Well ... this has become disaster ... I got the blower, but I have not installed it yet, as the A/C blower has been once again working 3 weeks without any issue. Probably because winter has come and it is freezing outside.

... BUT I have now much bigger problem with this car - I should have given up the car already in the spring as I intended, but loved driving it so much so decided postpone the decision for a year. Big mistake!

Lexus GS450 F-Sport seems to have major failure in rear steering design. The rear steering assy (45900-30070) has stroke sensor connected and it will ultimately fail when car is around 10 years old. This happened to my car two weeks ago. Got error codes C15C9, C120E, C1B17, C1A50, C165A, B241D. Checked the issue with Lexus mechanic. DRS issue. Invalid stroke sensor which triggers also errors for PCS, AFS, VGRS and track control. Rear steering assy (45900-30070) needs to be changed and also control module (89182-30040). Although what I see from existing cases the control module usually does not need to be replaced.

Here is good conversation about this and really good pictures about the issue and what 10 years makes to the sensor underneath of the car.

What makes this a problem is that price of Rear Steering Assy in Finland is 19 000 € and control module 4 300 €. Unbelievable! I try to ordered it from Amayama for price of 2 500 €, but just got message that they need cancel the order as they cannot deliver the part. Will try Yoshi Parts next with price of 3 000 €, but doubt that will succeed either. Everywhere else ridiculously expensive. Cannot find used part either.

I have loved Lexus but this is unacceptable.

 

Try here https://2407.pl/en/

 

@WhiteGS450 - I think DRS was a required option for the GS 450h with F-Sport package in certain regions, primarily in your part of the world as I understand it.

It's a shame you can't just lockdown the rear steering assembly to match a model without the DRS feature and somehow get rid of the error codes and any messages displayed. Assuming that's not likely - unfortunately, it may indeed be time to let the car go. If it was my car that's what I almost surely would do, and move on...

If you lived in the U.S. the parts and repair might not be such a problem to get resolved but I suspect being in Finland it makes it more difficult.

I wonder if the DRS stroke sensor can be removed and brought to a workable condition to save the OE DRS unit...

 

Here is a Used DRS from a 2014 4GS for sale on eBay for $1,900 USD.

Expensive, but better than $10,583 MSRP for a new one!



Donor Vehicle Information:

Make & Model: LEXUS GS350 F-SPORT
Year: 2014
Mileage: 197,325
Exterior Color: White Nova Gf Metallic- 083
Interior Color: LB24- Black
VIN Number: JTHBE1BL9E5042067
Engine/Drive Train Specs: 3.5L 6 Cylinder RWD

 

That seems insanely expensive until you look up the price of new

 

How about the MSRP of $10,583?

I think the adder for the DRS option was about $1,300 - $1,700.

I'm glad I don't have DRS - it's just another thing that might need calibration. Plus, it's probably not too noticeable unless you're under 5mph making a U-turn.

 

If I would have only known that DRS can cause this kind of nightmare I would have bought GS450H without F-Sport, but there were no way to know it. These issues have just started to get reported as the first cars of 4th gen made in 2012-2014 are getting over 10 years old. Especially irritating is that stroke sensor is basically completely separate part but not sold separately and it is poorly manufactured because over time it lets moisture and dust in. Here is the picture of failed stroke sensor ... and you need to purchase the whole rear steering assy to fix this

And for sure, I want to get rid of the car, but trying to also find solution where I could get some value back. I asked several car dealerships about the refund price, if I were to exchange it for another car and the refund would be around 20,000 euros. Since the car is now defective and it is very difficult to find a spare part with reasonable price, nobody wants it. Therefore, I would still like to try go forward by fixing the car at a "reasonable" cost and then get rid of it with reasonable price.

I noticed the same and already make inquiry about the condition of the part. The part is from 2014 GS (10 years old) and with 197,325 miles. That is 317 000 km, which is a lot. My own car is from 2012 with 203 000 km (126 000 miles) and already with failing stroke sensor.

But, let see how can I solve this. This is called life with bad luck

 

@WhiteGS450 - That picture of the DRS stroke sensor looks like it's been removed from the assembly and dragged through the sand along Hietsu Beach. Why does that sensor have so much sand in it?

Have you considered removing your car's DRS stroke sensor and trying to clean it up to see if that helps fix things?

 

Does your GS have two 12 volt batteries in the trunk? The second battery for the rear steering system, is it dead?

 

Well holy crap.

 

Only one 12 volt battery on the left side of the trunk under cover.

From what I have understood from those who have removed the actuator, the impact sensor is not meant to be removed or that it is so difficult to remove that in practice it has had to be broken to get it off. There is also a lot of corrosion caused by water, which is probably impossible to repair.

Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Picture 4
Picture 5

 

Well, if it's already toast, I do wonder if carefully removing it, cleaning it out with electronics part cleaner, and epoxying it back on might help.
​​​​​​
Here's another, in case going the used route.

​​​​​​https://www.ebay.com/itm/235751732277

From Atlanta, so hopefully less salt in that area.

 

Thanks all for the help. If you happen to see more of these rear steering assy please let me know also - very much appreciated - I'm now actively trying to find used part which would most likely to have working stroke sensor and most probably would work. The labor for replacing the part should be only 2-3 hours. Based on instructions it is pretty easy to detach. Most problematic is the calibration for which one needs correct equipment and software.

I can drive my car just fine. Dynamic front lights, dynamic steering, track control and precollison systems are off, so it behaves like a normal car ... even more fun to drive snow and slippery roads. Problem of course is that I need to get it fixed or get rid of the car before April. On April there is car inspection time and it won't pass with the issue active.

I'm pretty sure that it is the weather which causes the stroke sensor failure. All cases I see reported are from Nordic countries or from Ireland / UK. I believe that the constant getting wet and freezing and the salting of the roads will eventually break the joints and seals of the sensor shell and let moisture and dust inside.

 

Being that AISIN made the DRS (a.k.a. ARS or 'Active Rear Steering') assembly for Lexus, I wonder what their specialist in that area of design & manufacture would suggest doing.

I suspect someone at AISIN might be able to offer some insight and help to get it working again.

Additionally, I really don't understand all that sand and corrosion I saw in the image of the sensor.