Lexus Dealership Fails to Fix Simple Bulb Issue: A 700-Mile Journey for Diagnosis

The Persistent Pre-Collision System Malfunction

• 💡 A 2016 Lexus LS460 owner experienced a consistent "Pre-Collision System Malfunction" warning light that only appeared at night when headlights were on auto.
• ⚠️ The issue persisted for nearly two years, despite multiple attempts by a Lexus dealership to diagnose and fix it.

Dealership Diagnosis Failures

• ❌ The Lexus dealership kept the car for two separate week-long periods, charging $200 for initial diagnosis, but claimed they could not replicate the problem.
• 🤷‍♂️ Despite the owner providing video evidence and the problem being consistent, the dealership repeatedly stated they could not find the issue.
• 🚗 The owner discovered that disabling the auto-headlight function prevented the warning lights, leading him to drive with manual headlights for almost two years.

Independent Shop Diagnosis and Discovery

• 🔍 Upon bringing the car to TCCN Automotive after a 700-mile drive, the technician connected a scan tool and found a "history code" for the "H infrared signal circuit."
• 💡 This code pointed to a specific infrared light within the headlight assembly, crucial for the pre-collision system's night-time operation.
• 🤯 The technician discovered that the passenger-side headlight was missing its infrared bulb entirely, a component that costs approximately $35.

Additional Issues and Repair

• 💧 Separately, the windshield washer system was found to be non-functional due to a broken pump connection.
• ⚠️ The vehicle also had a significant coolant leak from the valley plate, which the dealership had failed to identify during previous maintenance.
• 🛠️ The missing bulb was replaced, resolving the pre-collision system malfunction, and the washer pump was also fixed.

Criticism of Dealership Practices

• 📉 The video highlights a perceived lack of due diligence and diagnostic effort from the dealership, contrasting it with the independent shop's successful resolution of a simple issue.
• 💰 The cost of the missing bulb was minimal compared to the potential cost of replacing the entire headlight assembly ($3,500) or the dealership's repeated diagnostic fees.
• 💔 The technician expresses disappointment in dealerships that avoid complex diagnostics or seem unwilling to address issues that require more than basic maintenance.