IS 500 - CEL problem and update
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Joined: Dec 2021
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From: USA
This happens to all carmakers no matter how good their long term reliability is. The first model year (and sometimes even second year) of a new car will ALWAYS have problems pop up that don't show up in testing. Every carmaker, yes even Toyota/Lexus, will suffer from this.
8th Gear
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 8
Likes: 9
From: TX
That’s great news..!! 
@jg13219
Please list the OEM part numbers on the invoice, so I can compare / reference existing part numbers we have used on IS F & RC F .
Joe Z
@jg13219
Please list the OEM part numbers on the invoice, so I can compare / reference existing part numbers we have used on IS F & RC F .
Joe Z
Edit: May or may not be the same thing, but also seeing # LE90917-06070.
Last edited by jg13219; Jan 28, 2022 at 07:27 AM. Reason: Clarification on part #
Lexus Fanatic
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From: Under an IS F since 2008
2 gaskets - 90917-06070
Exhibit A
Joe Z
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 556
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From: ID
UPDATE ON CEL / OXYGEN SENSOR ISSUE - ignore if want
Well, this is the 15th day that I've owned my IS 500, and 13 of those days have been spent with it sitting at a dealership awaiting repair. The second oxygen sensor finally came in today, but that did not fix the problem. Now they want to order an exhaust manifold and replace that. Who knows how long that'll take, much less when I'll get the car back and even more importantly if replacing the exhaust manifold will actually get the car to a point where it works reliably. In total I've taken the car on four errands/trips/etc, and on two of those trips it broke down (well, threw CEL and multiple other warnings). Goes without saying that my optimism isn't high. Obviously changing an exhaust manifold in a tight engine bay like the IS 500 is not an easy chore, which is frustrating as this is a brand new car that is about to get torn apart in what feels like a search for a needle in a haystack.
I was assigned a case number from Lexus Corporate last Tuesday, but Lexus Corporate has only called once, leaving a voicemail. I have reached out to them 8+ times and still can't reach a live human being who gives two cents about this problem. The idea that Lexus will stand behind you is quickly becoming a fallacious myth. It's always "someone will call you back within one business day" ... which we're now on the fourth business day and that still hasn't happened. Even worse is they say they're calling every day, but the number they're calling is a Google Voice number and there are no missed calls per Google - and the one time they did actually call they of course left a voicemail, which I received and promptly called back, only to be told for the umpteenth time that my case manager is on the phone with a presumably far more important customer.
Related - was told that the other IS 500 they sold will have to be towed in from Wyoming to Boise for similar repairs. Good luck to that owner - it's clear at this point that they don't know what is causing the problem, otherwise the right parts would've been order 12 days ago.
Well, this is the 15th day that I've owned my IS 500, and 13 of those days have been spent with it sitting at a dealership awaiting repair. The second oxygen sensor finally came in today, but that did not fix the problem. Now they want to order an exhaust manifold and replace that. Who knows how long that'll take, much less when I'll get the car back and even more importantly if replacing the exhaust manifold will actually get the car to a point where it works reliably. In total I've taken the car on four errands/trips/etc, and on two of those trips it broke down (well, threw CEL and multiple other warnings). Goes without saying that my optimism isn't high. Obviously changing an exhaust manifold in a tight engine bay like the IS 500 is not an easy chore, which is frustrating as this is a brand new car that is about to get torn apart in what feels like a search for a needle in a haystack.
I was assigned a case number from Lexus Corporate last Tuesday, but Lexus Corporate has only called once, leaving a voicemail. I have reached out to them 8+ times and still can't reach a live human being who gives two cents about this problem. The idea that Lexus will stand behind you is quickly becoming a fallacious myth. It's always "someone will call you back within one business day" ... which we're now on the fourth business day and that still hasn't happened. Even worse is they say they're calling every day, but the number they're calling is a Google Voice number and there are no missed calls per Google - and the one time they did actually call they of course left a voicemail, which I received and promptly called back, only to be told for the umpteenth time that my case manager is on the phone with a presumably far more important customer.
Related - was told that the other IS 500 they sold will have to be towed in from Wyoming to Boise for similar repairs. Good luck to that owner - it's clear at this point that they don't know what is causing the problem, otherwise the right parts would've been order 12 days ago.
