Lexus Owners (To share driving experience and advise)

[t0y0ta]

@t0y0ta. Thanks for your advice. I have sent to Lexus Borneo and their findings is as such “check and test found due to engine VVTI gear, camshaft operating sound. Occur occasionally”

The service adviser explained that the camshaft needs to be replaced to mitigate the ‘cracked’ noise but the mitigation can only last for 1-2 years. I’m puzzled. Why can’t the mitigation be perpetual?

 

Why don't you just drive it on and get used to the sound?

 

It didn't sound like a critical issue and given that it is a simple/proven engine, it may just last for the entire 5 years left.

[Toeknee_33]

@t0y0ta. Thanks for your advice. I have sent to Lexus Borneo and their findings is as such âcheck and test found due to engine VVTI gear, camshaft operating sound. Occur occasionallyâ

The service adviser explained that the camshaft needs to be replaced to mitigate the âcrackedâ noise but the mitigation can only last for 1-2 years. Iâm puzzled. Why canât the mitigation be perpetual?

So you already know the issue before asking in this forum?

 

I wouldn't worry too much about the noise, but if you are not comfy, seek a second opinion from another workshop. Changing camshaft is uncommon. I have had 2 old Toyotas over a 5 year period (approx 150k KM) with the same rattling noise on start-up and the engines didn't fail or deteriorate.

 

Go research on Google and arrive at your own conclusion - key words: Toyota, rattling, start.

 

Oh, and most things in life aren't perpetual.

Edited July 18, 2019 by Toeknee_33

[JX83]

Yup. Peak BHP lowered by 3bhp due to putting back stock box.

 

Peak torque raised by 5nm.

 

Acceleration time from 40-130kph cut by 0.75s after tuning, according to the Dyno.

 

Haven't verified the figures, but overall driving response is improved and gear shifts faster.

 

The irritating Toyota throttle lag still there though. WOT from standstill still takes 1s before the car moves.

[Theoldjaffa]

Bro I suppose none of the chip/box in market can eliminate the initial Toyota throttle lag which I donât know why they purposely want to tune this way. The only way to eliminate is only to go through ECU tuning.

Ya bro I already did my custom ECU and Transmission tune with BMS Tuning.

 

Still can't eliminate the throttle lag

[JX83]

Ya bro I already did my custom ECU and Transmission tune with BMS Tuning.

 

Still can't eliminate the throttle lag

Oh sad.. even ecu still can’t eliminate..

[inlinesix]

Ya bro I already did my custom ECU and Transmission tune with BMS Tuning.

 

Still can't eliminate the throttle lag

I think it’s the switch from Atkinson to Otto cycle.

 

Custom tuned to run on Otto cycle only

[Hybrids]

Bro I suppose none of the chip/box in market can eliminate the initial Toyota throttle lag which I don’t know why they purposely want to tune this way. The only way to eliminate is only to go through ECU tuning.

Not sure if it’s worth the effort though otherwise it is a very good car. Easier to get another car with less lag. There have been claims from some tuners that they cracked the ECU lock and managed to remove the lag but I am not sure how real that is. I found that compared to my hybrid the 200t engine feels laggy, and much less responsive at Low speeds even though it has much more overall performance. It’s the same in all body styles I have tested, IS, GS, NX.

 

Even the 2.0 CX5 I tested was more responsive with its Low power motor. I was surprised particularly with the price to performance ratio that the CX5 was offered to me at 115k vs 168k for the UX hybrid! (And has no less a luxurious interior plus lots more space)

 

Recently drove the G30 320d in Europe across two countries. The response and pull filtering onto an autobahn felt like a V8 and because of the diesel Low revs it was very quiet when accelerating. I was astonished to find out later the 320d is now a 6 Sec car to 100!! My one thankful on a brand new rental gave me just under 1000km range. But for me it’s not about speed, it’s just the ease of driving when one has real torque to help with traffic conditions, particularly in SG type of driving.

 

I recently tested the ES hybrid, and the UX twins. The are all laggy and drony. I wonder if that was done to maintain discourage spirited driving, maintain durability and help the not so great efficiency....anyhow maybe the Supra engine DNA will filter down to Lexus sometime.

[Theoldjaffa]

Not sure if itâs worth the effort though otherwise it is a very good car. Easier to get another car with less lag. There have been claims from some tuners that they cracked the ECU lock and managed to remove the lag but I am not sure how real that is. I found that compared to my hybrid the 200t engine feels laggy, and much less responsive at Low speeds even though it has much more overall performance. Itâs the same in all body styles I have tested, IS, GS, NX.

 

Even the 2.0 CX5 I tested was more responsive with its Low power motor. I was surprised particularly with the price to performance ratio that the CX5 was offered to me at 115k vs 168k for the UX hybrid! (And has no less a luxurious interior plus lots more space)

 

Recently drove the G30 320d in Europe across two countries. The response and pull filtering onto an autobahn felt like a V8 and because of the diesel Low revs it was very quiet when accelerating. I was astonished to find out later the 320d is now a 6 Sec car to 100!! My one thankful on a brand new rental gave me just under 1000km range. But for me itâs not about speed, itâs just the ease of driving when one has real torque to help with traffic conditions, particularly in SG type of driving.

