Your post of headlight low beams creating a light line @ waist high is the first I've seen on this forum. I happened to just have completed my 5000 mile service and this was one of my complaints. I asked to re-aim the lights with the hope that an adjustment would raise the beam somewhat but to my dismay, the tech reported that the aiming was right on and nothing was wrong. If you find out more, or anyone out there has experienced this problem and received a solution, please advise.
This is the way HID headlamps are designed. They provide max light to the cutoff point and nothing above that line. Regular headlamps give max light only at the center of the beam, with less light scattering out from the center. Your brain has trained your eyes to look as far down the road as the scattered beam would allow. Without the sharp cutoff, oncoming drivers would be blinded. it takes a while to get your brain and your eyes on the same page. The extra brightness is worth your patience.
I'm not sure whether some of you have been keeping track of the 2003 Toyota Motor Show, but there's coverage of it in some shape or form in all the car sites. Well, here's a glimpse of the RX-400H as a "concept" car and a little more insight as to how it will be configured. Frankly, I'm excited and can't wait till it moves from concept to production.
You're correct about the max light below the line. It is really sharp and crisp. I agree with grampajoel, I'll try to get used to them since that's the way they were designed. Thanks for the info!
Got my first fine scratch by stupidly wiping some dirt with a slightly moist chamois. Should've known better not to do that, but didn't have any washing materials with me at that moment and just couldn't stand to wait until I got home to wash it. So, when it comes time for my first 'real' washing, wondering what to use (wash mitt, towel, etc?) to prevent more scratches in the future.
I was leaving Safeway this afternoon pushing my cart towards my RX 330. Next to me was a neighbor who was commenting on how nice my new car looked. "How to you like it" he asked? When was the last time you told someone the truth? Oh, it's great, I said. And look at this neat feature it has while pulling out my key. I unlocked the doors and pushed the tailgate button. You guessed it, the damn thing didn't open!!! Felt real dumb!!! The door wouldn't even close and lock manually. I drove home with the rear door unlocked. Yes,it did work in the garage after returning home. Another engineering marvel from Lexus. And as my wife and I were taking our Granddaughter to a pumpkin farm today, she pulled down the visor to use the vanity mirror. She opened the cover and said to me "would you please have those people fix this door. I have to hold it open". I have never used the drivers side mirror and tried it. It also is defective in that the visor cloth material wads up in the hinge and won't allow the cover to stay open. I have accepted the fact that Lexus forgot to design a detent in the roof covering to allow the fingers from pulling the visor down. Does the "Minor" faults ever stop rearing their ugly heads?? Could I ever recommend this vehicle to a friend or neighbor? You bet, "misery loves company". Can't wait to get rid of this nightmare.
My visors were both replaced at the 5k service. The service writer said she had never heard of the problem before....... while I was waiting I checked the one on the showroom floor - same problem. The new one's work better but still not exactly right.
Regarding the nightmare...... my nightmares have been my BMW and my MB C Class - had to get rid of both and take a bath on each. My whole family has had bad luck wiht BWM and MB. Lexus and Infiniti - and believe it or not - Chevrolet have been the most trouble free for us. Part of this comes back to the dealers. I firmly believe when you let your dealer touch your car it is going to come back worse off. Our local MB and BMW dealers are horrible - never have loaner cars, often break more than they fix, and so on.
I feel lucky to own a car now that was engineered at least well enough that it runs and doesn't have to be taken in every other day.
My wife has both the driver (worst) and passenger side sunvisors in her RX replaced around 1200 miles (3 months ago) at no cost. Those new ones don't look any better, still catching some of the cloth when open. Now I just tell her to go easy on that visor. I don't think I want to bring the car back again for the same visor problem
In response to many messages about disabling the A/C during defrost mode. No need to disconnect wires, C-BEST allows you to program this function. I just did it for my RX at my 1,000 mile. Function is called "COMPRS/DEF OPER" the two choices are "LINK" and "NORMAL". Link obviously links the Defroster function to turn on the A/C, Normal leaves the A/C off unless manually selected. You can do the same thing for the system "Auto" mode with the "COMPRESSOR MODE" function choices are "AUTO" or "MANUAL". In manual mode the A/C will not run unless you push the A/C button.
