Peter P18

I'd probably do the upstream ones first unless you can get a good deal on all four. If that doesn't solve your issues, next thing would be the cats. :( You may want to consider adding an O2 conditioner from the likes of PPE or SIKKY first though? Just a thought.

You'd be best off getting the car up on a ramp to make removal easier. A lot of the guys in the States buy replacements when they change out the headers for Novel, PPE or SIKKY versions. Reason being the original items can be tricky to remove without damaging them. I'd get some WD40 or similar penetrating fluid on them for as long as possible beforehand. Just let them soak for a while. AFR would not necessarily be affected by faulty O2 sensors. The AFR relates to the intake side of the combustion process, the O2 sensors are monitoring the spent gases from the exhaust end of things. Hope you get things figured out soon Sean. :)

Based on Colin's post above, looks like the error codes relate to the upstream O2 sensors. That's where I would start I think. I'd avoid re-installing the mini-cat's if I was you. May well have something to do with why the O2 sensors went wrong to begin with! With your car as the only notable exception, I have NEVER seen another ISF with mini cats like those! Get yourself a pair of upstream O2 sensors and see if that fixes things for good. Best of luck Sean. :)

Hi Sean. I actually posted for an update on your old thread! ;) Then stumbled across this one! I'm still not convinced this is related to the removal of your secondary cats. No one on the US side has had any issues with CEL's or faults when they have removed theirs. If it was me, I would be more interested in the O2 sensors (4 in total). May be worthwhile replacing them to see if that fixes the issues? I'm guessing you've also check your AFM to make sure that isn't gunked up etc? The symptoms you are experiencing just don't tie up with removing the secondary cats mate. As I think you already know, there is zero monitoring of the secondary cats. It's the primary's that are monitored by the O2 sensors. That's one of the reasons you see guys fitting O2 conditioners when they replace the headers. Do you know what grade of octane your fuel is by the way? We are quite lucky over here in the UK, and can easily source 98 or 99 RON. You don't have any induction kit or aftermarket air filter do you??

Hi Sean. Any updates on this?? Think you were waiting on the OBD2 reader to see what's happening? Let us know chap. :) Cheers. Peter

I'm not convinced mate. :( Check out this thread from the US side: http://www.lexusfforum.com/archive/index.php/t-3136.html For the money they are charging you, I'd personally buy a proper exhaust system from the manifolds back, along with new O2 sensors (all 4). I would ignore the comments about needing to refit the secondary cats (not necessary), and I would question the need to remove the engine to change the AFR sensors? Couldn't find any threads on the process to check this? I'd be inclined to find a half decent tuning shop to tackle things (cheaper than Lexus)? Maybe you don't have any nearby?!

In answer to your question Chris, it wont chip or scratch more than normal paint does. If you did get a nasty chip in the clear coat, you can have it re-cleared, or painted if you preferred. They basically remove all of the clear coat, then re-do it. Not much difference to having it re-painted to be honest. :)

Glad they are finally giving you the service you deserve mate. :) May be worth asking what grade of oil they used? Not sure if your location would require a different weight to compensate for the altitude?? Let us know how you get on chap. :)

Not having a good time of it are you chap. :( Sorry to hear this. Hope they get it sorted for you. :)

I personally think they are talking out their rears! ;) Best bet is to get the car on a dyno. That way they can check and print out your AFR readings for you. Given the O2 sensors are all still there and working correctly, I'd be very surprised if you're running rich mate. The ECU on these cars recalibrates to take into account fueling, airflow etc all the time. Hence the fact the couple of attempts to remap using piggyback ECU's failed. You could also add an AFR gauge if you're worried? Thinking of doing it for mine especially if I decide to fit a nitrous kit at some point. I think they just want to make some money out of you. Hope this helps. :)

This, can't be h&s as branding is clear and not sure anyone has 2nd cats removed. Be interested to know if it is h&s. Stu Having taken the time to find Sean's newbie post, I noticed he's based in South Africa! ;) Very, very, unlikely this is an H&S system. Glad to hear it's done the trick though. :)

Thanks for the update Sean. Be interested to know if this is a Hayward & Scott system. I am under the belief no one has had the secondary cats removed as part of an H&S system thus far. I only know that as I am planning to be the first! ;) Hopefully it's all sorted. :)

Hi Sean. As Stu has already mentioned, removal of the secondary cat's should NOT cause any CEL issues. The O2 sensors that monitor levels and can cause CEL's are fitted to the headers/inlet manifolds. There are 4 O2 sensors in total two upstream, two downstream of the primary cat's. The primaries are part of the inlet manifolds/headers. Depending on the outcome of your OBD 2 scan, it may be a simple case of replacing some of the O2 sensors. You could also try an O2 conditioner from the likes of SIKKY or PPE who sell replacement headers without the primary cat's? The conditioner tricks the system into believing all is well with the signals to the O2 sensors. A replacement exhaust from the headers back should not be causing you any issues with CEL's (Check Engine Lights). Hopefully you get it sorted mate. Please let us know how you get on, and what they say. :) Cheers. Peter

