I took my brother's, Lexus ES 250, for a tune up on Tuesday, February 13th to Lexus of Manhattan. I told them that there is also a problem with the leaving the car and the not being able to start it again after a few hours. I mentioned that it could be the battery or the factory installed anti-theft system because after it wouldn't start, the lights starts blinking and the entire car shuts down. I told them that after I boost the battery, the car successfully starts. I mentioned some other minor things to look at; such as the antenna, the power window control module, and bulbs for the fog lights.
Later that day, I received a call at work stating that the problem is the starter motor needs replacing and that was the problem. The service person also mentioned that the car needs approx. $3,000 suspension work. I declined the suspension work and told her that I need the car not being able to start fixed. She said that the starter motor with labor and tax comes up to $584.55; and with the tune up, the total is $1481.16. The other minor things, I told them to forget for now since the cost for the starter motor was an unexpected expense.
I picked up the car on Thursday, February 15th. I used the car that evening and about three hours after parking it, it refused to start again. I got a boost and drove it home. I called Lexus of Manhattan on Friday, February 16th reporting to them that replacing the starter motor did not fix the problem. The response that I got was that the starter motor needed replacing because the technician showed it to me and I saw that it was bent. I asked if I can bring the car in again and if they can fix the problem. I was told that the earliest appointment was Monday, February 19th. Having no other choice at the time I made the appointment for 7:00AM.
Since it was a three-day weekend and I didn't have access to a car, I bought a booster kit and boosted the car on Sunday, February 18th. I took it to Sears Automotive. They ran a $9.99 electrical diagnostic and determined it was the battery. I bought a new battery and the car is working fine.
The reason I took it to a Lexus dealer was that I assumed that the technicians working for Lexus would be a better choice for a Lexus car. I don't know if the policy is to quickly find something wrong so that the customer has to pay for part (s)/labor that is not necessary. That's how ridiculous the Lexus technician (s)' diagnosis of the starting problem was; and amazingly it cost less that ten dollars for Sears to find the problem.
I've contacted Lexus corporation (Laurie Potter @ 1800-255-3987) and they have stated that they cannot do anything because the technician said it needed replacing. I've also filed a complaint with the BBB of New York.
The car is a 1990 and any technician can argue that 90% of the car needs replacing because of normal wear and tear. It was a problem with the battery because the car would start with a boost; the same scenario after the allegedly fixed it by replacing the starter motor. They've argued that the starter motor locks up and the car would not start. I've told them that I've always gotten it to start with a boost. And to repeat myself, I still had to get boost the car more than once after they "fixed" it.
Thanks for your attention. Please feel free to contact me.
0 comments