Faulty Injector With Stuck Seal

[animus nocendi]

A couple of weeks ago I was driving to the coast, at some traffic lights I put the window down and heard a loud ticking sound coming from under the hood.

It turns out this is a faulty injector. I took the car to a garage who confirmed this. Being covered by warranty direct (100% labour & 50% parts), I called them to authorize the claim. Later the same day I was told that they would pay £449 and I was to pay another £380-ish. I thought this was better than nothing and asked the garage to go ahead. (£390 for the injector, £25 seals +VAT).

A full 5 working days later I was told that they have managed to remove the injector but NOT the injector seal, which is stuck at the bottom.

It has now been 9 working days and the garage have given up.

They have recommended I either take the car to another garage, but that it would have to be towed, or they remove the engine, the head, remove the seal then put everything back together.

I called warranty direct to authorize all the extra labour, however they said that they cover work on the injector, not the seals, therefore I would have to pay for this myself.

They told me that there are companies out there with specialist tools, who can remove stuck seal. I am in Cambridge, can anyone please recommend such a company? I managed to find one in north Yorkshire, but they do a minimum of two and would charge about £300 because of the distance.

Please advise,

Thank you.

[animus nocendi]

I found a garage in London that specialises in removing injectors.

They quoted me £216.

£60+ VAT for the work

£120 + VAT for the travel (1hr each way).

------

£180 + VAT = £216.

Rather than spend so much on them travelling London - Cambridge, I searched for a local company.

I found an old mechanic that had a seal removal tool (copper washer), he had a go yesterday but was unable to get it out because:

"might not have helped that they tried without proper tools"
"others might not touch it because of what they have done to it".

I called the London based company and booked them in for today.

I just hope that the garage didn't damage the washer too badly and that they are able to remove the washer so that I can get my car running again.

If the London injector removal company manages to remove the injector seal I will happily pay them the £216 as otherwise I face having to pay for the engine to come and and the head gasket off.

[animus nocendi]

An injector has gone again.

This time I've removed it myself, but the seal is stuck again.

I called the company who sorted it last time ( CleeBrothers ), but they seem to have increased their prices. Last time they quoted £60+VAT for the work and £120 for travelling from London to Cambridge, this time they have quoted £250 and I'm only 14 miles away... I'm not impressed to say the least.

Luckily I found another company who are coming later today and will remove the seal for £80.

This is the 3rd injector which has gone since I bought it, two and a half years ago time in which I've covered around 17,000 miles. After I get this fixed I'll be done with Lexus.

[normski2]

Understand where you are coming from

Try the 250 Auto.

Would be far better especially only doing 17000 in 2.5 years.

Best move I ever made was changing from my 220 to the 250 I now have.

[Shahpor]

Sorry to hear about your troubles.

I was wondering, is it 3 different injectors that failed? It is just that I have heard of different cases on other makes when it is seems they tend to fail one after another relatively quickly?

So I was wondering if this is yet another quirk of modern diesels?

As a side note, my friend had his BMW 118d put into the garage last week since it was shaking itself apart. The verdict came back 3 out of 4 injectors failed. How 3 fail at the same time is beyond me. Anyway, he is having all 4 changed, but as you can imagine, it is not going to be cheap.

[animus nocendi]

@Shahpor they were 3 different injectors that failed.

@Normski what is the economy like in the petrol? What are the advantages?

You probably get better mpg from your 250 than I do from the 220d.

[normski2]

Around town and on my run to work I get 28-31mpg.

On a decent run with some motor way/dual carriage way I will see 34-36.

On an extended m-way run it can be 38-40 (using cruise control).

This summer I drove a section from LeHavre to Bourges and got just over 40mpg.

The V6 auto is just a sublime place to be.

Give one a try if you can get the opportunity. I think you'll be amazed.

[toffee_pie]

dont know why people buy 220ds, easily one of the worst diesel cars going by what I have read about em.

[Shahpor]

Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but for me it is purely down to fuel consumption.

From what I understand, a IS250 will do 30-35mpg on mixed town and motorway? The IS220d is quite capable of 40-45mpg for the same thing, and that 10mpg matters, at least to me.

It is a shame cause I really do like the idea of a IS250 Auto.

