QUICK UPDATE: I've been using the Grom Vline Carplay unit for less than a week and so far its been a bit buggy which has been the complaint online about it for the 2011-2012 Ct 200hs. Proceed with caution if you're considering buying the unit. I will do an update video on the second channel very soon.
What sort of bugs have you found ? I've been running a vline vl2 in my 2008 RX350 for the past 2 years and its honestly been excellent. Its had a few hiccups but nothing to serious and overall reliable .
I've read about some of the issues with the early ct200hs on the grom forum but they are old posts some im curious to hear more from you. I want to get one for the wife's CT next Xmas.
Have you done all the software and firmware updates? I have one on my 100 series and had to do several from the get go, and while it's not a perfect solution, I like it overall. The biggest drawback is the 20 year old screen and it's twitchy touch response. I actually wish I had a joystick like you have.
toyota engines are very reliable untill you miss an oil change, then the problems starting, more precisely if you don't change oil every 10k the engine is done
These engines are the same as the prius engine for this generation. We rebuild these all the time since they all love popping head gaskets around 150k miles. They love Bruning oil too. Doing the rebuild better is than buying a used engine since the used one might be ready to pop anyway. These bottom ends are pretty robust when it comes to wearing out cylinder walls so we don't need to hone them (Toyota says not to). So we usually put head gasket, pistons, rings, and bearings (usually Toyota #2 marked bearings)
A buddy of mine and I bought a 2012 Prius with a ceased engine. Our intent is to just swap a good used engine in it and sell it, but I’m considering buying him out of it and keeping it. I believe it has the 2ZR-FXE, is that the same engine you’re referring to here? Or a variation of it? I know in the 2012 generation they had oil consumption issues.
the problem of this engine is that it was designed in the first place for none hybrid purposes. When you think about what a head gasket does, it seals the block & head together during temperature changes(compressed in high temp & decompressed in low temp) Since the headgasket is the same as the none hybrid engine, it goes through the same amount of temperature cycle, but instead of having 1 at each start up, it has a lot more since the engine stops when the electric motor is on, then starts up again, and so on… That’s why the blow at 100-150k km instead of 450-500k km as they do in corollas! Egr has a part to play, but it’s not the major flaw of this engine. This issue was resolve in 2016 when they adressed the problem by changing the headgasket they use to put in 2011-2015 models
the CT and 3rd gen Priuses seem to be disproportionately effected by the EGR issue, unfortunately. The 4th gen seems to have solved it, but even the 2nd gen Prius which is known to be quite a tank, isn't immune to it, despite the 1NZ engine in the non-hybrid Echo/Yaris being bulletproof. Something about an all aluminum engine that's constantly cooling and heating sounds like it would lead to this. My 2nd gen's water and oil temps move around a lot but it's within spec.
I’ve always liked the look of these cars having the CarPlay upgrade must make it feel like a more modern vehicle. Also looks so much nicer with the better suspension and spacers. Incredible the difference it makes. You would think there would be a aftermarket better quality head gasket out there to help solve this issue with the amount of taxi companies worldwide using this engine in their cars.
This just goes to show that when you try and update your car's component, you need to think about it's environment more than track points if you're going to daily it. Very good update.
I do extended service contract claims. The rare claims on these have been for head gaskets and it seems to be only in states where temps get bellow 0 degrees. Almost like the head gasket shrinks in cold weather
The older I get, the more I understand that a good set of quality dampers and lowering springs is the best way to go on a daily driver. Recently put a set of Bilstein B8s and Eibach Prokits on my Focus ST and I'm absolutely in love with how it's rides while soaking up miles of windshield time.
That's true! Or just stock if the stock suspension is already sporty enough and low enough. E.g., Civic Si seems fine (the new one, the 11th gen, perhaps not so much the 9th gen K24 that was a little soggy without the HPD suspension), Civic Type R seems fine -- no need to change IMO, unless chasing lap times/autocross times! I don't really understand why people lower cars that are already low. It think it would be nice if slightly uprated springs were available but which didn't lower the car any more at all -- just the +15% spring rate bit without the -15mm bit of a typical lowering spring! On the damping side, I guess there are people who say aftermarket shocks have more sophisticated damping and are not built down to a price as much as OE, which may or may not be true. I dunno! 🙂 I feel like the stock RSX/Integra/Civic Type S/Type R shocks are pretty good, whether they are the Honda Showa ones made in Japan or the Sachs ones made in Germany that came on English-built Type Rs. They have a very beefy shaft (lol, 21mm IIRC) and seem to hold up pretty well! You could get OE-like aftermarket, for example you could get Mugen struts for FG2/FA5 Si's and non Type R FD2s which were made by Showa, and are probably not that different to OE shocks apart from the valving. I see Monroe supply the stock shocks for North American Focus STs.
@TassieLorenzo very true for newer sport model cars like the Type R line. My ST shocks were worn, so Bilsteins were the next best option for something a little more sporty without compromising the ride.
My 2015 prius I purchased new with zero miles I sold it 21 months ago with 375,000 miles, zero problems. Now I purchased 2017 lexus ct200h with 16,000 miles. It all comes down to proper maintenance and driving
Neat, didn't think I'd see a big car tuber post about a CT. Got myself a 2011 model, going 227k miles strong but the HV battery is going bad, a couple of the cells are out of balance. You really oughta give a shout out to the CT200h forums, there's a lot of good info over there including the service manual if you wanna do the work yourself.
