Another Gs 450H "help I Know Nothing" Post Lol

[steveas]

Hi everyone

New to the lexus as my previous cars have been Vauxhall omega's

Anyway bought myself a 07 lexus GS 450h 40k on the clock

a few questions and I'm worried about the answers given :(

1. First fault is intermittent I keep getting every now and then the famous "Check VGRS" but car will eventually start and drives fine? ( within this forum I read its the 12v Battery which maybe needs replacing I looked at it and thought "oh" that's got extra connecter and a "tube" if this is the case and needs replacing is it a specialist Battery?

2. Tyres.....front two need replacing and the back 2 are 2 different makes part worn so should I replace with the following as I have read Dunlop are the best for this car, but would the following tyres be ok ?....... >>>> Goodyear 245/40R19 97W XL Efficientgrip Performance ( as sold by Asdatyres.co.uk)

finally...

3.Steering wheel while driving the steering is not straight it is off centre by about 10 degrees to the left. after getting new tyres sorted would a laser alignment help? or would I need to take it to my not so local lexus dealer (Milton Keynes) to have this problem sorted?

thank you kindly for reading the above story and leaving any constructive feedback

Steve.

[scudney]

Hi can't answer question 1,regarding tyres Goodyears are pretty good and should be okay,once tyres are fitted have full geometry done(not all tyre centres offer this service) and this should correct the steering issues,hope this helps.

[coneybiller]

1) Not sure on this question as never encountered it myself, I believe the 12v batt if bought from lexus is not cheap at all. I think I remember reading somewhere its a panasonic Battery, BUT if you research a little more I'm pretty sure people have fitted after market batteries at a fraction of the cost with no troubles! Just make sure the cold cranking amp rating is the same or higher and the Battery is the same dimensions and the terminals are the same style. The tube coming from the Battery is to expell the excess gasses from the cells crated by the acid, most batteries have the hole where you can attach this I believe :)

2) 245/40R19, do you have 19" wheels fitted or was that a typo? I found fitting 225/45R18 (if yours are 18") to the front, worked out better in road holding and it no longer tram lines on the motorway! Fitting these tyres also shouldnt affect the speedo as are only a 1.07% difference.

As for brands, I'm not sure on the dunlops as never had them on my car! Never really had premium brands due to the cost, but found Hankook v12s to be excellent personally! Also had Nokian winter tyres last winter on the back and they were excellent in the cold and snowy! Also have Falken Ziex ZE-914s currentl fitted to the back which I have no complaints about whatso ever (although others have referred to them as ditchfinders lol)

3) I would say alignment issue there, def get that adjusted after your front tyres are replaced or you'll end up replacing the tyres sooner rather than later!

Hope some of this helps and happy motoring!

[steveas]

Ooops typo yep was 18" NOT 19" lol

Thankyou scudney & coneybiller answers much appreciated any other extra input from others will still be appreciated too

[steve2006]

I seem to remember reading something regarding the misaligned steering wheel on this model but as usual can't find it now.

IIRC the steering centering is electronically controlled and there is a proceedure to centre the steering wheel.

This would seem to apply to your first and last problems.

Did find the information below related to later models.

"On May 16, 2012, Lexus filed a Defect Information Report (DIR) with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicating it will conduct a voluntary safety recall of approximately 650 – early 2013 model year GS 350 F Sport Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) vehicles to update the Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS) electronic control unit (ECU) calibration.

On certain early 2013 model year GS 350 F-Sport RWD vehicles, the ECU for the VGRS system could cause the steering wheel to become off-centered when restarting the vehicle immediately after the vehicle is parked with the steering wheel turned. Dealers will update the VGRS ECU calibration to address the condition.

Owners of the involved vehicles will receive a safety recall notification by first-class mail beginning in early June 2012.

Any authorized Lexus dealer will perform this update at no charge to the vehicle owner. The repair is expected to take approximately 30 minutes depending on the dealer's schedule.

No other Toyota or Lexus models are covered by this safety recall."

[coneybiller]

Hmm possibility, although that sounds like its on the 4th gen GS not the 3rd gen!

Could try turning the wheels lock to lock while stationary (obviously lol) and see if makes any difference to the light. I remember on the mercs that a certain light on the dash could possibly be reset by turning lock to lock a few times, as the clock spring that the airbag and steering wheel controls work though, needs to be re-inisialised! Never know it could be the same with the electronic P/S motor! It could also do absolutely nothing! But for the sakes of 1 min its worth a try :)