My Lex 2006 RX400h ~ Check VSC system ~ Check Hybrid System
#31
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
This was the previous owner. Yes, I was able to see this history as well and it was sold to the dealer that I purchased it from. He probably purchased it at an auction. I will have to ask him as he is a friend of my husbands and will tell him the truth. We purchased it as is...
#32
there are 3 things you can do in my opinion:
1: have it towed to the nearest Lexus/toyota dealer for a proper diagnosis. A toyota dealer should be able to do everything a Lexus dealer can. (This is my recommended action)
2. Wait for your mechanic to be ready in his new shop.
3. Remove the 12v battery from the vehicle and take it to autozone or your local parts store where they do free battery testing. This process will also clear all the codes in the ECU.
Now, you say this has happened to you before? When you drive around are there any warning lights on that get ignored?
1: have it towed to the nearest Lexus/toyota dealer for a proper diagnosis. A toyota dealer should be able to do everything a Lexus dealer can. (This is my recommended action)
2. Wait for your mechanic to be ready in his new shop.
3. Remove the 12v battery from the vehicle and take it to autozone or your local parts store where they do free battery testing. This process will also clear all the codes in the ECU.
Now, you say this has happened to you before? When you drive around are there any warning lights on that get ignored?
#33
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
there are 3 things you can do in my opinion:
1: have it towed to the nearest Lexus/toyota dealer for a proper diagnosis. A toyota dealer should be able to do everything a Lexus dealer can. (This is my recommended action)
2. Wait for your mechanic to be ready in his new shop.
3. Remove the 12v battery from the vehicle and take it to autozone or your local parts store where they do free battery testing. This process will also clear all the codes in the ECU.
Now, you say this has happened to you before? When you drive around are there any warning lights on that get ignored?
1: have it towed to the nearest Lexus/toyota dealer for a proper diagnosis. A toyota dealer should be able to do everything a Lexus dealer can. (This is my recommended action)
2. Wait for your mechanic to be ready in his new shop.
3. Remove the 12v battery from the vehicle and take it to autozone or your local parts store where they do free battery testing. This process will also clear all the codes in the ECU.
Now, you say this has happened to you before? When you drive around are there any warning lights on that get ignored?
#34
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
#35
Racer
iTrader: (1)
Toyota dealer close by? The old Highlander hybrid is the same as RX400h.
hopefully issue isn’t a big deal.
so far you read everything online, but no actions taken right?
no battery test or replacement. No tech stream status/code check.
Does the car turn on, but not crank? You could try connecting a good battery from your other car to see if it cranks. If so, it’s the 12v. Try even trickle charging the old one and then crank.
If the 12v battery is over 2 years old, I would just get a new one. You’ll need it soon, anyways.
can’t start ruling out possibilities until actions are taken.
good luck.
hopefully issue isn’t a big deal.
so far you read everything online, but no actions taken right?
no battery test or replacement. No tech stream status/code check.
Does the car turn on, but not crank? You could try connecting a good battery from your other car to see if it cranks. If so, it’s the 12v. Try even trickle charging the old one and then crank.
If the 12v battery is over 2 years old, I would just get a new one. You’ll need it soon, anyways.
can’t start ruling out possibilities until actions are taken.
good luck.
#36
#37
Ouch sorry to hear your sorrows.
I noticed the hybrid system is very cautious goes into the "limp" mode if it detects anything related to the engine wrong (which can include electrical) I had it happen when my oil turned in to jello (long story read my other post)
The battery testing at 12v sounds low. A new fully charged 12v battery should read ~13.7V (https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/r/...-voltage-range).
When your car is running you should see ~14.7 or so. the 12V name is just marketing simplification.
Now if your battery is low it may indicate that
1) the battery is going bad as you indicated (I find the Costco battery a better buy than the Toyota battery both in cost and quality)
2)The car's inverter is not charging the battery at the 14.7V in the "Ready" mode (check the tech stream codes as well, also battery voltage while on, inspect your inverter visually,loose connector? )
I noticed the hybrid system is very cautious goes into the "limp" mode if it detects anything related to the engine wrong (which can include electrical) I had it happen when my oil turned in to jello (long story read my other post)
The battery testing at 12v sounds low. A new fully charged 12v battery should read ~13.7V (https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/r/...-voltage-range).
When your car is running you should see ~14.7 or so. the 12V name is just marketing simplification.