Glad to hear you're enjoying it. :) Need some photos! ;) Resistance is futile! Lol. Just get on and mod it already!! :)

Good to know Damien. :) That was a bloody good price for two sets of pads and a set of rotors! ;) Nice to know they hold up well to track conditions as well. I'm looking at going with the two-piece offerings the US guys are using next. ;) Lighter than the OEM setup by a fair bit, and last a lot longer. Only slight concern is they don't recommend using ceramic pads. Hopefully won't generate too much more brake dust! The Porterfield pads I have at the rear are really nice. Not a lot of dust which is good news. The Hawk ceramics at the front have really good bite whether cold or warmed up, and are wearing very well (hardly gone down at all despite a few emergency style stops due to idiots pulling out in front of me without indicating! Lol). I'd not expect anyone to pay the ridiculous stealer prices for brakes, but I think you need to use some common sense when buying alternatives. Generally the old saying 'you get what you pay for' applies, but that deal you got on the Pagids was very good. :) I can testify the installation/removal is very straightforward (pads or rotors). No need for an overpriced Lexus tech to do them (most good tuners should be able to change them without a problem).

Hey Alan. Haven't used these myself. I ordered the rear rotors off Whifbitz, who thought they were the same as the Brembo ones they sell for the front. Turns out they weren't! :( They seem to be holding up ok though. Not sure what make they are to be honest! Only issue I did have was the middle of the rotors weren't painted like the Brembo's. Ended up all rusty looking after I used it in the rain! :( Had them rubbed down and painted since, so no big deal. :) Why would you be looking to sell them chap? You not keeping them for your car??

I hear you Steve. Maybe not the best comparison. What I'm saying is for the sake of say £2-3 a fill up, is it not worth using the higher RON? Think V Power was 1.28 or so when I got some petrol this morning? Shell spent literally millions getting their V Power to be the best possible fuel it can be. For the sake of a pint of beer, I'd rather use the good stuff! ;)

Always run the best fuel in my cars. The price per fill is negligible guys! How many of you have had those money off a litre vouchers from the supermarkets? 10p a litre off, or even 20p. So you fill up with say £65 of fuel, go in and smugly hand over your voucher. If you're lucky enough for them to accept it, they inform you it's now £63.12 or something like that! ;) Wow! A whole £1.88 off! Lol. Hardly seems worth it. I've seen better MPG, acceleration, and smoother running from using the higher RON fuels. No denying you'd gain more if we could re-map the ECU to run on the higher RON fuels, but you do get more for your money. Peace of mind that your injectors will run cleaner, and your risk of any detonation is reduced. Not criticising anyone, but seems odd to me that youngsters in their £2-3K 200SX's will fork out for V Power, yet guys with £20K+ ISF's use cheap stuff? You wouldn't run economy tires, so why use cheap fuel?? Just my thoughts.

The Apexi throttle controller produces a sense of greater urgency when accelerating, but this is purely down to less pedal input being required to get the throttle to respond. It won't alter the torque or HP you produce, but it does make the car feel more responsive to your right foot. Coming from some big HP turbo'd cars, the ISF does feel slower to accelerate, but it isn't. I think the build quality/level of refinement makes you less aware just how quickly you are picking up speed. Plenty of M3 owners who can vouch for these being no slouches up and down the M25! ;) Lol.

Hey Stu. Thanks chap. Yes, fog is all sorted now. The fixing screw had come out?! Not quite sure how that happened, but was a nice quick fix through the arch liner. :)

This is the correct sizes on one of the U.S. guys car: Anyone able to photoshop the body colour to Cadoxton Slate Mettalic? Think they should look pretty smart! Here's a couple of photos of the new LED fogs in action. The colour match is spot on with the main dipped beams. Not had any fog to trial their functionality compared to the earlier ones, but think they'll do nicely! :)

Hi Gavan, No mate. The diffuser attaches to the stock rear bumper. :) A lot of the US guys only use 3M tape to affix theirs, mine was fixed using proper sikaflex (same for the carbon OEM style boot spoiler). This stuff is incredibly strong, and won't budge anytime soon. Work was done by my good friend Rob Mitchell down at Darnley Auto Works in Strood. :)

Hi Julian, Yep, the photo was just to show the style, not correctly sized. Mine are though. ;) Got 19x9 +35 fronts, 19x10 +42 rears. Mine also have the newer carbon fibre centre caps. :) Can't wait!

Congrats! :) Look forward to seeing some pictures once you have settled in! ;) Great cars, you'll love it.

Lol. Quite a bit chunkier on mileage than most of the others though? I know Stu and I had quite high mileage cars when we got ours, and mine is still below 51K! I'm always suspect of adverts with no pictures. Good deal if it's all ok though. :)