Took LX in to dealership for oil change today, no acceleration after (25 Viewers)

[OteyCrisman]

So I've got a 2004 LX that's a daily driver for my wife. 225k miles. She took it into the Lexus dealership for an oil change today(where we always take it) and upon getting the vehicle back it wouldn't accelerate past 10mph and the check engine light came on. She barely made it across the street from the lot before turning around and going right back while I called the service rep(I was at work, not with her).

Now this is about 4:10pm est. Wife pulls back up as I'm on phone with rep, he tells me they'll get it taken right back and he'll call as soon as they find out what's going on. He calls back about 4:50 and says the guys leave at 5 and they're not going to be able to figure it out tonight, so they'll give my wife a loaner.

She goes to get personal belongings out of the car, they got it opened up and hooked up to the computer, so they're actually actively trying to figure it out, yet couldn't figure it out in the 45 minutes they already had it...I mean wtf?!? Shouldn't it be obvious??? Especially if something like over-filled or wrong oil? What codes is it throwing??? Car was completely fine before...

Y'all heard anything like this? Their inspection was all clear except they recommended to replace positive battery terminal and change air filter, I declined both as I'll do those myself for way cheaper. The whole situation has me pissed, sketched and stressed out. Been going to this dealership since I've had the LX for past 6 years and never a problem before today. Apparently rep made a remark to my wife like "well, it IS a 20 year old car..." ughhh

On a side note, wanna say I've learned a lot from this site the past 6 years, never had to actually create an account because of how much solid info is here so I never needed to...that is until this bs today! So anyway, thanks everybody.

 

[kbfj621989]

Agree, it would be best to know what the trouble codes were. Limp mode would be if they maybe forgot to put oil back in it, maybe knocked a vacuum hose off, or broke MAF sensor when looking at air filter.

 

[OteyCrisman]

Agree, it would be best to know what the trouble codes were. Limp mode would be if they maybe forgot to put oil back in it, maybe knocked a vacuum hose off, or broke MAF sensor when looking at air filter.

Wife just said check engine was on as soon as she cranked it up upon getting it back, it did not go in with a CE light...how did the mechanic who drove it back out not notice the issue? Then they said the diagnostic would be free, but yet they still made her sign something about paying for any repair costs, etc.(smh,she is not built for the situation, she never should have signed anything)

 

[Mike NXP]

Welcome to mud! unfortunately circumstances but try not to get pissed / stressed at the situation..The dealer remark about the vehicle being 20 years old would also have pissed me off but just let it roll and insist they figure out what the problem they caused is.

The battery positive terminal suggestion could be a hint, is it really corroded, this could cause some issues.

Did the check engine light come on ?

Rock out with that loaner for now and report back here as soon as you hear the diagnosis from the dealer, and then react after hearing some peoples opinions on Mud

I didn't review these links, but here are some threads that relate to the LX470 in limp mode

Limp mode then sudden engine off on highway - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/limp-mode-then-sudden-engine-off-on-highway.1280606/

CEL Limp mode help - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/cel-limp-mode-help.553835/

Limp mode / safe mode ?? - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/limp-mode-safe-mode.787123/


Seems like they all throw a check engine light when it happens.....I find it strange that the dealer was balls deep into the computer trying to diagnose things deeper ....what a doozie, looking forward to hearing the fix

 

[Mike NXP]

Ah, just saw your reply about the CEL light being on...

Again, play it cool for now. Your at a Lexus dealer, one that you've worked with a bunch in the past. If you approach this all the right way you should be able to get them to fix whatever the problem is but either way getting pissed at the service department ( in my experience ) never gets me anywhere. I've sweet talked my Toyota dealer into fixing A LOT of s*** for free mostly because I just wasn't happy with how they did the repair initially and I've been working with them for so long


Hopefully they will call you before doing any repair work / attempting to charge you

 

[OteyCrisman]

Welcome to mud! unfortunately circumstances but try not to get pissed / stressed at the situation..The dealer remark about the vehicle being 20 years old would also have pissed me off but just let it roll and insist they figure out what the problem they caused is.

