Britprius

Even if it had a new engine everything else has done 66,000 + miles, and would be illegal to sell claiming 28K miles only. This applies even in a private sale. The original millage that was shown on the clock when the cluster was changed must be disclosed, or the millage should be stated as not verified. So how many miles has it done 94,000 +? John.

Welcome to LOC. This may seem strange but check the towing capacity in the hand book. Some hybrids are zero weighted for towing "notably the Prius, and the CT200H" meaning they cannot tow a trailer in UK/Europe. In turn this means the tow bar manufacturers do not make tow bars for these vehicles. Brackets are available in the US where the regulations do not apply. These are usually made by Thule, and have to be imported for the use you intend, but cannot be used for towing. If your car is rated for towing Lexus will be able to supply a tow bar usually made by Witter or Westfalia, but with a Lexus label, and at a Lexus price tag. Check with one of the online tow bar fitters for availability, and price before asking Lexus as they may price match. John.

Interestingly Nitron do not list anything for Lexus. John.

It is noticeable that on the RCF they use ZF Sachs instead of the usual Toyoa/Lexus KYB shocks. I wonder if this is because of the seeming poor reliability of the KYB units. I would also ask for both to be changed as it is considered bad practice to replace just one across an axle. John.

Lee I think that goes on the underside of the mounting point! John

The bolts that go into them are very tight. I found it better to use a 6 sided or impact socket than a normal one with a "T" or braeker bar with a length of tubing for more leverage. John.

Instructions for removing rear shocks and spring on GS450H without spring compressor:- Gain access to top of shock mounting in the boot by removing carpet covers. With the car still on it's wheels remove the electric drive motor over shock (twist and pull like a light bulb). Undo the centre top nut on the shock absorber shaft. Jack up the car with the suspension hanging. Remove the wheel, the anti roll bar link long bolt through the bottom arm, remove the outer bottom arm bolt to hub (undo the bolt not the nut) remove the shock bottom bolt (again move the bolt not the nut). The bottom arm can now be pushed down a little and the shock removed with the spring sitting loosely on top of it. The spring cone will remain in place. You will need to undo the top three nuts holding it, and the two small bolts through it's side lugs to remove the cone. Fitting is a reverse procedure , but do not tighten the shock bottom bolt until the suspension is loaded (a jack under the bottom arm to take the weight of the car) This is to stop the rubber bush being wound up as the suspension rises. The the bottom hub, and shock bolts have nuts with a large flange with three embossed lines that press into the nut's mating face designed to stop it coming undone. This is the reason for turning the bolts, and not the nuts. Any questions just ask. John

Lee did you know that spring compressors are not required when removing the springs and shocks from the GS450H. If you need to know how let me know and I will post the instructions. John.

I assembled the array of relays myself quite a simple process. FET transistors could be used just as well to reduce size, but I used what I had at hand, and space to mount the box by the 12 volt battery is plentiful. The indicator circuit does require some visual or audible warning of bulb failure on the trailer. This was accomplished by fitting 2 diodes in series in the supply to the indicator relays, and a piezo crystal beeper wired across them. Mounted the beeper up by the woofer speaker so that it could be heard in the car, but not needing a long wiring run. The voltage drop across the two diodes is enough to drive the beeper without reducing the light output significantly at the bulbs. If you need a circuit diagram I can draw one up. Just ask. John.

