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My First Lexus - Engine Light, Misfire, Smokey - Gulp!


Mattydor
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Hi all,

Intro (you can skip this if you want)

I've been looking for a new (used) car but was sick of seeing the usual Fords, Vauxhalls, etc. I wanted something a little different. I fell in love with the IS 200 at first sight. With only around £2000 to spend, I thought it was unrealistic until I tested a beautiful silver IS 200 SE Auto (2002, 88k miles) last week. This is where it gets embarrassing. It was a private sale with no service history (apparently the lady had lost all her receipts when she moved house). I even got a mechanic to have a look. He mentioned the engine warning light which I had completely missed. I paid him and decided to make an offer, using the light as a bargaining chip. To be honest, I wanted that car and nothing would stop me.

Anyway, I saved £400 and drove home. It was a long drive, east to north London in rush-hour. As I was halfway home, I noticed a strange noise that reminds me of that worn tappet sound, for a second or two. Behind me came a cloud of smoke and for the rest of the journey I was accompanied by this stuff. The car fans came on and it felt very warm, although the temp gauge never went above halfway. I thought I wouldn't get home but it got me there. Getting out of the car, it was ticking like crazy, especially the whole exhaust. *****, what an idiot!

The Problem

I took it to my local garage (not Lexus) and they said it was a misfire problem and the plugs were caked and knackered. They said it's burning oil and gave me huge quotes for engine rebuilds, valve stems/piston rings that I might need in the future. They fitted 6 new plugs (£200, including labour and testing) and I drove out of the garage, the car purring nicely.

I went for a burn and it drove like a dream. You see, everything else on the car worked perfectly. Even the garage said the bodywork and everything else was immaculate.

I popped to the shops in it later on and the light was back. Within 10 minutes the misfire (tappety sound?) happened again and a plume of smoke came out of the exhaust. This time it didn't keep coming out but the car did feel hotter and hotter (with a mild smell of melting plastic!).

And now I'm writing this, wishing my first post on LOC was about how amazing my car is. I'm taking it back for them to look at again (for free this time, I insisted).

Basically, I wonder if I should just stop flushing money away chasing this problem and go the whole hog and replace the engine. I've seen IS 200 engines go for £300-ish on eBay. I've been told by an acquaintance that his mate's garage will swap it for £350. Or is it possible for a layman to do it (me)? Am I mad? Are they mad? Or should I keep tracking down this problem, be it coils or plugs or ECU or injectors? It's all too scary and I think I need a lie down.

I know it's not much to go on but any advice would be gratefully received.

Is there any more info I should supply? Oh, I checked the timing belt. It looks quite new (she said she'd had it done when she bought it 2 years ago) but there are a few chips on the edge where it moved over a bit.

Yes, I know I'm an idiot. But when that car is driving smoothly it all feels worth it.

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Hi and welcome to LOC.

First thing to do is get the fault code that the eml is producing an post it on here. Ask the garage for the exact code the fault reader is giving or even better have a look yourself when it's plugged into a diagnostic machine/code reader. Without the fault code it's total guesswork. My experience is faulty plugs won't give an engine warning light but a faulty coil pack certainly will.

The exhaust ticking like mad after turning the engine off is normal, it's the CAT's cooling down.

£200 to change spark plugs is crazy money mate. Set of 6 is £50-£60 and a mechanic can change them in about 15-20 mins. Even I can change them in half an hour and have a cup of tea lol

With no history of the timing belt then it's up to you if you risk it or change it. If it was done by Lexus there will be a date stamp in the engine cover somewhere with the date, dealership and mechanics initials and mileage at the change. The fact it's moved suggests if the belt was replaced the tensioner and idler wasn't changed. Personally I'd change it along with the tensioner and idler. Also maybe the timing is out, that's what's causing all the grief?

I really wouldn't be thinking about engine swaps right now. Get the fault codes and get to the bottom of this. At 88,000 miles there's no way that engine should be in need of a rebuild. Valve stem seals isn't that bad a job, cost you in labour not parts.

My advice would be to get it diagnosed either buy someone you trust or Lexus. Lexus will charge you about £45 for a full diagnostic and then at least you know the exact problem and what exactly needs replacing. You don't have to get Lexus to do it, say no thanks, pay for the diagnostic and go off and get the job done cheaper.

Anyway hope this helps a little. These really are cracking cars when driving right. I've had more than my fair share of probs with mine but what can I say, I blooming love this car!! :)

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Thanks, Chris

I'll see what these guys say in the morning (as it won't cost me anyway) but I won't use them again, I don't think. 1.5 hours @ £70 + VAT per hour to diagnose and fit plugs. That is crazy, isn't it?

I'll try and find a Lexus specialist or garage close by. If anyone knows someone in the Barnet area of London, please let me know. I can't seem to find anyone close, apart from a Toyota garage in Enfield.

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You should be able to ask Lexus to print out the service history that they have on record for your car. It may throw up some more clues or at least peace of mind that other jobs have been done.