Now if your battery is low it may indicate that
1) the battery is going bad as you indicated (I find the Costco battery a better buy than the Toyota battery both in cost and quality)
2)The car's inverter is not charging the battery at the 14.7V in the "Ready" mode (check the tech stream codes as well, also battery voltage while on, inspect your inverter visually,loose connector? )
#38
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
#40
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
#41
Not sure if my experience can help but in winter of 2014, I had Cylinder misfires after filling gas from the Costco I normally go to. I don't remember if my Check hybrid system came up or not (i think it did not). I added a bottle of Heet and used up the gas as soon as I can to fill fresh gas from else where. light went away and did not come back (I still go to that Costco today with no problems)
When My car had the sludge/jello oil I had codes. It threw a bunch of codes...
P0306, P3190, C0300, P0031, P0300, P0301, C0700, , P0000, P0302
My dad 07 Corolla was showing P0171 (lean) which was a common problem. I changed the gasket to the intake ( it was leaking in air)
If there is a problem with the coil packs some one did the work here.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...-rx400h-2.html
and here
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/hyb...id-system.html
one check engine light fixed by new spark plugs https://www.clublexus.com/forums/hyb...t-came-on.html
When My car had the sludge/jello oil I had codes. It threw a bunch of codes...
P0306, P3190, C0300, P0031, P0300, P0301, C0700, , P0000, P0302
My dad 07 Corolla was showing P0171 (lean) which was a common problem. I changed the gasket to the intake ( it was leaking in air)
If there is a problem with the coil packs some one did the work here.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...-rx400h-2.html
and here
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/hyb...id-system.html
one check engine light fixed by new spark plugs https://www.clublexus.com/forums/hyb...t-came-on.html
Last edited by jooksing82; 02-12-19 at 01:55 PM.
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jwren (03-01-19)
#42
Lexus Test Driver
these were codes from a few months ago when the check hybrid system light came on and the VSC light. I haven’t had them read since it stopped starting and won’t go into ready mode. It’s parked at my house and won’t run. Also I’ve never run out of fuel. I never drive it below 1/4 tank.
Running out of fuel doesnt mean you actually ran the tank dry.
Fuel delivery was disrupted is what i meant by that.
Engine will never start if there is a problem on the Hybrid side.
Do you have Hybrid codes?
I also thought you had a mechanic look at your current codes?
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jwren (03-01-19)
#43
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
I should clarify.
Running out of fuel doesnt mean you actually ran the tank dry.
Fuel delivery was disrupted is what i meant by that.
Engine will never start if there is a problem on the Hybrid side.
Do you have Hybrid codes?
I also thought you had a mechanic look at your current codes?
#44
It is difficult to diagnose, but you could have a problem with the 12v battery (as mentioned before) and/or the fuel pump. A weakening fuel pump could lead to lean conditions as well as stalling. The 12v battery is easy to test with a proper battery tester, but the fuel pump is one thing that is a little harder to diagnose (especially if it is running weakened rather than completely failed.) if you do replace the fuel pump I would replace the fuel filter as well.
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jwren (03-01-19)
#45
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
For now it is important that you do not try starting the vehicle more times. It can cause to damage the hybrid battery if you fail to start the engine many times. To make this easy to understand, every time you try to start the engine, it draws power from the hybrid battery. If you fail to start the gas engine after many times, the hybrid battery will be too low to turn over the gas engine. Since the gas engine is responsible for charging the hybrid battery, if the hybrid battery is worn down low enough to not start the gas engine, there is no way to recharge the hybrid pack easily.
It is difficult to diagnose, but you could have a problem with the 12v battery (as mentioned before) and/or the fuel pump. A weakening fuel pump could lead to lean conditions as well as stalling. The 12v battery is easy to test with a proper battery tester, but the fuel pump is one thing that is a little harder to diagnose (especially if it is running weakened rather than completely failed.) if you do replace the fuel pump I would replace the fuel filter as well.
It is difficult to diagnose, but you could have a problem with the 12v battery (as mentioned before) and/or the fuel pump. A weakening fuel pump could lead to lean conditions as well as stalling. The 12v battery is easy to test with a proper battery tester, but the fuel pump is one thing that is a little harder to diagnose (especially if it is running weakened rather than completely failed.) if you do replace the fuel pump I would replace the fuel filter as well.