Looking at LX; Lexus maintenance records incl. valley plate leak feedback requested

[captn]

Hi there - I'm looking at a 2013 LX with about 145k miles and pulled the Lexus maintenance records. Everything was done at the Lexus dealership and all the scheduled maintenance was done.

But part of the records have the entries below, and I'd like to get ya'lls feedback/input at to whether there are any red flags here. It seems the valley plate leak was addressed, but there are also several mentions of serious rust. I have not yet seen this vehicle in person. I edited out some of the standard stuff like tire rotations and checking fluids etc. Sometimes the nature of the text in these records is hard to follow but I think I can get the gist.

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SERVICE: SERVICE - 135,000 MILES
DESCRIPTION: ~|~SERVICE - 135,000 MILES ~|~ ~|~137909 PERFORMED 135K SERVICE

SERVICE: LUBRICATED INSIDE STEERING BOOT AGAIN AND OUTSIDE BOOT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
DESCRIPTION: ~|~STEERING SHAFT BOOT WAS LUBRICATED LAST VISIT. STEERING WHEEL STILL SQUEAKING. ADVISE. ~|~ ~|~137909 LUBRICATED STEERING SHAFT BOOT INSIDE AND OUT SIDE BOOTS AND NOISE IS GONE

SERVICE: PADS AND ROTORS FRONT - REPLACE
DESCRIPTION: ~|~PADS AND ROTORS FRONT - REPLACE ~|~ ~|~137909 REPLACED FRONT PADS ROTORS AND SHIMS

SERVICE: CALIPER, BRAKE (FRONT) - REPLACE
DESCRIPTION: ~|~CALIPER, BRAKE (FRONT) - REPLACE ~|~ ~|~137909 REPLACED BOTH FRONT CALIPERS INSIDE PISTONS WHERE FROZEN

SERVICE: COULD NOT DUPLICATE CUSTOMERS CONCERN
DESCRIPTION: ~|~VEHICLE APPEARS TO BE SHIFTING ROUGH. HESITATING TO SHIFT AROUND 25MPH. MIGHT BE THAT THE VEHICLE ISN'T WARMED UP YET. CHECK AND ADVISE. ~|~ ~|~137909 NORMAL CONDITION OF CAR

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SERVICE: SERVICE - 130,000 MILES
DESCRIPTION: ~|~SERVICE - 130,000 MILES ~|~ ~|~133365 COMPLETE PERFORMED SERVICE

SERVICE: 
DESCRIPTION: CHECKENGINE (AND/OR VSC TRAC) WARNING LIGHTS ON; PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND ADVISE ON RECOMMENDE ~|~CHECK ENGINE (AND/OR VSC TRAC) WARNING LIGHTS ON; PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND ADVISE ON RECOMMENDED REPAIRS NEEDED ~|~ ~|~133365 P2445 SECONDARY AIR PUMP STUCK. NEED TO REPLACE VALVES AND PUMP AND RECHECK. VALVES ARE UNDER INTAKE AND EVERYTHING IS RUST ON EXHAUST MAY RUN INTO ISSUES. THIS IS STARTING POINT MAY HAVE DEBREE IN SYSTEM AND HAVE CLOG TO FROM INTERNALS COMING APART

SERVICE: 
DESCRIPTION: CHECKENGINE (AND/OR VSC TRAC) WARNING LIGHTS ON; PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND ADVISE ON RECOMMENDE

SERVICE: REPLACED SECONDATY AIR INSTAKE AND VALVES.
DESCRIPTION: ~|~AIR VLAVES BOTH BANKS/ AIR PUMP / GASKETS / TUBES WITH NUTS AND BOLTS FROM VALVE TO MANIFOLD /INTAKE GASKETS ................................P2445 SECONDARY AIR PUMP STUCK. NEED TO REPLACE VALVES AND PUMP AND RECHECK. VALVES ARE UNDER INTAKE AND EVERYTHIN ~|~ ~|~133369 COMPLETE REPLACED BOTH PUMPS, AIR VALVES, AND HOSES TO SYSTEM. FOUND VALLEY PLATE LEAKING ONCE DOING WORK. TEST DROVE IN CHECK MODE AFTER REPAIR AND NO PENDING CODES OR PRESENT CODES