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What colour was the smoke from the exhaust? I.e. Grey, white, brown, bluey colour, that kind of thing.

As mentioned, defo get the actual fault codes before heading down the engine change route. You can get a code reader for under £30 on eBay to read the codes yourself, a wise £30 for any owner. If you were closer, I'd read the codes off (maybe another LOC member that is closer has a reader?).

Anyway, welcome to LOC and good luck with the new car, I'm sure between us we we will get you sorted out.

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Thanks very much for the fast responses. If LOC-ers ever have any web development questions, I'm more than happy to help, if I can.

Well, I took the car back to the garage. The guy said it must be oil intermittently dripping down the valve stems and into the mixture, causing the misfires when putting my foot down. He said it was a £1500 + VAT job.

The Error Code is P1349 - VVI (Variable Valve Timing) System Malfunction (Bank1)

The misfire (again, more of a rattle) and resulting smoke-cloud only happen when I accelerate quickly, once the car has been running a while. It clears quickly and, apart from that, the car runs beautifully (except for Error 1 on CD multi-changer and key fob (only have one) remote no longer working (Can I change the Battery in this easily.? Will it need resetting afterwards?)

Any thoughts?

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Most common solution for this fault code is the VVT-I Oil control valve. Replace this and it could solve all your problems. Is that the only code you have? I ask because it is normally accompanied by a couple of other fault codes.

Error 1 on the CD player is easily fixed. It's a dirty lens mate. Get one of them CD cleaner thingys and it should be fine.

Key fob sounds like the Battery has gone. Replace this and it should work and not need coding to the car. If after replacing the fob Battery it still doesn't work then recode the fob to your car. You can do this yourself, no need to pay for somebody to do it for you. There are a few guides on how to do this on this forum. Do a search for IS200 keys :)

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Most common solution for this fault code is the VVT-I Oil control valve. Replace this and it could solve all your problems. Is that the only code you have? I ask because it is normally accompanied by a couple of other fault codes.

There was another code (P1656 - OCV Circuit Malfunction (BANK1)), but the mechanic said not to worry about that. I thought he'd purposely created it during diagnosis? He did mention the oil sensor. He played around with something just above the timing belt cover and said I could try cleaning that. Sorry, forgot to mention that.

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VVTI malfunction bank one is easy to fix, It's the filter in the oil control valve that's blocked, just needs removing and cleaning out.

the valve is arrowed here, Just unbolt it remove and filter should be stuck to the end if not use a cotton bud to fish it out.(NOT WIRE OR ANYTHING SHARP)

020920080242_zpse228306f.jpg

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Yeah what Ian said, clean the filter :)

Yes the ocv is the culprit of your probs I think. Misfire etc...you said the car hadn't been serviced for a while or no history so if that oil is old it's gonna clog up the filter giving all the symptoms you have and throwing up the codes you have

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It's a tough decision. Do I spend ten minutes cleaning the OCV or do I go for the engine rebuild at £1500 + VAT, as recommended by my local garage? Hmm...

So, I clean it with soap and water or rinse with petrol?

One final question: I think I'd better do an oil change asap too. Halfords offers their 5W/30 part-synthetic oil as an option for this car (on sale at only £10 for 4 litres right now!). Is this good enough or should I splash out of branded fully-synthetic?

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Here's a picture of the OCV filter *after* I tried to clean it. Still looks a mess. Should I just get a new one? Or is there a better way to clean these things (I sprayed a lot of WD40)? Do I need to investigate the OCV itself, too?

VVT-i_OCV_filter.jpg

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Well, I've got the stuff together to clean that filter and I'm changing the oil tomorrow. Let's see if that clears the problem up. Almost don't want to think that it can be this simple. Fingers crossed. Will post results afterwards.

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Well, this filter is proving a tough nut to crack. It's absolutely clogged. Taken two hours of soaking in Gunk and scrubbing with old toothbrush and cotton wool buds and I'm only just seeing a patch of clear stuff. Anyone know where I can buy one of these from? I've looked online but it's not being very helpful. Is there a part number for it? Also, for the sump plug, can I use a generic washer or a Lexus only one? Thanks.

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I'd just get a new filter mate. Get it from your local Lexus dealer parts department and sump plug and fit it yourself, can't be that much.

Don't forget to re set the ecu to clear the fault codes and warning light after fitted the clean/new filter. Un clip the negative terminal on the Battery for 15 mins to do this

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I didn't want to post the results until I'd had a drive but they are encouraging. I cleaned the filter up to an acceptable state. Not perfect at all (I've ordered a new one from Lexus, only £4.50). I've driven the car for the last few days and it's been like a different car. Still smokes a little but no misfires yet. I've bought an air filter, oil and oil filter and I'm going to change all that this week, but it's looking good so far.

Many thanks to all who helped. I may have just cut my losses and sold it for spares if I'd listened to the garage.

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