2015 GS350 RWD F-Sport, 84k miles

I was at a light, it turned green, when I accelerated the car started bucking and slowing down. I heard a sort of rattling noise from the front of the car right before it completely died, all the dash lights came on including check engine.

Tried starting it up, but got nothing. I called a tow truck and waited. It arrived about 15 minutes later and I accidentally tried starting it up again (out of habit). It did power up and I could hear the engine turn once then died again.

Any ideas?

Hopefully it's something easy like an alternator and not some kind of catastrophic engine failure

 

Get a OBD II reader and see if any codes were thrown first. Then you can get a general idea of what the issue may be.

 

Had it towed to a Lexus repair shop and heard the bad news. The engine is completely seized and will need a replacement
They can't tell me exactly what went wrong until they pull the engine and take a look at the internals. Everything else looked fine outside the engine.

Looking through some engines on ebay, seeing some in the $1,700 range from what seems like sellers with good ratings.
Also read on here that labor may be around 2500, but I won't know for sure until the shop gives me a proper estimate tomorrow.

I've had it for about 44k miles (bought it with 39k and now has about 84k) with a lot of spirited driving on the freeway. Oil has always been changed every 4800 miles, but perhaps should have been every 3k miles the way I drive.

Just wanted to share, will post more updates

 

Sorry to hear you have this problem as this is not normal for a GS350 with only 84k miles. When you say you did spirited driving, were you over revving past redline? What about the driving makes you think had something to do with it?

Also what Oil type and weight and filter were you using? Look on car-parts.com for engine options also.

 

Never overreving, I always left it in auto, but I would take it up all the way to red line occasionally on the freeway. I also always put it in Sport+ on the freeway so it would hold the revs higher compared to normal or eco mode.

Not sure what type of oil, but I always took it to a Lexus shop (not dealer) and they usually follow whatever the factory recommendations are for filters and oil.

 

Very sorry to hear that. This is, indeed, very rare.

 

@bashzero - This 'Lexus repair shop' you apparently trust to do oil and filter changes - how much on a scale of 1 to 100 do you trust them to honestly tell you about this problem you're having?

There's probably only a .0000000000001% chance your engine is seized and will need a replacement.

I don't care if you've run that damn engine to the redline rev limiter and held it there for 24 straight hours. That's right! How about 180 straight hours of full-throttle redline operation? Seriously, that engine is a rock solid beast and tested to endure much more punishment than you've given it!

Read this!




You probably have a failed starter that is locked up or a bad sensor not allowing the engine to turn over or start...

 

I took it to Clear Choice Independent Lexus here in Houston, been taking it thee since I got it in 2019.

Is it worth taking it to the dealer to get a second opinion?

 

Hell yes! I wouldn't trust that damn outfit to fill my windshield washer reservoir.

This right here is ABSOLUTELY STUPID: Lexus repair shop saying the engine is completely seized and will need a replacement - can't say exactly what went wrong until they pull the engine and take a look at the internals.

This is the kind of **** a scam outfit tells unsuspecting, naive people - setting them up for the expectation of a big repair bill.

I bet you didn't hear any screeching or grinding or banging noise, or see any oil smoke or signs of intense heat - did ya? That engine isn't seized up any more than the hinge on your driver side door is seized up.


I seriously doubt there is anything wrong with the engine. It needs replacing about as much as your belly button needs replacing...

 

Hearing that a 2GR seized is insane, lol

 

Get a second opnion..

 

Unfortunately the OP will now need to tow his car a second time, from the hack Lexus Indy shop to a real Lexus dealership's service department.

 

Spoke with the tech again and he did mention that he tried to crank it manually (wrench on the crank) and it wouldn't turn over at all, which is a sign of it being seized (as I've seen from watching videos on the subject) and ballpark, could be around 8k for a new engine and labor.

 

Other reasons an engine won't turn over using a wrench on the crank is the locked-up starter gear engaged on the flywheel, a broken timing chain entwined in a pulley/guide, or an accessory (e.g. A/C compressor, water pump, generator) locked-up that is driven by the serpentine belt.

Did the tech check the starter and/or remove the serpentine belt prior to manually trying to turn over the engine?

There is almost always telltale signs prior to - or just after - an engine seizes up. So, was there any metal-on-metal screeching, grinding or knocking - - or smoke coming from the engine when it died? Any spilled fluids (coolant, oil) from the engine after it died? Any burning smell?

 

Yea they removed the belt and tried the manual crank and wouldnt budge.
Final quote is around 11k for a new engine and labor.
Wondering if I should still have the dealer look at it? They said it would be around 300 for inspection/diagnostics.

They did check for leaks, oil and coolant, and nothing was found.