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 9,593
Likes: 4,784
From: GA
UPDATE ON CEL / OXYGEN SENSOR ISSUE - ignore if want
Well, this is the 15th day that I've owned my IS 500, and 13 of those days have been spent with it sitting at a dealership awaiting repair. The second oxygen sensor finally came in today, but that did not fix the problem. Now they want to order an exhaust manifold and replace that. Who knows how long that'll take, much less when I'll get the car back and even more importantly if replacing the exhaust manifold will actually get the car to a point where it works reliably. In total I've taken the car on four errands/trips/etc, and on two of those trips it broke down (well, threw CEL and multiple other warnings). Goes without saying that my optimism isn't high. Obviously changing an exhaust manifold in a tight engine bay like the IS 500 is not an easy chore, which is frustrating as this is a brand new car that is about to get torn apart in what feels like a search for a needle in a haystack.
I was assigned a case number from Lexus Corporate last Tuesday, but Lexus Corporate has only called once, leaving a voicemail. I have reached out to them 8+ times and still can't reach a live human being who gives two cents about this problem. The idea that Lexus will stand behind you is quickly becoming a fallacious myth. It's always "someone will call you back within one business day" ... which we're now on the fourth business day and that still hasn't happened. Even worse is they say they're calling every day, but the number they're calling is a Google Voice number and there are no missed calls per Google - and the one time they did actually call they of course left a voicemail, which I received and promptly called back, only to be told for the umpteenth time that my case manager is on the phone with a presumably far more important customer.
Related - was told that the other IS 500 they sold will have to be towed in from Wyoming to Boise for similar repairs. Good luck to that owner - it's clear at this point that they don't know what is causing the problem, otherwise the right parts would've been order 12 days ago.
Well, this is the 15th day that I've owned my IS 500, and 13 of those days have been spent with it sitting at a dealership awaiting repair. The second oxygen sensor finally came in today, but that did not fix the problem. Now they want to order an exhaust manifold and replace that. Who knows how long that'll take, much less when I'll get the car back and even more importantly if replacing the exhaust manifold will actually get the car to a point where it works reliably. In total I've taken the car on four errands/trips/etc, and on two of those trips it broke down (well, threw CEL and multiple other warnings). Goes without saying that my optimism isn't high. Obviously changing an exhaust manifold in a tight engine bay like the IS 500 is not an easy chore, which is frustrating as this is a brand new car that is about to get torn apart in what feels like a search for a needle in a haystack.
I was assigned a case number from Lexus Corporate last Tuesday, but Lexus Corporate has only called once, leaving a voicemail. I have reached out to them 8+ times and still can't reach a live human being who gives two cents about this problem. The idea that Lexus will stand behind you is quickly becoming a fallacious myth. It's always "someone will call you back within one business day" ... which we're now on the fourth business day and that still hasn't happened. Even worse is they say they're calling every day, but the number they're calling is a Google Voice number and there are no missed calls per Google - and the one time they did actually call they of course left a voicemail, which I received and promptly called back, only to be told for the umpteenth time that my case manager is on the phone with a presumably far more important customer.
Related - was told that the other IS 500 they sold will have to be towed in from Wyoming to Boise for similar repairs. Good luck to that owner - it's clear at this point that they don't know what is causing the problem, otherwise the right parts would've been order 12 days ago.
Anyway, any in-depth discussion on this should go to the CEL thread.
Lead Lap
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,592
Likes: 4,953
From: GA
@jororo - Holy crap, what a nightmare!!
”Related - was told that the other IS 500 they sold will have to be towed in from Wyoming to Boise for similar repairs. Good luck to that owner - it's clear at this point that they don't know what is causing the problem, otherwise the right parts would've been order 12 days ago.”
I can’t remember, did you get a LE? If not, Lexus should get you a new vehicle from a different batch.
”Related - was told that the other IS 500 they sold will have to be towed in from Wyoming to Boise for similar repairs. Good luck to that owner - it's clear at this point that they don't know what is causing the problem, otherwise the right parts would've been order 12 days ago.”
I can’t remember, did you get a LE? If not, Lexus should get you a new vehicle from a different batch.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 1,051
From: Alberta
If I were you I'd insist on having the exhaust gaskets either replaced or simply re-installed. It baffles me that the techs know by now that this is the primary reason for the CELs on these cars and yet didn't just try that first.
Anyway, any in-depth discussion on this should go to the CEL thread.
Anyway, any in-depth discussion on this should go to the CEL thread.
Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,799
Likes: 1,985
From: SoCal
Jororo - Sorry this is getting worse. It's weird we haven't heard back from others who had this problem, like lexussingh. At this point I think either your techs are extremely incompetent or they're just finding excuses to keep your car in the shop. Maybe they like looking at it or are taking turns on joyrides. Something is off.