I have a 2012 ct200h with 200 miles, I had the same head gasket problem and over heating issues. Instead of replacing the head gasket which cost 2k, I replaced it with a 2016 Japanese engine with 60k miles. It cost me $2300 total with installation, 2016 gen 4 Prius engines no longer have the head gasket issues. I'm glad I replaced my engine, most engines from Japan has low miles because their law requires them to retire the cars after 4-5 yrs.
When the EGR valves become carbonded up the will stick open slightly always letting exhaust gas into the intake. You can make a small sheet metal block off plate and put it in between the EGR and cylinder head. You wont get a CEL as everything will work as normal but no exhaust gas will be let into the intake. Common practice in the diesel world.
I have a 2012 CT and I love mine. But I did have to replace the hybrid battery at 180,000 miles. Seems like it is common for it to go bad around that range. I checked into “refurbishing, rebuilding, reconditioning” the battery but those methods just put a bandaid over the issue and I plan on keeping it for a long time. I did the swap out myself, wasn’t too hard. Bought from a Lexus stealership for around $2500 USD.
Yep, 260k miles for me. I drive a lot of miles and that’s probably why mine went longer. I used to cycle the battery a lot where practical until the engine was forced on. I don’t do that any more since I’m lazy now and want to postpone another battery.
I have this car and I recommend installing a oil catch can. There is a lot of blow-by when the engine is running cold due to friction efficiency. If you dont want to install a catch can I recommend letting the engine warm up and let the metal expand before driving it to reduce blow-by.
@@brentwatts6130 It might depend on the make and model, my gen3 Prius will run the engine at first start or when cold. The engines runs until it reaches the set operating temp then shut-off. Or it will continue to run if you have certain accessories running.
My 2012 ct200h is going on 240000km and going strong, no major issues so far and no check engine light since I got the car with 180000km. I only get some strong vibrations when the car sits a while and gets some moisture in the engine on the initial startup for about 30 seconds, but it only happens once in a while.
I almost pull the trigger yesterday on a 2016 CT200 but the car appeared neglected on the exterior so I assumed the interior was worse. After watching your video, I am going to have to think twice about getting a ct200 and look at something else. Huge bummer because I really love the look of this Lexus. Love your videos
So glad to see this video as other UA-cam videos don’t talk about different solutions besides cleaning EGR. My 14 CT200 recently gave out starting with the rattle at engine start up then coolant getting into the heads. Glad to know there’s a way to mitigate these issues!
You guys should’ve tackled this job. These are not bad to do at all. Basically the same as a Prius. Still a great engine, just the excessive cycling on and off wears the head gasket out faster than if it was running all the time like in a Corolla.
Seems like it’s common on 3rd gen Prius, but not the 2nd gen. So must be something specific to that engine (such as EGR issue), rather than the extra cycling from being a hybrid.
This video was very helpful. I had the sams issue. Initially changed spark plugs , changed coils and even cleaned EGR valuve and my injectors. Still had the rattling issue. Ended up changing the headgasket and mechanic advised changing timing belt at the same time cost me 2600 cdn. No more issues.
Our Shop - Hybridpit in SoCal specializes on engine rebuilds. We build it better using Toyota Revised pistons and rings and of course using a Felpro head gasket to make the recipe complete 🏁
It failed again because they just put another composite single-layer head gasket. By 2016 it was already updated by Toyota with the MLS gasket so it's puzzling why they would put the same part that failed once already.
I bought my 2012 CT200h 6 years ago with 221,000 miles and a blown head gasket from a personal friend that bought it new. It had a bad CVT from never having its fluid changed. I did a complete JDM engine and transmission together. 260,000 and running 100% I put a head gasket on the pode engine and sold the engine to a local used car dealer for one of their cars!
Guys, you can do better than Doorman, they suck!! Love the update on the Lexus, were shopping for one for the girlfriend but we settled on a brand new Corolla H/B instead
The other thing that doesn’t help the 2ZR-FXE is the crazy PCV system design. They slurp oil like mad. Often a pool of oil under the throttle body and a mess going up the intake manifold. The oil combines with the EGR gasses right before the ports and falls back into the EGR passages clogging them. I fit an Oil Catch Can on mine some months ago. I’m sure it’s not capturing all the PCV oil but it is catching some.
Happened to my moms 2012 CT, $7,000 repair at Lexus. Pretty sure I commented warning about this on the first CT video you guys did, unfortunate it happened to you. Great video!
Funny you make this video and my 2012 ct200h had this problem. I don’t have funds to do a head gasket job. I used sealer followed with coolant. And after 2 days, the rattle gone away and the gasket sealed for now
put s thin film of never-seize on the threaded shock body on coilovers. they're usually steel, whereas the locknuts tend to be aluminum, even if they aren't disimilar metals the never-seize will help negate any corrosion.
Could be head gasket design... you could look into the aftermarket for a better gasket... usually it's the other way around... " OEM is always the best bet".. but not always...🤔
I have a 2016 which I bought in 2018. I don't regret buying this car. I LUV IT! I would like to buy another one. Mine doesn't have the bells and whistles, but I don't care. It gives me what I want. Power, speed when I need it. Stability and most of all great fuel economy.
My dad had a 2009 Toyota Prius GEN 3 which we used as an Uber. We drove 280k miles original engine and original gearbox. Needed a new battery from Toyota. New EGR. New headlights and suspension all around. We gave the car to a friend and it still runs today. I think the cat is dead due to oil burning but the cooling system is still intact today.
