german129 Posted July 12, 2015 Posted July 12, 2015 This is the first year that hybrid vehicles are required to have emission testing done in CA and my RX400h is saying that the I/M is not ready because the o2 sensor monitor self test is incomplete. It has been 5k miles since our 60k mile service and that was the last time that the ECU/OBD system was reset. How can this be possible? The smog check guy was certain we unplugged the batter but that was not the case. I have now driven the car 70 miles since he the test came up incomplete and still the o2 sensor test has not completed. Any suggestions? The only thing I can think of that might have caused this is that the "Maintenance Required Soon" message was showing up every time the car was started because it was time for an oil change. Does resetting this reset the OBD2 system?
german129 Posted July 12, 2015 Author Posted July 12, 2015 I have an update. Spoke with the lexus service department at my nearby dealer and they said they had the same problem with a RX400h recently. The solution they found was to run some calibration update (i think its an update to the ecu software) that has nothing to do with the o2 sensor test and that for some reason fixed it. This update was for RX400h rocking feeling at freeway speeds of 70+ mph. They said this would cost $140 to do at the dealer. I feel like this is a ridiculous to expect me to pay for a software update that never worked properly in the first place... Has anyone else had similar issues?
DJinSJ Posted July 16, 2015 Posted July 16, 2015 Yes! I'm also having the same problem. It looks like I'll have to go to the dealership to have them fix this...
german129 Posted July 16, 2015 Author Posted July 16, 2015 Yes! I'm also having the same problem. It looks like I'll have to go to the dealership to have them fix this... Let me know if your dealer suggests another solution to this problem. I have not had my dealer update the ecu yet so I cannot tell you if this fixes the issue. I have also spoken with Lexus corporate office and I plan to open a case regarding this issue. In my opinion, the car was required to comply with the emission standards and it never did. Hopefully they will extend a warranty so others will be aware of the issue and be able to get it fixed for free.
DJinSJ Posted July 16, 2015 Posted July 16, 2015 Will let you know how it goes. Working with manager now to get me in for a quick smog test since they are booked until early Aug. when the registration is due. I will update with what I'm told by the service techs. FYI - lots of chatter on various forums re: this issue for different cars, but not specifically Lexus yet. Thanks for starting the thread.
german129 Posted July 16, 2015 Author Posted July 16, 2015 Will let you know how it goes. Working with manager now to get me in for a quick smog test since they are booked until early Aug. when the registration is due. I will update with what I'm told by the service techs. FYI - lots of chatter on various forums re: this issue for different cars, but not specifically Lexus yet. Thanks for starting the thread. In case you need the information, the calibration update that they suggested is from this lexus tsib... https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCoQFjABahUKEwjg9a21leDGAhXBD5IKHUcUC0Q&url=http%3A%2F%2Fus.lexusownersclub.com%2Fforums%2Findex.php%3Fapp%3Dcore%26module%3Dattach%26section%3Dattach%26attach_id%3D12948&ei=tuinVeDCIcGfyATHqKygBA&usg=AFQjCNH9apdpiEB8WsTNFSjuC1nO1WhCDA&sig2=IGyjnOyFZo2ozRkDZsn2rw
lenore Posted July 16, 2015 Posted July 16, 2015 I await your solution. I googled the OBII not being ready and the state of Nevada says you have to force engine to run by using accessories. Really curious on the O2 sensor test not completing. wondering if its possible that you have a bad O2 sensor? Also maybe the 12volt battery is going bad, or have you replaced it recently. Something is not right, hope you post the solution for the rest of us. My 2008 will be due next year for smog. Seems to me the O2 is not going to work unless the ICE engine is running.
german129 Posted July 16, 2015 Author Posted July 16, 2015 I await your solution. I googled the OBII not being ready and the state of Nevada says you have to force engine to run by using accessories. Really curious on the O2 sensor test not completing. wondering if its possible that you have a bad O2 sensor? Also maybe the 12volt battery is going bad, or have you replaced it recently. Something is not right, hope you post the solution for the rest of us. My 2008 will be due next year for smog. Seems to me the O2 is not going to work unless the ICE engine is running. It has been more than 5k miles since my battery has been disconnected and/or my system reset. I am pretty positive that it never passed the o2 sensor test. I am also fairly certain that my o2 sensor is working properly because my obd2 system displays the results of the self tests from my previous drive and since the last time the system was reset. My car passes the o2 check all the time for the current/last drive but it always shows as incomplete for "since last reset" test which is the only one that matters... If the suggested fix works then your 2008 will be fine. The software update that I am receiving is from May 2007 so any car produced after that date should not have this issue.
german129 Posted July 23, 2015 Author Posted July 23, 2015 I got the calibration update and the o2 sensor passed the self test by the next day. Unfortunately I was stupid and filled the car with gas before it passed the evap self test so that is the only test that hasnt passed yet. I also opened a case with lexus because I think this should be a warranty extension/recall. This car never complied with emission standards as required so they should take care of that free of charge (in my opinion).
DJinSJ Posted July 24, 2015 Posted July 24, 2015 I agree with your opinion. I just scheduled an appointment for this Saturday at 7am for my 110k milegage check-up plus the SMOG (since I can't pass smog at any other station). I will make sure to update this board.
german129 Posted July 24, 2015 Author Posted July 24, 2015 For those who run into this same problem...I opened a case with lexus headquarters after getting it fixed and they got back to me within 2 days saying they were going to reimburse me the cost for the calibration update. So, if you run into this problem call lexus headquarters and they will reimburse you.The cost turned out to be $140 which was the minimum at my local lexus dealer for 1 hour of labor. Not terribly bad so I wouldn't have been upset if they had denied me but I do think it is their responsibility. 1
gtoph Posted July 24, 2015 Posted July 24, 2015 Thanks guys, I just ran into an identical issue. Smog guys said o2 sensor wasn't ready. Have an appt with the dealer tomorrow, hopefully it's just a matter of doing the upgrade.