The visor is designed not to stay up. This is another Lexus safety feature. Many accidents are caused by women applying makeup while driving. Since this vehicle is designed for women, Lexus engineers design a visor that requires both hands to use - making it impossible to use while driving.
To: engrbill That is the best piece of information I've read in a long time in this discussion. Where do you get such information? Are you an Engineering for Toyota/Lexus?
Stay open isn't the problem of the mirror door. If the cloth got bent outward enough, you can't even open the mirror door. Hmm...come to think of it, yes it is a great safety feature.
By any chance does C-best on the RX330 allow me to optionally shut off the "reheat" HVAC cycle (no engine water jacket flow through the heater core) during the summer when only cooling is really needed?
A/C would need to run a lot less often resulting in (substantially??) improved fuel economy.
Do you know if these C-best options also apply to the Sienna?
Has anyone out there that changes their own oil done it on a RX330?? I used to do it on my 300 which I just replaced with a 330. On the 300 it was awkward but do able but after checking on the 330 it looks darn near impossible. In fact, you can't even see the filter from on top.
It's hard to imagine anything more difficult to get off than a RX300 oil filter, but if the 330 is worse, ugh! With the 300, I loosen up that top hose and push it out of the way. Let's hope someone can give us guidance.
"The big automaker began rolling Lexus RX 330 sport-utility vehicles for the North American market off a new assembly line Sept. 26 — the first time conservative Toyota has allowed its premium brand to be manufactured anywhere but Japan.
Toyota hopes that the quality remains identical to Japan-made vehicles so that buyers neither know nor care where their RXs were made."
to wwest and damormino, You should actually thank cfgross (Message #1395). It is interesting that the service department told me to look in the owner's manual... I couldn't find any descriptions there. For some reason Lexus seems to be keeping the options a secret. I took the .txt file that cfgross provided and selected the items from that list. I did not see anything on that list for the hot water valve control though. I'm not sure if this is a complete listing or even up to date for all models. If you are interested you can e-mail me for a MSWord copy of the list that I transcribed from the .txt file. (wglester@comcast.net). It might take a few days since I don't check my mail very often.
I now owe engrbill a tall cold one or whatever his drink of choice might be. The C-best document he sent me does indicate that the A/C compressor can be "optioned" into strictly manual mode.
The first thing this morning I went over to Bellevue Lexus and the service manager reset my C-best options on my 01 RX300 so that the A/C compressor does not engage in the climate control's automatic mode nor even in the defrost/defog/demist mode. I can manually engage it in either mode if I wish to.
Normally a $47 charge by the service manager did it himself so it was free.
Sorta like finding the holy grail for me.
For three full winters and entering this one I have religiously disabled the A/C compressor in the 01 RX to prevent the unpredictable incidents of sudden windshield fogging.
Why is Lexus and Toyota so secretive about the C-best options?
The service manager was obviously reluctant to tell me of any other C-best options, and the floor salesman that I asked didn't even know what C-best was. Same thing at the Toyota dealership.
Regarding the C-Best options, at the 1000 mile check I had the usual door lock and power rear door settings changed, but I think I'll hold off messing with the climate control until we experience some sort of problem with fogging. I haven't heard of a any widespread complaints on this, and so far we do not have any either. But it IS nice to know it's there just in case...
First, it isn't a "widespread" sort of problem. South of the "snowline" it likely doesn't exist at all, but then the appearance of the dirty gym sock odor makes up for the "loss".
Both have basically the same origin. Moisture, condensate, remaining within the warm A/C plenum night after night making an excellent breeding ground for the microbes that "outgas" the horrid odor.
The early morning inception of windshield fogging is the result of that same moisture remaining within the system overnight and being blown toward the windshield just about the time it reaches dewpoint on your cold morning drive.
If you happen to turn off your A/C, or it happens to turn off automatically due to declining outside temperatures, or you having de-activated the defrost/defog/demist function, and the windshield surface happens to be rather cool, then watch out.
"Years of reading those long, long posts...years we will never get back."
I think we have grounds for a lawsuit.
It isn't just the long posts here, but elsewhere, too! I just made the terrible mistake of reading a couple other of his other Lexus-related discussions -- something about more Free Airflow, and another about the Atkins cycle diet, or somethin' like that. I'm going to open up the window and yell down on the streets below, "I'm mad as he##, and I'm not gonna take it anymore!"
