Rx 300 2002 Engine Trouble

[makunur]

I have a RX 300 Year 2002 with 60k miles, bought it CPO in 2005. I got a CEL with codes 300, 301, 302, I went to a Lexus dealer and was told to replace spark plugs, I got it done. Just as i left the dealership the CEL came back, this time they suspected Piston Rings and tore the engine apart to find that the rings were perfect. Now after furthur inspection they point to engine block with some rough surface and gaps. They've requested the Lexus for any goodwill help on Fri(1/30) and are waiting for response. Has any one had this kind of problem? What's my best course of action? What's the typical cost to get this repaired?

Thanks - Sumanth

[jgr7]

Sounds like you need a new service dept. It could be coil packs , fuel injectors or a couple of other things but the last place I would start is the piston rings. Did they do a compression check on the cylinders?

Jeff

[makunur]

I have a RX 300 Year 2002 with 60k miles, bought it CPO in 2005. I got a CEL with codes 300, 301, 302, I went to a Lexus dealer and was told to replace spark plugs, I got it done. Just as i left the dealership the CEL came back, this time they suspected Piston Rings and tore the engine apart to find that the rings were perfect. Now after furthur inspection they point to engine block with some rough surface and gaps. They've requested the Lexus for any goodwill help on Fri(1/30) and are waiting for response. Has any one had this kind of problem? What's my best course of action? What's the typical cost to get this repaired?

Thanks - Sumanth

Yes, they did the compression test. Cylinders 1 and 2 were above 150, rest all were even higher.

[tmastres]

Wow, that's quite a leap! A cylinder misfire code--to a torn down engine. As previously mentioned I would have swapped coils from cyl 1&2 with two others and checked to see if the misfire moved with the coils. While it is odd that 2 coils would fail simultaneously, its a cheap and fairly quick check.

[jgr7]

Do you know if this was a sludge damaged engine that was repaired by the dealer before you bought it? That is the only thing that makes since to me. Call another dealer with the vin number and see if you can get the Lexus maint that was done at a dealership. Most all Lexus dealers have access and will give you this information.

Jeff

[code58]

I have a RX 300 Year 2002 with 60k miles, bought it CPO in 2005. I got a CEL with codes 300, 301, 302, I went to a Lexus dealer and was told to replace spark plugs, I got it done. Just as i left the dealership the CEL came back, this time they suspected Piston Rings and tore the engine apart to find that the rings were perfect. Now after furthur inspection they point to engine block with some rough surface and gaps. They've requested the Lexus for any goodwill help on Fri(1/30) and are waiting for response. Has any one had this kind of problem? What's my best course of action? What's the typical cost to get this repaired?

Thanks - Sumanth

Sorry to be so blunt but does that dealer hire the retarded. The severely retrarded? I can't fathom that any competent mechanic would tear an engine down that had the 2 lowest cylinders at 150 lbs. compression. That is just crazy. These people have no idea what they're doing. They should be responsible for returning the engine to the condition it was when you brought it in but I don't know that I would trust them to work on a lawn mower without messing it up. You desperately need someone who knows what they're doing. Even the spark plugs that they charged you to replace shouldn't have needed replacing at 60k mi. They are good for at least a 100k to 125k. Did they get a look at a large bank account that you have or something? Flee from them as quickly as you can.

[makunur]

I have a RX 300 Year 2002 with 60k miles, bought it CPO in 2005. I got a CEL with codes 300, 301, 302, I went to a Lexus dealer and was told to replace spark plugs, I got it done. Just as i left the dealership the CEL came back, this time they suspected Piston Rings and tore the engine apart to find that the rings were perfect. Now after furthur inspection they point to engine block with some rough surface and gaps. They've requested the Lexus for any goodwill help on Fri(1/30) and are waiting for response. Has any one had this kind of problem? What's my best course of action? What's the typical cost to get this repaired?

Thanks - Sumanth

Sorry to be so blunt but does that dealer hire the retarded. The severely retrarded? I can't fathom that any competent mechanic would tear an engine down that had the 2 lowest cylinders at 150 lbs. compression. That is just crazy. These people have no idea what they're doing. They should be responsible for returning the engine to the condition it was when you brought it in but I don't know that I would trust them to work on a lawn mower without messing it up. You desperately need someone who knows what they're doing. Even the spark plugs that they charged you to replace shouldn't have needed replacing at 60k mi. They are good for at least a 100k to 125k. Did they get a look at a large bank account that you have or something? Flee from them as quickly as you can.