The battery positive terminal suggestion could be a hint, is it really corroded, this could cause some issues.

Did the check engine light come on ?

Rock out with that loaner for now and report back here as soon as you hear the diagnosis from the dealer, and then react after hearing some peoples opinions on Mud

I didn't review these links, but here are some threads that relate to the LX470 in limp mode

Limp mode then sudden engine off on highway - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/limp-mode-then-sudden-engine-off-on-highway.1280606/

CEL Limp mode help - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/cel-limp-mode-help.553835/

Limp mode / safe mode ?? - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/limp-mode-safe-mode.787123/


Seems like they all throw a check engine light when it happens.....I find it strange that the dealer was balls deep into the computer trying to diagnose things deeper ....what a doozie, looking forward to hearing the fix

Appreciate the welcome and the links about limp mode. I actually was about to ask if limp mode was a real thing as first poster stated, as I'm not familiar. I'm just scared I'm gonna get screwed with it being something serious and obviously their fault, but not owning it and making me pay for the repair...whole reason I started getting it serviced at the dealer after buying it from a private party was because it's a Lexus at a Lexus dealership so they should know what they're doing and if they f something up, they'd make it right. So yea I pay a little more, but it's for that sense of trust and comfort I get from taking it there. Well there goes that trust and comfort!

I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow.

 

[OteyCrisman]

Appreciate the welcome and the links about limp mode. I actually was about to ask if limp mode was a real thing as first poster stated, as I'm not familiar. I'm just scared I'm gonna get screwed with it being something serious and obviously their fault, but not owning it and making me pay for the repair...whole reason I started getting it serviced at the dealer after buying it from a private party was because it's a Lexus at a Lexus dealership so they should know what they're doing and if they f something up, they'd make it right. So yea I pay a little more, but it's for that sense of trust and comfort I get from taking it there. Well there goes that trust and comfort!

I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow.

Also not sure exactly how bad the terminal is, I never noticed it. It's definitely been replaced before and semi-recently, maybe 2 years ago. I never noticed corrosion building up on it again though.

 

[OteyCrisman]

Dang, quoted myself when it should've been @Mike NXP

No edits in these forums, huh? Haha

 

[Mike NXP]

Yeah you can edit your post , "Edit" and pencil icon in lower left under your signature. It might look different on mobile?

Keep us posted, they haven't screwed you yet. They may try to , but gotta wait for the verdict first

Maybe someone who has had similar problems will chime in. I cant imagine anything major happened, fingers crossed

 

[OteyCrisman]

Yeah you can edit your post , "Edit" and pencil icon in lower left under your signature. It might look different on mobile?

Keep us posted, they haven't screwed you yet. They may try to , but gotta wait for the verdict first

Maybe someone who has had similar problems will chime in. I cant imagine anything major happened, fingers crossed

Dude, I swear that edit button was not there before. Now it is..I know this format because there's another forum I use that's the exact same format so I knew where to look and swear there was nothing next to the report button. It's there now haha.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

You can edit after 5 posts. Sounds like maybe a coincidental coil pack, they should be able to see what the CEL is easily. No limp mode for no oil, but you'd get the oil can light.

 

[Mike NXP]

Dude, I swear that edit button was not there before. Now it is..I know this format because there's another forum I use that's the exact same format so I knew where to look and swear there was nothing next to the report button. It's there now haha.

 

[OteyCrisman]

So rep called and said that when the filter was out, because it was so dirty some leaves fell into the intake that they missed when they put it back in..so they cleaned out the intake tube and cleaned the throttle body and that corrected the issue. Co-worker said that sounds like bs because leaves wouldn't even be in the filter housing in the first place and that they don't want to admit what it really was. What yall think?

 

[2001LC]

Idle-up control vacuum line off, or wire housing to MAF sensor off, while R&R of air filter. But, they actually would not need be removed either. If they did. It was a tech that doesn't know anything about 4.7L. Lube shops at dealerships are staff by techs not mechanics. Perhaps the idle-up vacuum line is old loose and in need of replacing. This I could see getting knock off. I see these all the time, being the old factory installed. They fall off easy.