I think I may have figured out why it's only the RX330, and none of the other Lexus products, that has an automatic windshield condensation (fogging) "prevention" mode embedded in the climate control system.
At first I thought it might be due to the fact that RX production is being moved to Canada and maybe Canada has same wintertime safety rule that the US doesn't. Idea was based on the fact that all LS430 vehicles shipped into Canada have electric front windshield defrost/defog/demist included.
But I have now come to believe it has something to do with the upcoming introduction of the RX330 as a hybrid.
Anyone with any ideas as to why??
Prius vehicles shipped into colder regions of the US are equipped with an electric heater within the climate control system. I notice that the new Prius incorporates a humidity sensor as an input to the climate control ecu, possibly for the same reasons.
I understand that on the new Prius, the double-voltage one, it has a new HVAC Denso-engineered feature where anyone tinkering with the defroster system wiring gets a direct shot of high-voltage electricity, arced straight through their heart.
Sure, there's some corporate liability involved, but at least it cuts down on the Town Hall posters...
Jeff's joke makes me wonder if we are far from the day when new vehicles incorporate more sophisticated processing to provide an integrated know-all fail-safe automobile management system? This would likely include additional sensors, a more sophisticated machine-human interface, and millions of lines of additional software. Instead of C-Best, we will have something like HAL from "Space Odyssey". HAL would likely put an end to defroster tampering. "Willard? What are you doing under the hood, Willard?"
Has anybody, before purchasing a 04 RX330, cross shopped it with either an MDX or XC90. My biggest concern is with the cargo (rear seats up) area. Is there ample space to accommodate luggage for 2 adults and 2 kids for a family vacation. A few years back I did look at the RX300 but found the cargo area to be lacking. I would be interested in hearing from others that when through a similar comparison.
Well, adults, kids, and luggage come in different sizes...but with the rear seats up, you won't be putting that much luggage in the far back area.
We're two adults + one 85 lb dog - and our luggage for a weekend trip necessitated a Yakima basket on top of the roof rack. Pretty neat set-up, by the way.
Of course, the dog's suitcases full of his stuff went INSIDE...
The Volvo has more room but the MDX would be up there as well; it's a rather wide vehicle since it's based on the Odyssey minivan platform.
All three are good choices - go test drive 'em and take your tape measure.
Upscale, the X5 is a poor cargo hauler with four humans. The FX35/45 has less room than the RX330. Downscale a bit, the Pilot is the same size inside as the MDX and the Highlander is about the same as the RX330.
Actually, if you want enough room to move around in style with the kids and cargo, you might want to take a look at the new Quest. It's a minivan, true, but it is quite a bit different in execution.
Chrism 124--we have a Thule cargo carrier which adds 16 cu ft and installs easily,and is aerodynamic to the point where you hardly know it's there. We've found it really makes the RX flexible. It is small enough to get around town easily and then converts to being able to haul a pretty good amount of luggage on a trip.
I too have been looking at the Thule car top carriers. Do you mount yours directly to the Lexus crossbars or did you go with the Thule crossbars and feet? Have you found the weight restrictions on the RX vs the load of the carrier a problem?
Chris: We owned an MDX for nearly 3 years. When we decided to sell our MDX, we nearly purchased an XC90. As you can probably tell, we finally decided on the RX330. I may be able to add some info to Jeff's post.
If you found the RX300 cargo area to be lacking, then I don't think you'll notice a big improvement with the RX330. The RX330 has a little more cargo floor space, and quite a bit of legroom, but overall cargo volume is not significantly greater due to the sloped rear hatch. We have one 4yr-old son. The RX330 is a perfect size for us. As lovemylexus mentioned just a few posts back, it sure is great to get in the mid-20's mpg on the highway! We average 21-22 mpg at home. In comparison, we averaged 18mpg at home, and 21mpg highway, with our MDX. The MDX requires Premium fuel, whereas the RX330 may be run on 87 octane.
