The dealer had never informed her about the additional water pump part. The service rep went on by saying that the original one was cracked.
It was leaking coolant all over the place. HM... I never smelled coolant or saw a puddle of coolant on the ground. FISHY.... They ended up charging her only for the part when she questioned them about
changing the original service agreement and not informing her about the additional part. She paid and drove it for about three days. Driving normally, again... the Check engine light, VSC, and VSC off lights came on again. She called up the dealer and they told her to bring it back. Fine, so... a day later she brought it back. They told here that it was fixed again. So, she drove off with the check engine light, VSC, and VSC off lights gone.
Four days later, the lights were back. She called the dealer. The told her to bring it back again. At the dealership, a different service rep told her that they could not do anything because of the number of miles on the car. (HM... I never knew Lexus vehicles expired after a certain number of miles to Lexus service)... They told here that the engine would probably have to be replaced... and that there was a lot of gummy deposits on here pistons. WTF??!?!?! They said that they could not do anything else.
--- Hm... so, basically... paying $1200 for service and parts for repair before
was for nothing? ----
anyways, I took a look at my service book... which by the way doesn't compare to the HONDA / ACURA HELMS books... these service books suck!!!!! 2 parts of spelling mistakes, grammar mistakes,
and information that goes nowhere. SAD... ok... so after about 30 minutes of digging through the book, I found out that the VSC, VSC off, and check engine light all on meant that the ABS ecu was malfunctioning. So, before I go remove the ABS ecu out of my GS400... has anyone had this problem before? if so, what was the fix? I've traced all of the circuit paths... and it basically boils down to two things... abs ECU or a malfunctioning relay... any help would be great! thanks!
by the way...
does anyone know who I can contact to inform corporate
LEXUS of ignorant service personnel? THIS ENTIRE
ORDEAL IS MAKING MY HONDA SERVICE LOOK BETTER...
Last edited by TerryTCL; 02-12-04 at 10:46 PM.
02-13-04, 12:54 AM
#2
Pole Position
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I don't have any knowledge to lend you, but what you're describing is the exact thing that was happening to an 'alledgedly' CPO '01 GS430 I test drove. I started it up, the CEL, VSC, and VSC Off light all come on!!! On a CPO!!! Needless to say the salesman was slightly embarrassed! 
02-13-04, 05:19 AM
#4
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Hey Terry...
I had a similar situation, you might want them or you take a look at a blown cylinder....never had the problem ever since(knocking on wood)...hope that helps.
-R-
-R-
02-13-04, 06:09 AM
#6
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Ya I would try another dealer, the one you are working with is obviously an idiot. All they are doing is clearing the codes for a week so you gf sister thinks it is fixed. Morons.
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02-13-04, 07:30 AM
#8
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
Re: vsc light
Originally posted by angelslex
I seen this before and the fix was a bad coil and i seen the same thing happend to a
toyota solara and guess what it was a bad coil give that a try .
I seen this before and the fix was a bad coil and i seen the same thing happend to a
toyota solara and guess what it was a bad coil give that a try .
the car definitely doesn't sound to be misfiring.
it drives very well, except now there's no VSC...
and the ABS doesn't work either.
i think it's gone into safe mode...
02-13-04, 07:30 AM
#9
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Another dealer would be a good idea. Even an independent mechanic would be a good idea just to back up the diagnoses.
But don't tell them what you’ve done already or what the dealer recommends let them figure it out.
If you are getting "Check Engine Lights" It's a smog system related issue.
If the engine really needs replaced there are several options.
Rebuilt, Low mileage replacement, or a new engine.
Look at it in the terms of $$$$. How much is the car worth?
How much is it to replace the engine?
If the engine is 50% of the value of the car, get rid of the car.
It's not worth the continued cost to operate it.
If the engine has 130K miles on it so does the rest of the car.
One more thing when you replace the engine this will devalue the car even more.
Best of luck to you,
Tim
But don't tell them what you’ve done already or what the dealer recommends let them figure it out.
If you are getting "Check Engine Lights" It's a smog system related issue.
If the engine really needs replaced there are several options.
Rebuilt, Low mileage replacement, or a new engine.
Look at it in the terms of $$$$. How much is the car worth?
How much is it to replace the engine?
If the engine is 50% of the value of the car, get rid of the car.
It's not worth the continued cost to operate it.
If the engine has 130K miles on it so does the rest of the car.
One more thing when you replace the engine this will devalue the car even more.
Best of luck to you,
Tim
02-13-04, 07:32 AM
#10
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
Re: Hey Terry...
Originally posted by RU-INAW
I had a similar situation, you might want them or you take a look at a blown cylinder....never had the problem ever since(knocking on wood)...hope that helps.
-R-
I had a similar situation, you might want them or you take a look at a blown cylinder....never had the problem ever since(knocking on wood)...hope that helps.
-R-
ouch... i'll check the cylinder...
it's odd though... the check engine light is always on, but
the VSC and VSC off lights do not come on until I start moving the car.
nevertheless, i will check the engine...
maybe just a fowled plug?
crossing fingers
02-13-04, 07:33 AM
#11
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
Originally posted by ChrisK
Terry,
What dealer did you take the car to? Did you try a different dealer?
Terry,
What dealer did you take the car to? Did you try a different dealer?
Chris,
not yet... the dealer we went to was woodfield...
i totally give them the
for service...the service associates have no clue...
02-13-04, 07:35 AM
#12
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
yep, if i'm unable to find out what the problem is...
i will take the car to another dealer..
i was fired up when i heard that the service rep told her that
she needed a new engine...
i will take the car to another dealer..
i was fired up when i heard that the service rep told her that
she needed a new engine...
02-13-04, 07:37 AM
#14
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
Originally posted by Timster
Another dealer would be a good idea. Even an independent mechanic would be a good idea just to back up the diagnoses.
But don't tell them what you’ve done already or what the dealer recommends let them figure it out.
If you are getting "Check Engine Lights" It's a smog system related issue.
If the engine really needs replaced there are several options.
Rebuilt, Low mileage replacement, or a new engine.
Look at it in the terms of $$$$. How much is the car worth?
How much is it to replace the engine?
If the engine is 50% of the value of the car, get rid of the car.
It's not worth the continued cost to operate it.
If the engine has 130K miles on it so does the rest of the car.
One more thing when you replace the engine this will devalue the car even more.
Best of luck to you,
Tim
Another dealer would be a good idea. Even an independent mechanic would be a good idea just to back up the diagnoses.
But don't tell them what you’ve done already or what the dealer recommends let them figure it out.
If you are getting "Check Engine Lights" It's a smog system related issue.
If the engine really needs replaced there are several options.
Rebuilt, Low mileage replacement, or a new engine.
Look at it in the terms of $$$$. How much is the car worth?
How much is it to replace the engine?
If the engine is 50% of the value of the car, get rid of the car.
It's not worth the continued cost to operate it.
If the engine has 130K miles on it so does the rest of the car.
One more thing when you replace the engine this will devalue the car even more.
Best of luck to you,
Tim
it's definitely not the engine...
i took the car around the block last night... the car is still strong...
the car drives like it doesn't have a check engine light...
everything works okay... except for the VSC...
i tried testing out the ABS and couldn't get it to engage... but then again,
the roads were dry...
i think a tune up on this car is in order...
i think i should even check to see that they did replace the timing belt...
who knows... maybe they just cleaned it up..