 

I recently tested the ES hybrid, and the UX twins. The are all laggy and drony. I wonder if that was done to maintain discourage spirited driving, maintain durability and help the not so great efficiency....anyhow maybe the Supra engine DNA will filter down to Lexus sometime.

Yep I agree.

 

Even those cars which are slower by a good margin on paper, like those high 8s cars, they felt faster than my car on initial acceleration. A3 Sedan 1.4t, Civic Turbo 1.5t, Mini One 1.2t, even the Vezel Hybrid

[east41st]

Turn on Sports Mode, no more lag. 

[Natnut]

If budget is not a constraint then a newer car will always be better. The ES 4-cyl feel and performance will be quite a change from the silky V6 in the GS. Since your mileage is not high and FC is not a big concern, then go shop for a GRL10 GS350 for the ultimate experience.

 

 

 

So I decided to renew COE of my 2009 GS450h and sent the car to a outside workshop for evaluation and 100k service/overhaul.

 

The mechanic informed me that the front bushings/shock absorbers were worn out and needed replacing. Also my tyres which are Michelin Super Sports were cracking and needed replacing ASAP.

 

He also advised to change the 6 spark plugs since it was 100K and also advised me to de-carbonize the engine as de-carbonizing would help the engine power and FC

 

He offered to source all the parts for servicing as well as the parts that needed to be replaced (bushings and shock absorbers). But he also told me if I wanted to get the parts myself, he would be OK with just doing the labour.

 

Should I source the parts myself? Is there a reliable cheap Lexus stockist who can get me the right parts? Should I also get the Michelin tyres myself or let the workshop source everything (tyres/bushings/shocks/spark plugs) and save myself the time and stress?

 

Lastly, how useful is de-carbonizing the engine?

Edited July 21, 2019 by Natnut

[Reo]

If you don't mind the much higher road tax and the yearly inspection, I think it's a good decision, given the car and mileage.

 

Changing bushings is the most cost-effective maintenance to make your car feel like new again.  Definitely go get from stockist - which should be much cheaper.  Changing them are rather simple for the workshop. Likewise for shocks.   I used to go to stockist iirc Connald (which was in Serangoon then) many years back.  Need to ask for the labour charges first.

 

Yes, 100k for changing the plugs is part of schedule.  It's quite cumbersome to change the GS (V6) plugs and will take quite a bit of time by the workshop.

 

 

So I decided to renew COE of my 2009 GS450h and sent the car to a outside workshop for evaluation and 100k service/overhaul.

 

The mechanic informed me that the front bushings/shock absorbers were worn out and needed replacing. Also my tyres which are Michelin Super Sports were cracking and needed replacing ASAP.

 

He also advised to change the 6 spark plugs since it was 100K and also advised me to de-carbonize the engine as de-carbonizing would help the engine power and FC

 

He offered to source all the parts for servicing as well as the parts that needed to be replaced (bushings and shock absorbers). But he also told me if I wanted to get the parts myself, he would be OK with just doing the labour.

 

Should I source the parts myself? Is there a reliable cheap Lexus stockist who can get me the right parts? Should I also get the Michelin tyres myself or let the workshop source everything (tyres/bushings/shocks/spark plugs) and save myself the time and stress?

 

Lastly, how useful is de-carbonizing the engine?

 

[Toeknee_33]

So I decided to renew COE of my 2009 GS450h and sent the car to a outside workshop for evaluation and 100k service/overhaul.

 

The mechanic informed me that the front bushings/shock absorbers were worn out and needed replacing. Also my tyres which are Michelin Super Sports were cracking and needed replacing ASAP.

 

He also advised to change the 6 spark plugs since it was 100K and also advised me to de-carbonize the engine as de-carbonizing would help the engine power and FC

 

He offered to source all the parts for servicing as well as the parts that needed to be replaced (bushings and shock absorbers). But he also told me if I wanted to get the parts myself, he would be OK with just doing the labour.

 

Should I source the parts myself? Is there a reliable cheap Lexus stockist who can get me the right parts? Should I also get the Michelin tyres myself or let the workshop source everything (tyres/bushings/shocks/spark plugs) and save myself the time and stress?

 

Lastly, how useful is de-carbonizing the engine?

 

Renewing COE is a good decision. Congrats.

 

If you are the sort who value the last dollar then buy the parts yourself. The downside is that you might get the wrong parts and end up running around. Connald or Transglober are some of the Lexus stockist. If the WS sources the parts for you, he will do a mark up but generally will also offer a few months of warranty in the event the parts fail. I think you can go get the tyres yourself.

 

The GS450h engine has both direct and port fuel injection so I am not sure if it is susceptible to carbon build up on the intake valves like the other Toyota GR engines with only direct injection. But since you are already changing the sparks, might as well do a visual check and de-carbonise as necessary. I notice that your FC at 12L/100km is not great, and might have something to do with it.