Its a known problem. If you drive the car a lot on long drives and not short drives the car tend to last longer. I am at 200k miles zero problems. I do clean my EGR valve every 100K miles. One advice is also clean the intake manifold exhaust ports. That clogs up and thats usually where it leads to the head gasket problem.
Hey man, great vid!! I'm in Stoney Creek and I've been looking for one of these 2012/13 for a long while now. When I find one, I'll be doing what you've done to yours (except the head gasket I hope). That doesn't deter me because this is a great daily commuter. Thanks!
I have a 2014 CT and I have been interested in replacing the suspension as well, mine is completely stock right now, but it’s a little too crashy for my liking, and I would like to lower it. What type of wheels and tires do you have?
Awesome update PT. I recently put in a 10" replacement screen on my Wife's CT200H and other than a bit of a slower start up its been good. I also put the vline2 in my landcruiser a couple of months ago it's been good but there has been some small bugs. I need to order this suspension setup for the Wife's car after this video I'm no longer going coilivers. Cheers from Aus!!!
I have a 2001 Cadillac Deville and my engine was pumping out coolant. I took this engine apart myself because no shop in Atlanta would do it. There was one bolt stripped out. I believe Cadillac stripped this bolt out when they built the engine. I have a feeling techs are putting too much torque on the bolts. When I torque my head bolts. I put 50 lbs-ft torque and I did not worry about the angle bs.
It's constant heat cycles of the ICE engine (engine turning on/off switching from EV to charging, etc) causing the springiness of the gasket and also possibly stretching of the head bolts. These engines were designed as regular combustion engines, not designed for this on off cycle. Apparently Toyota can't figure out a solution since all Prius, and the like, engines have that issue, in my experience
Oh nice, I just bought an ES350 and I was thinking of getting a GROM as well. The Lexus infotainment on this 2012 is kinda useless, and it does not really have much of anything on it. I wanted a model with the stock nav just to install a GROM system for an OEM look
2nd gen prius drive train is well known to blow head gaskets. Some guys that service taxis in california can change head gaskets in 45 min because they do them every week (have heads on hot standby). If you dont take care of it that massive generator/starter will send a rod out the block when it hydro locks. People think thermal cycling makes this fail. Doorman stuff is junk, good luck. A salvage oem part is better than doorman junk.
I love the style of these cars, you can also do the facelift conversion as well. That ride height is perfect for my taste 👍🏼. The rear being slightly higher makes it perfect for passengers.
There is a great youtube channel named ( Gasket Masters ) They are specialized in Prius head gasket, they explain why it is such a common issue with hybrids cars
Remember doing this on my dads Prius V, its been good for 40k km but looks like the egr cooler is starting to clog again, going to have to remove and clean it out :(
My 2010 prius, 155K miles (250km) burns no oil, and the egr pipe (an indication of egr carbon buildup, which then morphs into a head gasket leak) is still clean. Why? I change to oil at 5k miles, 8k km. I do not do any short trips (under 10 minutes) in the car, and once it's warmed up, I try to do a bit of an Italian tune up by some full throttle acceleration. Not too much, by the way. YMMVM. Good luck.
Open door, locate latch on door, use screwdriver to push down the hinge pen that holds the door to the latch, stops beeper... Just open door handle to unlatch or door won't shut with its latch engaged
I had an LS460, GS350, and ISF and they all had issues with fuel pumps, valley plat leaks, and the GS350 had rattles. Lexus isn’t what it used to be. I have a ZL11LE for track time and daily a 25 year old Acura RL
instead of the egr it can be the electric water pump wich should be changed as a maintenance item every 120k miles or so. My waterpump initiated head gasket trouble, egr was clean...
From personal experience with my CT, its down to the EGR and intake manifold getting coked up with carbon. Unavoidable as the engine starts and stops itself a lot but it should be part of the service. I caught mine in time when I notice a rattle noise from the engine bay on light throttle input or cold starts. Been fine ever since it got cleaned out.
This video has great info but the "So Much For Lexus Reliability," is clickbait. I would expect someone with your experience and know-how to know this model is not one of the most reliable. None of their hybrids make that list.
Whoa. I have a 2012 w/ 135k miles and I haven't had to do any service like this on it. Just oil and tires mostly. Now I'm afraid to go have either the EGR or cylinders looked at and find a $3k+ repair bill!!!
Unfortunately this is why chose to skip this Lexus model even though it was perfect for me - small commuter, excellent fuel economy & hatchback. My best friend had a Prius with this engine and cylinder 2 was caked up with oil. Tried cleaning EGR valves and intake but to no avail. Rip. It's such a good little simple car that shouldn't be troubled with issues.
Ive got tein street advance coilovers on my gs300. Ive slowly turned them up and up untill they are at full stiff as they are way too soft. Same for my mates evo. Both daily street cars. It baffles me how some after market suspension is crazy stiff and some is crazy soft. The best results ive had is stock suspension with cut springs for street use. Vehicle manufacturers spend millions on on your ride so its hard to beat
A head gasket every 100k miles is to be expected on Toyota Hybrids. Its caused by thermal shock - the engine constantly being turned on and off when hot. The absolutely critical thing is if you detect a coolant loss do not drive the vehicle. If you really must ignore this advice then remove the radiator cap to depressurise the cooling system. The reason for this is with a pressurised system and blown head gasket coolant leaks into the cylinder, as in the video. If this happens over a longer period, say overnight, you can get enough coolant in the cylinder to cause Hydraulic lock up. The fun is the Toyota Hybrids do not have a starter motor, they use the drive motor and with a hydraulic lock up it will bend the con rods and destroy the engine. While this is the weak point of Toyota Hybrids, it is not a reason not to buy, they are excellent cars and a new head gasket every 100k miles is not a big deal.
