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This sound is normal to most Aluminum block engine.
I really want to get a set to help to my 3 year old get in and out. I'd like to see how running boards look instead of side-tube-steps.
thanks
Glad to hear that the clicking is normal. Do you hear it when you turn your car off?
Also, does anyone know the message number on this site as to what can be programmed into the key FOB?
There's only two noises that I consider "normal" on the 2001 RX300, as stated before:
1. "Ticking"-- this is sound you might hear only from inside the cabin, engine running, car stationary, everything else off (stereo, fans, etc.) For folks that have ever driven a '70s engine, it sounds like "lifter tick". It is actually the fuel injectors on the 3.0L engine and can be reproduced on other Lexus cars with the same engine.
2. "Clicking and random metal noises"-- this is sound you hear after you have driven for awhile and have just turned off the engine. As already pointed out, it is the sound of expansion and contraction of metal parts of the engine and exhaust components. I have heard this on every new car I have ever owned and is normal.
Hope this clears things up. This vehicle is dead quiet while running, any other noises need to be investigated further.
There are even some models that automatically switch to Low after a certain time.
We are still having the intermittent rumbling noise at idle when in gear. Vehicle is going in next week for a routine oil change service and we hope they will be able to find the problem. It has been ongoing for about 6 months although it seems to be getting better now that the weather is starting to warm up.
Thanks for any advice.
all doors lock/unlock operation
transmitter switch misoperation prevention
repeat function
security function
operation verification beeper function
door ajar warning function
The volume of the operation verification beeper and operation of the door ajar warning function can be changed in the Customized Body Electronics System.
These functions can be programmed:
open door warning on/off
wireless buzz volume
wireless operation on/off
car finder on/off
alarm function on/off
int lights on unlock on/off
one press all unlock on/off
auto lock delay 30/60 sec
Pete
Please don't beat me up, I'm just reporting what I saw.
Having said that, the inclined ramp test with the spinning rollers will only be encountered in real life if you do any type of serious off-roading. Hence look at the 5 vehicles listed that can do this. Quadradrive is one of the best consumer 4WD systems out there, but it does nothing for vehicle stability at highway speeds. And that's where the AWD RX300 excels.
Another point is that MB did a similar test but they used a pre-2001 RX300 which is really stacking the deck. Maybe BMW did the same thing.
Again, all BMW did was demonstrate a situation where the RX300 won't get you "unstuck", standing still going onto a rigged ramp with minimal forward momentum. But guess what? I'll never be taking my $40k vehicle into a situation like that (offroad, up an incline with serious ruts so that wheels lose contact) and I bet many BMW owners will never do the same with their $50K vehicle.
All in all, the X5 will indeed outhandle the RX300, it has the same stabilty control systems as the RX and is highly optimized for sport handling. But a similarly configured X5 will cost $9000 more than a RX300 and have less cargo space. Both are 2 of the safest SUVs out there. Lexus is #1 in reliability and customer satisfaction. So in the end it really comes down to what's important to you, what you are willing to pay and what you are willing to give up.
When I bought my 2000 RX300 I did so with some reluctance. I had owned two Jeeps previsouly, I realized going into the purchase of the RX that it would never stand up to the standards of my Jeep experiences. The only BMW choice was the HUGE engine and the MB320(?) was clearly too cheaply put together. I did order the optional limited slip. Why was it optional?
Anyway, the MDX will be a major contenter with VSC, Trac, and HID.
THERE: No forward momentum, sitting on a layer of ice, on top of which is several inches of snow.
You do not need to go OFF-ROAD, to have off-road like experiences, at least not here in the GREAT Pacific Northwest.
With regards to "No forward momentum, sitting on a layer of ice, on top of which is several inches of snow" I'll bet you that a good set of dedicated winter tires will get you out of that situation. There will be some friction to work with. The BMW roller test is set up to give an advantage to a vehicle that can operate with only one will on the ground (Quadradrive), Lexus never advertised or claimed it could do this.
In the end, I got exactly what I wanted in a vehicle, pluses, minuses and all. Sounds like you have some regrets?
Thanks for your suggestions and comments. I have learned so much from the other RX300 owners by reading this board.
You might also want to look at the black/black Silver Sport Edition.
Regrets about the 2001 RX300 AWD, only two, really, so far. Both rather minor!
The Nav/(HVAC)display system has too many software BUGS and lacks good human engineering aspects, and Lexus should spend some time figuring out how the heat & A/C system is really used, and can be made useful (cooled moist airflow to defog and/or demist a windshield?), before designing an automatic one.
Most climate control systems, in defog mode, first pass the airflow through the A/C evaporator to cool it below dewpoint to extract most of the moisture, then through the heater core to rise its temperature and further decrease its relative humidity. Note that depending on climatic conditions, the airflow leaving the evaporator core may have only been reduced in temperature to very near its dewpoint, having not lost any of its moisture content at all, and now being very close to the saturation point.
Lexus allows much of this cool airflow with a relatively HIGH humidity to BYPASS the heater core on the way to the (COLD!?) interior windshield surface, a recipe for disaster if ever there was one.
My driveway is paved, aggregate, and flat. A 1992 Jeep in AWD with four CHAINS would not move out of its own ruts until I shifted it into 4WD. I still to this day don't understand why AWD wouldn't do the trick and 4WD did. Oh, Jeeps don't come equipped with STREET tires.
This was the winter of 95, it had snowed, melted, rained, froze, and then snowed again. Repeat the previous sequence about three times and you have an idea what my driveway was like after almost a week with my Jeep just setting there and me inside by a cozy fire.
