Called and got a quote from the dealer $704 , the independent shop quotes $300 and an overnight. I got a call back from the shop saying the engine and transmission would have to be removed and labor would be $2400. Honestly I can't believe either quote is so high for something I've done myself on my 430 in less than an hr. The sensor is bank 2 sensor 1 , is this the best I'll be able to do?? can anyone recommend an independent shop in the Raleigh/durham area of NC or better yet a way to DIY this ?

 

I don't know a DIY, but honestly, on its face, it would seem absurd for that amount of labor ($2.4k) to be required. Serviceability is always a consideration during design, and I can't imagine (as tough as I do know certain repairs to be on these cars) that Lexus engineers would've done this. But, I could end up needing to take back my own words with my 600...

Having said this, what I'd do is subscribe to techinfo.toyota.com. Two days used to be $15. Money well spent, IMHO, as you'll see all of the "official" repair procedures.

 

I had this exact same fault code on my 2008 LS600hL a few years ago, and my Lexus dealer was able to replace the O2 sensor without pulling the engine. My car was still under the CPO warranty at the time, but the total bill from Lexus was only around $900 as I recall...

 

Did they explain why the cost was so high?

 

Lexus dealers are really expensive, that’s why the cost is so high.

Your LS600h is a lot more complex than your LS430 though.

 

I understand that dealers are typically more expensive but O2 sensors are basic and so is their install on 99% of vehicles. Just don't understand why toyota a would design a vehicle with mandatory sensor with a limited life would require 8+ hrs of labor. #moneypit

 

Your right, I would just get rid of the car because if that's what an O2 sensor costs what will the price be if the air bags or the hybrid battery fail. It's just not worth it.

 

The answer is they didn’t. The dealers labor rate is $100-150 an hour, if they’re charging $700 for the job including the part, then it isn’t 8 hours of labor. Your independent mechanic doesn’t know the car well and is dramatically overestimating the job.

Take it somewhere else. If Lexus will do it for $700 an independent who knows what he’s looking at will do it for $350.

But, if you wanted a car super cheap to work on you shouldn’t have bought the most complex LS ever made lol.

Sha is kidding but he’s not wrong. It $700 makes you flinch you have no business owning that car. Air suspension, hybrid batteries, hybrid inverter...this repair is a big yawn.

You're driving a $130,000 Lexus hybrid flagship, and I'm assuming its 10+ years old...why would you expect that to be cheap to work on?

 

So assume the dealer charges $200 for the part, You think it's reasonable to design a vehicle that takes 3- 5 hours for an oxygen sensor?

 

I think it is what it is. Do you want to complain about it or fix your car?

I drove my LS400 for over a year with a temperamental starter because Lexus designed a vehicle that took 8 hours of labor to replace a starter.

If you want an easy car, buy a Camry. Hell even my ES 300 need multi- hours of labor to replace the lower control arms, that was like $1,500 in parts and 8 hours of labor.

 

​​​​​​you didn't answer my question #moneypitbydesign

 

I think it is what it is at this point. It’s too late to discuss the design of the car, it’s irrelevant at this point. Time to pay up and fix it or don’t. Price the part and labor to as many Lexus dealers as possible and include some reputable independent shops as well. If this is your only issue with your vehicle then you will be in great shape. Good luck.

 

You should get rid of the car, it’s not for you. Sell it to somebody who can handle it.

 

I wish I had a good reason to go to techinfo (as I recommended to the OP) as I am truly curious about what the factory recommended procedure is. Alas, I don't, but for the next time, I have added this to the list. FWIW, I did edit my original post to make it clear I was speaking about the $2,400 number, which is eye-popping. $700 isn't chump change either, of course, but it's more within the expected ballpark.

Steve, I didn't realize it was 8 hours for an LS400 starter. That is nuts! As an engineer (but even before becoming one), I've always been sensitive to this sort of thing, and it reminds a bit of when I found out (in my early years of driving) that replacing the power antenna on a GM G-body car required removal of the fender. I kept asking "who the hell would design such a thing?!".

Second rude awakening for me was with the spark plugs on my first car - another jewel from GM. It was a FWD car, so the V6 was trans.-mounted. You know where this is going... Front three plugs? No problem. Back three? NOBODY I took that car to had a clue how to get them. To this day, I have my doubts as to whether the dealership did change them when I took it to them. But, I should let that go; it's been almost 30 years!

 

Yeah that starter job on the LS400 was really bad.

That’s the point, there have always been things with these cars which were surprisingly difficult, what those things are just varies from generation to generation.

All of them PALE in comparison to what sorts of things you deal with when you’re talking about a German flagship car.