Argelius

Yep, it works! I am sure the kids will love it.

My understanding is that supposedly the cluster glass changes its degree of tint based on the ambient light -- sort of like those tacky eyeglasses from the late 1970s. I honestly can't tell the difference in the settings and just leave mine on HI.

I have an 07 GS350 with Nav and Mark Levinson Audio. I have listened to DVD movies while I drive. The "gotcha" is that you have to get through the previews of the DVD (with the Parking Brake on and the car in Park) and press AUDIO and PICTURE. When the previews finish, touch the screen and you will see playback options (play, rewind, etc...) Press Play at that time and the movie should start playing. Once it starts, you can release the parking brake and start driving and keep listening to it. If you change CD/DVD's and go back, you have to go through the same process. If you stop and start the car and turn off or on the Audio system, it will keep on that DVD. I hope this helps. ENJOYS! I eventually did the DVD hack so it's a non-issue now. REALLY love that hack. Not so much for watching movies (which I think is a little stupid from a safety standpoint), but listening to to them. Was annoying not being able to move through the menus after the car was in motion.

I've done a "reset" several times by disconnecting the battery for about 5 minutes. It's a pretty painless process and certainly worth the effort to troubleshoot your problem. Just disconnect the negative terminal.

Was GS4Fun's post actually a private message? I don't see it here in the thread. I'm having problems with a dvd-bypassed 06 GS 300 (video, but no sound. no cds make sound either) so I checked out this thread. How did you reset the windows? What other features of the car can be reset? Was it just disconnecting the battery? Now you have me thinking maybe I can reset my audio somehow. I'll try disconnecting the battery, as that I did not attempt... but please tell more.. regards Don't know where I found that post, but here's what you do: Go to each windows and roll the window up and down 3 times. Then go back to the driver's control panel and see if you can control the windows then. I had to repeat it on a couple of windows that I must have lost count on how many ups and downs I did... Pretty easy. That's the only "reset" maneuver I know.

Thanks for your concern. Just spoke with my Lexus dealer. Allstate is coming out early next week to assess the state of the engine. Evidently, if water had gotten inside the cabin, they would total it. Because it's only the engine, they will likely replace (not rebuild) it with a brand, spanking new engine. The service guy said it's not a huge problem to do so and the hybrid system only slightly complicates the process. As far as I know, insurance will cover it.

Since I may need to replace my 2007GSh :cries: (see other post), I'm curious if there is any information about what changes the 2008 GS's will undergo (and when they will be out). Many months ago there was a thread that briefly addressed that, but it's long died off. I'm guessing there will be a bump in engine power (which I really don't care about). Anyone heard any more details? (And I'm assuming the hybrid will continue?)

On Tuesday, parts of Chicago (especially Lakeview) were hit with record-breaking rainfall (~4" in 40 minutes). I was on Lake Shore Drive which had standing water up to 6-8" inches and stalled cars all along it. After maneuvering off my exit, I was at a stop sign (while sitting in about 8" of water) when an SUV plowed by me creating an enormous water wake that briefly submerged the hood of my car. The engine seized up, the "check hybrid system" light came on and the car refused to start. Finally managed to get it towed to the dealership. Just got a call from Lexus. The air filter was filled with water, meaning there is water in the engine where it shouldn't be, meaning the engine must be disassembled to determine what the damage may or may not be, since the pistons may have gotten damaged/bent. I guess it's possible the engine will have to be replaced/rebuilt. They can't look in detail at the car until Allstate comes and takes a look. The powertrain in this car is so complex, I'm afraid after that sort of repair, it will never again be the same. Curious if anyone here has any comments on what this sort of damage will do to an engine...and if a new engine means "totaling" a car for insurance purposes. Guess I'll be in the Camry rental for a while. Not a bad car at all, but I'm spoiled with all of Lexus' power and gadgetry. At least it has an AUX jack for my iPod... Is it too early for a Martini? PS Here's a couple crappy phone pics from LSD on Tuesday. (I bet the iPhone takes better photographs!)

Very odd behavior which has happened a couple of times. If I'm working on the interior of my car for 30 minutes or so with the doors open and the radio on, the 12V battery seems to discharge rapidly -- to the point the car wont start at all until I get the battery jumped. This isn't occurring with the headlights and AC fan on -- just the radio and a couple of door open. Anyone else encountered this?

