thestugots

In the TSB, a ground loop isolator is added into the cable between the aux socket and the stereo.

I had this issue and just added a ground loop isolator myself.

I used one like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/hq-CAR-NF01-Skytronic-Ground-Isolator/dp/B000NVWB9O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396174090&sr=8-1&keywords=ground+loop+isolator

This one should also work:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kensington-Noise-Reducing-CarAudio-iPhone/dp/B0037NYYFY/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1396174090&sr=8-5&keywords=ground+loop+isolator

If you don't mind doing it yourself, you could try a Chipex kit:

www.chipex.co.uk

Changed the fronts on mine a couple of months ago because the Lexus originals squealed badly at low speed. I chose Mintex discs and pads, the whole set was ridiculously cheap on eBay.

So far the Mintex's have been fine, no squealing and braking seems on-par with the Lexus originals. I think there is a bit less dust too.

On the other hand, the genuine Lexus discs have painted hubs so they don't rust, this doesn't affect performance but it looks nice :)

Sounds like quite a common problem with the VVti system. Some owners report having a top-end rebuild to fix it (with varying success), some report just needing to top-up/change the oil to make it go away, some report just ignoring it without issue. I've not been able to find any mention of a breakdown resulting from this issue.

This thread is a good starting point:

http://www.lexusowne...-warm-start-up/

Whoah! I've just seen this, excellent work! :hocus-pokus:

Can you tell us what kind/thickness of foam you used?

That's the Sat nav version I think .. different to mine

Hahah, yeah, you're right, what was I thinking.

Here's the best shot I could find of the standard system:

Does it not have an aircon unit piggy backed on the top of the radio unit...much like the old is200 unit?

Ahh, okay, maybe I see what you mean. Perhaps one of the two gaps I've arrowed in this picture needs to be shimmed:

I was told some shims were needed between the aircon vent unit and the unit below, which i guess is the top of the radio unit. I was told the two plastics expand at different rates resulting in the 'crack' sound.

Normski,

Do you have the Multimedia system? I just have the standard audio system in my car, and when I removed it I found that the vents were nowhere near the audio unit and so there was nothing to shim.

Yeah, I'd like to solve this problem too. I've searched and searched but can't find out what the solution is.

There are a couple of suggestions around that this can be fixed with some short of shim in between the stereo and the heater-body to stop them touching.

However, I've had the stereo out and its not at all clear that the heater and stereo touch each other anyway.

If anyone has any specific info on this, please post!

Hi all, here's a long time thread update!

After a bmw 135i I'm back in a Lexus. IS250 SEL 22k miles in a lovely colour combo of silvery blue (not sure of name) and black leather,

Good service from Lexus Cardiff so far, though one or two tiny body niggles they will hopefully sort when I have time to take it back up there.

Stealing the dealer pics until I take some better ones.

Hi Pete,

Just read this thread with interest particularly because you mention a DAB module? I've never heard that something like this exists. Is it a Lexus part and if so do you need to have the Multimedia System to use it?

Cheers.

Tony's aerial sounds like the one I used on a previous car, it was this one. If I go ahead with DAB again in the IS, I will use it again I think.

Do you know which aerial you had Chris? I don't think there are any treatments on the windscreen, only the strip where the wipers park is heated.

The FM aerial is just the heated rear screen element so it's pretty hopeless.

Excellent guide, I've just replaced the discs and pads on mine this weekend and wished I'd seen this beforehand!

I found this video very useful:

(Second half, first half is rear brakes and discs)

Hi Chris,

I did a DAB install over Xmas, using a Pure 300di as the unit.

I used a interior windscreen aerial (this one) on the passenger-side, the cable tucked neatly into the A-pillar trim down to the dashboard, then between the A-pillar and the dashboard, down the far left-side of the dash (there is an access panel that pops off to do this), then tucked into the top of the passenger footwell carpet before entering the centre console between the carpet and the dashboard and then comes out underneath the ashtray. From there I installed the master-unit in the void under the centre-console panel (the bit that surrounds the gear-stick), there is LOADS of room in there. I placed the control-unit on the dashboard to the right of the steering wheel, just underneath the drivers side vent.

For power, I temporarily removed the Lexus stereo and tapped-in to the wires there, this gave me a permanent 12V, an ignition-switched 12V and a ground. I dropped the wires under the ashtray and into the center-console void.

I've fitted a few car stereos in my time, and would rate the fitting as being reasonably easy. It looks pretty stock too, nothing is on-show other than the control unit, no visible wires anywhere.

