Lexus IS200

chris30_2

Hi Peeps,

I own a Lexus IS200 and have done for the past 6 Years (Not very MSE but she's a lovely car!!)
Anyway, I took her for a service some 3 weeks ago, all was fine until last Wednesday, when the Car started missing and, so I too it back to the garage who diagnoised (SP) a faulty Coil and plugs, ok I thought I'll get that done and that should be that, so after shelling out £340.00 in total for the service and the Coil I thought that was that when I picked car up on Wednesday just gone.
How wrong I was!!
Took the Car less than 2 mile down the road when the Temperature Gauge started to rise and rise and not stop rising. then the car cut out on me.:mad: so I phoned the Garage who said leave it there and we'll pick it up on the lowloader, I rang last night and he said the fault was a small hole in the Radiator, however because Lexus Radiators were only available from Lexus and were very costly he could recon mine for £175.00!!!:mad:

Any thoughts please guys before I speak with him this Morning.

Cheers.
Chris.

vikingaero

Sounds like you've had a run of bad luck. The service doesn't touch on the coils or plugs unless it's a major one. Jap car radiators seem to be made from the lowest quality metal and in my experience seem to need replacing far more often than Euro cars.

Hintza

Last time I had a hole in the radiator a pair of pliers was used to clamp the hole shut. If it is still leaking a can of radweld might help.

Trouble is this can sometimes just be a temporary measure and assumes the hole is accessible.

Inactive

vikingaero wrote: »

Sounds like you've had a run of bad luck. The service doesn't touch on the coils or plugs unless it's a major one. Jap car radiators seem to be made from the lowest quality metal and in my experience seem to need replacing far more often than Euro cars.

I have had Japanese cars for the past twenty+ years, never had a failed radiator ever, nor for that matter anything else go wrong with any of them. :T

vikingaero

Inactive wrote: »

I have had Japanese cars for the past twenty+ years, never had a failed radiator ever, nor for that matter anything else go wrong with any of them. :T

Depends how many miles you do. The Jap cars on our fleet are uber-reliable except the difference is that the rads seem to last 3-5 years and much longer on Euro cars. I imagine that the rads on Euro cars are of higher quality steel and better protected against corrosion. Maybe the Japanese don't put so much salt and grit on their roads?

goldspanners

is £175 the price for reconning radiator and fitting?
i also have found jap radiators dont last as long as some of the european cars,namely nissan.

jeannieblue

I don't find any of the prices you have mentioned to be excessive to be honest. Lexus' are great, but when they go wrong, it can hurt. At least they offer the opportunity for a recon rad rather than expensive new one from Lexus - although suggest a pattern rad (good one) could be another solution.

You mention that you have had it for 6 years, it is 6 years old? If so - have you had the cam belt changed? If not, recommend you do.

Inactive

vikingaero wrote: »

Depends how many miles you do. The Jap cars on our fleet are uber-reliable except the difference is that the rads seem to last 3-5 years and much longer on Euro cars. I imagine that the rads on Euro cars are of higher quality steel and better protected against corrosion. Maybe the Japanese don't put so much salt and grit on their roads?

I always change the anti freeze every 2 years and only used distilled water to top up the balance.

Never had a problem.