pgg450h

Thanks for all the comments everyone, for me this has certainly been very helpful.

I really Struggle to get more than 30 out of mine usually around 27ish I work in reading and live in cheltenham, so when I decide to drive (instead of train journey when weathers cold/bad) its a 75mile trip each way, could be the hills perhaps, but I always expected a little more?

When I fill the tank the readout claims 337miles to next re-fill. What do you get?

These cars are very sensitive to throttle in terms of mpg, I'm getting c35-36mpg on average now inc. motorway runs. I find if you drive with a view to letting the car coast on Battery as much as possible by anticipating traffic etc. it makes a significant difference to the economy. Best I have had is 42.5mpg on a gentle run.

Excellent work, many thanks for this. Any other pics you can capture can only help!

I did the brakes on my 5 series many moons ago so not afraid to get my hands dirty if the time comes. Got new calipers and pads on the back now so keen to consider some preventative measures such as the EP grease on the sliders. Why do you suppose the lower ones are corroding and not the top pins? Proximity to water spray?

If so, are the seals not doing their job? Heat drying out the original lubricant??

Lexus parts told me that their discs came as a 'handed' pair so they had to be fitted on the correct sides. Are the Mintex discs the same or does it really matter I wonder?

Having my calipers replaced under warranty this week but keen to hear how you get on with those pins, thanks.

I can't understand why the pins corrode anyway if they are sealed from the elements??

Watch them on the extended warranty, they tried to refuse my rear caliper claim saying " gradual deteriation is not covered" !! Argue hard, they always crumble and back down. Muppets! I think my 06 450h has had 5 or 6 rear calipers so it just keeps happening.

The extended warranty is sold by but not undewritten by Lexus so it really is just another dodgy insurance policy but they HATE it if you complain to Lexus Customer Services.

Good luck Tony

Thanks Tony, one concern, the warranty I purchased was sold as a Lexus Warranty and I'm currently waiting on the dealership advising me on Lexus' decision on this. Was your warranty Lexus branded too?

5 or 6 rear calipers.......thats taking the royal ***** if you ask me.

I'm equally unimpressed by this, given how superbly well engineered other aspects of the car are.

I was told the same thing on my '06 GS450h, but as I'll replace them myself they said that I would probably just get away with sanding down the sliders with emery cloth and adding copper grease to keep them lubricated (which I will do soon as the rear discs and pads require replacement!). I'm hoping its as simple as this anyway!

I shall keep you posted on my progress (if I can get my pads and discs sometime soon anyway as not in stock )

Great! Sounds like a workaround for the future depending on how I get along with the car. Do keep us posted on this, thanks.

Not sure if there is a modified design/part but I have just had my near side rear replaced which was sticking and mine is a new 2012 model just 5 months old. Seems to be a common Lexus problem as my IS 250 had the same problem

Surprising to hear it's something cropping up on a new design too.

Hi all,

Just had my car serviced (2006 58k) and was advised that both rear calipers are seized (the slide pins being the culprit).

They will hopefully be replaced under the extended warranty however my concern is the frequency with which these cars seem to go through them. Is there a revised design/modified part I should ask for to prevent further issues down the line as I can see another set being required in my ownership and probably when I'm out of warranty!

Never had a problem with the calipers on my old BMW 525d which I kept for 9 years and didn't expect the Lexus to throw up such things.

That doesn't sound right ro me. In slow moving traffic, if my battery display drops to two purple bars, the engine runs until a couple of green bars show. the engine then stop\starts until puple bars show again. When on the move the traction battery shows about 4 green bars. On long decents I get all the bars lit except the last one. Never had all bars lit.

Mine is an LS but its the same principle.

Not sure if the colours are the same on the LS, mine go from 2 purple (low charge) through to 6 blue then the last two turn to green but I have only ever had it going up to the second last bar indicating an almost full charge which I understand is how the Battery chemistry is managed to preserve it's life.

It was on the motorway where I managed to get into the green bar zone at the top but I've never had it showing completely full.

I have noticed the gear change you mentioned also a slight change when accelerating past around 60mph?

That is a great video. I still keep looking for alloys but there are very few original lexus ones on eBay. There are 2 GS450h ones on there for £69 each which I think is a bargain for anyone with a previous gen 450h wanting a spare wheel, or to replace a scraped one.

Back to my original questions, what are the usual offsets, or do I need to take a wheele off and kcheck the back?

Do you have a link to the two GS450h wheels at all, can't seem to find?

btw, 36.5mpg coming back up tonight. Pleased with that.

