Just Booked Into Lexus Dealer For Diagnosis - Good Idea Or Not?

[ravi]

Hi, My IS200 SE Auto is playing up a little, first time ever in 12 years and 165k of ownership! It's stalling occasionally when slowing down whilst approaching roundabouts, junctions etc. Starts up and off it goes again. I contacted a Lexus dealer and the service guy suggested disconnecting the Battery for 10 minutes and that this would reset the ECU.

Done that and went for a drive and stalled 4 times in 10 minutes, so now booked it in for them to tell me whats wrong although the engine light is not on.

I've seen on the forum lots of mention of cleaning the throttle body and when I mentioned this to the dealer he said that he'd never had to do that before. The cost of the check up is £50 but I'm more concerned if I'm going to be told that it'll cost £xxxx to fix, probably more than the cars worth!

Anything anyone could suggest? Also, does anyone know of a specialist in the Northampton area whose charges are more reasonable than a main dealer?

Thanks for your help..

[sjrainsford]

Any decent garage should be able to sort that. Sounds a little like the idle air control valve or similar throttle body related issue to me. Especially if it otherwise runs well with no check engine light.

[ravi]

It was the throttle body that needed cleaning. Car was really playing up on the weekend before it was due to go to the garage and becoming dangerous due to the random stalling, had to call out RAC. He took the engine cover off and sprayed some engine cleaner into the throttle body. Problem sorted, although tickover is now around 1000pm, was 500rpm. I also changed the air filter hitch was really dirty although I'd only replaced it 7 months/ 7000 miles ago.

Anyway, all good now.