Daveegg

Initially on seeing these photos I thought that the wires looked cut with green insulating tape wrapped around. But apparently Toyota (and others) do that at the factory. Still wondering if this could possibly be right for a second opinion I took the photos to a local garage and showed a mechanic. He immediately confirmed what the auto electrician reported I.e. normal factory wiring. The green tape is so either a connector can be used (which these wires lead to) or they can undo the tape and wire direct. The other photo shows a taped-up lamp option for a more expensive Lexus model. In my book the Lexus dealer should know this.

I took my 2014 Lexus GS300h which I have owned 3.5 years to a local Lexus dealer to investigate an intermittent early morning starter problem. Hitherto the GS300h had been totally reliable. The Lexus dealer initially changed the 12 volt starter battery even though the existing battery was new (not from Lexus) and had tested OK. I would add a new 12 volt battery from Lexus is £240...! They justified changing the battery as though the existing battery tested perfectly OK "it wasn't a Lexus battery"....??? The exact same starter fault was there again the following morning and I called the AA. They got the car going and diagnosed a connector fault behind the dashboard. I took the car back to the Lexus dealer to investigate. This time the Lexus dealer called me with news "the car has a load of wiring that shouldn't be there and needs expensive rewiring". The sent me photos of the wiring they say needs to be removed, see below. I was in total shock. But after getting a refund on the "Lexus" battery I took the car back and had a reputable firm of auto electricians examine the wiring on my GS300h. Their verdict: the wiring on my GS300h is in pristine condition and appears exactly as it left the factory! They stated the wiring in the photos sent me by the Lexus dealer shows perfectly standard connector wiring options that Toyota/Lexus include during the manufacturing process. The vehicle electrician (with 30 years experience) had seen similar wiring options countless times on Toyotas and many other makes. The auto electrician fixed the starter problem - just a slightly loose connector and charged me a reduced fee, including a 12 month warranty. I wrote to the General Manager at the Lexus dealership with a complaint including the photos they had sent. I received a brief reply stating their technicians are "Lexus trained" and stood by the original diagnosis that my car needs rewiring!! After this disgusting experience I now wonder who I can trust with repairs my Lexus....?

Mmmm......I doubt the Lexus dealer will be willing to change the relay as this means removing the switch assembly, opening it, sourcing a relay of the same type, and soldering it in. Lexus dealers simply don't this kind of electrical surgery. However, as you have a warranty you can insist they change the complete wiper switch. I wish I had insisted when it was under warranty. Each time they said "nothing we can do if we can't see the fault". I think this is a cop-out as this relay fault is fairly common. It is due to owners trying to make the wipers operate on frozen windscreens thereby inducing excess current through the switch relay.

I have exactly the same intermitent fault on my GS300h. It's been back to 2 different Lexus dealers a total of 4 times. But each time they say can't experience the fault and nothing shows up on on the computer. On youtube a US Lexus owner videoed the wiper problem and the concensus on the replies is the fault is almost certainly a defective relay in the wiper switch. In another similar video a Toyota owner claimed the fault is common on Toyotas and shows how to replace the wiper replay in the switch for $10 or about £8. I am looking for an auto electrician who can do this job as I don't fancy paying £200 or so if I instruct my local Lexus dealer to change the complete switch.