07
GS450H
Current mileage: 16.6xxx
Hybrid battery replaced under warranty in Nov/2012 at 82,630 miles

Here is the scoop, after doing the oil change at Toyota Dealership, the check hybrid system message came up, no VSC nor any other messages. Hooked up to the OBD scanner and threw no codes.
What can cause this? researched some folks say 12V battery, low fuel...etc. I still have half tank.
Is the car safe to drive with this error message? I am thinking to drive it on the freeway to charge a bit. Called Lexus Dealer they indicated I am out of any type of warranty and want me to spend $225 for diag.

 

Is the check engine light / "check hybrid system" message still on? If so, whatever scanner you used didn't find the hybrid ECU codes.

 

[QUOTE=Lwerewolf;11761606]Is the check engine light / "check hybrid system" message still on? If so, whatever scanner you used didn't find the hybrid ECU codes.[/QUOTE

No other lights, except the exclaimation triangle and the "check hybrid system" message. I used the Maxiscan 300.
Not a tech savvy guy, wouldn't know nor have the proper equipment to check the hybrid battery packs, not sure why after the oil change, this error would come up.

 

Get a good obd2 bluetooth dongle. Both hybridassistant and dr.prius have recommendations. For quick jobs, I usually read my codes with torque (pro, but the free version should be just fine for the purpose) - it did read the p0a80 code way back in 2018 or so when I had it, which was more than I expected out of it (the hybrid codes aren't set on the engine ECU).

I'm using the obdlink mx, but you absolutely don't have to get something that expensive - the vlinker and carista adapters appear to be just as fit for purpose. Again - check the recommendations, google around a bit, ask friends - perhaps one of them has an adapter?

If you're wondering whether to get techstream - it's invaluable for some things, but overall it's the last thing that I'd use given how slow it is.

"Check hybrid system" can appear for any number of reasons, with a good number of them not related to the hybrid system at all.

 

update: Aft

A little update, during the oil change, the Toyota service tech did mention I need brake pad replaced which I declined at the time. when I got the car back "check hybrid system" error came up. I ultimately brought the car back for brake work a week later, after they did the brake work the "check hybrid system" error massage went away. Very fishy.

 

So you were able to drive your car with that error message on? When mine did it, my hybrid monitor stopped working and such and it felt like only the gas engine was on with no hybrid assist. I charged the 12V battery up, and it magically has not come back for 7 months now. No issues since that one incident.

 

The car was still drivable when the error message came on during that one week before I brought the car back for brake service. But so far so good.

I am very wary of dealerships mess with something to make you come back...