At the time, I wanted to remove the center storage compartment so that I could drill a hole in the bottom of it and run the USB-extension into it (the 300di allows MP3 playback from a USB-stick). However I couldn't figure out (or find documentation) on how to remove it. Since then I have found some instructions on how to remove it, I'll dig them out and post them shortly.

After all that, results were very disappointing. The Windscreen aerial just wasn't good enough. In my previous two cars I fitted DAB and used a windscreen-mount external aerial in one and a FM-DAB aerial converter in the other and the results were perfectly acceptable. With the interior aerial there were just far too many dropouts.

Also, I think the Pure 300DI is crap. It was fine for DAB, but the USB MP3 playback was hopeless. Every time I got in the car it would forget what I'd previously been listening to and I've had to reselect the song. Stupid.

For the time being I've ripped the whole lot out and took it back for a refund. I'm not sure what to do next, I might by a cheaper DAB-only unit and just hide it completely in the centre-panel void (I only listen to one station so I don't need to touch the controls) and fit a exterior windscreen aerial to the top left corner of the windscreen, kinda ugly though.

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/73811-se-vs-se-l/

You don't need to have the MM system to get the 'crack' sound.

It can happen with the standard Pioneer system too. Think it required a couple of shims/spacers between the A/C bit and the Radio unit. Something to do with plastic surfaces expanding at different rates. Sounds like someone fired a ball-bearing at your windscreen!!

You'll need to take out the centre unit to do it!

I've read about the shims/spacers being needed but I've never found a definitive description of where exactly they need to go. Anyone know where I might find this?

I don't mind pulling the centre unit out (despite having seen the scary video!) but only if I know what to do next! :)

Hi Marc, you are right there is a few cracking noise that comes from the Multimedia Sat Nav system.

Hmmm, I don't have the Sat Nav system!

Just got my IS250 and have the full set of dash rattles and creaks.

So thought I would give this a go.

But excuse my ignorance and naivety but exactly where do I push in the neoprene strips? Is it between the dash and windscreen, if so are there exact places they need to go or just use the recommended three in a one at each end, and one in middle sort of configuration?

Many thanks.

Hi,

I tried the foam trick this weekend (I used the 12mm foam I linked to in my earlier post). (thanks to Ishaq for all his advice)

I cut the foam into three 4cm x 3cm pieces and inserted them in between the dashboard and windscreen. I put them in long-edge first, and sprayed a bit of silicone lubricant on each piece first to make it easier to get them in there. It was a very very easy job.

First piece went in the centre of the dash.

Second piece went on the far right of the dash, a couple of centimetres in from the A-pillar.

Third piece went on the far left of the dash, several centimetres in from the A-pillar. There is little rectanguar something attached to the windscreen on the left side which I decided I didn't want to cover, hence why I didn't put the foam quite so close to the A-pillar as I did on the right.

There is a definite improvement, but still some creaking when the car is cold. This seems to be coming from the left of the dash (previously it was centred) so I might try moving the left-hand piece further to the left or adding two more pieces in between the existing ones.

The 'cracking' noise (like something hitting the windscreen) hasn't gone away, but apparently this is to do with the stereo/air-con?

Ok, I'm going to order the 6mm and also some 12mm non-adhesive stuff from here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BLACK-NEOPRENE-PLAIN-SPONGE-FOAM-RUBBER-SHEET-VARIOUS-SHEET-SIZES-THICKNESSES-/261338185781?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item3cd8f84035

I can then choose from both.

Roughly how big were the three pieces you used?

Thanks to Carl, who kindly sent me some foam pads my dash rattle has gone for good.

The pads were a type of rubber/silicone/gel blend and pressure resistant so once in between the dash and windscreen it expands. I have searched on ebay and found some that you can try if you experience the same.

On ebay search Neoprene sponge rubber - here is a link too - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2MM-0R-6MM-THICK-ADHESIVE-BACKED-BLACK-NEOPRENE-SPONGE-RUBBER-SHEET-75mm-x-500mm-/261340187889?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item3cd916ccf1

Very cheap and you only need three small bits folded in half so the sticky side stick to its self, then use a screwdriver and place two by ach pillar and one in the centre part of the dash and windscreen.

Hope this helps.

Ishaq, thank you so much for posting this! I bought my IS250 less than a week ago and I've noticed the cracking already, but couldn't find a definitive solution anywhere until today.

