Mattydor

In case anyone reading this needs a PCV valve for an IS 200, the part numbers are:

PCV Valve - 12204-70020

Grommet - 90480-18001

Cost about £38 for both from Lexus. You'll definitely need the grommet too.

Been busy so I hadn't had time to look at the car. But now...

I managed to get the PCV valve off and the grommet without losing any bits. I bought a new valve and grommet and fitted that. Took it for a drive and, again after warming up and being stuck in traffic, the car rattled and puffed smoke from the exhaust when I put my foot down. Though this time there was a noticeable loss of power.

I've changed the OCV filter already but could it be the valve itself that needs looking at? Or does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks for all the help so far.

Hi Gavin

I absolutely agree with the above. I recently bought an IS 200, believing all the stories about the lady losing her receipts during a recent house move, etc. My heart ruled my head and I bought it anyway after knocking £400 off the price. I've been trying to fix it ever since. They really are great cars when looked after but I wouldn't touch any car now without the FSH and work receipts. Also, worth checking it's history online. For about £30 you can get reports on finance, write-offs, MOTs, etc.

Good luck.

Another way to test the PCV valve is to remove the oil filler cap on idle and put the palm of your hand over the hole. If it's working you should feel a definite suction.

Only just got around to trying the suction test this evening. The engine was very hot so I didn't use my hand. I placed a piece of paper over the oil filler hole and there wasn't enough suction to hold that in place. I would say that there was none at all. Sounds like a borked PCV valve, doesn't it? I will warm up the engine tomorrow and try to take it out with some WD40 too. It just pulls out, is that right? Doesn't feel like it unscrews.

How are you meant to get the PCV valve off? There's a bit of play there but the damn thing is stuck in there. I'm going to have to remove the timing cover to check for sludge blockages anyway, so it might be easier to take the PCV valve out once that's off.

I've haven't seen a step-by-step for taking the timing cover off. I guess it's simple enough as long as I keep track of which wire goes where.

Please ignore me. I was looking at the wrong pipe. Once I got the air filter box off it all made sense.

Help, I'm confused. I have the repair manual on CD and I printed off the IS 200 page for inspection of PCV valve. When I looked under the bonnet, it's completely different. I check the 2JZ-GE page and it's correct for that one. Isn't that the IS 300? The manufacturers plate shows the model as GXE10R. Am I jumping to conclusions here (2 cars welded together)?

Lance - Thanks, I'll do that tomorrow. Could that cause a buildup of pressure that could knock the timing out?

Clifton - It doesn't disappear immediately. It's sort of hard to tell because it's only really happening when I'm driving. I do know that cars behind drew back a long way when it's happened and it was visible for a short while at least. And when I've stopped at lights it stays long enough to drift around the front of the car. But it's not a cloud of smog that lingers for ages, either.

Clifton, it seems the car is using both oil and water.

Lance, the smoke is very light grey. Not blue at all.

Does this mean what I think it means? Head gasket?

Oil doesn't seem creamy, nor is the water oily. Is there a definitive test I can do to find out if it's a HG or is it a professional job?

The thing is, wouldn't it always puff out gouts of smoke if it was a head gasket? It does smoke a bit but only gushes the stuff out after that death rattle from the engine and sometimes only for a bit and then calms down again.

Maybe I'm clutching at straws...

Well, I bought a fault code scanner. It seems quite comprehensive with lots of features I guess I'll never use. The EML light is no longer on so I guess the P1349 code was cured by changing the OCV filter. No stored or pending codes show now. According to the fault reader, everything is fine and dandy. Car still smokes like crazy after while driving, though.

I want to run the live diagnostics while driving but there wasn't much documentation about this on the device. Does anyone have an idea of what I should be looking for on the live data monitor, especially when the engine rattle happens that precedes the smoking?

It can also view the O2 sensors, by the way. Don't know if I can fathom anything with this?

Sorry if I sound like a total noob, but I haven't worked on cars since my 1982 Ford Cortina. Do cars even have points any more?

Quick question, what's leading you to think there's a problem with your O2 sensors?

And in response to your question, I have a similar one. You'll find most of them are similar, and it works fine with my Lex. They don't support much in the way of live data though.

