AnnG

My 2004 RX 330 has 105 thousand miles, good condition, regularly serviced. Serviced 2 weeks ago but check engine symbol and VSC light just went on. Lexus Manhattan advised new shocks at a cost of $3300 incl. installation and advised "fault code for canister and rail" at $1300. Seems highly excessive. Are both these the reasons for both warning lights and what is a reasonable cost to fix?
P.S. I already tried the gas cap adjustment which the forum said is sometimes the cause of VSC warning. I'm clueless about all this. Grateful for any advice.

Adamjeeps

Did they give you the error code? If they didn't, get the code read at a parts store for free.

New struts for $3,300 is crazy high, you could get this done at a shop for less than $1,000 easily. Do you have the air suspension? The shocks being bad would not cause an error code unless you had a problem with the air suspension, if you had it.

Its hard to tell about the $1,300 without knowing what they propose to do.

RX330inFL

In reading through various forum threads, when the topic of Lexus of Manhattan comes up it is usually in a good light. No real complaints about the service they are receiving there.

More than likely the warning lights on the dash and the shock/strut issue are separate. Do you have the air suspension package on your RX? If you do not then I would be even more assured they are not related.

Yes, $3300 for new struts all around is high as previously mentioned. This can wait until later unless the vehicle is difficult to drive in its current state. Any competent shop can replace these. They are made by KYB, are easily obtained and many shops receive such parts from a company such as WorldPac which supplies the dealerships as well. Unless you have the air suspension package the cost for the parts would be perhaps $500-$750 if you were buying them depending on where you shop. The rest is their labor rate.

Regarding the warning lights, would be talking with your service writer to get a better idea of exactly what is wrong and exactly what they will be replacing and why. It sounds like they are referring to the EVAP canister, however, without specific details one cannot be really sure. This part would normally only go bad if the gas tank were routinely overfilled. Knowing what error codes you are receiving would go a long way in allowing us to assist you further.

AnnG

THANK YOU. very helpful. I do have air suspension and I will have it looked at elsewhere to see if it is necessary now. They did mention the canister so I'll explore that with them.

RX330inFL

With the air suspension, those repairs can get very expensive. Do they really need to do each corner or is only part of the system malfunctioning?

AnnG

I never wrapped up last year - as it turned out, the car did not need new shocks, only a canister which was installed by a trusted mechanic, AutoSport in Sharon CT, at half the price. Running well now.Told Lexus Manhattan they were a bit aggressive in their service recommendation - an understatement.

Rainbird

Good job, it pays to shop around.