Engine Completely Died VSC/AC/Check Engine
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3
Likes: 1
From: TX
Engine Completely Died VSC/AC/Check Engine
Hello
I had a 2007 IS 350 with 137,000 miles on it. Ran perfectly. One day the engine starts making that squealing noise cars do when you need to change a belt(not sure if related). All of a sudden one day, I notice a "check AC" message on my touchscreen. The next day or so, the Check VSC, Check engine, and battery lights turn on and I lose power steering while driving. This would happen for 5 minutes and then completely stop almost as if the car was resetting and it would drive normally again. My battery was still pretty new. I schedule an appointment for 3 days later to drop it off because they had nothing sooner. I am still driving my car until then and on my way to drop it off a day early because I was worried about the issues, the car completely dies on the freeway. I have it towed to the dealership and they tell me that the engine is completely burned up with no explanation as to why. I am going back by there to find out more details soon and will report back. Does this sound familiar to anyone here? I have never had an issue with the engine prior to this, it drove amazingly up until this happening. Completely blindsided and now they say the only option is a new engine which costs more than the car is worth.
I had a 2007 IS 350 with 137,000 miles on it. Ran perfectly. One day the engine starts making that squealing noise cars do when you need to change a belt(not sure if related). All of a sudden one day, I notice a "check AC" message on my touchscreen. The next day or so, the Check VSC, Check engine, and battery lights turn on and I lose power steering while driving. This would happen for 5 minutes and then completely stop almost as if the car was resetting and it would drive normally again. My battery was still pretty new. I schedule an appointment for 3 days later to drop it off because they had nothing sooner. I am still driving my car until then and on my way to drop it off a day early because I was worried about the issues, the car completely dies on the freeway. I have it towed to the dealership and they tell me that the engine is completely burned up with no explanation as to why. I am going back by there to find out more details soon and will report back. Does this sound familiar to anyone here? I have never had an issue with the engine prior to this, it drove amazingly up until this happening. Completely blindsided and now they say the only option is a new engine which costs more than the car is worth.
CL Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,722
Likes: 347
From: NJ
I'm curious to hear the detailed explanation from the dealer. Was the car overheating when you tried to drive it to them?
Sounds like the serpentine belt broke. Driving without the alternator spinning would cause the battery to run down and a loss of power steering; driving with the water pump not spinning would cause the car to overheat and if you pressed on and ignored the overheating, severe engine damage.
Sounds like the serpentine belt broke. Driving without the alternator spinning would cause the battery to run down and a loss of power steering; driving with the water pump not spinning would cause the car to overheat and if you pressed on and ignored the overheating, severe engine damage.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3
Likes: 1
From: TX
I'm curious to hear the detailed explanation from the dealer. Was the car overheating when you tried to drive it to them?
Sounds like the serpentine belt broke. Driving without the alternator spinning would cause the battery to run down and a loss of power steering; driving with the water pump not spinning would cause the car to overheat and if you pressed on and ignored the overheating, severe engine damage.
Sounds like the serpentine belt broke. Driving without the alternator spinning would cause the battery to run down and a loss of power steering; driving with the water pump not spinning would cause the car to overheat and if you pressed on and ignored the overheating, severe engine damage.
Ouch! Yeah, sounds like the belt went MIA or the squealing was the water pump that ended up seizing up or breaking apart internally (bearing failure), which then caused a major overheating event in the engine. The overheating caused major internal issues with the cylinders, pistons, and piston rings and how they seal against each other. A leakdown test was performed showing the health of the engine is NOT GOOD.
Unfortunately you're only recourse now is to have the engine rebuilt OR have a used engine installed.
Unfortunately you're only recourse now is to have the engine rebuilt OR have a used engine installed.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3
Likes: 1
From: TX
Ugh, can any 2nd gen engine fit in mine?
Ouch! Yeah, sounds like the belt went MIA or the squealing was the water pump that ended up seizing up or breaking apart internally (bearing failure), which then caused a major overheating event in the engine. The overheating caused major internal issues with the cylinders, pistons, and piston rings and how they seal against each other. A leakdown test was performed showing the health of the engine is NOT GOOD.
Unfortunately you're only recourse now is to have the engine rebuilt OR have a used engine installed.
Unfortunately you're only recourse now is to have the engine rebuilt OR have a used engine installed.
Any 350's 2gr-fse from 06-13 should technically drop-in (there may be minor differences, may need someone who may have done a swap with a newer engine on an older car to confirm), I want to say even the 3IS's 2gr-fse should drop in if I remember right. You can't exactly drop in the 250's 4gr-fse unless you want to replace a bunch of parts.
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