VSC: Vehicle Stability Control Here's some info on the VSC error. ECB: Electronically Controlled Breaking Perhaps it's time for a trip back to your Lexus dealer...

Thank you all for your concern, support, and help! My GSh is now 110% functional now (the extra 10% is for the added DVD bypass functionality). :D Here's what followed my initial panicked moments. After performing the procedure somehow the 12V battery got totally discharged, hence the car wouldn't start (horn and lights wouldn't work, etc). It remains a mystery why it happened. I had a friend (with a Prius) do a hybrid-to-hybrid smooch (electrical jump) and voila!, the car started. This is when I found that the driver's window console no longer functioned and that the DVD-bypass hack seemingly didn't work (phone, mp3 info, and DVD screens all were blanked out while in motion as before). I then decided to try "rebooting" my car by disconnecting the negative battery terminal for about five minutes. Following this, Presto! all the previously-blanked-out screens are now available. The window switches still didn't work, but thanks to GS4Fun's post, I reset the windows and all is back to as it was. Thanks a ton, all. I know I didn't need to mess with my perfectly good $60K car, but it's fun (despite a few harrowing moments). :)

Latest update: 12V battery died during procedure. Had car jumped and car starts now. Current issues: [1] Drivers door no longer can open/close other windows [2] DVD hack doesn't seem to have taken hold... For those that were successful, any ideas? I am confident I did everything correctly -- assuming my wire cutting/splicing instructions were correct to begin with.

Hope someone out there is listening... I did the DVD-bypass modification after researching the topic in great detail (see my previous posts). I have a 2007 GS450h. After doing being very careful that all was done correctly, I briefly got the error "Check VGRS" on the center (steering wheel) display and the car wont start. Was going to pop the trunk and disconnect the battery, but the trunk latch is unresponsive. I looked up VGRS and it appears to have to with Variable Gear Ratio Steering which can't imagine has to do with anything I did. The only minor questions that arose when I did the wire cutting were: On the left plug (nearest driver) there were two yellow wires. Based on the photographs and descriptions I'd read elsewhere, I chose the yellow wire on the end near the red wire. On the center plug, I found the white-with-silver dots wire. I am assuming/hoping this was the correct one. I also saw a white with blue line and sliver dots, and a grey with silver dots. Anyway...feeling mildly nauseated. Car is dead in the water... Guess I can try to back things out.

Well, figured it out. Still couldn't get 000 to tune. Scanned other channels and found 255 which (very discretely and in tiny print at the top of the screen) showed my radio ID...

My trial period for XM has expired and I need my radio ID to sign up for the service. I understand that I am supposed to tune to Channel 000 to get this information. However, I can't get the radio to tune to that channel -- if I go to Channel 001 and go back one, it jumps past 000 to the next channel (like 999 or whatever it is). Any ideas? Thanks. (PS Have a 2007 GSh)

My trial period for XM has expired and I need my radio ID to sign up for the service. I understand that I am supposed to tune to Channel 000 to get this information. However, I can't get the radio to tune to that channel -- if I go to Channel 001 and go back one, it jumps past 000 to the next channel (like 999 or whatever it is). Any ideas? Thanks. (PS Have a 2007 GSh)

I have a 2007 GS450h and am about to embark on doing the DVD-override modification. To those knowledgeable about such things, please confirm that the following points are all accurate: :) The "DVD-bypass" modification (which involves opening the dash and cutting/splicing wires) will allow the following which are currently disabled while the car is in motion: - watching DVD movies while in motion - dialing of phone numbers from the touch screen - viewing (and selecting) of playlists on mp3 DVDs or iPod (with the vaistech adapter, which I have installed) - viewing detailed mp3/ipod track information (artist, song, genre, etc). (I actually want this MUCH more than the movie or phone capabilities) :) The DVD-bypass does not allow for navigation destination entry while in motion. For this you need to create a 6.1/5.1 "hybrid" disc (which I have done and works great) :) In terms of the actual process, once I remove the Navigation unit (as described in detail elsewhere): - there will be three white harness plugs attached to the back of the touch screen monitor On the LEFT-most plug (closest to the DRIVER): ==> cut PURPLE wire ==> the end still attached to the monitor side is left disconnected and "capped off" ==> cut YELLOW wire ==> the end coming from the "car" is left disconnected and "capped off" ==> the end still attached to the monitor side is attached to ground (by adding a ring terminal with an extra length of wire) On the CENTER plug: ==> cut the WHITE-with-SILVER-dots wire ==> the end still attached to the monitor is left disconnected and "capped off" THEN, the car side of the PURPLE wire is <=spliced=> to the car side of the WHITE-with-SILVER-dots wire. :) Posts that describe putting a physical switch in pertain to inputting Navigation destinations while in motion and are separate from the above procedure. I have printed out over 100 pages of forum posts on this topic, so I have done my best to research this. Just wanted a few things confirmed before I start snipping wires in my $60K+ automobile. Thanks!

