Monsterped

Evening all as some of you may have read, I've had on going issues with my 57 plate IS220d that Lexus appear to be struggling to sort. To date it's had 2 sets of injectors New Injector Pipework New Common Rail New Bleed Down Valve Modified 5th Injector New EGR Valve Multiple ECU remaps New Catalytic Converter New fuel pump A couple of door speakers have also gone pop but that doesn't affect the running!! After his little lot, fitted over 52k miles, the bloody thing is still stumbling when pulling away, it has this nasty habit of losing power when pulling out of junctions etc - last time it was in at Lexus the tech had it happen to him. The problem is intermittent, it'll run fine, lull me into a false sense of security, then try and kill me by albut dying when pulling out into traffic (a few near misses that could have been very nasty). The car initially returned something like 42-44mpg on an average tank of fuel - measured by miles covered vs fuel used as the dash read out is waaay optimistic. Somewhere around 35-40,000 miles this dropped to around 37mpg and after the fuel pump change it's now returning 36-37mpg at best (driving reasonably carefully as the local plod are having a crack down...). What the hell else can they do to sort this? I'm getting really fed up with this and as it's a company car I'm stuck with it for about another 50k miles...

Take it to the dealer - 32mpg is crap I also had the issue of oil consumption - just before the last service it burnt about a litre in just over 2000 miles, hadn't used much before that. Lexus basically dismissed this as normal, I disagree. It was puffing a lot of blue smoke. It's now been in for a new cat, either damaged from over fueling or oil....

Can someone elaborate on the steering rack recall please? Not heard of this

Well since my last post Lexus have had the car back for diagnostics and found nothing wrong but wanted to change the catalytic converter anyway. 4 days in an IS250SR was bliss, very smooth and cheaper to run than my diesel, go figure!!! Got the car back, done about 750 miles in a little over a week and the crap consumption is still there - only managing 404 miles for 50 litres of diesel, around 36.5 mpg. Still don't think the initial throttle response is good (or safe for that matter as it's again coughed and spluttered half way across a junction when pulling out - it needs a minimum of 1500-1700 revs to gaurantee a clean get away or it bogs down) and it still won;t pull cleanly below about 18-1900 revs on the motorway. After a 300 mile round trip on the motorway today (about 4 miles of town either end), the consumption crept up to 43mpg which is better but I was driving like Miss Daisy, very sedately at around 75mph with minimal throttle input where possible. The problem lies in that's a slightly unusual journey as most are on A roads. The dealer suggests not using 6th gear at all and keeping the revs between 2000 and 2500 to get the best consumption - they claimed 48mpg on a 40 mile test run, lord knows how... So, you guessed it, it's back to the dealer again.... Whilst a lot on here indicate decent returns on consumption figures, there are obviously plenty that get the opposite, those that do get good mileage think yourselves lucky!! Also challenged the dealer on publicised figures in the sales brochures etc and low and behold, the IS220 has a new or at least heavily revised engine for 2009 as they're quote 55mpg for the combined mileage and lower emmissions too. Have Lexus finally finished the development on this engine and sorted out the issues? Well I for one will never find out as as soon as I can I'm gonna have an Alfa...! But hows this then - saw a mate yesterday who's just bought an Alpina D3 Beemer, monster of a car, he gets 44mpg round town and nearly 50mpg at 80-90mph cruising on the motorway..... MP

My 57 plate IS220d has had all the mods suggested (although the fuel pump is a new one to me) and was returning something like low to mid 40's to the gallon. Since the 40K service it occurred to me that the car was using a lot of fuel so a few checks after refills revealed that it was something like 35-36 mpg - typical motorway and A road journeys, not caning it by any means. Lexus had the car back (and lent me an IS250 SR which gave 38mpg on a trip to Exeter...) and reported nothing wrong but they wanted to change the catalytic converter. Subsequently the car will only break the 40 barrier if driven very conservatively on a motorway, anywhere else and it's around 37 ish - 404 miles for 50 litres of diesel. Spoke to the dealer again who assured me they got 46-48 mpg on a 40 mile test but they would want it back to look at it again. What else could it be? Everytime I start to like this car again, it goes and does something sh*te - an additional 2.5p per mile running costs is not funny when I do 3000 ish miles per month Unfortunately I have this car for probably another 50k miles..... arse! Shoulda had an Alfa, much nicer to look at....

