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After driving the car continuously for ~2 hours on the freeway, I noticed the center console storage area gets very, very hot. So hot to the point that both my wife and I can feel the heat radiating through the side liner below the shifter, and radiating into the storage compartment. A good estimate is at least 150F inside the storage compartment itself. A/C was on, temperature set to 65F, dual zone turned off. I purchased the car new since 2017 and not sure why I haven't noticed this earlier. I understand the transmission is right below the center console, but shouldn't the heatshield prevent so much heat from coming into the cabin? Of all the vehicles that I've owned that has a longitudinal engine with RWD (or AWD) layout, not one produced as much heat below the center console as the GS 350 did.
Second question: I can't figure out how to get air coming out of the rear A/C vents. It does not matter whether the S-Flow is on or off. Based on my understanding, the S-Flow feature needs to be turned off (light off) in order for the rear vents to be active. No matter what combination I tried, there is no air coming out of the rear vents. Do the rear seats have any sensor that detects the presence of rear passengers before the rear vents will turn on?
Uh-oh... looks like those servo motors are acting up. My guess is the heater servo motors are stuck/ broken in a position that's only allowing hot air to the rear vents, and additionally the rear vents are remaining closed. So the heat you're feeling is the AC pushing hot air to the rear vents and the hot air being stuck in the ducting under the center console. You're still under warranty so go to the dealer to report the problem. I hope your dealer isn't like one I heard about in CA that charges a diagnostic fee, even under warranty.
The faulty servo motors normally throw codes, so if you have an OBDII scanner, hook it up and see if there are codes.
Lexus dealer scanned the system and found all six damper actuators throwing error codes. This points to a potential issue with the climate control computer. Technicians updated the firmware on the climate control computer, they called it the "climate control amplifier". Four of the six error codes went away, but two still remained. Dealer ended up replacing two damper actuators that still show the error codes and technicians then exercised the servos using the diagnostic tool to make sure they go to desired positions. All is working now. Dealer kept the vehicle for three days, and I had a courtesy IS250 to enjoy during the whole fiasco. Everything covered under warranty. Can't beat Lexus service.
Yep... but continue to monitor. When I first had my problem, they also did a recalibration. That fix lasted a few weeks, then it reoccured and the servo motor had to be replaced. Keep monitoring the air temp.
Yep... but continue to monitor. When I first had my problem, they also did a recalibration. That fix lasted a few weeks, then it reoccured and the servo motor had to be replaced. Keep monitoring the air temp.
Service advisor told me they contacted Lexus corporate and asked for direction on whether to replace all six actuators, or just replace the two where the error code returned after the recalibration. In the end they replaced just the two actuators. So hopefully the other four actuators will remain trouble free.
Goodness gracious, now I'm starting to really get concerned about the climate control system on these Lexus.
I read the entire thread, thanks for directing me there, chinee. Your symptoms are very similar to mine. When the dealer initially did the "recalibration" on your 2018 GS, did they update the firmware in the climate control amplifier? My service advisor told me they updated the firmware on my 2017 GS, and then did a recalibration. Hopefully this will fix the issue, but it does not instill confidence at all after hearing all these repeated problems.
I came from a 2006 Acura RL and the automatic climate control system on that car has been bulletproof for 12 years, until the car got totaled from a not-at-fault accident and I got the GS. Nothing seems dependable anymore these days.
My Lexus is doing the same thing with the center console getting Very Very Hot. Does anyone know what the problem could be?
Originally Posted by Flanker271
2017 GS 350 AWD. Two questions.
After driving the car continuously for ~2 hours on the freeway, I noticed the center console storage area gets very, very hot. So hot to the point that both my wife and I can feel the heat radiating through the side liner below the shifter, and radiating into the storage compartment. A good estimate is at least 150F inside the storage compartment itself. A/C was on, temperature set to 65F, dual zone turned off. I purchased the car new since 2017 and not sure why I haven't noticed this earlier. I understand the transmission is right below the center console, but shouldn't the heatshield prevent so much heat from coming into the cabin? Of all the vehicles that I've owned that has a longitudinal engine with RWD (or AWD) layout, not one produced as much heat below the center console as the GS 350 did.
Second question: I can't figure out how to get air coming out of the rear A/C vents. It does not matter whether the S-Flow is on or off. Based on my understanding, the S-Flow feature needs to be turned off (light off) in order for the rear vents to be active. No matter what combination I tried, there is no air coming out of the rear vents. Do the rear seats have any sensor that detects the presence of rear passengers before the rear vents will turn on?
Check earlier posts in this thread. I've made updates after dealer diagnosis. Turns out it's bad damper door servo actuators that could not regulate the hot/cold air mix. You need to take the car to the dealer and have they run diagnosis scan on the climate control system.
11-02-20, 04:34 PM
Center console storage area gets very hot
any answers about the Console getting hot.
Center console gets Really Really Hot!!!!