SERVICE: REPLACED RUSTED UNDERCOVERS AND DRILLED OUT HOLES AND TAPPED.
DESCRIPTION: ~|~UNDER SPLASH SHIELDS/BOLTS/ AND SUPPRORT BRACKETS THAT THE SHIELD MOUNT TO................SHIELDS ARE ABOUT TO FALL OFF RUSTED THRU AND BEARLY HANGING ON. PARTS WERE SHIELD BOLTS TO WILL NEED TO BE REAPLCED DUE TO BADLY RUSTED ALSO ~|~ ~|~133369 COMPLETE FOUND BROKEN BOLTS HAD TO DRILL AND TAP OUT HOLES FOR NEW SHIELDS AND SUPPORTS TO MOUNT TO

SERVICE: SEALED COOLANT VALLEY PLATE.
DESCRIPTION: ~|~VALLEY PLATE RE-SEAL( NEED COOLANT FIPG, KNOCK SENSOR HARNESS, PCV VALVE BOX GASKET, FRONT WATER JACKET PIPE GASKETS BOTH, O RINGS FOR MIDDLE COOLANT PIIPE, 2 PINK COOLANT).......................................................FOUND VALLEY PLATE LEAKING W ~|~ ~|~133369 COMPLETE FOUND WHILE DOING AIR VALVES RE-SEALED VALLEY PLATE AND PRESSURE TEST AFTER NO LEAKS FOUND

SERVICE: GREASED STEERING BOOT.
DESCRIPTION: ~|~CUSTOMER STATES THE STEERING WHEEL IS MAKING NOISE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING WHEN TURNING. INSIDE. SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE LUBED. ~|~ ~|~133365 AS FAR AS NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS ONLY A BAND AID BUT CAN TRY AND PUT GREASE ON STEERING SHAFT BOOT WERE THE RUBBER IS ON THE METAL SHAFT BUT OVER TIME THE RUBBER HAS GOTTEN HARD AND MAKING NOISE HAS STEERING SHAFT MOVES. WE CAN

SERVICE: COULD NOT DUPLICATE CUSTOMERS CONCERN
DESCRIPTION: ~|~CUSTOMER STATES THE SHIFTER MECHANISM SOMETIMES FEELS STICKY. ADVISE. ~|~ ~|~133365 COULDNT DUPLCIATE CONCERN

 

[PDoyle]

That doesn't sound good. Think I would pass.

 

[linuxgod]

exhaust bolts tends to rust, so it depends on how bad. That single item wouldn't stop me, but I'd want to see the undercarriage to make sure it's not a rusted out NY/NE vehicle.

SAIS and valley plate are reasonable. I just had my valley plate done at 150k.

Coming from Chicago... delayed shifting when cold is normal, the transmission will hold the gear for quite a while if the engine was just started and it's very cold. If it's doing it when warm then I'd be worried, but if cold it's normal and as designed for emissions reasons. Greasing all the driveshaft zerks may help to soften the shift a bit when the engine is revving.

I have that annoying steering groan when turning the wheel when cold. It's in or around the boot where it goes through the firewall. Prying up the boot and spraying with silicone lube helps for a month or two but it eventually comes back for me. Maybe better (longer lasting) grease would help. If I knew how to take it apart I'd swap whatever rubber part is doing that.

 

[vipergrhd]

I say, NEXT!

 

[linuxgod]

I say, NEXT!

Why?

Edit: I'd want undercarriage pics before ruling out due to rust. I've found dealers will write all sorts of terrible sounding stuff in the maintenance log, and things may not be nearly as bad as they seem. Even if there is some rust, depending on the price and buyers intended usage and location and expected ownership length it may or may not matter

 

[Sandroad]

My only potential red flag is rust. If the underbody shields and brackets had to be replaced and the bolts drilled out, there could be 11 years of uncared for rust on the undercarriage. Get a bunch of pics before making a trip to see it.

 

[vipergrhd]

Why?