Our MDX was an excellent vehicle in terms of cargo space and passenger/cargo flexibility. As Jeff pointed out, it is a wide vehicle, which allows for 3 passengers (including 2 child seats and 1 adult) to fit into the 2nd row seat without complaint. The 3rd row will allow for a couple youth soccer teammates to ride along. We really liked the MDX because it had plenty of space for all the additional equipment we needed to carry when our son was an infant or toddler, such as the playpen, stroller, larger toys, etc. I definitely wouldn't recommend the RX330 if this type of equipment is needed for your vacation trips.
The XC90 is also very versatile, but I don't think it is quite as wide as the MDX. I personally like the interior and exterior design of the XC90 a little more than the MDX, but I think the MDX is easily the better value. Also, the XC90 does not present very good engine/transmission choices. The current choices are a 2.5L 5-cylinder engine (for a 4300-pound SUV!), or a 6-cylinder turbo with a 4sp tranny. We almost purchased a 2.5L model, and I now wonder how well we would have adopted to its limited power. Also, I doubt the XC90 will statistically exhibit the trouble-free reliability of the RX or MDX.
For '04, the MDX is finally adding side-curtain head-protection airbags for all 3 rows, which answers some of the safety arguments that were previously strongly biased toward the Volvo.
Based on our shopping experience, the RX330 provides more cargo space than the FX35 or the Nissan Murano, but if you have two young children, the MDX, XC90, or Highlander Limited are more practical SUV solutions. As you can tell, I am a little biased toward the MDX over the XC90. The new Sienna has many of the same attributes of the RX330, if you don't mind the minivan look.
Bear in mind that when looking at cargo space in the RX, the rear seats slid forward about 6 inches. If you have little ones in the back seat you won't need all the available leg room.
Slide the seat up and you not only have more cargo area but it puts the kids in whacking distance. (joking)
Being in the market for a new car, I have been reading in boards for owners' experiences with various makes. I have to say that in general the Lexus owners tend to be the wittiest and most articulate. And now I would like to ask for your help:
I am now seriously considering an RX330. But I will need help convincing my wife that the right time to buy it is: RIGHT NOW. Can you give me some ideas or your own viewpoints on being persuasive in the fiscal way?
Considerations: 1. She drives an MDX. 2. She mutes the sound on every car commercial that comes on television. 3. With her, an obvious ploy is worse than no ploy at all.* 4. Currently, I am not in any trouble** and do not have to atone for anything before I can get started on this.
* - I believe my standing on our street corner in rags with a cardboard sign that says "Help - Need Lexus - God bless" is an obvious ploy that would not work, and might have some element of backlash. ** - This consideration is subject to change.
First of all, to avoid any status change for item #4, make sure she never catches you surfing here in Town Hall. If she catches you, all bets are off. The time for your next purchase will NEVER be right, and when it is, you'll end up with a Honda Pilot!
Second of all, I have an important question. Are you wanting to talk her into changing from the MDX to an RX330? (Been there, done that!!) Or would this RX330 be your vehicle alongside your wife's MDX? (Can't relate -- buy a sport sedan instead!)
You can be assured there will be lot of interest in a 330 hybrid. Thus, I suspect the price will be relatively high with little or no discounting for quite sometime.
Comments
And as my wife and I were taking our Granddaughter to a pumpkin farm today, she pulled down the visor to use the vanity mirror. She opened the cover and said to me "would you please have those people fix this door. I have to hold it open". I have never used the drivers side mirror and tried it. It also is defective in that the visor cloth material wads up in the hinge and won't allow the cover to stay open. I have accepted the fact that Lexus forgot to design a detent in the roof covering to allow the fingers from pulling the visor down. Does the "Minor" faults ever stop rearing their ugly heads??
Could I ever recommend this vehicle to a friend or neighbor? You bet, "misery loves company".
Can't wait to get rid of this nightmare.
Regarding the nightmare...... my nightmares have been my BMW and my MB C Class - had to get rid of both and take a bath on each. My whole family has had bad luck wiht BWM and MB. Lexus and Infiniti - and believe it or not - Chevrolet have been the most trouble free for us. Part of this comes back to the dealers. I firmly believe when you let your dealer touch your car it is going to come back worse off. Our local MB and BMW dealers are horrible - never have loaner cars, often break more than they fix, and so on.
I feel lucky to own a car now that was engineered at least well enough that it runs and doesn't have to be taken in every other day.
That is the best piece of information I've read in a long time in this discussion. Where do you get such information? Are you an Engineering for Toyota/Lexus?
