At last got my 450h :) but Traction Battery problem

[KentIS300]

Hello guys,

Back in Lexus ownership, I picked up a 450h SE-L (2006) from Birmingham area, I knew the car has a Check Hybrid problem, so the price was negotiated accordingly.

Other than that the car is in a near pristine condition and with 125K miles on the clock.

Only other thing that I found out tonight is the lights are shocking.... candle lights are brights and I think the AFS is not working. I assume one of the previous oweners have replaced the bulbs with cheapo ... eBay ones.

I drove the car about 300 miles (back home) and I was surprised with the performance it is fassttt, imagine how fast it will be with a full working Battery.

Lights on the dashboard are Check Hybrid System, VSC, EML, Brakes, Check EBC

I cleared the codes twice on my trip back but they reappear. And twice when the car was moving slow enough I lost totally control of throttle... like it had stalled.

Anywho.. I attach all the fault codes as appeared on each scan I had done. Seems to be cells 8 and 9 causing the issue.

Is there a guide on how to access the Battery on the 450h.
I did access my Prius to sort out the Hybrid fan last year, but seem to be way more tutorials etc for Prius than Lexus's :(

Cheers
Vasilis

[KentIS300]

Will have a look and update accordingly :) Thank you.

 

[KentIS300]

I wonder...

The car has failed it's MOT back in 2015, due to excessive exhaust leak etc... corrosion.
The same time it had the hybrid health check from Lexus and all OK

I assumed the exhaust was replaced, but today I noticed it had bodged the whole by a weld repair.
Somehow I cannot help it crossing my mind, that the traction Battery got a hit back then? Somehow I fail to believe they had it totally disconnected to do the welding.

Is it know for welding to damage the hybrid systems and or traction Battery?

Not that is matters... just to put my theory at rest

[Diesel Do Nicely Brian]

If it had it's Hybrid Battery Check, get it into Lexus - it's covered for a year from the date of that check, up to it's 10th birthday I believe.

[KentIS300]

3 minutes ago, Diesel Do Nicely Brian said:

If it had it's Hybrid Battery Check, get it into Lexus - it's covered for a year from the date of that check, up to it's 10th birthday I believe.

It has had the hybrid check and service back in April 2015 :( yet the car is not yet 10yo.
Do you think I stand any chance? The Lexus in Canterbury had not been most brilliant with me in the past :S

[Diesel Do Nicely Brian]

Absolutely worth trying, or try another dealer if one other locally.  

My local dealer is great- had my headlight assembly, headlight ECU and event the bulb replaced under extended warranty today - and mine is 10 in November!  Even though it was a leaking seal (that's been like that obviously a while, no issues.  £937 saved!

[Diesel Do Nicely Brian]

The other angle worth going on is that it was kept off the road for a bit, so has not needed a service etc...

[KentIS300]

maybe worth sending me your local dealer's details :) ?

 

Don't mind a trip to Scotland lol :)

I picked up our E65 from Edinbrough

[Diesel Do Nicely Brian]

http://www.edinburgh.lexus.co.uk/?ac=C3257&mc=SEM2010LMA22&gclid=CImpo5-Ig88CFSIz0wod_QwFyA&dclid=CNP865-Ig88CFQh12wodQ5AG-A

[KentIS300]

Well at least I tried.

I called Lexus (Edinburgh, Canterbury and Stockport, where the car was last serviced and diagnosed with the Hybrid issue), none is willing to say anything. Everyone said it is out of warranty hence not covered.

Edinburgh, said £109 for diagnostic and warranty is only 3yrs so well out of it.

Canterbury, said £69 for diagnostic and warranty from hybrid heath check has expired in April hence not covering but I am more than welcome to have it diagnosed, not sure why.

Stockport, said previous owner had it there and it was diagnosed a new traction Battery needed. £2,285 for part. No warranty and they said no worth chasing it with Lexus either as the car does not have a complete Lexus history, only a mixture of 3rd parties and Lexus.

 

So now I am looking the option to repair the hybrid Battery. Does anyone know someone in Kent area that specialises in Hybrid batteries recondition/ repairs?

