A couple of weeks ago, a teenager backed his car into the side of my 2001 GS300. The best place on the list of insurance-approved body work shops was a nearby Toyota dealership. The Toyota shop later called to say that they had gotten the parts from Lexus and had painted it and all looked good. However, when they checked the inside, suddenly nothing on the instrument panel was working (e.g., speedometer, gas gauge, etc.). The Toyota dealership hooked the car up to their diagnostic computer, which indicated that nothing was amiss. The man at the Toyota place called the closest Lexus dealership, and they said that they thought the problem was a "recall issue." I've looked around on the Internet and I've found nothing about a recall of GS300's relating to the instrument panel (and I don't remember ever having received a recall notice). Has anyone encountered this problem before? Is this a recall matter?

As things stand now, the man at the Toyota place is going to take the car to the Lexus dealership to have them check it on their diagnostic computer. In the meantime, the Ford Escape that I'm renting is making me appreciate the Lexus ever so much more!

I'd appreciate any ideas or feedback that anyone has. Thanks.

 

not that i have heard of as well. this is kinda retarded though, they have the guts to tell you they are looking for help from lexus...

 

Did they check the fuses?...Sounds mindless but it happens...If fuses are blown most likely a short in your system from that accident...Just trying to help!!!...Lates!

 

Hey leubanks,
Sorry to hear that first off.

You might want to check the dimmer control on the panel as this happened with my GS at a Lexus Dealership. Someone turned the dial all the way and the lights went out and after 2 days and a RX loaner car I looked at my car and turned the dial. BOOM the lights worked.

Just a thought I hope this works but being a fellow 2001 GS owner I would like to hear about that recall.

Speaking of recalls, I had to tell my Lexus Dealer about the recall on the IS e Shift on my aunts IS

chaskim

 

I got this problem with my car after came back from 1 week vacation. The car start fine, but the battery is hold less than 12.2 volts. Believe me after installed the new battery everything work normal again. I think our car has a lot of ECUs and to save the enegy for starting up the car some of the ECU have to shut off. It may be part of the fail safe system that engineered into the car so you can get your car to the shop.
Now when I see some of the customer cars doing this thing. I just go ahead and replace the battery. Try it, I know it sound funny, but trust me on this one.

 

Just wanted to post an update. The Lexus dealership found that apparently when the body work had been done, a wire had been wedged against the electrical wire controlling the instrument panel. They rearranged the wires, and now the car is as good as new! I am so happy to have it back.

Lori Eubanks
Happy owner of a 2001 GS300