Mother nature oftentimes CREATES off-road conditions if one just sits and waits.
I don't know if my RX300 will do any better, or even as good, as did the Jeep, but I do believe in buying all of the insurance I can get.
Life is a trial of balancing needs and wants, Yes, the Jeep would likely outperform the RX in adverse weather conditions, but it will NEVER be as reliable, comfortable, nor as roomy, individually, as the RX.
Can I also add just plain Beautiful?
And instead of a two-minute trip, one mile up the road, to our local Lexus dealer, we had to drive about 190 miles RT into the desert (Riverside).
So it's available, with and without Nav, in FWD or AWD. Good luck hunting - it's a great color for that body style.
Now we have to add the 44-piece wood dash kit, chrome muffler extensions, chrome fender flares, Multi-Meter Command Center, and Fuel Cell (just kidding - private joke for Tonychrys!).
Jeff
I couldn't agree more, and this was almost a show-stopper for me when I first saw the LCD display. This is definitely a sore point of the vehicle, considering that most everything else is near perfect. The fact that you can't simply step through your FM presets by hitting the FM button on the radio console is beyond me. It would save the user the trouble of switching to the Audio LCD screen while driving.
If they had just put damn steering wheel mounted radio controls on the RX I would have my "perfect" vehicle. Maybe next time.
You never know; perhaps lighting does strike twice. Of course, in L.A., that would require too many megawatts!!
Try Cory Williams at Lexus of Riverside - they're an Elite dealership and Cory did very well for us. It's a drive, but in this case it was worth it.
And you get a free calendar with a digital photo of you (with friend or spouse) taking delivery.
Hey, for the price, they should supply the friend!
Tell Cory that Jeff Must sent you - good luck.
JM
Wow, a free photo! Why don't you post it on this site!
If the T&C added VSC, Trac, and HID, would you buy one?
The problem is that manufacturers are producing cars that can go longer with less intensive maintenance than in the past. You still have to change your oil and inspect the vehicle, but not much else until you rack up the miles. This is a disaster to the dealers who get a large part of their income from the service end of the business, NOT new car sales as most people think. In fact, I know dealers who will take a loss on a car sale if they think they can make it up on the service end.
Before you take it in for service, have the service advisor print you out a sheet of what's being done for the money at that service interval. If it doesn't match what's in your owners manual, then request it doesn't get done. Your warranty only obligates you to do what's in the manual.
It's your choice.
I put over 250 thousand miles on two Ford Squire station wagons without ever changing out or refilling the rear differential. I did replace both automatic transmissions because the clutches were worn out, but I never drained and refilled any of the four transissions nor replaced their filters.
My 1992 Lexus LS400 has had the engine oil & filter changed out every 4,000 miles, only once by the Lexus dealer, and ONE oxygen sensor replaced since new.
Most of what they want to do other than oil change and filter(S) at any service less than 50-60K (rubber timing belt) is needless.
Engine lubricating oil is designed/formulated to maintain foreign materials in SUSPENSION, so they will be removed from circulation when the oil is drained.
Every automatic transmission I have ever over-hauled (3, maybe 4?) had a 1/4" or more of "sludge" (clutch facing material) in the pan. Transmission oil, hydraulic fluid, if not over-heated, will last forever.
I have heard that the Boeing 737 has no scheduled change-out of the fluid in its numerous hydraulically operated systems.
The SilverSport is on the cover and there is a great letter to the editor about a RX300 owner that survived a collision and rollover.
No, I'm NOT going to post my Lexus calendar photo and for a very good reason.
Don't you just hate when this happens to you?
My girlfriend was with me that particular weekend and had just finished her cover photo shoot for Sports Illustrated's swimsuit edition and...well, my wife is getting more and more touchy as she gets older. You know how there's just no reasoning with some people.
But you'll be pleased to hear that I did autograph several copies of the calendar photo for all the older salesman at the dealership; for some reason, I'm like a God to them now.
But thanks for asking.
Jeff
Don't buy accessories from ANY car dealer, including (especially) Lexus. Look around for what you want, with pricing, on the internet first.
I'm not sure which company manufacturers Toyota's VSC, but you can bet that it has different characteristics than either MB's or BMW's.
Good luck...
Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
But then again, it's made by Chrysler....
A fellow employee has a 99 Olds Alero that was bought second hand from a rental agency. Yesterday morning he noticed that one of the tires seemed somewhat low so he pumped it up slightly. Within a block or so a warning light came on on the dash indicating "low tire pressure". He went back to the station and inflated all three of the other tires equal to the other one.
An ALERO with tire pressure detection. Maybe, it was a rental car...
After some discussion around the water fountain and considering the circumsatnces under which this all happened we concluded that OLDs must be computing the possiblity of low tire pressure by checking the differential rotation rate using the ABS sensors. Clever, Huh? (if true)
But I am hesitant to believe that an alero came from the factory with actual tire pressure sensors!
Running the RX AWD with differential rotation rates front to rear for an extended period would damage the viscous clutch beyond repair, Do you suppose Lexus might use this technique somewhere down the road?
Guess what? It does. I have a '99 Pontiac Grand Am SE2 sedan, which is the sister car to the Olds Alero. And yes, I have tire pressure detection.
I'm not really sure how it works, never looked into it. Just an FYI, they do make aftermarket units which mount in your wheels that run on small watch batteries. They then transmit a signal to a small reciever. These things actually messure true tire pressure.
This was lexus of portland (OR).
Stick around and enjoy the ride.