I need to see the costs of doing it my self... or taking it to someone.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-GS-450H-hybrid-battery-single-cell-Also-repair-and-replacement-/182252778260?hash=item2a6f1cb314:g:WhUAAOSwgZ1Xuw5f

I assume I would require two single cells to make a Battery block. Hence I would require 4 cells to repair my faulty pack.
Am I thinking correct?

Cheers
Vasilis.

[Diesel Do Nicely Brian]

A pity - hopefully you get it sorted and PLEASE post how/what/where and that could also help others in future.

[KentIS300]

I have booked it in with Richard, Hybrid Battery Solutions.

Shall be going in the 3rd of October :) watch this space, looking forward to a fully working GS.

[Diesel Do Nicely Brian]

Good luck with it.  Look forward to hearing about the progress.

[ISJason]

I must say that you were extremely brave to buy a car with a known hybrid system issue, considering the complexity of the cars.. hope you get it sorted.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[KentIS300]

To be honest my way of thinking was, better to buy a car at a "cheap" price with a known fault. Rather than buy a car knowingly good and at normal price and a couple of months later the hybrid failing on me.

At least I know what repairs etc are done under my ownership rather taking somebody's word :)

[ISJason]

Hello. Any progress on your problem?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[KentIS300]

1 hour ago, ISJason said:

Hello. Any progress on your problem?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Hi Jason,

The GS at the moment is with Richard Hybrid Battery Solutions, waiting to be sorted hopefully by end of this week :)

In the meantime 2 weeks ago I had replaced the bearings in the gearbox pump as a precaution as I did not want to have the Battery fixed and pottentially damage it by a faulty pump.

 

Cheers

Vasilis.

[KentIS300]

I got my car back today. A big thank you to Richard at Hybrid Solutions he has done an excellent job. :)

Car is working great with no annoying errors anymore and economy has improved drastically :)

[KentIS300]

Got this very very nice RX450h F-Sport on an extended 24hr test drive....
I do love it... but not as fast as the GS450h...

 

Have to give it back tomorrow ... and pick back my GS450h ... lol :)

 

[ISJason]

Nice car. I guess 24hrs is not long enough to get a good impression of the car.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[KentIS300]

12 minutes ago, ISJason said:

Nice car. I guess 24hrs is not long enough to get a good impression of the car.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

I know tell me about it ... was trying to think of excuses to keep it for more lol

[hybridbatterysolutions]

On 13/10/2016 at 8:15 PM, KentIS300 said:

I got my car back today. A big thank you to Richard at Hybrid Solutions he has done an excellent job. :)

Car is working great with no annoying errors anymore and economy has improved drastically :)

My pleasure, thank-you for your nice comments - glad to help.

Richard :)

[hybridbatterysolutions]

On 10/14/2016 at 6:30 PM, KentIS300 said:

Got this very very nice RX450h F-Sport on an extended 24hr test drive....
I do love it... but not as fast as the GS450h...

 

Have to give it back tomorrow ... and pick back my GS450h ... lol :)

 

Do they hassle you to buy it much after if you say No?

[KentIS300]

 

1 minute ago, hybridbatterysolutions said:

Do they hassle you to buy it much after if you say No?

Hi Richard,

The lexus canterbury once more... confirmed that they don't care to be honest. I dropped of the car on Saturday, the receptionist asked me what key ring my keyd had and here I go .. to leave.

The sales person did not even bother to come and greet me or anything. I had to ask them to come out... I did say I was a bit dissapointed from the consumption 28MPG... and there was oouumf missing. The GS450h is way faster...

But he said to me you have to do 5000miles before you can see economy go up to 30s MPG.

So no hassle what so ever.. lol

[ISJason]

I'm pretty sure it's Lexus policy not to hassle customers with questions about if they will buy one or not. I think the philosophy is, if you want one you will approach the sales team. If you're a new or prospective customer coming into the showroom for the first time they will ask if you need a hand, which is fair enough. I prefer this approach compared to the Mercedes or BMW dealers I came across in the past, who are always on your case.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk