pemarsh

Occasionally, after starting the lx470 up, the lx drives straight only when i steer the steering wheel about 30 degrees off center. If i straighten the steering wheel, the lx actually will turn. It seems that everything is working, except the fact the steering wheel is off center about 30 degrees. After about 10 -15 seconds, normal operations returns.

Why does this occasionally happen?

no1sportz

Funny you mention that...mine actually is constantly leaning to the left. This coming up Monday I am having them complete all TSBs for the 2003 LX. I noticed one of them has to do with steering wheel gearing improvement? Maybe it has to do with that???

DSW

May I ask where I can find a list of the TSBs for the 2003 LX? I have looked on this site but can't seem to find any. Thanks

no1sportz

I went here...http://www.mycarstats.com/auto_TSBs/...TSBs.asp...and located some of the bulltetins. This may not be a complete list. Your dealer should also be able to print you a copy of what is required.

DSW

Hello no1sports, just wanted to say THANKS for the referral. I did find some good info there.

Lexleo

Drove 50 miles on the highway, parked the LX for an hour, and on the next start the steering wheel was about 30 degrees off center. Very Strange. Brought car to Lexus dealer, scanned in computer and reset V.G.R.S. computer. Told this is only the second time they had seen this, and the other time it was going off center gradually. Said if this contiunes I might need a new V.G.R.S. about $1000.00. The LX is a 2003 with 78,000 miles. BTW the reset was only $69.95

_JP_

i was pulling a U turn and had to sit waiting for traffic in a driveway with the wheel turned 30 degrees or so... sat for 30 seconds or so and when i started driving the steering was waaaaaaay off to the left. scared the s*** out of me as it was like a week old at the time. made a turn to the right onto another street and it fixed itself.

damn drive by wire.

jp

03LX470

I believe I had reported a similar problem on this forum for my 2003 LX back in late 2002. This was one of the reasons for selling it & I am shocked that your 2007 has the same problem. They should've fixed it by now!

Max707

Glad I got a 3 year 100K mile warranty.

motamedd

My LX 470 , '03 had the steering wheel 10 degree off center to the left. First time I aksed the dealer to fix it, they gave it back to me with nothing changed. The second time they made the steering 10 degrees off center to the right. I have given up and I am living with the slight imperfection...

V8_Fan

I had the exact same problem on my '03 LX (wheel was turned about 5-10 deg to the left while the vehicle tracked straight). Dealer said the VGRS ECU was updated after '03 and replaced it under warranty (CPO, 51K mi at that time). So far, 1 year and 7K mi later, all is still well. ECU was about $800 plus labor.

Pg DI-633 of the 03 LX factory manual, vol 1, says if the VGRS angle sensor isn't initialized, try this:
1) turn ignition on an check that VGRS and VSC/TRAC lights illuminate for a few seconds, then go out. If they don't there's a problem.
2) If lights do go out, then drive straight at 35km/hr (22mph) or higher for 5 seconds or longer. At this point, the steering will be off center by 5-10 degrees. Now corner the vehicle 2-3 times, and the VGRS ECU memory should restore the correct centering.
3) If still off center, repair the applicable system (this is what it says).
4) Confirm steering angle initialization is complete by driving the vehicle at 60km/hr (37mph) or higher for 30 seconds or longer. If the steering angle initialization has not been completed at this point, the VGRS system stops. Stop the vehicle w/ engine running, slowly turn the wheel from lock to lock with 2 seconds or more for 1 turn. If the wheel rotates approximately 2.4 turns, steering angle sensor initialization is complete. If it rotates approx. 3.5 turns, steering angle sensor initialization has failed.

Got it?

As I said, mine was off to the left by about 10 deg all the time and was especially noticeable when driving 35mph+. Since it was under warranty, I took it to the dealer, they diagnosed the problem, ordered the new ECU, then replaced and recalibrated it. If you no longer have the warranty, then you can always try the above, as it doesn't cost anything more than time.