gs350 valve spring recall
 

so i work for lexus as a tech and have done multiple IS350 and GS350 spring recalls. i dont own one but from doing multiple recalls and hundreds more to come i would gladly hand my keys to the dealership as ive noticed lots of negative talk about it. it is a big job, we replace the springs with heavy duty springs, replace the hydraulic lifters with new ones and all the gaskets and seals. the valve spring kit alone costs 1500$ every one that i have done has had noticably better acceleration, increased throttle response and all around more power. besides the fact that as techs we get screwed by only getting paid 7 hrs for the whole job that takes 11-14 depending on the tech i think as a customer you should be thrilled. as long as the tech doesnt make a mistake and damage something, which even if that did happen lexus or the dealership would have to cover the mistake. the worst part of the recall is trying to set up the cam chains. the timing is very tricky. swaping the springs with the special tools is a breeze

Thanks for chiming in. Looking at the TSIB, cam timing with the multiple chains looks pretty tricky. I think the most important step (for the tech) is not forgetting to pressurize the cylinder before removing the retainers! That would be a big oops.

Although it only pays 7 hours and may take 11-14 right now, the more and more you do, the faster you will get. Back in the days when I was still wrenching, the 4Runner 3VZ head gasket campaign was huge. They paid 8 hours, I beleive, and yeah it was a struggle at first. But after doing tons of them, we were knocking them out in 3-4 hours.

I'll be bringing my 350 in soon to get it done. I really wish I could do it myself but am lucky enough to have a buddy of mine that I used to work with at the dealer and I really trust do it for me.

Hello
Thanks for chiming in and calming a lot of us down, which dealership in new york do u work for? If its bayridge lexus i will request you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

no i work for dorschel in rochester. and for the record i have poped a retainer off and the air supply valve was shut off on me. thanks to a friend. haha the valve dropped but it caught the valve stem oil seal and just sat there. i think thats the most likely case. but who knows

Very glad to hear about the improved performance. Is it something you can just feel, or is there some sort of measurable improvement, short of doing a dyno before and after.

interested in knowing this too as my had car did not have any sort of drastic change IMO post recall..

ALE recall... Get your spark plugs changed.
 

Short and sweet.

Get your spark plugs changed, no labor, ask them to do it when they are doing the recall.

The plugs must be removed when the recall is performed, so the cylinder can be filled with air, to keep the valves up.

If you are near the 60k service interval this is a good way to cut the cost, then just get a 30k service to cover the rest.

I'll be taking in my car soon. I need to make an appt

i've been waiting for lexus to send me a recall letter but still nothing.. should i just call in?

I have a few friends that work at Lexus and they absolutely loath being called in to do the valve spring recall lol. Their main complaint is that they only get paid 7 hors for 11-14hrs of work. It's bad enough to the point where they have to draw straws to force techs to do the recall lol.

i thought only master techs get to work on this??.....

that's too bad.

That's the most disconcerting part..... those few techs who rush a job just to squeeze in one less hour.

I like the phrase "penny wise, pound foolish".
I hope that is not the case here, cuz if they screw up, it will cost them more

Earlier on today i called lexus, asked whats going on with the recall. They said they have been doing it for over a month.... I was like how come i never got a letter? she says there is one specialist who is doing it, and he is only doing 1 car a day. For a huge 30+ lifts in bay ridge lexus and only one tech doing it? Well anyways i called in and got an appointment on tues. WISH ME LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you know how to fix rattles yet?

Mine has been in 4 times and the rattles subside for about 4-5 months and then they come back. This is my biggest bit*h about this car.

First post, I found this thread looking on google to see what the buzz was on the street about this recall.

I'm a Lexus tech and while the first few can take 8 to 10 hrs on the GS350/IS350 I can do them working at a comfortable pace in 6 hrs.


Of course I do have 30 years experiance as a tech, but the V-6 is fairly simple to work on.

I'll be starting on the LS460's in the next week or so & I'll post up how those go.

Let me know how the V8 goes.

I'm glad you can do it comfortably in the allowed time. The post by Tyler disturbed me - I can imagine less conscientious techs doing rushed work if they don't get paid for the time it takes.