That sounds odd. I have the Vaistech product installed in my 2007 GSh and haven't experienced any problems with it at all (other than the INFURIATING blanking of the track information and playlist screens when the car is in motion, courtesy of Lexus' lawyers...)

Here's what I am guessing is your situation. By DVDs I assume you mean video DVDs (as opposed to DVD-A(udio) discs). You can only watch them while the parking break is engaged and the car is in Park. You can listen to them by first popping the disc in while parked and wait for the DVD menu to appear. Select "Play" (or whatever the menu choice is to start watching the movie. Once you start moving, the screen will go blank, but you can still listen to the movie (which is actually pretty neat, since surround sound discs sound amazing -- I have one of the Star Wars movies in to show off the sound system). What is probably happening for you is if you pop the DVD-movie in without being in park, the DVD will load and you will hear only the audio background to the DVD movie menu. Unfortunately, there is no way to start the movie (so you can just hear it), without being in park, since you need to access the DVD menu with the touch screen. There is a modification that involves some wire cutting and dashboard removal that will allow you full access to the DVD screen while in motion (see first Sticky Post here). I haven't gotten brave enough to try that, but I am very tempted.... Hope that helps.

Can anyone comment on the differences between the new "6.1" Nav DVD compared to the previous "5.1" disc that included the override functionality from the service screen? Thus far I have been unable to successfully create a hybrid 6.1/5.1 disc and was wondering if I just got an original 5.1 from eBay if that would work just fine. Don't know what, if any, enhancements or functionality the 6.1 upgrade offers over the 5.1 version. Thanks.

I've successfully made a couple of the hybrid 5.1/6.1 DVD Navigation discs, up to a point. The discs load (after battery disconnect) fine and I do have access to the Nav Bypass in the service menu. But, when I hit the map or dest hard buttons or enter commands with the touch screen, there is a big delay between pushing the button and when the action happens -- to the point of making it essentially unusable. It would seem my burning process is okay, since the discs are recognized and load okay. Thus far I've tried Memorex and Verbatim discs. Has anyone who went through trial and errors encountered this issue? Thanks!

Based on posts here and here, it is possible to create a new Nav DVD that brings back the override function. Thus far I've been about 90% successful -- can now enter Nav instructions on the fly, but the touch screen has become really sluggish ((<5 sec delay between press and action). I'm guessing it doesn't like the brand of DVD I used, so am going to try a different one...

I would be curious about the DVD bypass as well for a 2007 GS. I have a 2007 GSh and the navigation "temporary" bypass does not work (it's been removed from the new Navigation discs). Based on posts here and here, it is possible to create a new Nav DVD that brings back the override function. Thus far I've been about 90% successful -- can now enter Nav instructions on the fly, but the touch screen has become really sluggish ((<5 sec delay between press and action). I'm guessing it doesn't like the brand of DVD I used, so am going to try a different one...

Trying out the voice recognition for destination input, I literally just spent 5 minutes trying every way I could think of to pronounce "Lincoln Avenue". Lin-con Leen-con Link-o-lin Lin-collin I never was able to get my 2007 GSh to recognize this major street in Chicago. Wish there as a way to get the attention of Lexus' "customer service" guru. This really is ridiculous for such an advance automobile...

With its accuracy, that's easier said than done... (And that wont help with the fact that mp3 CDs (or iPod with adapter) track information (artist, song title, etc) is blanked out while the car is in motion. Not sure what safety issue that is meant to address...