You have to replace the oil coolant sensor between 90k to 120k mile or else engine will fail or blow head gaskets. I’m at 155k had my car since 70k miles no issues
I have a 2012 CT200H F sport for a little while, zero issues. Sorry to hear this happened to you. Miss mine time to time, had TOMS lip kit and other goodies on there, but moved on to additional Lexus vehicles, still can't complain.
2012 F-sport CT200 owner chiming engine, my engine blew last summer... Prepare for a full rebuild brother, it will happen, it's just a matter of time. I would recommend you gather tools and parts to do the job yourself unless you can shell out the cash to pay someone to do it.
This not a EGR issue! Replace the coolingfluid pump around 200k. Km. This is the cause for the overheating, make the headgasket leak and destroys the engine. I've seen too many CT's with this problem and all the same cause. I worked for Lexus 7yrs and repaired/ replaced them several times, all with high mileage. If the waterpump goes out it or almost goes out it doesnt give a warning. Also The CT doesnt have a cooling temp gaige. So you will never kmow untill its to late. These engines are great and can easily reach 400k. Km. Just regular maintenance and replace the pump!
the knock on startup after a long time of sitting sounds similar to my is250, the vvti likes to blead back and makes a mad noise if you let it sit for 2 weeks
Do you notice any rubbing with the 215/50-17s? I want to increase the amount of rubber I have to also hopefully smooth out the ride. Really looking forward to more reviews and updates on this vehicle.
I have a 2011 IS350 F-Sport as a daily driver. Have looked at the Grom Vline car play unit, but if the one you're running in the CT200h is similar to the IS350, I might pass on it and keep using my trusty old iPod to play my music via the usb input.
Replacing the original EGR with a doorman is insane. The EGR's themselves don't really even get bad in these cars, it's just the cooler, or the EGR holes in the intake manifold that clog.
QUICK UPDATE: I've been using the Grom Vline Carplay unit for less than a week and so far its been a bit buggy which has been the complaint online about it for the 2011-2012 Ct 200hs. Proceed with caution if you're considering buying the unit.
I will do an update video on the second channel very soon.
What sort of bugs have you found ? I've been running a vline vl2 in my 2008 RX350 for the past 2 years and its honestly been excellent. Its had a few hiccups but nothing to serious and overall reliable .
I've read about some of the issues with the early ct200hs on the grom forum but they are old posts some im curious to hear more from you. I want to get one for the wife's CT next Xmas.
My two Grom units failed fairly quickly total bummer
Have you done all the software and firmware updates? I have one on my 100 series and had to do several from the get go, and while it's not a perfect solution, I like it overall. The biggest drawback is the 20 year old screen and it's twitchy touch response. I actually wish I had a joystick like you have.
2nd channel?
Love these long term realistic car ownership content! Keep it up
Fax. Me too
toyota engines are very reliable untill you miss an oil change, then the problems starting, more precisely if you don't change oil every 10k the engine is done
These engines are the same as the prius engine for this generation. We rebuild these all the time since they all love popping head gaskets around 150k miles. They love Bruning oil too. Doing the rebuild better is than buying a used engine since the used one might be ready to pop anyway. These bottom ends are pretty robust when it comes to wearing out cylinder walls so we don't need to hone them (Toyota says not to). So we usually put head gasket, pistons, rings, and bearings (usually Toyota #2 marked bearings)
@TheCarCareNut has mention this model and the issue with its engine. ua-cam.com/video/V3gNtvq-Yt0/v-deo.html
A buddy of mine and I bought a 2012 Prius with a ceased engine. Our intent is to just swap a good used engine in it and sell it, but I’m considering buying him out of it and keeping it. I believe it has the 2ZR-FXE, is that the same engine you’re referring to here? Or a variation of it? I know in the 2012 generation they had oil consumption issues.
Why not re-ring the stock pistons?
So people need to drive it like a Prius which I'm sure Pete is not doing lmao
@@jp2246 the piston groves usually wear out with the rings.
the problem of this engine is that it was designed in the first place for none hybrid purposes. When you think about what a head gasket does, it seals the block & head together during temperature changes(compressed in high temp & decompressed in low temp) Since the headgasket is the same as the none hybrid engine, it goes through the same amount of temperature cycle, but instead of having 1 at each start up, it has a lot more since the engine stops when the electric motor is on, then starts up again, and so on… That’s why the blow at 100-150k km instead of 450-500k km as they do in corollas! Egr has a part to play, but it’s not the major flaw of this engine. This issue was resolve in 2016 when they adressed the problem by changing the headgasket they use to put in 2011-2015 models
So they used different style head gasket?
Is it really just a different head gasket? Which one to use for CT200 from 2012?
Thank goodness mine is a 2017! The last production year for this model in the US.
So the restyling units from 2017+ are safe?
@@pawballer1964nope. They go too. More and more as time passes.
the CT and 3rd gen Priuses seem to be disproportionately effected by the EGR issue, unfortunately. The 4th gen seems to have solved it, but even the 2nd gen Prius which is known to be quite a tank, isn't immune to it, despite the 1NZ engine in the non-hybrid Echo/Yaris being bulletproof. Something about an all aluminum engine that's constantly cooling and heating sounds like it would lead to this. My 2nd gen's water and oil temps move around a lot but it's within spec.