[Mkl22]

So I decided to renew COE of my 2009 GS450h and sent the car to a outside workshop for evaluation and 100k service/overhaul.

 

The mechanic informed me that the front bushings/shock absorbers were worn out and needed replacing. Also my tyres which are Michelin Super Sports were cracking and needed replacing ASAP.

 

He also advised to change the 6 spark plugs since it was 100K and also advised me to de-carbonize the engine as de-carbonizing would help the engine power and FC

 

He offered to source all the parts for servicing as well as the parts that needed to be replaced (bushings and shock absorbers). But he also told me if I wanted to get the parts myself, he would be OK with just doing the labour.

 

Should I source the parts myself? Is there a reliable cheap Lexus stockist who can get me the right parts? Should I also get the Michelin tyres myself or let the workshop source everything (tyres/bushings/shocks/spark plugs) and save myself the time and stress?

 

Lastly, how useful is de-carbonizing the engine?

 

care to share which shop is this? sounds somewhat familiar...

 

Edited July 22, 2019 by Mkl22

[Toeknee_33]

So I decided to renew COE of my 2009 GS450h and sent the car to a outside workshop for evaluation and 100k service/overhaul.

 

The mechanic informed me that the front bushings/shock absorbers were worn out and needed replacing. Also my tyres which are Michelin Super Sports were cracking and needed replacing ASAP.

 

He also advised to change the 6 spark plugs since it was 100K and also advised me to de-carbonize the engine as de-carbonizing would help the engine power and FC

 

He offered to source all the parts for servicing as well as the parts that needed to be replaced (bushings and shock absorbers). But he also told me if I wanted to get the parts myself, he would be OK with just doing the labour.

 

Should I source the parts myself? Is there a reliable cheap Lexus stockist who can get me the right parts? Should I also get the Michelin tyres myself or let the workshop source everything (tyres/bushings/shocks/spark plugs) and save myself the time and stress?

 

Lastly, how useful is de-carbonizing the engine?

 

The high FC leads me to ask you the next question: What is the condition of your battery pack? Does it charge and discharge quickly? You might want to send to HEVS to do a diagnosis (I think its $120). You may have to factor in the cost of a replacement battery pack (from $2k+ to $4k, depending on whether its OEM or original).

 

Oh another thing is, there are many bushes and links in the front suspension. If you are buying from stockist, you need to get your WS to list for you the worn parts, or better still, take pictures of them.

 

 

[Natnut]

Thanks to all for the advice so far.

 

One big concern on mine is the hybrid battery replacement.

 

My FC is right now 12L/km but I read and heard that the usual FC should be 10L/km or less. Does that mean the cells of the battery are not functioning properly? Should I pre-emptively replace the battery?

 

But the battery is really expensive. If and when it come time to replace the battery, should I go with Borneo or approach an outside shop that specialises in hybrids?

Edited July 23, 2019 by Natnut

[Toeknee_33]

Thanks to all for the advice so far.

 

One big concern on mine is the hybrid battery replacement.

 

My FC is right now 12L/km but I read and heard that the usual FC should be 10L/km or less. Does that mean the cells of the battery are not functioning properly? Should I pre-emptively replace the battery?

 

But the battery is really expensive. If and when it come time to replace the battery, should I go with Borneo or approach an outside shop that specialises in hybrids?

You must have missed reading my last post.

[Toeknee_33]

I have a pair of new unused sunshades for the 4GS rear doors to give away. Suitable for those cars without the built-in ones. Actually I'm not sure if any variant of the 4GS comes without the built-in shades.

 

Anyway, interested parties please PM me for collection arrangements.

Edited August 1, 2019 by Toeknee_33

[Natnut]

The high FC leads me to ask you the next question: What is the condition of your battery pack? Does it charge and discharge quickly? You might want to send to HEVS to do a diagnosis (I think its $120). You may have to factor in the cost of a replacement battery pack (from $2k+ to $4k, depending on whether its OEM or original).

 

Oh another thing is, there are many bushes and links in the front suspension. If you are buying from stockist, you need to get your WS to list for you the worn parts, or better still, take pictures of them.

 

I don't have any check engine light so far.

 

I actually called HEVshop and they quoted me around 5000 for a complete battery pack replacement!!!

 

But I googled and checked youtube and apparently there are DIYs for just replacing individual cells of the battery pack since the Lexus GS shares the same Ni-Cad battery cells as the Prius and these cells are plentiful and relatively cheap. Also, lots of times, the battery doesn't need replacing , just that the terminal and metal parts get oxidized and a simple removal of the rust and oxidation may significantly improve the performance of the old battery cells.

 

Of course it's not realistic for me to DIY such a thing but that made me check if there are WS in SG that do such things :

 

Soooo...... apparently there is this hybrid car workshop in SG, Hybrid Automotive that does battery reconditioning and selective cell replacement.

 

I wonder whether going that route is better  and cheaper but I also read that if 1 cell goes, the other cells are also close to failing so it might be more labor and cost effective to replace the entire battery pack.

 

 

Aiyoh, headaches....