Active hood fault

Alright Lexus RC aficionados, I've got a head-scratcher for you. My 2016 Lexus RC with a gasoline engine is throwing me for a loop. I'm getting an "Active hood fault" message popping up on the on-board computer, and the airbag warning lamp is now illuminated in the speedometer. Hooked it up to a diagnostic tool and sure enough, an error is stored. The weirdest part? It seems like the spring actuators for the active hood have actually been triggered! Mileage is sitting at a respectable 188205 km. I'm suspecting a defective acceleration sensor, possibly from a minor shunt a while back? Any insights before I start tearing things apart?

4 comment(s)

I had a similar issue with my RC. The "Active hood fault" message appeared intermittently, along with the airbag light. Have you checked the wiring harness near the front impact sensors? A damaged connector or frayed wire could be the culprit. Was the error code specific to the active hood system, or did it indicate a general sensor malfunction?

Thanks for the quick reply! I haven't specifically checked the wiring harness yet, but that's a great shout. When you say front impact sensors, are we talking about the ones directly related to the active hood system, or the main collision detection sensors? And yes, the error code pointed specifically to the active hood circuit. Did you eventually resolve your issue?

Yes, the sensors directly related to the active hood. If the error code is specific, that narrows it down. I would definitely advise you to take your car to a workshop.

Turns out my initial hunch was right. The acceleration sensor for the active hood was indeed defective. Replacing it, plus labor, set me back 315€. Thanks for the pointers; they helped confirm my suspicions and saved me a ton of diagnostic time!

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