daxdax

Took car back to dealer : Told Serv Manager (in addition to above) - 1. Engine idle ‘noise’ now noticeable inside car BEFORE SERVICE it was silent – only rev counter showed idle. (this rankles most of all!) 2. Showed him pic. of “Coolant Reservoir” – 6cm below ‘LOW’ ( coolant change part of this B service.) 3. Said trans. oil level (trans oil change part of this B service) WARM eng. idling – barely reaches LOW on d/stick and for HOT engine idling – no discernable level – because oil splashed on all HOT area of d/stick. 4. Showed him pic of Eng Temp gauge – after the ‘service’ – needle just past the 2nd Div. -and that this is an INCREASE of at least ½ a Div. Serv Manager immediate response (re cambelt)was ... “one notch out then?” Dealer had car for 1½ days – and said: 1. Car has been ‘stripped down’ - timing belt correctly installed. 2. Coolant topped up 3. Trans oil level – hot engine is ‘as it should be’ 4. Drove car for ‘some miles’ and “its running perfectly” 20 Feb Serv Man phoned – said “...run the car for a week..” and if no change “..... willing to fit a new timing belt in prescence of Lexus Area Engineer” Told him “I’ll take you up on that offer “ Listened to hot engine tickover - (rich mixture?) the under bonnet “not normal sound” (Feb 9 above) includes a consistent “..tap..tap..tap..” from rear of engine There was no tappet noise before Jan 30 “B” 36K Service The “B” service sched. first item: “Check valve clearances” – (every 54K miles!) IF these were “adjusted “– might account for rich mixture + tappet noise ? amongst other things ?

Have 1999 LS400 AUTO SERIES IV - bought 2002 - 11K miles - now 26K miles. Nothing at all gone wrong - till this "B" 36K service last week at highly reputable local main dealer . Only just discovered probs. - so havent yet contacted the dealer. 1, TIMING BELT CHANGE 2. AUTO TRANS FLUID CHANGED Feb 9 - 11 ON FIRST USE : Engine temp at normal running – is now SLIGHTLY HIGHER than usual Slight increase in usual miles per gallon Increase in idle revs - warm engine always sank to 650-700 now 800 Engine OR auto. transmission noise/ whine on acceleration – HAS ALWAYS BEEN NEAR TO SILENT FROM INSIDE CAR ! Lifted bonnet – engine ‘hunting’ on tickover - not normal sound – usually hardly any sound ! Revved engine to 5K – and it FALTERED - OR "MISSED" SUSPECT PROBLEM WITH NEWLY FITTED TIMING BELT NOTES AFTER FIRST USE Both ENGINE & TRANSMISSION NORMAL CHARACTERISTICS HAVE CHANGED. engine braking : always use ‘ECT Normal’ - NOW - changing down to “3” from Cruise at 40 mph - USUAL BRAKING EFFECT NOW GREATLY REDUCED changing down to “ 2- L” from cruise at 40 mph - USUAL BRAKING EFFECT AGAIN REDUCED - NOT DOWNSHIFTING TO “2” – ALTHOUGH SELECTED. in ECT POWER (which I never use) – braking effect is more noticeable ! IN QUEUEING/SLOW TRAFFIC –TODAY - gears ‘clunking’ between L + 2 - THIS ONLY SINCE JAN 30 TRANSMISSION OIL CHANGE Checked Transmission oil level – hot engine running - flat surface-in park THE NEWLY CHANGED GEARBOX OIL BARELY REACHES THE DIPSTICK “LOW LEVEL MARKER” SUSPECT PROBLEM RESULT OF TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE Before I rush off and point out the error of their ways ! - I would welcome any critical input whatsoever - on my interpretation of events. Thank you.

Hi everybody - my first post ! (from the UK) Have 1999 LS400 AUTO SERIES IV - bought 2002 - 11K miles - now 26K miles. PRESUMING MY SUBJECT MIGHT APPLY TO ANY LEXUS MODEL :-) Nothing at all gone wrong - till this "B" 36K service last week at highly reputable local main dealer . Only just discovered probs. - so havent yet contacted the dealer. 1, TIMING BELT CHANGE 2. AUTO TRANS FLUID CHANGED Feb 9 - 11 ON FIRST USE : Engine temp at normal running – is now SLIGHTLY HIGHER than usual Slight increase in usual miles per gallon Increase in idle revs - warm engine always sank to 650-700 now 800 Engine OR auto. transmission noise/ whine on acceleration – HAS ALWAYS BEEN NEAR TO SILENT FROM INSIDE CAR ! Lifted bonnet – engine ‘hunting’ on tickover - not normal sound – usually hardly any sound ! Revved engine to 5K – and it FALTERED - OR "MISSED" SUSPECT PROBLEM WITH NEWLY FITTED TIMING BELT NOTES AFTER FIRST USE Both ENGINE & TRANSMISSION NORMAL CHARACTERISTICS HAVE CHANGED. engine braking : always use ‘ECT Normal’ - NOW - changing down to “3” from Cruise at 40 mph - USUAL BRAKING EFFECT NOW GREATLY REDUCED changing down to “ 2- L” from cruise at 40 mph - USUAL BRAKING EFFECT AGAIN REDUCED - NOT DOWNSHIFTING TO “2” – ALTHOUGH SELECTED. in ECT POWER (which I never use) – braking effect is more noticeable ! IN QUEUEING/SLOW TRAFFIC –TODAY - gears ‘clunking’ between L + 2 - THIS ONLY SINCE JAN 30 TRANSMISSION OIL CHANGE Checked Transmission oil level – hot engine running - flat surface-in park THE NEWLY CHANGED GEARBOX OIL BARELY REACHES THE DIPSTICK “LOW LEVEL MARKER” SUSPECT PROBLEM RESULT OF TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE Before I rush off and point out the error of their ways ! I would welcome any critical input whatsoever - on my interpretation of these problems that started ex the service. Also please let me know if this post would be better suited in the "LS" section Thank you.