I’ve always liked the look of these cars having the CarPlay upgrade must make it feel like a more modern vehicle. Also looks so much nicer with the better suspension and spacers. Incredible the difference it makes. You would think there would be a aftermarket better quality head gasket out there to help solve this issue with the amount of taxi companies worldwide using this engine in their cars.
This just goes to show that when you try and update your car's component, you need to think about it's environment more than track points if you're going to daily it. Very good update.
CT200h FTW. Love the content on normal cars like this. I need one.
Keep up the practical maintenance videos. Like this and the Tundra
I do extended service contract claims. The rare claims on these have been for head gaskets and it seems to be only in states where temps get bellow 0 degrees. Almost like the head gasket shrinks in cold weather
The older I get, the more I understand that a good set of quality dampers and lowering springs is the best way to go on a daily driver. Recently put a set of Bilstein B8s and Eibach Prokits on my Focus ST and I'm absolutely in love with how it's rides while soaking up miles of windshield time.
Nope that title goes to adjustable everything on stock dampeners and springs with better tires.
That's true! Or just stock if the stock suspension is already sporty enough and low enough.
E.g., Civic Si seems fine (the new one, the 11th gen, perhaps not so much the 9th gen K24 that was a little soggy without the HPD suspension), Civic Type R seems fine -- no need to change IMO, unless chasing lap times/autocross times!
I don't really understand why people lower cars that are already low. It think it would be nice if slightly uprated springs were available but which didn't lower the car any more at all -- just the +15% spring rate bit without the -15mm bit of a typical lowering spring!
On the damping side, I guess there are people who say aftermarket shocks have more sophisticated damping and are not built down to a price as much as OE, which may or may not be true. I dunno! 🙂
I feel like the stock RSX/Integra/Civic Type S/Type R shocks are pretty good, whether they are the Honda Showa ones made in Japan or the Sachs ones made in Germany that came on English-built Type Rs. They have a very beefy shaft (lol, 21mm IIRC) and seem to hold up pretty well!
You could get OE-like aftermarket, for example you could get Mugen struts for FG2/FA5 Si's and non Type R FD2s which were made by Showa, and are probably not that different to OE shocks apart from the valving.
I see Monroe supply the stock shocks for North American Focus STs.
@TassieLorenzo very true for newer sport model cars like the Type R line. My ST shocks were worn, so Bilsteins were the next best option for something a little more sporty without compromising the ride.
My 2015 prius I purchased new with zero miles I sold it 21 months ago with 375,000 miles, zero problems. Now I purchased 2017 lexus ct200h with 16,000 miles. It all comes down to proper maintenance and driving
I’m guessing you put a lot of highway miles on your Prius.
I just picked up a 2017 with 60k miles.
How’s your doing a year later?
Neat, didn't think I'd see a big car tuber post about a CT. Got myself a 2011 model, going 227k miles strong but the HV battery is going bad, a couple of the cells are out of balance.
You really oughta give a shout out to the CT200h forums, there's a lot of good info over there including the service manual if you wanna do the work yourself.
Do you have a link to the forums?
I have a 2012 ct200h with 200 miles, I had the same head gasket problem and over heating issues. Instead of replacing the head gasket which cost 2k, I replaced it with a 2016 Japanese engine with 60k miles. It cost me $2300 total with installation, 2016 gen 4 Prius engines no longer have the head gasket issues. I'm glad I replaced my engine, most engines from Japan has low miles because their law requires them to retire the cars after 4-5 yrs.
When the EGR valves become carbonded up the will stick open slightly always letting exhaust gas into the intake. You can make a small sheet metal block off plate and put it in between the EGR and cylinder head. You wont get a CEL as everything will work as normal but no exhaust gas will be let into the intake. Common practice in the diesel world.
there is a sensor on top egr valve. will the engine light be on?. is it safe to drive a car with egr valve blocked?
I have a 2012 CT and I love mine. But I did have to replace the hybrid battery at 180,000 miles. Seems like it is common for it to go bad around that range. I checked into “refurbishing, rebuilding, reconditioning” the battery but those methods just put a bandaid over the issue and I plan on keeping it for a long time. I did the swap out myself, wasn’t too hard. Bought from a Lexus stealership for around $2500 USD.
Yep, 260k miles for me. I drive a lot of miles and that’s probably why mine went longer. I used to cycle the battery a lot where practical until the engine was forced on. I don’t do that any more since I’m lazy now and want to postpone another battery.
I have this car and I recommend installing a oil catch can. There is a lot of blow-by when the engine is running cold due to friction efficiency. If you dont want to install a catch can I recommend letting the engine warm up and let the metal expand before driving it to reduce blow-by.
How can you warm the engine up on hybrid? Doesn't it start on battery power?
@@brentwatts6130
It might depend on the make and model, my gen3 Prius will run the engine at first start or when cold. The engines runs until it reaches the set operating temp then shut-off. Or it will continue to run if you have certain accessories running.
My 2012 ct200h is going on 240000km and going strong, no major issues so far and no check engine light since I got the car with 180000km. I only get some strong vibrations when the car sits a while and gets some moisture in the engine on the initial startup for about 30 seconds, but it only happens once in a while.
The head gasket slowly goes out start up and taking off can be rough then smoothes out you think you’re fine until it teals itself.