Just wanted to post an update on my saga with Lexus of Ann Arbor:

Lexus informed the dealer that my request for goodwill help was denied (Reason: Oil changes done at Toyota dealer shows that I am not loyal to Lexus Brand!!!) and offered to pay 25% of engine block's cost ($750) and the total repair was quoted at $7800 by the dealer. I wanted to speak to Lexus directly and placed 3 calls with a promise that someone will get back to me which never happened. Finally I decided to get my car out of the dealer, the service manager informed on phone that there would be no labor charge as agreed before but for $125 for gasket kit and that's it. I was told to pick up my car last monday and it was not ready until Wednesday..in the mean time I filled out customer satisfaction survey online about the whole experience. When i went to pickup the car, I was horrified to see $1500 bill, I reminded the manager of the phone conversation and he denied ever agreeing to waive labor. He said that they've seen my survey and were sure that i'll never return...I protested and made it clear that i wlll not pay $1500 which was in addition to $900 I paid the first time. I paid for the parts which was around $200 and left with my car, talked to lexus customer satisfaction...only to be informed that delaers are independent and thay have no control over them. I just wanted to bring to their attention the dealers retaliation for my feedback in the survey. I dont expect LEXUS to take any action....but they've lost my respect and I will never own a Lexus ever.

[BillyShaft]

Good Lord.

That sounds like something that would happen at my Jeep dealer, not Lexus :(

[code58]

I have a RX 300 Year 2002 with 60k miles, bought it CPO in 2005. I got a CEL with codes 300, 301, 302, I went to a Lexus dealer and was told to replace spark plugs, I got it done. Just as i left the dealership the CEL came back, this time they suspected Piston Rings and tore the engine apart to find that the rings were perfect. Now after furthur inspection they point to engine block with some rough surface and gaps. They've requested the Lexus for any goodwill help on Fri(1/30) and are waiting for response. Has any one had this kind of problem? What's my best course of action? What's the typical cost to get this repaired?

Thanks - Sumanth

Sorry to be so blunt but does that dealer hire the retarded. The severely retrarded? I can't fathom that any competent mechanic would tear an engine down that had the 2 lowest cylinders at 150 lbs. compression. That is just crazy. These people have no idea what they're doing. They should be responsible for returning the engine to the condition it was when you brought it in but I don't know that I would trust them to work on a lawn mower without messing it up. You desperately need someone who knows what they're doing. Even the spark plugs that they charged you to replace shouldn't have needed replacing at 60k mi. They are good for at least a 100k to 125k. Did they get a look at a large bank account that you have or something? Flee from them as quickly as you can.

Just wanted to post an update on my saga with Lexus of Ann Arbor:

Lexus informed the dealer that my request for goodwill help was denied (Reason: Oil changes done at Toyota dealer shows that I am not loyal to Lexus Brand!!!) and offered to pay 25% of engine block's cost ($750) and the total repair was quoted at $7800 by the dealer. I wanted to speak to Lexus directly and placed 3 calls with a promise that someone will get back to me which never happened. Finally I decided to get my car out of the dealer, the service manager informed on phone that there would be no labor charge as agreed before but for $125 for gasket kit and that's it. I was told to pick up my car last monday and it was not ready until Wednesday..in the mean time I filled out customer satisfaction survey online about the whole experience. When i went to pickup the car, I was horrified to see $1500 bill, I reminded the manager of the phone conversation and he denied ever agreeing to waive labor. He said that they've seen my survey and were sure that i'll never return...I protested and made it clear that i wlll not pay $1500 which was in addition to $900 I paid the first time. I paid for the parts which was around $200 and left with my car, talked to lexus customer satisfaction...only to be informed that delaers are independent and thay have no control over them. I just wanted to bring to their attention the dealers retaliation for my feedback in the survey. I dont expect LEXUS to take any action....but they've lost my respect and I will never own a Lexus ever.

I stand by my original post, I believe rightly so. Those people should be in the used Yugo business, not Lexus! In a lifetime of automotive work, I have rarely ever heard of that kind of TOTAL incompetence!