When the car has been running a while, it often rattles and issues plumes of smoke, along with a loss in power. There was a smell of sulfur around the car and the exhausts seemed abnormally hot. Admittedly, I haven't had the car long and I've been told the exhaust does get very hot. I am trying to discount possibilities, so I thought that might help. I've now been told that the EML light would have come on if there were O2 sensor issues. Now think it is gunged up with oil so will be investigating that too.

Thanks.

So, there's no EGR valve to look for? Are there oil drains under the valve cover that could be blocked?

The reason I was interested in this one was because it can show live data on the O2 sensors as well as other things. I think there may be an issue with the O2 sensors on my IS200 so this is an important feature.

Hi

Has anyone used the Autel MaxiScan MS509 fault scanner on their IS 200. It's available from amazon Prime but a review said he couldn't get it to work with a Honda. So, I'm wondering if it has a problem with Japanese cars.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006JXYH0G/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_t8wwsb0T5GS61

Thanks

UPDATE: Took the car to get an oil filter removal tool. When I stopped I noticed a bad egg (sulphur) smell around the car. Could that be an O2 sensor problem? Fuel filter? Is there a way I can tell or do I actually need to take it in?

(Re: title - that was meant to be a joke (ElvIS 200) but it's rubbish. Apologies)

Hi all

The Problem is I recently bought an IS 200. Love the car but, after driving for a while, it gives a rattle from the engine (normally when accelerating uphill) which produces a huge plume of smoke from the exhaust. Sometimes this goes away and it drives fine again. Sometimes it stays and puffs out a lot of light grey smoke for the duration of the journey.

I originally had an engine warning light on the dash for a P1349 fault code. This was fixed by changing the OCV filter, which was absolutely clogged up.

The spark plugs have been replaced. They were absolutely coked and worn out.

I've changed the air filter, which was dirty but not disgusting.

I am changing the engine oil today.

There is no more engine warning light but the problem remains.

Possible solutions based on other similar posts are:

• Blocked oil drains under timing cover
• ECU screwing up when it gets hot
• Valve problems or head gasket (But wouldn't that happen all the time, if so)
• Fuel filter problem
• General wear that can be helped by using BG44K

Are there any ways I can discount any of the above without spending a fortune?

My nearest Lexus garage is 20 miles away so I might risk taking it over there for a diagnostic (£66 quoted) but do they just look at the ECU or do compressions/timing tests too?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've already been helped with the initial P-code problem by members but I thought I should open it up to see if anyone had a similar problem.

Thanks,

Mat

I really thought that would help. There's no engine light on any more and for the first 15 minutes the car drives well. It just then rattles and plumes of light grey smoke come out of the exhaust. Sometimes it clears itself, sometimes it doesn't. Could a good dose of BG44K help something like that?

Without a fault code, am I totally in the dark? It feels like an intermittent timing issue. Could that be ECU? Fuel filter? Someone suggested taking off the valve cover and cleaning that out. I've read so many theories from other people with similar problems that I don't know what to do.

Thanks.

I've just picked up the new ocv filter. I didn't realise you were meant to be able to look through it!

Here's a comparison between (a) the old filter after thorough cleaning for over two hours and (b) shiny new see-through filter. That poor car...

Can't wait to find out what else is dying on this car. ;-(

I think I will, Tigerfish. Are there any recommended code readers (cheap but good) for Lexii?

do you have the part number since reading this i would wanna changed mine too

I think this is the part number: 15678-46020

This was from an IS 300 manual but the picture looked identical. I only had the first half of the number when I spoke to Lexus. The parts guy didn't actually know there was a filter there until he looked. I think he got it after checking my car's reg number.

Thanks again, Ian. Does the supplied funnel for the BG44K work okay with the IS 200?

Put some bg44k in with a tank of petrol, you will be surprised at the difference it makes.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BG44K-BG-44K-Fuel-System-and-Injector-Cleaner-/200786474899?pt=UK_Vehicle_Oils_Lubricants_Fluids&hash=item2ebfce7793

Cool. Will do. Thanks

I've also ordered a workshop manual from eBay on CD, here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321218643307

Does that look like the real thing?

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.

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.

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.

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?