Roughly $1,500 later, I get my car back.

"FKA-RacecaR" (FKA-RacecaR)
09/10/2015 at 14:11 • Filed to: None

I bought an IS300 recently. I bought it sight unseen (other than pictures) from a dealership 6 hours away (not always a good idea, I know). But I love the car.

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Then after about a week of owning it, I drop it off at a local shop that I have dealt with before, and actually trust. It is run by a guy who helps build drag cars, and it seems everyone who works there is a car enthusiast in one way or another.

I just got it back today, and the bill was hefty. I knew it would be though because they went through everything with me before doing anything.

Here goes:

rear pads replaced, with rotors turned

part for charcoal canister replaced

valve cover and valve cover gasket replaced (someone had broke part of the cover and a bolt was gone, slight leaking of oil)

replaced PS pump

replaced cracked serpentine belt

they de-fogged my headlights

wheel alignment

I think that was it.

Now they are saying they also found out that the AC compressor is bad. That’s going to be another ~$1,200, but that will come later.

I am glad I took it there and let them go through it all. Sure it was a couple dollars right now, but that should make this car last for me for quite sometime with out defect (hopefully). But with ~93k on the engine, I would really like to get them to do the timing belt as well next year.

I just can’t wait to get in it and drive it some more. I have missed it.

DISCUSSION (20)

Party-vi > FKA-RacecaR
09/10/2015 at 14:15

“with rotors turned”

Boo and hiss. You should get new rotors as opposed to turning them.

glemon > FKA-RacecaR
09/10/2015 at 14:15

Did the same thing last year, site unseen, days drive away, a little over 60k on a 2002 IS300, haven’t had to do anything to it except replace one tail light that burned out and recharging the A/C this spring (still ice cold this fall) Great cars.

glemon > Party-vi
09/10/2015 at 14:19

Why? I have had rotors turned on many different cars, never any problems. The shop should check to see if turning them will reduce thickness outside of oem specs.

FKA-RacecaR > glemon
09/10/2015 at 14:19

When I looked at the carfax before buying it, I noticed it seems it bounced from one dealer to another, by way of auction. So no telling when they last time this car was owned/driven/cared for. Still worth it.

FKA-RacecaR > Party-vi
09/10/2015 at 14:20

You should!

Yeah I probably should have, but I plan on upgrading at some point, probably next year, anyway.

Party-vi > glemon
09/10/2015 at 14:20

I don’t take shortcuts on brakes or tires, and each time I’ve had rotors turned on a car they’ve never lasted much longer after the fact.

BloodlessWeevil > Party-vi
09/10/2015 at 14:26

Turning rotors is perfectly acceptable and standard practice if they are still within operating limits. Rotors are manufactured with a built in buffer zone that can be turned down without making them unsafe to use. An experienced mechanic will consult manufacturer specifications, as this one surely did.

Sweet Trav > Party-vi
09/10/2015 at 14:29

Only OE rotors should be turned. After that, just buy Aftermarket ones.

EL_ULY > Party-vi
09/10/2015 at 14:30

it’s fine on those to turn once. We did them all the time when I worked at Lexus. Here at these brands I work at now, we put pads on old rotors without turning them. If near min specs tho, we replace them. Front rotors on the other hand always get replaced during brake jobs. At Lexus, we could turn them once in the front on some cars (FWD). On RWD cars, we replaced front rotors with pads

Party-vi > BloodlessWeevil
09/10/2015 at 14:32

It’s also perfectly acceptable to use old bolts on replacement parts, but I prefer to buy new ones for peace of mind.

Party-vi > EL_ULY
09/10/2015 at 14:33

Did you guys suggest new rotors though?

RazoE > FKA-RacecaR
09/10/2015 at 14:55

At 90k, you should have had your timing belt changed 3k miles ago. PLEASE do it ASAP. The VVTi 2JZ, unlike the non-VVTi 2JZ is infact an interference engine. Valves will kiss pistons and it will not be pretty.

and 100 more > FKA-RacecaR
09/10/2015 at 14:55

All said, not too bad. Could’ve saved a few by doing some of the work yourself, but at least you know it was done by a reputable shop.

I’ve always liked IS300s, and they’re fairly bulletproof from what I’ve heard.

qbeezy > FKA-RacecaR
09/10/2015 at 14:59

Sounds like you got out of there pretty cheap!

FKA-RacecaR > RazoE
09/10/2015 at 15:11

Damnit, and all this time I thought it was not an interference engine. Time to move that up the list of to-dos then. Thanks for the info!

FKA-RacecaR > and 100 more
09/10/2015 at 15:12

I did tell them I would do some of it myself. They wanted to change the cabin and intake filters. I also told them I would do the serpentine belt replacement, but they would be RIGHT THERE, and it wasn’t much more than cost for the part, so I let them do it.

EL_ULY > Party-vi
09/10/2015 at 15:14

For Lexus, only if I can’t turn them safely. Cheaper for the customer, more labor for me, and NO change in braking performance through pad life. 3 wins :] (rear only ALL and FWD front rotors/older cars) (on RWD, replace Front rotors always on cars 06-)

For these euro brands, we don’t have a lathe in the shop. OEM doesn’t ask to turn any rotors and that if they are within specs, just install pads (rear only) (Front, replace rotors always ALL cars)

and 100 more > FKA-RacecaR
09/10/2015 at 15:43

Right on.

Also, damn you, now I’m looking at Is300s on CL...

Brian, The Life of > Party-vi
09/10/2015 at 16:08

Your comment surprised me so I did some readin’. Interdasting stuff!

http://www.tomorrowstechnician.com/the-great-roto…

Party-vi > Brian, The Life of
09/10/2015 at 16:24

Good stuff.