JAM

Hi Everyone. I own the 2013 GS but my wife owns the IS 250 awd, 2012. She now has about 35, 000 miles and when either of us tries to start the car, the brake will not depress to start the car with the button starter. After two or three more tries, the brake depresses and car starts. When brake does not depress-frozen like a rock, message comes up to "depress brake pedal to start auto". It is sporadic, happens anytime especialyl in morning as my wife's car is not garaged like mine. Started happening when she had new brakes in rear at service. We had front brakes put on just recently. Lexus of Cherry Hill, NJ has had car twice and cannot find a problem, cannot duplicate and have no notice of any other IS 250 with this problem. Any asssitance here??

Jeff Lange

iTrader: (1)

Either someone is sitting in the car sometimes and pushing the brake pedal using up the stored vacuum in the booster, or the booster has a leak. Does anyone have access to the car at times when you've noticed the issue?

Jeff

Gville350

iTrader: (10)

In the 4+ yrs of owning my '06 350, I've experienced this same "stiff pedal" problem maybe three times. It usually appears out of the blue and lasts maybe 3-4 cold starts in a row. In my case I'm always able to start the car by giving the pedal one hell of a thrust; but the very first time it really caught me off-guard. Honestly thought my brake booster was shot. Was about to call for a tow when I tired giving it hell another time...and bam, started.

To this day, its a phantom issue; but at least I know when it happens I can "fix" it.

vicsis250

According to Lexus this happens when you get out of the car and you accidentally step on the pedal it lets the air out and bam stiff pedal

iNfectious

iTrader: (6)

It happens to me if my car sits more than a day. Most of the time, it felt firm and once in a while, I'd get a very stiff pedal. Never notice it when I have the car for the first couple of years. This is my third year. I thought it was a small leak also.

I let Lexus check it out during one of the recalls and the paper stated it was a normal firm pedal when there's no engine vacuum. When there's engine vacuum, it was a normal brake pedal feel.

600rr05

iTrader: (9)

this happens to me every now and then also and i do the same as stated above just press the hell out of the pedal and it will start.

andper10

I have noticed that the brake pedal firmness varies occasionally when starting the car. Every once in a while I have to push on it extremely hard to get the start button LED to turn green, but it doesn't bother me enough to try to investigate the issue. Interesting that it is not an isolated issue.

JAM

Thanks everyone for your feedback. Seems to be the vacuum as a common issue. Jeff, no one else uses the car but my wife and I. Let'see what happens at Lexus of Cherry Hill, NJ. Like some of you, no problem till car is almost 3 years old.

pheonix72

iTrader: (6)

Just to check my own curiosity, I went out to my car and pumped the brake with the car a off. The brake pedal became very firm after only 2-3 pumps. However I was still able to start the car without too much pressure on the brake.
I am wondering if the Safety switch behind the brake pedal has something to do with it. You should ask the dealer to re-adjust the switch so it is activated with less pedal's travel. Better yet, maybe just ask them to replace the switch since it might be on it way out.
This however doesn't answer WHY your pedal became firmed without you pressing the brake with the car OFF.
Let us know the outcome.