Will make it much easier for me to convince my wife to upgrade to the 330, or the RX hybrid.
If I op for not running the A/C in defrost/defog/demist does it substitute HOT airflow, I hope!
By any chance does C-best on the RX330 allow me to optionally shut off the "reheat" HVAC cycle (no engine water jacket flow through the heater core) during the summer when only cooling is really needed?
A/C would need to run a lot less often resulting in (substantially??) improved fuel economy.
Do you know if these C-best options also apply to the Sienna?
Or the rest of the Lexus line?
I used to do it on my 300 which I just replaced with a 330. On the 300 it was awkward but do able but after checking on the 330 it looks darn near impossible. In fact, you can't even see the filter from on top.
Thanks.
With the 300, I loosen up that top hose and push it out of the way. Let's hope someone can give us guidance.
Toyota hopes that the quality remains identical to Japan-made vehicles so that buyers neither know nor care where their RXs were made."
USA Today
Steve, Host
The first thing this morning I went over to Bellevue Lexus and the service manager reset my C-best options on my 01 RX300 so that the A/C compressor does not engage in the climate control's automatic mode nor even in the defrost/defog/demist mode. I can manually engage it in either mode if I wish to.
Normally a $47 charge by the service manager did it himself so it was free.
Sorta like finding the holy grail for me.
For three full winters and entering this one I have religiously disabled the A/C compressor in the 01 RX to prevent the unpredictable incidents of sudden windshield fogging.
Why is Lexus and Toyota so secretive about the C-best options?
The service manager was obviously reluctant to tell me of any other C-best options, and the floor salesman that I asked didn't even know what C-best was. Same thing at the Toyota dealership.
LOL
Years of reading those long, long posts...years we will never get back.
LOL
Really, truly sorry.
I'va taken it for granted for all those years that those not interestd knew how to page down.
It's the key with the little arrow that points toward your beltbucket, assuming you're sitting at the keyboard.
Regarding the C-Best options, at the 1000 mile check I had the usual door lock and power rear door settings changed, but I think I'll hold off messing with the climate control until we experience some sort of problem with fogging. I haven't heard of a any widespread complaints on this, and so far we do not have any either. But it IS nice to know it's there just in case...
Both have basically the same origin. Moisture, condensate, remaining within the warm A/C plenum night after night making an excellent breeding ground for the microbes that "outgas" the horrid odor.
The early morning inception of windshield fogging is the result of that same moisture remaining within the system overnight and being blown toward the windshield just about the time it reaches dewpoint on your cold morning drive.
If you happen to turn off your A/C, or it happens to turn off automatically due to declining outside temperatures, or you having de-activated the defrost/defog/demist function, and the windshield surface happens to be rather cool, then watch out.
I think we have grounds for a lawsuit.
It isn't just the long posts here, but elsewhere, too! I just made the terrible mistake of reading a couple other of his other Lexus-related discussions -- something about more Free Airflow, and another about the Atkins cycle diet, or somethin' like that. I'm going to open up the window and yell down on the streets below, "I'm mad as he##, and I'm not gonna take it anymore!"
At first I thought it might be due to the fact that RX production is being moved to Canada and maybe Canada has same wintertime safety rule that the US doesn't. Idea was based on the fact that all LS430 vehicles shipped into Canada have electric front windshield defrost/defog/demist included.
But I have now come to believe it has something to do with the upcoming introduction of the RX330 as a hybrid.
Anyone with any ideas as to why??
Prius vehicles shipped into colder regions of the US are equipped with an electric heater within the climate control system. I notice that the new Prius incorporates a humidity sensor as an input to the climate control ecu, possibly for the same reasons.
Sure, there's some corporate liability involved, but at least it cuts down on the Town Hall posters...
Also, I just spent a week in Houston driving a brand new Jeep Liberty as my rental car. Man, I couldn't wait to get back into my RX!
Thanks,
Chris
Well, adults, kids, and luggage come in different sizes...but with the rear seats up, you won't be putting that much luggage in the far back area.
We're two adults + one 85 lb dog - and our luggage for a weekend trip necessitated a Yakima basket on top of the roof rack. Pretty neat set-up, by the way.
Of course, the dog's suitcases full of his stuff went INSIDE...