no brought it from arnold clark motor store Your contract is with the dealer you bought it from and they are responsible for warranty work, they cannot push you off to Lexus. If it's that bad, get a second opinion from someone like the AA or RAC and present it to the supplier with a clear statement that the vehicle is not to an acceptable standard or fit for purpose. You could also try Sales of Goods Act on this Speak to CAB as well, they may be able to help, as will trading standards if the dealer is being an arse

Agree that 5th is better for legal motorway speeds but no way will my 220d get anything like 55mpg - I did Swindon to Exeter pretty much on cruise control set at 70 in 5th and it barely got above 42mpg. It also needs more than 2k revs to pull 6th properly My average at the moment is a calculated 37mpg, it sucks....

Interested to read the continuing saga of sh*tty fuel economy on an IS220d. As written up else where I've had 4 sets of injectors, 5th injector twice, numerous remaps, common rail, bleed down valve swapped etc and once completed the car runs much better... however... Two weeks after the 40K service at Lexus it now has to go back to investigate intermittent rough running, poor throttle response from idle and, you guessed it, cack fuel economy. Since the service I've seen the calculated average (as opposed to the on board computer) drop from a reasonably consistent 42mpg ish to struggling to make 37mpg. No change in driving style. Given the miles I do, it's unacceptable from a cost perspective More than anything, I'm sick and tired of having a car that only seems to run properly for limited periods, in 42k miles I'd say Ive had only about 13k when I think it has run acceptably. Yes it's a great looking car, it's well built (apart from the dashboard creaks), it's comfortable but boy, does the deisel engine suck...

Assuming your car is still in warranty, throw it back to the dealer. 32mpg is sh*te. Your dealer should have all the service bulletins relating to the injector swap (to Denso items), 5th injector change, Exhaust Gas Recycling valve change and ECU remap which should get close to sorting it. These are well know nods within the dealer network. Just changing the 5th injector won't sort it, the ERG valve needs doing too and the Denso injectors don't leak and mess up the fueling. You may also want to suggest they change the Bleed Down Valve on the common rail - it bleeds off excess fuel pressure

Well Lexus have had the car for three days and low and behold, have changed all the injectors again. It would appear that when they were changed last time, they were replaced with like for like, ie not the updated Denso items. The fault diagnosis was that 1 or more injectors were not seating properly and leaking diesel into the inlet manifold hence the feeling that it was flooded when not starting properly. I'm told today that it now has the updated Denso injectors and has had a further ECU remap (number 5 I think..). Initial impressions seem good but only drove it about three miles back home from the dealer. Throttle response seems improved and it certainly feels smoother - time and mileage will tell though. The remap was, I'm told, from a service bulletin issued last week, week 40 I think so anyone due a service might want to make sure it's done

Well perhaps I spoke too soon about the mods sorting the problems. Since my post above I've done about 5k miles and the sh*tty starting issues are reappearing, the throttle response has dulled and the economy has dropped to the high 30s. It goes back to the dealer tomorrow for the 4th time to try and rectify this. To make matters worse, I think the gearchange has actually got clunkier as the miles have gone up..... Oh how I wish I'd found this forum before buying.....

It seems to me that after reading various threads that opinion varies widely on the IS220d. I have a late 2007 model (december I think) and it's still suffering poor running after 3 major warranty trips for the injectors, common rail etc etc. What I would disagree with is the comment that the gearbox gets better with use - after 26k miles I still think it sucks. In no way can you hurry a gear change and any attempt to do so makes it feel even clunkier than normal. The gearing is all wrong too - the Sport is much better. It is to my regret that the difference in gearing wasn't explained at the point of sale as the only demo available was a sport. Fuel economy is not great either for a diesel. My previous car, an S40 D would return over 45mpg regardless of driving style, the IS is lucky t break 40mpg when driven in an economical style...