As it happens, coming up the M40 this evening the charge indicator nudged up into the green zone the for first time in ages (albeit briefly) so puts my mind at rest about the Battery for now, guess I will have to just relax a little more and enjoy it as you say. Very impressed with this car so far apart from the ride at times on standard setting and the odd creak/rattle.

It should be going in for a service in Jan so will ask about Battery condition and whether the different modes affect it's life in anyway. Will update after it's back. Thanks everyone.

Greetings everyone,

I've noticed recently that my Battery never seems to hit even the first green bar when charged nowadays whereas a few months ago it used to reach that level without much difficulty. Is it likely to be a sign of an ageing Battery (56' plate 55k miles)?

Alongside this would using sport or power modes (but not racing around) accelerate 'wear' to the Battery chemistry?

Thoughts/opinions/experience appreciated.

Hi Brian,

My 450h has done around 55k and seems fine, I had some initial concerns about unusual noises on start-up but this very helpful forum and it's members have put me at ease about that and I find the car hasn't missed a beat so far.

Getting around 30-33mpg overall in mixed driving.

PG

Thanks for all the responses/suggestions, going to live with it as it's really not that big a deal, just would have been nice..

if it behaves like the Prius then it will select recirculate if the aircon is on and the cabin temp is too high (by a few degrees) compared to the temp settings or if the external air temp is higher than the temp setting. It does this because it is the most efficient way to get the cabin temp down.

When you start it up in the morning when the air temp is low does it still turn on recirculate?

Yes, it turns on recirculate in the morning (well every time intact) as soon as I start the car and this occurs whether the fan is on or off. It was encouraging though to see this other GS I was in not doing that..

No change, still defaults back to recirculate. Odd thing is, was in another GS450h recently and that behaves as I want mine to by remembering the last setting the controls were set to?!

Will have another chat with our local dealer, there must be a setting somewhere for this.

Sure you can also hold I think the auto setting and it will bring a hidden menu on sat nav cars to adjust the sensitivity of the smog sensor

Will set to lowest on Monday and see if that changes anything.

Hello again pgg450h. My last car was also a BMW 528i se ( e39 ) which I had and loved for 12 years - 157,000 miles.

The 450h "puts it in the shade" - the power to weight ratio alone.

As far as the tappet noise is concerned, I didn't really have it either before or after the valve spring modification. However, I have ALWAYS used Slick 50 with all my cars, for at least one oil/filter change and did this before the recall ( at 19,000 miles ).

Fuel consumption is averaging 31 mpg.

However, the rear tyres wear much faster than the fronts, due to the massive hybrid torque.

Must confess I have used Slick50 a long time ago in a Honda I used to own (CRX vtec - loved that car too) and it did make it a little quieter but have never used it since given the quality of modern oils.

If you turn off the "Auto" setting for outside/recirculate?, that goes back to "auto" when the ignition is turned off and back on again?

Has the smog detection been set too sensitive and making it go into re-circulate?

With the fan off auto is not selectable so it simply toggles between recirculate and pass through setting and even if I select pass through, next time I put the car on it's back to recirculate (with the fan off).

Smog detection set to medium.

It doesn't remember the last setting, always goes back to re-circulate and nothing I can see in the manual about it.

I've had a look for any previous posts on this but can't seem to determine if it's possible or not. I like to let fresh air into the cabin and like that the fan doesn't need to run to allow to flow in.

However, the setting defaults to re-circulate next time the car is started, has anyone found a way to change this?

Hi pgg450h.

To ( maybe) answer an earlier question about tappety noises - certain 2006/2007 GS450h's were recalled by Lexus in 2009 for specific "engine valve spring" modifications. Mine is a June 2007 model and was recalled at 28,000 miles and spent 4 days with the Main Dealer - check that yours is/is not affected by this ?

Another issue with our model years was loud dashboard rattles that were due to certain " white pegs" becoming loose ! Fixed under warranty.

Just had the rear right wheel bearing replaced at 47,000 miles - otherwise it's been and is a fantastic car.

Thanks DougCF72, I have taken out a 2 year warranty with Lexus and they gave the car a check before applying the warranty, all came back ok. At the time I did ask if there were any outstanding recalls on it and there were none.

Also, given tonyricha's comments previously on his car sounding the same (and not getting any worse/noisier) over a big mileage I'm at ease now with mine but I do appreciate the information though. As you say it is a fantastic car, has made me almost completely forget about my e39 BMW which I held onto for 9 years (and I really liked that car).