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I'm from Germany (EU-model LS) and I usually lurk around in a German Lexus forum, but as there is almost no one with a current gen LS, I decided to try my luck here
At the end of 2023 I bought an used LS (first registration in 2018, but I think it was built in 2017) and in general I'm super happy with it (except for the missing CarPlay-update for EU-models...)
But I'm a bit confused about the CoDrive system. It's my first car with some kind of self driving capabilities so I don't have anything to compare it with. And I'm aware that it's not real self-driving, just a better assistance system. But the behavior of the system is odd (or even bad) sometimes. I only use it on highways (German autobahn or in the Netherlands). Sometimes it works just fine, the car sticks to the center of the lane and just does it's thing.
But sometimes (quite often), even though the view is clear and it visualizes (blue color) that it recognizes the lane, it just pushes to the right side and I have to pull against it. If I let the system do the steering in this moment, it will usually actively drive over the line, then beep because of that, and usually (not always) return back into lane. But I can't just let it do that of course, especially with other cars nearby. Sometimes the system is so persistant to do that, that I have to countersteer for minutes - or turn it off. Sometimes it keeps doing that until I finally let it run over the line.
A similar thing happens often when activating the system. Often, when you're already in the center of the lane and you activate it, it will start to actively steer far right, left, right left (and sometimes run over the line) until it returns back to the center. If you hold the steering wheel to prevent it from doing that, it will just keep trying/pushing. De- and reactivating the system won't help either, it will just try to do this.
In all of these situations the systems shows that it's recognizing and actively following the lane. And I often see that it's quite able to work fine in general... Just not always. And that's a problem because it's not reliable that way because it's very likely (~ every few kilometers) to suddenly do something illogical and dangerous where you have to step in quickly.
Is it supposed to behave that way? What's your experience?
And it seems that at least one feature is missing in my car, the "Driver Emergency Stop Assist" (announced 2017 as a part of the Lexus Saftey System + A). When the car is actively driving on the highway and you ignore the prompt to keep your hands on the steering wheel, the car just beeps and eventually quits steering while keeping the speed. I think my LS has all of the other features of the LSS+A, just not this one. Is that common?
Another question: In winter when it's cold, the windshield right in front of the camera (in the plastic box) seems to be fogged from condensation. Stuff like lane recognizion won't work at all then. It takes about 1-2 hours of heating up (even with the windshield fan activated) until it's fine. Probably it's bad air circulation inside of the box with the cameras/sensors inside I guess. So in winter I pretty much can't use lane keeping assistance etc. at all... Is there a known fix?
I recognize all off the above, i'm from the Netherlands (EU model LS 500h 2018)
I partially "repaired" the fog problem myself by using three 1mm bushings over the bolts to give the camera-unit a bit more room to get rid of the moisture, i also installed a mini fan in the unit.
The dealer said there is nothing wrong with the car... (Yeah right, duh). It only occurs in the winter..
The pictures below are of my car.
Fog on the windshield in front of the sensor:
Here you can see the fan i installed to give the unit a bit more air circulation. (Plus a switch high, low or off)
That's a great tip, thanks! I'll try that, too. Is it easy to disassemble the cover without breaking it or should I look for an official guide (from the Toyota tech site or so)?
Honestly I don't think this is the issue. My camera spaces look like this in my 2020 and I have no issues with my lane assist other than some rare times when the sun is at a specific angle. No way am I going to start to disassemble a $100k car and make modifications.
That's a great tip, thanks! I'll try that, too. Is it easy to disassemble the cover without breaking it or should I look for an official guide (from the Toyota tech site or so)?
Yes it's easy to disassemble the cover.
Thanks LS500fan for the video, please note the fog will still be there but not as much as before. I also removed a piece of plastic of the ventilation holes to create even more airflow.
Please note: the video below is for installing a dashcam, but it shows you how to remove the covers.
I'm from Germany (EU-model LS) and I usually lurk around in a German Lexus forum, but as there is almost no one with a current gen LS, I decided to try my luck here
At the end of 2023 I bought an used LS (first registration in 2018, but I think it was built in 2017) and in general I'm super happy with it (except for the missing CarPlay-update for EU-models...)
But I'm a bit confused about the CoDrive system. It's my first car with some kind of self driving capabilities so I don't have anything to compare it with. And I'm aware that it's not real self-driving, just a better assistance system. But the behavior of the system is odd (or even bad) sometimes. I only use it on highways (German autobahn or in the Netherlands). Sometimes it works just fine, the car sticks to the center of the lane and just does it's thing.
But sometimes (quite often), even though the view is clear and it visualizes (blue color) that it recognizes the lane, it just pushes to the right side and I have to pull against it. If I let the system do the steering in this moment, it will usually actively drive over the line, then beep because of that, and usually (not always) return back into lane. But I can't just let it do that of course, especially with other cars nearby. Sometimes the system is so persistant to do that, that I have to countersteer for minutes - or turn it off. Sometimes it keeps doing that until I finally let it run over the line.
A similar thing happens often when activating the system. Often, when you're already in the center of the lane and you activate it, it will start to actively steer far right, left, right left (and sometimes run over the line) until it returns back to the center. If you hold the steering wheel to prevent it from doing that, it will just keep trying/pushing. De- and reactivating the system won't help either, it will just try to do this.
In all of these situations the systems shows that it's recognizing and actively following the lane. And I often see that it's quite able to work fine in general... Just not always. And that's a problem because it's not reliable that way because it's very likely (~ every few kilometers) to suddenly do something illogical and dangerous where you have to step in quickly.
Is it supposed to behave that way? What's your experience?
And it seems that at least one feature is missing in my car, the "Driver Emergency Stop Assist" (announced 2017 as a part of the Lexus Saftey System + A). When the car is actively driving on the highway and you ignore the prompt to keep your hands on the steering wheel, the car just beeps and eventually quits steering while keeping the speed. I think my LS has all of the other features of the LSS+A, just not this one. Is that common?
Another question: In winter when it's cold, the windshield right in front of the camera (in the plastic box) seems to be fogged from condensation. Stuff like lane recognizion won't work at all then. It takes about 1-2 hours of heating up (even with the windshield fan activated) until it's fine. Probably it's bad air circulation inside of the box with the cameras/sensors inside I guess. So in winter I pretty much can't use lane keeping assistance etc. at all... Is there a known fix?
Thanks in advance!
I drive a 2018 LS eu model as well, I didn't use driver assistant very much but when I dint it worked OK for me, kept the car in the lane with no issues you just need to keep the hand on the wheel.
There are settings you can play with on how sensitive the system to be, there are more setting if you have an obd adaptor and the corresponding software.
I know that it can also lock on the car in front and follow the car even if it changes lane, this may be the reason for your problem.
It is worth checking the wheels tracking maybe it is off and pulls against the computer *intention"
CoDrive on 2018 LS 500h + camera fogged in winter