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (10)
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 13,441
Likes: 1,076
From: Under an IS F since 2008
UPDATE ON CEL / OXYGEN SENSOR ISSUE - ignore if want
Well, this is the 15th day that I've owned my IS 500, and 13 of those days have been spent with it sitting at a dealership awaiting repair. The second oxygen sensor finally came in today, but that did not fix the problem. Now they want to order an exhaust manifold and replace that. Who knows how long that'll take, much less when I'll get the car back and even more importantly if replacing the exhaust manifold will actually get the car to a point where it works reliably. In total I've taken the car on four errands/trips/etc, and on two of those trips it broke down (well, threw CEL and multiple other warnings). Goes without saying that my optimism isn't high. Obviously changing an exhaust manifold in a tight engine bay like the IS 500 is not an easy chore, which is frustrating as this is a brand new car that is about to get torn apart in what feels like a search for a needle in a haystack.
I was assigned a case number from Lexus Corporate last Tuesday, but Lexus Corporate has only called once, leaving a voicemail. I have reached out to them 8+ times and still can't reach a live human being who gives two cents about this problem. The idea that Lexus will stand behind you is quickly becoming a fallacious myth. It's always "someone will call you back within one business day" ... which we're now on the fourth business day and that still hasn't happened. Even worse is they say they're calling every day, but the number they're calling is a Google Voice number and there are no missed calls per Google - and the one time they did actually call they of course left a voicemail, which I received and promptly called back, only to be told for the umpteenth time that my case manager is on the phone with a presumably far more important customer.
Related - was told that the other IS 500 they sold will have to be towed in from Wyoming to Boise for similar repairs. Good luck to that owner - it's clear at this point that they don't know what is causing the problem, otherwise the right parts would've been order 12 days ago.
Well, this is the 15th day that I've owned my IS 500, and 13 of those days have been spent with it sitting at a dealership awaiting repair. The second oxygen sensor finally came in today, but that did not fix the problem. Now they want to order an exhaust manifold and replace that. Who knows how long that'll take, much less when I'll get the car back and even more importantly if replacing the exhaust manifold will actually get the car to a point where it works reliably. In total I've taken the car on four errands/trips/etc, and on two of those trips it broke down (well, threw CEL and multiple other warnings). Goes without saying that my optimism isn't high. Obviously changing an exhaust manifold in a tight engine bay like the IS 500 is not an easy chore, which is frustrating as this is a brand new car that is about to get torn apart in what feels like a search for a needle in a haystack.
I was assigned a case number from Lexus Corporate last Tuesday, but Lexus Corporate has only called once, leaving a voicemail. I have reached out to them 8+ times and still can't reach a live human being who gives two cents about this problem. The idea that Lexus will stand behind you is quickly becoming a fallacious myth. It's always "someone will call you back within one business day" ... which we're now on the fourth business day and that still hasn't happened. Even worse is they say they're calling every day, but the number they're calling is a Google Voice number and there are no missed calls per Google - and the one time they did actually call they of course left a voicemail, which I received and promptly called back, only to be told for the umpteenth time that my case manager is on the phone with a presumably far more important customer.
Related - was told that the other IS 500 they sold will have to be towed in from Wyoming to Boise for similar repairs. Good luck to that owner - it's clear at this point that they don't know what is causing the problem, otherwise the right parts would've been order 12 days ago.
Don’t worry @jororo we are on your side..!!
I agree that some members here on CL are here for other agenda's, but making sure you get the correct support from
the brand falls on them solely.
Can’t find if you supplied this info in the past… Do you have the specific code(s) your IS 500 is experiencing??
For example: P031A is specific to the LH side only.. which means there is nothing wrong on the RH side..
However, if and when replacing the one time use crush gaskets I would agree doing both is correct..
I would not be replacing both O2 sensors unless there was a code for both - same for the costly exhaust manifolds with Primary CATs.
Hope you can ask them to tell you EXACTLY what codes are going off related to the CEL.
Joe Z
7th Gear
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 7
Likes: 40
From: WY
Parts came in today and repair was done on my car. This dealership had two LEs at the same time and apparently there was a Lexus rep in town and when he learned that there was two cars with the same issue side by side he came to assist, so I was told. Parts were already here for the other car by the time I showed up so I had to wait a couple of days before mine was fixed. I’m assuming they learned from the first car being fixed as well as all the other many cars having the same issue so they were able to get mine done fairly quick once parts came in. I believe they just replaced the exhaust gaskets. So far so good but more mileage will tell. I still have to make a long drive back to Wyoming from Utah.
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