fireguysith

Hello fellow owners,

Okay, here is the situation; last week on monday i took my 99'RX 300 in for service because

the engine was making a sputtering sound during idle and also for some rear braking noise.

The service writer told me they will have to run a diagnostics to figure out the problem.

Cost = $150. After the diagnostics, he told me the problem with the sputtering engine sound

is the catalytic converter and the braking noise was due to hard aftermarket brakes. He recommended

i get the cats done and the brakes were optional since it wasn't a malfunction, just noise.

Cats = $795. The car was fixed wednesday, and i picked it up thursday. I started the car at the dealership

and the sputtering was gone, the freeway drive home was very smooth. I arrived home and parked

my car in the garage. The next morning, i when i started my car, i noticed a strong shaking or rattling

noise during the start. I sounded as though someting was loose. The noise only occured during

the start. I called to make another appointment with Lexus of Riverside for monday. On monday

i took my car in. The service writer told me he would have to run a diagnostics to figure out the

problem. Cost = $90 (not sure why it was $150 before) If the problem came up to be something they did, they would fix it and waive the $90 diagnostics fee. If it was a new problem, i was have to pay the $90. Seems fair, so i gave them the okay.

After the diagnostics, he told me that it was a new problem. The shaking or rattling sound

i heard in my garage was not something loose, but was due to the "idle speed control valve". He said that carbon deposites had built up over time and cause the "idle speed control valve to stick. Cost = $535.

Here's my problem with this story. When i came in, i had a complaint about an engine sputtering noise.

I'm not a mechanic, but when i hear engine sputtering, i think about fuel and exhaust. I'm not

expecting them to do the service for free, my problem here is that i believe they should have caught

the problem with the "idle speed control valve" during the first $150 diagnostic. The service

writer told me that there was no way for them to find the first problem because the "idle speed

control valve" is in a totally different section than CAT. This really didnt make sense to me.

I told him that the first time i was here i complained about engine sputtering during idle, now

i'm back again complaining about engine shaking during start. I feel that my initial complaint

was similar enough for them to have found both problems. If they weren't able to find both during

the first diagnostics, i really question their expertise. Keep in mind, all i'm asking the dealership for is

to waive the $90 diagnostics fee.

I would appreciate any opinions or suggestions on what i should do. Thanks for taking the time

to read my long story. LOC rocks ^^.

Hi everyone, i just recently replaced my catalytic converter on my MY99 RX300 from the

dealership in Riverside, CA. Right when i got home i noticed a strange smell similar

to burning motor oil. I tried my best to sniff out the origin but my efforts proved

futile. I called the dealership and the service writer said that whenever a brand new

catalytic converter is installed, an oil burning smell will occur because of some paper

filter thingy inside the converter is exposed to hot exaust. That sounded a little strange to

me so i was wondering if anyone had a similar experience to mine.

Does a new Catalytic Converter = Oil burning SMELL!?!?!?