Edit: I'd want undercarriage pics before ruling out due to rust. I've found dealers will write all sorts of terrible sounding stuff in the maintenance log, and things may not be nearly as bad as they seem. Even if there is some rust, depending on the price and buyers intended usage and location and expected ownership length it may or may not matter

If it is a rust bucket and all this small issues could really cost the OP money down the road instead of enjoying the ownership of a fine vehicle. I worked for dealerships long time ago and a few bad apples could just leave a bad taste if you get my drift.

 

[vipergrhd]

SAIS and valley plate are reasonable. I just had my valley plate done at 150k.

I noticed on most 200 that this issue is common, I understand things happen, is this a build issue or some kind of seal failure?

 

[NikP]

It looks like the normal items have been taken care of. I wouldn't be too worried. Rust... have to take a look. I have 200K on mine and have had to drill out a couple of the skid plate bolts and I don't have a "rust" issue. There's a piece of foam across the skid plate where it holds water and causes some rust through. I removed the foam on my 2008. Not sure if it's this changed on the 2013.

 

[stonepa]

Skid plates are made of tinfoil. The bolts rust out on both the front and fuel tank skids. And exhaust bolts rust as well.

I would want to see pictures of the underside but this is of no obvious concern. A couple of the front skid bolts on my 200 got rusty and seized and my truck is fluid filmed and lives in an area that doesn’t use road salt. Happens. I drilled out the 2 bad ones, replaced with stainless, and no issues.

 

[captn]

Thanks everyone

 

[skrypj]

SAIS and valley plate are reasonable. I just had my valley plate done at 150k.

I noticed on most 200 that this issue is common, I understand things happen, is this a build issue or some kind of seal failure?

When was the valley cover plate and SAIS taken care of at the factory on the 5.7L? I had the SAIS recall done on my 2011 GX460 but never had the valley cover plate issue pop up.

 

[kossykoss]

As long as the under carriage looks good and rust isn’t invading everything then I wouldn’t worry too much about that truck. The transmission issue listed doesn’t sound too serious. My 2013 does that occasionally. The other issues are normal 3urfe failures. SAIS is known to crap out whenever it decides too. I had to reseal my valley plate in the first year of purchasing my 2013. (And deleted the SAIS while I was at it). Toyota used a crappy sealant from the factory. If they resealed it they would of used the new part number so you should be set unless the dealership did a crappy job.

 

[j404]

None of these items mean anything.

Comments of rust on the exhaust, who cares. Comments on rust on the splash shields, maybe more concerning but the tech who did the work could also just be exaggerating.

You need actual pics of the car taken by a third party - not the seller. It's relatively easy to take 100 pics, pick out the 4 that "don't look too bad" and send them.

You're looking at a 10+ year old 140k mile vehicle. ALL will have some kind of service history. There is no way around it. My experience with 200's, I looked at well over a dozen before finding one that had no rust. I was SHOCKED at how many of these have surface rust that looks horrific but realistically functionally isn't that bad.

LX is a relatively common vehicle. I would try to be patient, find ones for sale an hour or two away, and drive to look at each one. No real reason to buy one out of state and have shipped.

 

[linuxgod]

None of these items mean anything.

Comments of rust on the exhaust, who cares. Comments on rust on the splash shields, maybe more concerning but the tech who did the work could also just be exaggerating.

You need actual pics of the car taken by a third party - not the seller. It's relatively easy to take 100 pics, pick out the 4 that "don't look too bad" and send them.

You're looking at a 10+ year old 140k mile vehicle. ALL will have some kind of service history. There is no way around it. My experience with 200's, I looked at well over a dozen before finding one that had no rust. I was SHOCKED at how many of these have surface rust that looks horrific but realistically functionally isn't that bad.

LX is a relatively common vehicle. I would try to be patient, find ones for sale an hour or two away, and drive to look at each one. No real reason to buy one out of state and have shipped.

FYI there's a post somewhere around here with a youtube video but a lot of the surface rust you see on these frame at the welds is actually not rust, it's the coating below the black paint that shows because the black paint doesn't adhere well to the welds. If you wipe it with a wet rag and the rack comes back clean, it's actually brown "paint" you're seeing, not rust.