[toffee_pie]

what is 10mpg in real world terms over a year in actual fuel saving? bearing in mind over that same period the chances of a is250 ending up in a garage are very slim, not to mention its a totally different beast than the diesel which is just an engine thrown in from an avensis or something.!

[animus nocendi]

Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but for me it is purely down to fuel consumption.

From what I understand, a IS250 will do 30-35mpg on mixed town and motorway? The IS220d is quite capable of 40-45mpg for the same thing, and that 10mpg matters, at least to me.

It is a shame cause I really do like the idea of a IS250 Auto.

I've never had more than 40mpg from my 220d. I only got that high once, when I filled up on the motorway.

In town I get 19-22 and on a motorway run it sometimes goes up to 36-38, if I'm lucky.

I wish I had gone for the 250, it would have been cheaper and probably far more reliable and no bloody DPF.

[Shahpor]

Well, it is roughly £350 over 10,000 miles assuming it is 10mpg. I suppose it depends on what figures actual IS250 owners are getting mpg wise. According to Lexus, the IS250 is doing 31mpg combined whereas the IS220d is doing almost 45. With those figures, the cost would be nearer £530.

Also, admittedly not the largest concern, but the road tax is also £85 more expensive. Not a great deal in itself.

Finally, the 250 is one insurance group higher than the diesel.

I admit none of these are huge concerned in themselves, but it all adds up in the end.

I agree though, that if it wasn't for the cost, the IS250 Auto is a much more accomplished Lexus

[toffee_pie]

I get about 350-400 miles on a tank and fill up about £60-70 at time. My milage is only about < 7k per year so it helps somewhat.

[Carl911]

An injector has gone again.

This time I've removed it myself, but the seal is stuck again.

I called the company who sorted it last time ( CleeBrothers ), but they seem to have increased their prices. Last time they quoted £60+VAT for the work and £120 for travelling from London to Cambridge, this time they have quoted £250 and I'm only 14 miles away... I'm not impressed to say the least.

Luckily I found another company who are coming later today and will remove the seal for £80.

This is the 3rd injector which has gone since I bought it, two and a half years ago time in which I've covered around 17,000 miles. After I get this fixed I'll be done with Lexus.

I did my own and found them reasonably easy to remove. A long flat screwdriver did the job on all four of my stuck seals. You need to give the screwdriver a little tap, not too hard, just enough to grip the washer. Then twist sharply in a rotating manner. This instantly freed the seal and the. It could be lifted out with a hook or something like a piece of coat hanger wire with a little bend at the end.

Carl

[Carl911]

Well, it is roughly £350 over 10,000 miles assuming it is 10mpg. I suppose it depends on what figures actual IS250 owners are getting mpg wise. According to Lexus, the IS250 is doing 31mpg combined whereas the IS220d is doing almost 45. With those figures, the cost would be nearer £530.

Also, admittedly not the largest concern, but the road tax is also £85 more expensive. Not a great deal in itself.

Finally, the 250 is one insurance group higher than the diesel.

I admit none of these are huge concerned in themselves, but it all adds up in the end.

I agree though, that if it wasn't for the cost, the IS250 Auto is a much more accomplished Lexus

I also owned both, Round town is probably get 5mpg more in the diesel but on b-roads and motorway it was pretty much even.

Overall, I think the is250 is the way forward and the little extra cost is certainly worth it.

My wife now owns my is250 and I drive a gs450h. As much as I love my gs I still find the is250 a nicer overall ride, not as firm as my gs.

I'm thinking of going back to an is next time round as it's such a greatly proportioned car.

[Shahpor]

Well, that is interesting. I am wondering if you could tell me what your IS250 does on the motorway run? Thanks.

Also, I am now aware that I have pretty much taken over animus nocendi's thread, for which I apologise. Did you get the seal out in the end?

[Carl911]

Cruising at 70-80mph I normally see between 37-45 depending on gradients. Cruise control on also helps. As mentioned realistically I never saw over 45mpg from the diesel so there really is very little difference.

[animus nocendi]

I found a company who were able to remove the seal, it cost £85. After that was done, a mechanic friend cleaned it and put it back, the injector hasn't caused any problems since then.

I really regret not buying the 250 in the first place, it sounds like a much better car. One thing is for sure, I cannot wait to be rid of it.