GDixon Posted July 25, 2015 Posted July 25, 2015 Perhaps related. My old 1999 Ford F-150 had exactly the same problem. In addition, the CAT converter was also "not ready". The battery had not been disconnected. It was driven 300 miles after the failed smog at the recommendation of the smog guy. Still the same issue. I even bought a OBDII reader to monitor it since each retest was $25. A repair shop reset the computer and the truck immediately passed the smog inspection. Cost...you guessed it, $140.
gtoph Posted August 6, 2015 Posted August 6, 2015 German, did you have to push to get reembursed? They did the same thing to my rx; simple computer software update and road test. Charged me about twice as much for 2 hrs of labor though. Dealing with customer service all I got so far is a little service credit, but no reembursement. Did yours happen to be under warentee still? Aprantly, the 8/80k expired for me this last January.
german129 Posted August 6, 2015 Author Posted August 6, 2015 I didn't have to push at all. I just opened the case and they called me 2 days later saying they were reimbursing me. Maybe the person I opened the case with took good notes because I talked to them for a while explaining what the problem was and why it wasn't discovered until now. Also mentioned how I thought this was something that was a national requirement and they failed to meet it.
DJinSJ Posted August 6, 2015 Posted August 6, 2015 The dealership service advisor wanted to charge me for two hours labor to reboot the computer or some such deal. I just said no, so they wiped that fee. All I paid was their flat fee of $99 or whatever for a smog check.
mgkumar Posted August 11, 2015 Posted August 11, 2015 I have the same issue in Colorado. Made an appointment with the dealership for next week who want $180 for the update. I called customer service and opened a ticket. Just got a call back today and was flat out denied anything. No reimbursement, discount, etc. Anybody know if any shop can do this? Or does it have to go to the dealer?
DJinSJ Posted August 11, 2015 Posted August 11, 2015 I don't know if you could go elsewhere. I also don't understand how Lexus could charge for something that should have been ready when we bought the car brand new. In other words, there are laws that require new vehicles to be able to pass SMOG...so if this is the first time we need to pass a smog test on a new car (regardless of how many years its been since we bought it) - shouldn't it be handled by the dealer?
gtoph Posted August 11, 2015 Posted August 11, 2015 I'm not sure you could go somewhere else, but I kind of doubt it. $180 is better than my deal which was over $200. I'm still kind of bitter about it, even with a $125 service credit for next time... which let's face it, isn't going to get you too far at the dealer. I could understand if my sensors was actually bad, and needed replacement, but like DJ said above, a simple software upgrade so we can pass emmisions should be done under a recall free of charge. I don't know how much farther we can get on this though... other than to have as many people with this issue call corporate as possible and hopefully when there is enough, they do actually issue a recall.
lenore Posted August 12, 2015 Posted August 12, 2015 Maybe you should file a claim about failure to pass smog because of software issues with your local state Air Resources board.
german129 Posted August 12, 2015 Author Posted August 12, 2015 Maybe you should file a claim about failure to pass smog because of software issues with your local state Air Resources board. This is basically the argument I made when I filed my claim and was reimbursed. Also pointing out that this is the first year that smog is required for hybrids but that the car NEVER complied with local emission standards because the software was faulty.
gtoph Posted August 26, 2015 Posted August 26, 2015 Following up. I had planned to talk to headquaters about this again, and try to contact the state board as well, but a lot of unexpected things had come up and I hadn't gotten a chance. But today, I got a call out of the blue from Lexus, and they informed me that there is an offical campain now for this issue and they will be reembursing me the full amount. I would like to think that all of us here had a little to do with that. :) 1
GDixon Posted August 27, 2015 Posted August 27, 2015 Following up. I had planned to talk to headquaters about this again, and try to contact the state board as well, but a lot of unexpected things had come up and I hadn't gotten a chance. But today, I got a call out of the blue from Lexus, and they informed me that there is an offical campain now for this issue and they will be reembursing me the full amount. I would like to think that all of us here had a little to do with that. :) Great news! Thanks for reporting back. Doing so helps the community. I guess this is one reason we enjoy our Lexus experience. The value of customer service cannot be underestimated.
azednalcm Posted August 14 Posted August 14 Hi! I have a 2006 rx400h and I am having this issue now about the oxygen sensor monitor “not ready.” I went to the dealership yesterday and their tech told my service advisor that he cannot find a software update for my car. And I’ve just hung up with Lexus Customer Service and was told she can’t a customer support program for this issue. The dealer wants to replace 3 parts (for the discounted price of ~$700 and $980 labor) that my mechanic replaced to resolve this issue. Does anyone know what the official campaign for this issue was called? Thank you!
azednalcm Posted August 14 Posted August 14 A few more info. The codes I am getting over and over, since the beginning of the year, are P0171 and P0174. Two of the parts the dealer suggested be replaced are fuel air ratio sensors for banks 1 & 2. According to them, there are updated versions to take care of the 2 error codes. The other part, mass air flow sensor, they say is not reading up to specs. Like I said, my mechanic just replaced these parts and he used OEM parts (Denso). My registration was due in May. I paid the registration but can’t take my car to smog. Thanks again.
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