grantwils

If you are going to spray the alloy wheels, remember to apply etch primer on bare aluminium. Then you can use normal acrylic primer on top and on the rest of the wheel.
Chris.

Special equipment is needed to metalise plastic but if it’s already metalised it should chrome just like metal. Problem is if their prep would involve removing the metalising then it’s back to needing to metalise it first.

I’ll give them a scrub/rub and see how they come up. The wheels, minus trims, are booked in for a full refurb at the end of the month.


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You can try white spirit it will do no harm. Cellulose thinners is ok if you just use it to wipe the surfaces, but do not use it for soaking as it may desolve the plastic. Petrol may work, but keep checking it is not softening the plastic. Surgical spirit will work in the same way as meths. The chrome is real chrome so once the paint or lacquer has been removed you can polish them with Tcut or Brasso before re coating with lacquer. 
John. 
 

Grant. Do not use anything abrasive like wire wool. The spokes are made of black plastic with a thin metallic chrome on the outside surface. If scratched this chrome can peel off leaving a dull black surface. Wiping them with cellulose thinners will remove the paint without damaging the chrome, but do not soak them in thinners as this may melt the plastic.
A soak in meths may remove the paint so it is worth trying I know from experience it removes the lacquer, and does not damage the chrome or the plastic.
John.

Thanks guys. Lexus sprayed them with silver paint from a rattle can when they ‘refurbed’ them before I bought it so I’m not holding out much hope that they’ll be salvageable.

I’ve got some autosol and wire wool so I’ll give that a bash. And see what happens but I suspect I’ll be needing to repaint them one way or another.

Got the trims off the rear wheels and the fronts are soaking in penetrant spray overnight before I try to get them out.

I’m going to drill out the holes so they have a better chance of coming out in future. Not that I’ll be planning to take them off much.

Whoever came up with the design needs to get in the sea.


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Has anyone found a decent way to refurb the chromed plastic on S2 GS450h rims.

I’m in the process of carefully removing them from the wheels which isn’t easy. Lexus already managed to snap a bit off the alloy when they rattle canned them last time.

If all fails I’ll rattle can them myself but would prefer to get them done properly. I’d replace them but not at minimum £25+VAT per trim with 20 required for the car!

I’ve phoned a few places and no-one seems to be willing to do them.

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Thanks for your help everyone. £317 for the pump and £50 for my local Indy to fit it and normal service has resumed.

No fuses blowing.
No error messages.
Pump clearly running when I open the coolant cap.

Thank you everyone.


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Because the pump is a centrifugal pump with the outlet set at a tangent to the rotor direction is critical to the performance of the pump. The rotor position is needed to get the optimum switching timing for electrical efficiency. These so called digital motors are very efficient compared to both brush, and squirrel cage motors offering more torque, and speed at less current.
They do not work with fixed frequency, but ramp up when starting to remove the current spike associated with motor starting, and give better torque.
John.

It is unlikely the pump is jammed, and this in it's self due to the design of the motor would not necessarily blow the fuse. The pump recall was because it was found in manufacture the three phase winding's for the pump motor were being scratched "the formal coating insulation on the winding's was damaged" this eventually cases the winding's to short circuit causing the fuse to blow. Exactly your symptoms. 
The winding's are in a separate housing with no moving parts to the magnetic armature or rotor that is formed as part of the pump impeller running in the coolant. The impeller runs on a fixed shaft with a carbon bearing lubricated by the coolant .
John.

Check for turbulence, check the INV W/P fuse,

Does anyone have any drawings of the cooling system or a how to for swapping the pump?

Out of curiosity, where’s the cooling reservoir for my engine if this is just for the inverter cooling system?


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Thanks guys.

Does anyone have a diagram or drawing of the pump?

Tracing the pipes, I’m assuming pump is in the scary looking box with orange cables and a cover saying ‘this isn’t a Battery you tit, it’s in the boot. Stay away from this scary high voltage thing if you don’t know what you’re doing’ or words to that effect.

The coolant reservoir seems to be linked in my GS for engine and inverter coolant.

My OBD reader tells me temperature data but I think it’s just for engine coolant rather than anything else.






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Thanks guys.

Plenty coolant in the reservoir I can see, not sure if it’s engine or inverter coolant.

How easy is the pump to change? Is it an eBay and DIY job or a Lexus main dealer thing?

Any easy way to diagnose? I’ve got an OBD reader if that’s any use. Or can I test the pump in place or on a work bench?

It had a main dealer service at 110k but local garage did basics since then, just oil and filter stuff.

Have been meaning to get the hybrid system checked to get the warranty but haven’t been in yet. I’m not sure if coolant pump would be covered.

The ‘almost certainly’ wording inspires confidence. Thanks!


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Anyone got any hints or tips to diagnose this issue on a 2009 GS450h with 130k on the clock?

Comes up after around 15 minutes driving.

Clears after 12v Battery removed. Doesn’t come on if you drove sub 15 minute journeys.

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I got about 15000 out of the rears (and I drive like a *****). Another set going on soon after an alloy refurb. Fronts half worn, if that.


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Has anyone got any experience of coolant leaks on a 2007 RX350? Is it common and easy to pinpoint what the issue is?

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Caliper to hub mounting bolts 87lb/ft.
There doesn’t appear to be any CD Rom versions of the service manual and the full set in paper will set you back £3-400.00!
Cabin filter is part number 37139-30040 priced around £40.00 from Lexus.
If you want any more part numbers post up what you need.
 

I must have done at least 1000 miles in varied Scottish August weather by now. So far they’re very good. Had tracking done at the same time so will keep an eye on wear.


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Hi all

I picked up discs and pads with 50% off at ECP. £150 for front discs and brembo pads including cabin filter and some air con bombs seemed too good to pass up.

Does anyone have the relevant torque settings for a front disc & pad change please?

Come to think of it can anyone point me in the direction of a service guide for a 2009 GS450h please so I can find cabin filter and other bits and bobs too please?


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I need to change front discs on my GS450h. I’ve done it before on x-trails, Disco3, IS200. Is there anything unusual or strange I should be aware of on the GS450h?

I take it it’s worth replacing calliper pins while I’m at it? Will do pads too obviously. Weird discs are sold as single front left/right. Never seen that before. Usually just pairs.

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Thanks. Mine arrived today so will get them done over the weekend.


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How are you finding the tyres Normski? I need new boots on the GS450h and very tempted by these. I also used to run winter and summer sets but I’m tempted by all seasons with the GS. Getting 400 miles a tank so not hooning it around back roads and stuff. It’s a 60mph rush hour motorway couch for me. I do 20k a year throughout Scotland but have an RX with winter boots for the really tough stuff.


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I’d have to look at tyres but I have Pirelli on front and Goodyear at rear. Both brands are all season tyres and seemed to cope well.
never thought to turn traction control off, thought that might be counter productive but I can see in some instances that could be a good option. 

My RX350 powered through drifts over the bonnet. We’re in Bishopton which was the 2nd worst in UK with 46cm in 24 hours. The only thing which was a bit disappointing was the lack of a diff lock made it poor at towing stuck vehicles. (Managed a Vito bus and a taxi but did nothing with a British Gas van which had bottomed out on a drift)
Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme S always help though. Plenty 4x4s (with diff locks) got stuck where this powered through.




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Well done. What’s this VWX? Is that a sort of tire?

Is that a photo of you parked in a carpark? Did you have any difficulty finding where the road was in all that snow?



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