Heaters Blowing Cold Air

[Joe Powell]

My IS220d has been blowing cold air for the last two years but because i only use the car on weekends I lived with it until this winter when i nearly froze to death!

Read other posts refering to head gasket failure but thought that wasnt likely because the car was driving fine.

Anyway took the car in to Lexus wolverhampton who confirmed within an hour that the head gasket had failed. All they asked me for was the service history and as the car had only done 78000 miles it was under warranty.

Lexus have fitted a new engine block and given me a free valet. I had the alloys exchanged and now my car is as good as new.

Fantastic service, very happy.

Advice: If your heaters are blowing only cold air get it checked out before your do over 111800 miles.

[Prash]

Apart from cold air blowing, did the car show any other symptoms? Mine is a 2006 IS220D with 65000 miles and wanted to know what to keep an eye on.On a separate note, had three of my alloys changed before the car's warranty ran out and they still look new. The fourth one did not show any corrosion at that time so it was not replaced, but its now badly corroded. When did you get yours replaced?

Thanks

[Joe Powell]

I actually paid for the alloys to be exhanged because they were out of the 60000 mile 3 year warranty. Lexus offered to refurb at £66 per wheel but then came back and said they were too bad and offered exchange alloys at £88 each which I thought was ok considering the other work they were doing foc. !

I think the heaters not working and the coolant level fluctuating are the main signs of head gasket failure. I also noticed the radiator fan kept operating at unusual times particularly in winter!