I almost pull the trigger yesterday on a 2016 CT200 but the car appeared neglected on the exterior so I assumed the interior was worse. After watching your video, I am going to have to think twice about getting a ct200 and look at something else. Huge bummer because I really love the look of this Lexus. Love your videos
2014+ CT models don’t have the same egr and head gasket problems as the 2011-2013 models
@louie081 I thought so, but thanks for confirming that
So glad to see this video as other UA-cam videos don’t talk about different solutions besides cleaning EGR. My 14 CT200 recently gave out starting with the rattle at engine start up then coolant getting into the heads. Glad to know there’s a way to mitigate these issues!
Try 93 gas..
Mitigate the problem?
Yo have a head gasket issue.
You guys should’ve tackled this job. These are not bad to do at all. Basically the same as a Prius. Still a great engine, just the excessive cycling on and off wears the head gasket out faster than if it was running all the time like in a Corolla.
Seems like it’s common on 3rd gen Prius, but not the 2nd gen. So must be something specific to that engine (such as EGR issue), rather than the extra cycling from being a hybrid.
If you mostly do highway driving at speed that should help protect it than yes ?
@@blairwilliams136 maybe… I have almost 120k on my 2013 and have been CEL free. But I’ll look into the EGR replacement as a precaution
Thats what I thought. This is a commuter car that sees 90% highway use and still ate the HG.
This video was very helpful. I had the sams issue. Initially changed spark plugs , changed coils and even cleaned EGR valuve and my injectors. Still had the rattling issue. Ended up changing the headgasket and mechanic advised changing timing belt at the same time cost me 2600 cdn. No more issues.
Our Shop - Hybridpit in SoCal specializes on engine rebuilds. We build it better using Toyota Revised pistons and rings and of course using a Felpro head gasket to make the recipe complete 🏁
Really enjoy these realistic daily driver car videos
Glad I found this video. I was shopping for a used hybrid and this was on my list of cars. Avoiding but they do look nice.
Best value and reliable vehicle I gave ever purchased!
I think the f sport front bumper would really complete this car- keep the content coming!
It failed again because they just put another composite single-layer head gasket. By 2016 it was already updated by Toyota with the MLS gasket so it's puzzling why they would put the same part that failed once already.
That was my thought also. Somebody at the parts department, who sold them the first replacement HG, handed them old stock.
Are you sure the engine isn't from Subaru lol? Great long-term update to show that even brands will great reputation can still have issues.
I bought my 2012 CT200h 6 years ago with 221,000 miles and a blown head gasket from a personal friend that bought it new. It had a bad CVT from never having its fluid changed. I did a complete JDM engine and transmission together. 260,000 and running 100% I put a head gasket on the pode engine and sold the engine to a local used car dealer for one of their cars!
Unfortunately this is a thing that plagues the CTs and Prius with the same engine. Some are lucky to not have dealt with it.
Guys, you can do better than Doorman, they suck!! Love the update on the Lexus, were shopping for one for the girlfriend but we settled on a brand new Corolla H/B instead
Always a bummer when the DD needs work. Though it's a bit funny how much less flaming there is compared to if it was a Subaru head gasket, lol.
The other thing that doesn’t help the 2ZR-FXE is the crazy PCV system design. They slurp oil like mad. Often a pool of oil under the throttle body and a mess going up the intake manifold. The oil combines with the EGR gasses right before the ports and falls back into the EGR passages clogging them.
I fit an Oil Catch Can on mine some months ago. I’m sure it’s not capturing all the PCV oil but it is catching some.
I’ve installed GROM on two of my vehicles and love it. It is expensive, but totally worth it. Completely changes the experience on owning the car
I have the Beat sonic module installed on my 13 GS350 and it’s great.
Happened to my moms 2012 CT, $7,000 repair at Lexus. Pretty sure I commented warning about this on the first CT video you guys did, unfortunate it happened to you. Great video!
She got robbed.
Toyota charged me $3200 for the head gasket replacement.
Funny you make this video and my 2012 ct200h had this problem. I don’t have funds to do a head gasket job. I used sealer followed with coolant. And after 2 days, the rattle gone away and the gasket sealed for now
Love the update!
put s thin film of never-seize on the threaded shock body on coilovers. they're usually steel, whereas the locknuts tend to be aluminum, even if they aren't disimilar metals the never-seize will help negate any corrosion.
Could be head gasket design...
you could look into the aftermarket for a better gasket...
usually it's the other way around...
" OEM is always the best bet"..
but not always...🤔
Truth
The car care nut has a good video on one of these cars. He is a Toyota master diagnostic mechanic so he knows a thing or two about them.
I have a 2016 which I bought in 2018. I don't regret buying this car. I LUV IT! I would like to buy another one. Mine doesn't have the bells and whistles, but I don't care. It gives me what I want. Power, speed when I need it. Stability and most of all great fuel economy.
In the 3rd gen Prius which has the same engine I believe. You can swap to the 4th gen engine.
My dad had a 2009 Toyota Prius GEN 3 which we used as an Uber. We drove 280k miles original engine and original gearbox. Needed a new battery from Toyota. New EGR. New headlights and suspension all around. We gave the car to a friend and it still runs today. I think the cat is dead due to oil burning but the cooling system is still intact today.
The OEM springs and dampers are really good for this chassis. You only need strut tower cars and Swaybars.
you should try doing an engine swap from the gen 4 Prius(2016) some guy on Reddit got his mechanic to do it. It would be awesome content to see this
Its a known problem. If you drive the car a lot on long drives and not short drives the car tend to last longer. I am at 200k miles zero problems. I do clean my EGR valve every 100K miles. One advice is also clean the intake manifold exhaust ports. That clogs up and thats usually where it leads to the head gasket problem.
