I bought a 2007 IS 250 about a year ago. It has about 85K miles on it. Check engine light came on and dealership has had it for a week to run diagnostics. Today they said it needs a new short block because it was "running too rich" and has a cylinder with low compression. Reading all these posts about carbon build up, I am wondering if there is any hope this is a defect that can be covered? The car itself is not worth the $11K they quoted

If this repair is out of pocket and Lexus wants non of it just buy a used engine way more affordable and a relief of sort to your pockets

LOL. The classic "we don't want to do it so we'll give them an insanely high price to tell them to go elsewhere". A used 4gr-fse engine will run you anywhere from $500-2k depending on mileage and year (reportedly, you can use the 14+ 3IS 4gr-fse). An independent mechanic will probably charge anywhere from 700-1500 to install it.

Honestly, I'd get a second opinion first. Have another mechanic do a compression test. It may just be experiencing the carbon build up problem.

Thank you both. Dealership and Lexus corporate say the "warranty enhancement" for the engine misfire/carbon build up issue doesn't apply for me. Dealership is clarifying that is not the issue -- the connecting rod that is bad. They gave me a quote of $6400 for a used motor install. I'm at a loss. Now I have to decide whether to just keep driving it, engine light and all, or invest more. Total value of the car is $10K so that doesn't make sense to me.

There's a guy in the classifieds selling a brand new 4gr for 2k https://www.clublexus.com/forums/2ge...rom-japan.html

Offer him 1500 and then get a guy for 500 to install it...And if your married tell your wife it's 11k still and pocket the rest for mods...

A bad rod doesn't cause low compression. It'll be the piston or the valve OR a combination of both.

Yeah, like others have said, get a used motor and pay some shop to install it. Pretty straightforward if swapping in the exact same motor and using your same trans.

Good luck!

A bent rod can definitely cause low compression, depends what they meant by 'bad' I suppose.

I have a good 4GR-FSE I'd let go very cheap, shipping would be a pain though.

Jeff

If you're going to drive it "engine light and all" and aren't too fussed on fixing it...

Pull the dash out and remove the CEL globe. Problem solved

Although, if you were going to fix it, do as what the others have said and check the private market for a used engine, 11k is rediculous, I'm in Aus where we pay 4x the amount you guys do and even i'm laughing at that quote.

True! But using the term "bad" instead of "bent" rod by a professional mechanic...really? LOL!

I would think with a bent rod, you'd start having other problems pretty quickly. I don't think the engine would run for much longer.

Certainly get a second opinion on what's going on in there. At the very least, you can get the codes read at a local autoparts store.

Wolfman - Sorry about my uninformed other post on your other thread regarding compression, as I'm just now finding this thread. Care to share any updates after 5 months? Oil consumption now nil, I hope!!