I've got some questions if that's OK:

That eBay auction lists two thickness: 2mm and 6mm. Which do you think is most like the foam you used?

How far in do you push the pieces?

Any chance you have any left over? Even a tiny piece? Then I could compare it to the eBay stuff and post back here whether it's the same.

Not a lot of faults but replacements parts for this car are expensive -

Another one you could consider is the carbon build up which does need a clean every so often.

Also - I agree with the rear brake caliper slide pin issue of them seizing up, was the same on the is200 but on the fronts on them (replacing one side on my 250 at the weekend so am a bit apprehensive on what else this will unearth)

Also consider front discs especially on the auto version, mine need replacing at 72k.

Have you done a clean yet? What did you use?

Front discs at 72k seems pretty good going to me. Though I bet they're expensive?

Passenger side mirror electric movement

On models with auto-dipping and seat memory system. The position sensor on pre 2009 models can break, causing the mirror to go wandering off course when selecting a memory position or putting the car into/out of reverse.

There is a TSB covering this, which requires replacement of the mirror.

Do you have a link to the TSB, can't find it anywhere!

I'm thinking about buying a used IS250 and so I've been reading this forum with interest to try and learn as much as I can.

It's well known as a very reliable car but I've been trying to find out what problems I might face so I can look for them when viewing cars.

Here's a list of what I've figured out so far, if anyone want's to add some more I'll add them all to this top post as a reference. Hopefully it will be useful for others! :)

Here goes:

Sticking rear brake calipers

This seems to be the best known and most common problem. Lexus America did a recall for it (not sure if Lexus UK did the same). This thread has good info:

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/75714-slide-pin-in-the-rear-brake-calipers-seized-check-yours/

Alloy Wheel Corrosion

Very common on British roads by the sound of things. Only options really are to get them refurbed or replace with third party wheels.

(mrains)

Engine rattle on start-up

This is caused by a problem with the VVti system. Some owners report having a top-end rebuild to fix it (with varying success), some report just needing to top-up/change the oil to make it go away, some report just ignoring it without issue. I've not been able to find any mention of a breakdown resulting from this issue.

This thread is a good starting point:

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/84280-engine-rattle-on-warm-start-up/

Dashboard rattles

The main one seems to be from the area around the centre speaker. This thread over at clublexus.com has a link to a Technical Service Bulletin:

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-second-generation/422346-tsb-for-dash-rattle-repair-of-is250.html

Carbon Build-Up on Valves/Injectors (and possible Engine Shudder)

This might be a more common problem in the states as they have lower grade fuel there. This issue is a build-up of carbon deposits in the engine. I know that 'Seafoam' is a really popular cleaner in the US that a lot of people use on many different cars that suffer this issue, but Seafoam is very difficult (and expensive) to get hold of in the UK. Details of an alternative in this thread:
http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/79916-carbon-build-up/

(is200 newbie)

Passenger side mirror electric movement

On models with auto-dipping and seat memory system. The position sensor on pre 2009 models can break, causing the mirror to go wandering off course when selecting a memory position or putting the car into/out of reverse.

Only solution is to replace mirror. There is a copy of TSB further down this thread:

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/85312-is250-common-problems/?p=845176

(ChumpusRex)

Exhaust

Not really a 'common' fault, but the exhaust on any car has a limited life and replacing the one on a IS250 can be very expensive. Lot's of info in this thread:

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/83867-exhaust/

Spark Plugs

Not a fault as such, but the service schedule states that these need to be changes at the 60,000 mile service. It's necessary to remove the inlet manifold to do this so the labour cost is high.

For those with the tools and the enthusiasm, there is an excellent guide over at clublexus.com on how to change them.

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/performance/586459-diy-guide-is250-spark-plug-change.html

Genuine spark plugs can be bought (relatively cheaply) on eBay from Lexus Birmingham:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Lexus-Birmingham-Parts?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

Edited on 21/11/2013 - Added Spark Plugs, Alloy Wheels, Carbon build-up, Passenger side mirror electric movement

I think these custom exhausts are often noisier as that is what customers often want from a custom exhaust :)

What parts were replaced exactly? Was it is the three boxes and the pipework in between?

This is my first post but I've been reading through the forum as I'm thinking about buying a used IS250 and want to find out as much as possible about them first.

I'm just writing to say what a great thread this is thanks to Newbie IS200. He posted about a problem with his exhaust and then followed through will loads of information on what he did to solve the problem and then gives all the information about the solution he found.

I wish more people would do this kind of thing!

Thanks :)