This is not true at all. 99% of my commute is long highway.
is it easy to take a egr valve off from coolant pipe?
I like that you go to "Music" to enable Apple Carplay instead of entering some type Koonami code to switch over.
Hey man, great vid!! I'm in Stoney Creek and I've been looking for one of these 2012/13 for a long while now. When I find one, I'll be doing what you've done to yours (except the head gasket I hope). That doesn't deter me because this is a great daily commuter. Thanks!
Key with these is keeping on top of changing the coolant every 50k to keep it from getting acidic and eating away at the head gasket.
The coolant has nothing to do with the headgasket. Its the heat cycling of the motor when it constantly switches from EV to combustion.
Thanks for the recommendation for your suspension, I have a CT also with RSR springs, but didn’t know there was an option to upgrade the shocks
I have a 2014 CT and I have been interested in replacing the suspension as well, mine is completely stock right now, but it’s a little too crashy for my liking, and I would like to lower it. What type of wheels and tires do you have?
The Tein suspension is amazing since it’s adjustable so Ive been slowly dialing it in for the perfect amount of comfort and ride quality.
Many suggest using an aftermarket head gasket instead of the oem headgasket
Awesome update PT. I recently put in a 10" replacement screen on my Wife's CT200H and other than a bit of a slower start up its been good. I also put the vline2 in my landcruiser a couple of months ago it's been good but there has been some small bugs. I need to order this suspension setup for the Wife's car after this video I'm no longer going coilivers. Cheers from Aus!!!
I have a 2001 Cadillac Deville and my engine was pumping out coolant. I took this engine apart myself because no shop in Atlanta would do it. There was one bolt stripped out. I believe Cadillac stripped this bolt out when they built the engine. I have a feeling techs are putting too much torque on the bolts. When I torque my head bolts. I put 50 lbs-ft torque and I did not worry about the angle bs.
It's constant heat cycles of the ICE engine (engine turning on/off switching from EV to charging, etc) causing the springiness of the gasket and also possibly stretching of the head bolts. These engines were designed as regular combustion engines, not designed for this on off cycle. Apparently Toyota can't figure out a solution since all Prius, and the like, engines have that issue, in my experience
Oh nice, I just bought an ES350 and I was thinking of getting a GROM as well. The Lexus infotainment on this 2012 is kinda useless, and it does not really have much of anything on it. I wanted a model with the stock nav just to install a GROM system for an OEM look
Hold off IMO. This one has been buggy in the week that ive used it
Thanks for the reply, I was about to say the same thing
2nd gen prius drive train is well known to blow head gaskets. Some guys that service taxis in california can change head gaskets in 45 min because they do them every week (have heads on hot standby). If you dont take care of it that massive generator/starter will send a rod out the block when it hydro locks. People think thermal cycling makes this fail. Doorman stuff is junk, good luck. A salvage oem part is better than doorman junk.
I think it’s the gen 3 you are talking about. My gen 2 is 15 years and 225k mi and going strong
Thank you for this update
Was totally expecting a Kswap as the solution, LOL
It's a prius issue. Need oil catch can look on prius forums
I was holding out right to the end for a "so yeah... the only thing that makes sense now is to K swap it..."
loved this format
Not 100% sure if i saw right but i think your rear left tire is mounted as a right side tire!
I was thinking about getting a used one. This is perfect time!
I love the style of these cars, you can also do the facelift conversion as well. That ride height is perfect for my taste 👍🏼. The rear being slightly higher makes it perfect for passengers.
yup Revemoto sells a complete prepainted kit for a not unreasonable price.
There is a great youtube channel named ( Gasket Masters ) They are specialized in Prius head gasket, they explain why it is such a common issue with hybrids cars
I would like to see an update on the 4 runner and the 2nd m3
Remember doing this on my dads Prius V, its been good for 40k km but looks like the egr cooler is starting to clog again, going to have to remove and clean it out :(
My 2010 prius, 155K miles (250km) burns no oil, and the egr pipe (an indication of egr carbon buildup, which then morphs into a head gasket leak) is still clean. Why? I change to oil at 5k miles, 8k km. I do not do any short trips (under 10 minutes) in the car, and once it's warmed up, I try to do a bit of an Italian tune up by some full throttle acceleration. Not too much, by the way. YMMVM. Good luck.
Excellent video
that whole segment around 13:00 with the binging... next time just hold the door switch closed or something! 😂
We just love to annoy the audience 😉
Open door, locate latch on door, use screwdriver to push down the hinge pen that holds the door to the latch, stops beeper... Just open door handle to unlatch or door won't shut with its latch engaged
I loved this car when I owned it. Best car I ever had.
Why best car ?
@@Toyota4Life cheap, great on gas, money making machine, and versatile, Luxury, good handling. Perfect
@@chickenricesteak541 So you sold it??
I had the exact same problem at the end of last year and now had to go back this year to get the engine rebuilt at 130k miles
I had an LS460, GS350, and ISF and they all had issues with fuel pumps, valley plat leaks, and the GS350 had rattles. Lexus isn’t what it used to be. I have a ZL11LE for track time and daily a 25 year old Acura RL
instead of the egr it can be the electric water pump wich should be changed as a maintenance item every 120k miles or so. My waterpump initiated head gasket trouble, egr was clean...