I would disagree about the comment that reliability is a minor issue. I have a 10 month old IS220d and frankly it's p*ssing me off despite having all the known fixes for the poor running done under warranty. Now, with 26k on the clock is't going back to the dealer tomorrow for the fourth time as the poor starting, poor throttle response, the feeling it is down on power and erratic economy are all starting to reappear. Given the choice, I'd take the BMW if I knew what I know now when I was choosing the car

Did they change the Exhaust Gas Recycling valve? That made more difference to mine than anything else. I'm getting a reasonably consistent 41-42 to the gallon despite having a heavy foot most of the time. Still occasionally stutters on start up but that clears quickly (dribbling injector anyone?) and still lacks some proper low end grunt but overall much much better.

The injector dribble info came from a friend who I trust 100%, he looked after my MR2 for 5 years and now looks after my Ex's IS200 (lovely car). He's ex-toyota and still well connected in the trade so I trust the info he's provided - the nw injectors are a direct result of the issues with the originals

You should insist they change the Exhaust Gas Recycling Valve as well, made a world of difference to mine

As also posted elsewhere but still relevant I hope! Hi All new member on here, wished I'd found it 7 months ago when choosing the IS220d... Mine has been plaugue with poor power, poor consumption and such poor throttle response when pulling away that it's nearly cause collisions on about 5 or 6 occassions in 20,000 miles. The car was also a poor starter from day one. The car is a late 2007 IS220d. To date it's had the following under warranty: New common rail New bleed down valve new injectors new 5th injector twice (plus modified I think!) new exhaust gas recycling valve (EGR) about 4 ecu remaps fingers crossed, this has improved the car no end and it's very nearly a pleasure to drive again - the new EGR seems to have made the biggest impact - worth naggingyour dealer about if it's not already done. I also understand from a friend in the trade that there are new injectors being fitted of a different design as the originals "dribble" and eventually coke up the inlet manifold causing the power loss. The new ones are Nippon Denso piezos apparently Fuel economy is now low to mid 40s and response and power are vastly improved. My friend in the trade also stated that the same issues are known on the Avensis & Auris diesels and there does not appear to be a magic cure all fix to date, just evolving modifications as and when Toyota/Lexus find improvements. Given the near misses I've had due to these issues, my company (it's a company car) have stated that if the problems reoccur, Lexus will be getting the vehicle back permanently as new corporate laws concerning company car drivers means they can be held responsible if a dangerous condition is known about. They have little patience with car companies having recently threaten legal action when a colleagues 320 diesel Beemer blew a turbo and BMW quote six weeks to replace... For all those out there driving company cars, this is worth taking up with your company if you believe the problems can't be solved and you want out of the vehicle. Ironically enough, I had a decent choice of cars and my heart said Alfa 159 but by head said Lexus as it will be reliable. Strange that the Alfa diesels have a great reputation and the Lexus hasn't.... Like I said, wished I'd found this site 7 months ago... Ped

Hi All new member on here, wished I'd found it 7 months ago when choosing the IS220d... Mine has been plaugue with poor power, poor consumption and such poor throttle response when pulling way that it's nearly cause collisions on about 5 or 6 occassions. The car is a late 2007 IS220d. To date it's had the following under warranty: New common rail New bleed down valve new injectors new 5th injector twice (plus modified I think!) new exhaust gas recycling valve (EGR) about 4 ecu remaps fingers crossed, this has improved the car no end and it's very nearly a pleasure to drive again - the new EGR seems to have made the biggest impact - worth naggingyour dealer about if it's not already done. I also understand from a friend in the trade that there are new injectors being fitted of a different design as the originals "dribble" and eventually coke up the inlet manifold causing the power loss. The new ones are Nippon Denso piezos apparently Fuel economy is now low to mid 40s and response and power are vastly improved