The Volvo has more room but the MDX would be up there as well; it's a rather wide vehicle since it's based on the Odyssey minivan platform.
All three are good choices - go test drive 'em and take your tape measure.
Upscale, the X5 is a poor cargo hauler with four humans. The FX35/45 has less room than the RX330. Downscale a bit, the Pilot is the same size inside as the MDX and the Highlander is about the same as the RX330.
Actually, if you want enough room to move around in style with the kids and cargo, you might want to take a look at the new Quest. It's a minivan, true, but it is quite a bit different in execution.
It may grow on me, a few eons maybe.
I haven't yet driven the Sienna, but it would get my vote.
If you found the RX300 cargo area to be lacking, then I don't think you'll notice a big improvement with the RX330. The RX330 has a little more cargo floor space, and quite a bit of legroom, but overall cargo volume is not significantly greater due to the sloped rear hatch. We have one 4yr-old son. The RX330 is a perfect size for us. As lovemylexus mentioned just a few posts back, it sure is great to get in the mid-20's mpg on the highway! We average 21-22 mpg at home. In comparison, we averaged 18mpg at home, and 21mpg highway, with our MDX. The MDX requires Premium fuel, whereas the RX330 may be run on 87 octane.
Our MDX was an excellent vehicle in terms of cargo space and passenger/cargo flexibility. As Jeff pointed out, it is a wide vehicle, which allows for 3 passengers (including 2 child seats and 1 adult) to fit into the 2nd row seat without complaint. The 3rd row will allow for a couple youth soccer teammates to ride along. We really liked the MDX because it had plenty of space for all the additional equipment we needed to carry when our son was an infant or toddler, such as the playpen, stroller, larger toys, etc. I definitely wouldn't recommend the RX330 if this type of equipment is needed for your vacation trips.
The XC90 is also very versatile, but I don't think it is quite as wide as the MDX. I personally like the interior and exterior design of the XC90 a little more than the MDX, but I think the MDX is easily the better value. Also, the XC90 does not present very good engine/transmission choices. The current choices are a 2.5L 5-cylinder engine (for a 4300-pound SUV!), or a 6-cylinder turbo with a 4sp tranny. We almost purchased a 2.5L model, and I now wonder how well we would have adopted to its limited power. Also, I doubt the XC90 will statistically exhibit the trouble-free reliability of the RX or MDX.
For '04, the MDX is finally adding side-curtain head-protection airbags for all 3 rows, which answers some of the safety arguments that were previously strongly biased toward the Volvo.
Based on our shopping experience, the RX330 provides more cargo space than the FX35 or the Nissan Murano, but if you have two young children, the MDX, XC90, or Highlander Limited are more practical SUV solutions. As you can tell, I am a little biased toward the MDX over the XC90. The new Sienna has many of the same attributes of the RX330, if you don't mind the minivan look.
Slide the seat up and you not only have more cargo area but it puts the kids in whacking distance. (joking)
Thanks.
I am now seriously considering an RX330. But I will need help convincing my wife that the right time to buy it is: RIGHT NOW. Can you give me some ideas or your own viewpoints on being persuasive in the fiscal way?
Considerations:
1. She drives an MDX.
2. She mutes the sound on every car commercial that comes on television.
3. With her, an obvious ploy is worse than no ploy at all.*
4. Currently, I am not in any trouble** and do not have to atone for anything before I can get started on this.
* - I believe my standing on our street corner in rags with a cardboard sign that says "Help - Need Lexus - God bless" is an obvious ploy that would not work, and might have some element of backlash.
** - This consideration is subject to change.
Any help would be appreciated. God bless.
As for the rest of your note, I have no idea what you are asking.
April 04...
First of all, to avoid any status change for item #4, make sure she never catches you surfing here in Town Hall. If she catches you, all bets are off. The time for your next purchase will NEVER be right, and when it is, you'll end up with a Honda Pilot!
Second of all, I have an important question. Are you wanting to talk her into changing from the MDX to an RX330? (Been there, done that!!) Or would this RX330 be your vehicle alongside your wife's MDX? (Can't relate -- buy a sport sedan instead!)
Whew, really glad to hear that, I was beginning to feel harrassed.
BTW, what WAS he thinking when he suggested the Quest instead of the Sienna?