BACKGROUND INFO: A few months ago, some punk put Rolo candy into my gas tank. By the time I realized what had happened I had already driven the car about 50 miles. The caramel had made its way into the fuel system and injectors. I took it to Lexus in Cherry Hill. They told me that I needed to drop the fuel tank and have it cleaned out. I needed 6 new injectors and to have the whole system flushed. With no other viable option I complied. After about a week I got my car back. It was fine for a day and soon after the same problems were comming back. So I took it back to Lexus. Once again, I needed 6 new injectors and my system to be flushed. At this point I had already dropped abour 2000 into this. My wife works at a Dodge dealership. So this time I took it there since labor and parts would be alot cheaper. The tech there told me the same thing. I needed a system flush and 6 new injectors. He didnt say he needed to clean the tank this time because he was under the assumption that Lexus had done it already. After new injectors, he realized that there were still Rolo's stuck in the tank. He dropped the tank and saw caramel along the pipe that leads to the engine and there were WHOLE Rolo's in the pipe that you put the gas nozzle into. Basically, Lexus said they dropped the tank and cleaned it out but they didnt do that but charged me. Since the candy was still in the tank it clogged the injectors again. At this point, the tech told me i needed a whole new gas tank because the original was too clogged. When I went to Lexus about this, the manager refused to take blame and refused to reimburse me the 6 injectors and new gas tank. I dont know what to do with this. Can I call Toyota Headquarters and demand reimbursement?

NEW PROBLEM: Somehow, cylinder number 3 began to misfire but with 4500 already spent and a baby on the way, I didnt have the funds or the time to get it fixed. This led to injector number 3 to fail and the cataylst converter to get clogged beyond belief. Now I need another injector which i can get at cost, 150. The converter, however is going to cost 900. So my question is,

Can i get a aftermarket exhaust that will include a catalyst converter?
Can I get a used converter from somewhere and if I can, can somebody point me in the right direction.
What should I do about Lexus lying to me?

P.S. I'v never been disrespected by anyone the way the manager at Lexus In Cherry Hill NJ has. He blatently refused to meet with me on several occasions and repeatedly dodged my phone calls. At one point, I called him from outside the dealership and asked to speak to me. I was put on hold, and the lady told me that he was out for the day. I walked into the dealership and there he was.

Thanks for reading and for any help you can provide. Sorry for the long post.

 

What terrible service. That really sucks.

Do you know which catalytic converter has been clogged? And how do you know for sure that it's clogged and that your #3 injector has failed? There are 3 cats on the car (2 on exhaust manifold and 1 on the y-pipe); and I think there's probably more than just misfires for your to determine that the injector has failed.

You can post a "want to buy" request in the marketplace forums on here and on IS300.NET for the parts you need. I just would never go back to that dealer or really any dealer for parts, unless they're hard to find, but what you're looking for, you should be able to get something for much cheaper used. Otherwise, search around online. Good luck.

 

hey thanks for the info. well i was told by the tech at goodyear that i needed a new injector and a cat. ill find out which cat is clogged. the way i know its clogged is because the car does not move when i push the accel. there is no power but the engine turns on

 

Do you have a check engine light as well? I've had my car bog down as well and not accelerate when pressing the gas, but it was because my car was running too lean. If your O2 sensors are damaged or the ECU is getting "bad" O2 reading, then that could also cause your car to bog down. A clogged cat could definitely cause those "bad" O2 signals to the ECU.

Knowing the OBDII codes that triggered a check engine light could also help identify what really is the issue. I don't really like it when people say that your injector is bad and your cat is clogged; I'd prefer that they prove it and show me to make sure before I spend lots of money.

 

well the person that is fixing the car now is a family friend, so im pretty sure he isnt screwing me. also, two different techs have told me the same thing

 

That wasn't what I was implying. I just wanted you to be sure that all these extra costs were necessary.

 

ohh definitely, im sure thats what i need. just, the parts are real expensive

 

If I get a aftermarket exhaust system such as Greddy, does it come iwth a Cat Converter?

 

No, hence the term "cat back", meaning anything from the cat and beyond. Catback systems usually come with a B pipe and the exhaust unit.

 

The easiest and probably cheapest way to replace your bad catalytic converter is to purchase a used exhaust manifold (which has 2 cats) or y-pipe (with has the 3rd cat) depending on which one is bad.

 

I understand. So unless I used one, im screwed. Nobody makes a aftermarket one correct?

 

TurboEast (http://www.turboeast.com) does sell an aftermarket y-pipe (race pipe) with a high flow cat. Aside from that, I don't know of any available that are specifically made to replace part of the IS300 exhaust system.

Another option is to buy a cat of your liking and have it weld into the exhaust piping. Or you can just get aftermarket parts and get rid of your cats for some added power and louder exhaust.

 

thank you very much. your info has been very helpful!!!

 

How did this kid get into your tank to start with.....did you leave the gas filler door unlocked?
Or did he just jimmy or pry his way in and break the lock?


Anyhow, that's water over the dam. One thing, I'm thinking, that might be able to help.
IMO, what happened here was vandalism. Damage from vandalism is usually covered under the Comprehensive part of your insurance policy....assuming you have it, and I can't see why you wouldn't have both collision and comprehensive on a fairly new car. If you can show that someone dumped candy in the tank (and the mechanic has already found pieces of it and can back you up on that), you might get insurance to pay for (minus the deductable, of course) a whole new fuel tank, exhaust system, injectors, and converter. If not the whole bill, then maybe a major part of it.

Flipside......you on the channel here? You're an adjuster........ What do you think? Has he got a good case? I think so.

 

Hey sorry to hear about all this man!

I just did full exhaust system on my car... The high flow cats(I needed 2) were $150 each...
I don't know what lexus is telling U man, If U consider I can help...