Leaves do, get into air box housing. More so, when front RH fender well has missing inner rear shielding. But leaves can't, get past air filter, to throttle body. A few leaves will have very little effect on a new air filter. A very clogged air, doesn't set of a CEL. A completely clogged, may.

They're hold back info.

The only real concern, would be oil starvation. If oil starvation. It would have had to run for more than a few minutes. To do such damage as to set off a DTC (CEL). If ran long enough to set off a DTC, engine would be damaged. It would not run right now. So I doubt this the issue.
How could engine not have oil:
Failure to fill with oil.
Failure to properly install oil pan drain plug.
Failure to proper install oil filter.

 

[kbfj621989]

Did they show your wife the dirty filter? It’s common here at my Toyota dealership to see the service advisor walk through the waiting room with dirty air and cabin filters to show to customers in for their service. (Never happens to me because I only visit them for annual state inspections or occasional alignment checks) lol.

I’m going out on a limb with pure speculation. They could have removed the dirty filter and because it was so bad thought to themselves, a Lexus owner would not want to put it back in, they tossed it. When you refused filter change, they just closed up the air box forgetting to replace the old filter and did not vacuum out the bottom of the filter housing and thus introduced leaves into the throttle body.

 

[SteveH]

Seems like 9 out of 10 'my car doesn't run after the oil change joint worked on it' cases are due to the idiot mechanic reefing on the old/stiff rubber hose between the air filter box lid and the MAF, cracking it, causing a huge air leak.

The vehicle may run right for a while, and then poorly, depending on engine movement, etc. Ask any 80 series owner about this!

I would look for a simple mechanical fault (hose fell off, vacuum leak) before suspecting hard part failure. The 'there are leaves in the air hose' story sounds very weak to me. The obvious moral of this is that no matter how much you hate doing oil changes, do them yourself.

 

[OteyCrisman]

Did they show your wife the dirty filter? It’s common here at my Toyota dealership to see the service advisor walk through the waiting room with dirty air and cabin filters to show to customers in for their service. (Never happens to me because I only visit them for annual state inspections or occasional alignment checks) lol.

I’m going out on a limb with pure speculation. They could have removed the dirty filter and because it was so bad thought to themselves, a Lexus owner would not want to put it back in, they tossed it. When you refused filter change, they just closed up the air box forgetting to replace the old filter and did not vacuum out the bottom of the filter housing and thus introduced leaves into the throttle body.

No she just dropped it off and went shopping with a friend. I could see that scenario. Guess a new filter on there would be a good clue. If not, I do plan to replace it tomorrow. And I'll sure as s*** be sure not to let leaves fall in when the filter is out smh.

 

[97 AZ LC]

This guy used to tell his teacher that his dog ate his homework.

 

[OteyCrisman]

Seems like 9 out of 10 'my car doesn't run after the oil change joint worked on it' cases are due to the idiot mechanic reefing on the old/stiff rubber hose between the air filter box lid and the MAF, cracking it, causing a huge air leak.

The vehicle may run right for a while, and then poorly, depending on engine movement, etc. Ask any 80 series owner about this!

I would look for a simple mechanical fault (hose fell off, vacuum leak) before suspecting hard part failure. The 'there are leaves in the air hose' story sounds very weak to me. The obvious moral of this is that no matter how much you hate doing oil changes, do them yourself.

Yea and all the service rep did was text me "your vehicle is ready for pick up." I didn't respond and gave him 30 minutes to call and explain what happened before I called him myself. Didn't answer, texted he was busy and would call me back when he had a free moment. Then called about 10 minutes later with the leaves story.

So your saying the engine could run fine for a bit and then start acting up again? In other words they get me off the lot and then claim I have to pay for any further problems?

I'm actually not going to be able to pick it up until tomorrow as I want to go myself, not gonna send the wife today.

 

[SteveH]

Regardless of how they tell you they fixed it, I would take everything apart and study it closely for cracks, gaps, missing hoses, etc. and trust nothing they did.

I'm totally speculating on the 'cracked air hose' theory, so look that over extra carefully. You can use Shoe Goo to repair those air hoses temporarily until you can replace the part, as needed.