As mentioned in previous posts these filters in the line to the cams "can become partially blocked, and are certainly worth checking. This however is not the prime reason for the noise as if the oil were returning back through the filters to drain the sprockets this would increase the time taken for the oil to drain back. They would however increase the time taken to refill the empty sprockets, and increase the duration of the noise. On belt driven versions of the engines an "O" ring seal lets the oil escape as the seal wares, and hardens producing an external oil leak at the sprockets, and is visible behind the belt driven sprockets. The GS450H engine is chain driven so that the sprockets are enclosed within the crank case so any leak back returns to the sump with no sign of any external oil leak. In the US there is a recall for this, but not for the hybrid versions of the engine where modified sprockets are fitted. I do not know if the recall applies in the UK. The none hybrid cars with normal starter motors have been know to loosen the bolts that holds the sprockets to the cams. The bolts falling into the timing chain with disastrous results. However because the starting method in the hybrid is faster, and smoother Lexus say it does not happen with the hybrids. Again however there has been a reported incidence of this here on LOC that I believe Lexus would not acknowledge. It is difficult to know how different oils may affect the situation. More viscous oils (10w40 or 10w50) may take longer to drain back, but they will also be slower at refilling the system. Thinner oils (0w20 or 5w30) may drain back faster, but will also refill the system faster. The OEM specified oil for the MK3 GS450H is 5w30. I now use 0w20 without any noticeable difference in noise level or duration until the pre-lube system was fitted eliminating the noise completely. There is within the sprockets a spring loaded locking pin that looks like it should lock the sprocket to the cam when the engine stops. When oil pressure reaches a given level the locking pin is released by the oil pressure. It may be that the return spring behind the pin breaks or becomes weak or the pin sticks in it's bore. In either case the sprocket would then not lock as the oil drains away. It may be that this is the mechanism that has been modified. The job of the pin can only be to stop the noise until oil has filled the sprockets at pressure, and this is what my system does by pressurising the system before the sprockets move. There are many video's on the tube showing the pin "search Toyota VVT", but know explanation of it's purpose. John.

The noise is cased by the oil draining down from the VVT "variable valve timing" sprockets. They then rattle on cold start till they are filled with oil. According to Lexus this is not problematic apart from the noise. The official Lexus cure for this is to strip the top of the engine, and replace the 4 VVT sprockets, and empty your wallet. Many Toyota/Lexus engines suffer with this problem to varying degrees. I have developed a low cost reliable solution that pressurises the oil system before the engine starts eliminating the noise. The system also reduces cold start engine ware as the engine is lubricated before it turns over to start. I am testing the system at the moment to iron out any possible bugs, but I am virtually at the point of issuing the details of the method here on LOC. Parts used are all obtainable on the net the most expensive part being a 12volt DC solenoid valve at circa £12. The other parts are mainly small pipe fittings, flexible hose, and a suitable pressure container holding about 1ltr. John.

Indeed a fine looking specimen. As Lee says though do carefully inspect the Y piece on the exhaust for any signs of leakage "shows up as a sooty black line", and also on top of the rear silencers. An exhaust leak here does not show and is not noticeable noise wise. Also check the top of the shock absorber bodies where the bright shaft exits. This area is prone to leakage of oil at that sort of millage. Shocks are circa £250 each "Lexus charge over £600 to replace one. So better to find problems while under guarantee. There is no aftermarket alternative. I am not in any way trying to spoil your great purchase. They are fantastic cars, but we have seen these problems on many occasions on LOC John

Ask them, and if it will put up your premium ask by how much over the next 5 years, and add it to your costs from the council. Negligence by someone else should not cost you money. John.

Perhaps surprisingly the hybrid system works better in a front wheel drive car such as the Prius or CT200H. It would also be more efficient in a four wheel drive vehicle where regen could be gained from all four wheels. The problem with rear wheel drive hybrids is that there is only so much energy that can be recovered before the rear wheels begin to lock up particularly in the wet. This effect is much reduced on front wheel, and four wheel drive vehicles. The Toyota/Lexus hybrid system reverts to mechanical braking at any sign of a wheel under rotating or if the car is rolling in neutral. It must be remembered that the hybrids get all there power from petrol. Using EV or milk float mode uses more fuel. This is because of the losses involved in turning engine power to the generator produces a loss. Turning the 3 phase electricity into a DC charging voltage produces a loss. Using the electricity to charge the battery produces a loss in the chemical reaction. To reverse this chemical reaction into electricity produces a loss. To turn the DC battery voltage into 3 phase AC produces a loss, and finally using that electricity to turn the electric motor produces a loss. It would be much more efficient to use the engine to drive the wheels. The hybrid gains when energy that would normally be lost when costing or braking is recovered for re use. There is another time when using the engine to drive the wheels that allowing the engine to produce more power than is needed for this. The excess can produce electricity to charge the battery allowing a wider throttle opening with less pumping losses within the engine. Thus making the engine run at a more efficient level than it normally would. John