From personal experience with my CT, its down to the EGR and intake manifold getting coked up with carbon. Unavoidable as the engine starts and stops itself a lot but it should be part of the service. I caught mine in time when I notice a rattle noise from the engine bay on light throttle input or cold starts. Been fine ever since it got cleaned out.
Was it consuming coolant ?
@@Toyota4Life Fortunately not, caught it quick enough where headgasket issues did not pursue.
This video has great info but the "So Much For Lexus Reliability," is clickbait. I would expect someone with your experience and know-how to know this model is not one of the most reliable. None of their hybrids make that list.
Whoa. I have a 2012 w/ 135k miles and I haven't had to do any service like this on it. Just oil and tires mostly. Now I'm afraid to go have either the EGR or cylinders looked at and find a $3k+ repair bill!!!
I was thinking of getting the TS5 wheel setup you had on. Was there a reason you removed them? Thank you!
Mechanic gives Guyanese/Trinidadian vibes props to you brother
It's too bad about the head gasket issues - I was considering one to upgrade from my Fit
Unfortunately this is why chose to skip this Lexus model even though it was perfect for me - small commuter, excellent fuel economy & hatchback.
My best friend had a Prius with this engine and cylinder 2 was caked up with oil. Tried cleaning EGR valves and intake but to no avail. Rip. It's such a good little simple car that shouldn't be troubled with issues.
Ive got tein street advance coilovers on my gs300. Ive slowly turned them up and up untill they are at full stiff as they are way too soft. Same for my mates evo. Both daily street cars. It baffles me how some after market suspension is crazy stiff and some is crazy soft. The best results ive had is stock suspension with cut springs for street use. Vehicle manufacturers spend millions on on your ride so its hard to beat
Flawless until recently, got my misfiring on cylinder 1
A head gasket every 100k miles is to be expected on Toyota Hybrids. Its caused by thermal shock - the engine constantly being turned on and off when hot. The absolutely critical thing is if you detect a coolant loss do not drive the vehicle. If you really must ignore this advice then remove the radiator cap to depressurise the cooling system. The reason for this is with a pressurised system and blown head gasket coolant leaks into the cylinder, as in the video. If this happens over a longer period, say overnight, you can get enough coolant in the cylinder to cause Hydraulic lock up. The fun is the Toyota Hybrids do not have a starter motor, they use the drive motor and with a hydraulic lock up it will bend the con rods and destroy the engine. While this is the weak point of Toyota Hybrids, it is not a reason not to buy, they are excellent cars and a new head gasket every 100k miles is not a big deal.
I wonder if it's because of knock. If it is maybe not premium, but mid range fuel might mitigate that. That's IF the issue is knock.
These engines are designed to run on regular gas not premium.
You have to replace the oil coolant sensor between 90k to 120k mile or else engine will fail or blow head gaskets. I’m at 155k had my car since 70k miles no issues
BR Works! My family has been going here for over 20 years
I have a 2012 CT200H F sport for a little while, zero issues. Sorry to hear this happened to you.
Miss mine time to time, had TOMS lip kit and other goodies on there, but moved on to additional Lexus vehicles, still can't complain.
2012 F-sport CT200 owner chiming engine, my engine blew last summer... Prepare for a full rebuild brother, it will happen, it's just a matter of time. I would recommend you gather tools and parts to do the job yourself unless you can shell out the cash to pay someone to do it.
@@OctogonOxygen024816 Shit, sorry I mean to say "had".
Sorry to hear about that experience you had.
Honestly for a daily I would just go for OEM replacement struts (from Bilstein for example) instead of anything going lower and stiffer.
This not a EGR issue! Replace the coolingfluid pump around 200k. Km. This is the cause for the overheating, make the headgasket leak and destroys the engine. I've seen too many CT's with this problem and all the same cause. I worked for Lexus 7yrs and repaired/ replaced them several times, all with high mileage. If the waterpump goes out it or almost goes out it doesnt give a warning. Also The CT doesnt have a cooling temp gaige. So you will never kmow untill its to late. These engines are great and can easily reach 400k. Km. Just regular maintenance and replace the pump!
The 4 cyl toyota is troublesome for sure. This is why I always go for the V6 2GR engine
the knock on startup after a long time of sitting sounds similar to my is250, the vvti likes to blead back and makes a mad noise if you let it sit for 2 weeks
Can you guys pls do some more dyno testing on the 430 and a long term update on the 430
I’ve done 2 of these engines. Take some effort but you need to clean your intake manifold and egr cooler every 100k km.
I just picked up a 2011 CT200H. Going to spend money on maintenance first before I mod it.
Do you notice any rubbing with the 215/50-17s? I want to increase the amount of rubber I have to also hopefully smooth out the ride. Really looking forward to more reviews and updates on this vehicle.
None, rides perfect
Love my 2014, but the Prius with the larger tires is so much more comfortable
@@speedacademy do you have a link to the wheel spacers you used on this car?
@@speedacademy Any chance we’re getting an update soon?? Thanks guys!!
I have a 2011 IS350 F-Sport as a daily driver. Have looked at the Grom Vline car play unit, but if the one you're running in the CT200h is similar to the IS350, I might pass on it and keep using my trusty old iPod to play my music via the usb input.
Replacing the original EGR with a doorman is insane. The EGR's themselves don't really even get bad in these cars, it's just the cooler, or the EGR holes in the intake manifold that clog.
Apart from EGR, the other contributing factor for clogged intake manifold is the PCV valve. A very cheap item to replace and it can be easily DIY
Can you do a quickbuild on a Honda Fit?