Do not worry about the hybrid system they have proved to be very reliable. Even in the unlikely event of a problem it is possible to replace any one or more of the battery modules containing 6 cells each rather than the complete battery. John

Hi Wayne welcome to LOC. It rely makes little difference to fuel consumption which mode you drive the car in assuming you still drive it in the same way. The hybrid system looks after itself very well so do not worry on that point. You make a bigger impact on fuel used than any setting. To get the best mpg do not baby the car. Accelerate briskly up to speed then remove your foot from the accelerator, and reapply just enough to keep momentum. Be prepared to loose a little speed on up hill slopes. Brake gently if needed anticipating when to slow down rather than braking. Keep tyre pressures correct or at the higher settings shown on the door label. Hope this helps. John.

I would say both wheels are repairable, but what the pictures cannot show is if the wheels are buckled. There are specialist wheel repairers that can tackle such damage. John

The GS450H does not have an alternator. This is because an alternator is driven from the engine, and the engine in a hybrid is not always running. In the periods that the engine is not running the battery would not be being charged. The 12 volt battery is charge from a DC to DC converter from the high voltage traction battery when the car is in ready mode, and charges the 12 volt even when the engine is not running. It is therefore not required to drive the car to charge the 12 volt battery merely putting the car into ready mode, and park will charge it. Never leave the car in neutral with the car in ready mode. In this condition the engine cannot start "it may continue to run if already running", but in this mode the high voltage battery cannot charge from the engine, but it continues to charge the 12 volt battery. It also will continue to run the AC , and after a period can become low enough not to charge the 12 volt battery, but also more importantly not have enough energy left to start the engine. this can happen in as little as 15 minutes. If this happens a trip to the dealer is required via a trailer to charge the high voltage battery. It is the high voltage battery that is used to start the engine. Hybrids do not have a conventional 12 volt starter motor, and cannot be tow started. John

Two batteries are fitted "both in the boot" on vehicles with active anti roll bars fitted. The roll bars are split with an electric motor driven gear box that winds the anti roll bar up to keep the car level when cornering. This uses information from the steering angle, the yore sensor, and road speed. Because of the high current required to drive the system a separate 12 volt battery is used. John

I would pursue your claim against the council stating you have reasonable evidence from your dash cam. Tell the council you are prepared to take the issue to the small claims court. Point out that the type of grass cutting equipment being used was not of a type that was suitable for use in close proximity to cars, and people "pedestrians" as this could have been much more serious had your window been open, and the stone went a little higher or the "stone" hit someone. Asking what risk assessment was carried out on the equipment used for the safety of the public in the vicinity of it's use and what measures were taken to prevent objects from being ejected from the machine as this is common with rotary cutting equipment. John

I tow with a 2007 GS450H, and this probably has the same basic lighting system as the RX400H. I wired the electrics myself as the Lexus module was expensive, and still not plug, and play. I used a bank of 12 volt relays in a plastic box, coils operated from the rear lights, with the contacts fed via a suitable fuses from the 12 volt battery very conveniently fitted in the boot of the GS. This not only works well for the lighting, but also gives split charging to the caravan battery with 12 volt fridge operation when the car is in ready mode, and on the move. It is important for my van to have a fully charged 12 volt battery because being disabled I have a remote control motor mover fitted to the van. This essential for parking at home, and very useful on site especially as I can drive the van up to the cars tow ball without risking damage to the car bumper. John.

You have to press the green arrow at bottom right to access that computer. You will often have to do this more than once to get communication. Try the drivers door first. Then entry & start. John

As ^ above, but also it is good practice to check the disc run out with a dial gauge, and then turn the discs on the wheel studs till the lowest run out figure position of the five posible positions is found. John.

Techstream is generally easy to use with most functions being self evident. John.

The projector headlamps are not coded to the car, and should work as you are using the original HID ballast anyway as I assume your text should read "did not come with them". Xenon bulbs work from the 12 volt battery directly without the need for any type of separate control. John.