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By the way, Steve, every time I login on your new system, I have to re enter my password, even though I always click the "remember me.." box. Is this just a problem with my PC or is it a glitch in your new login system. I'd like to know if anyone else out there is experiencing this. Thanks.
Steve, Host
Our Rx was purchased new in March/April and was built in Japan. It now has about 4000 miles on it.
The servicing dealer told us this was "normal" and the original salesperson told us that the only people complaining were prior Lexus owners.
I would do a very lengthy test drive to determine if the one you are looking to purchase performs as you would expect.
I have a bit of clunking coming from the rear of my RX330 when I shift into reverse, and sometimes when I shift into forward. I will have these addressed the next time I am in for servicing.
Sorry to read about your RX330! Please keep us informed on how the paint finish repair works out for you at the dealership. Please let us know if the service center recommends any specific product. Also, are you also going to mention your concern involving the bumper mis-allignment after gently driving over a street curb?
From Edmunds "Follow-Up Review" of the 2004 Audi Allroad Quattro:
"...the combination of the V8 power plant and the five-speed automatic is less than ideal. True, there is no turbo lag as the 4.2-liter engine is normally aspirated, but the transmission is [...] reluctant to downshift if more power is needed. The whole thing feels a bit disconcerting and not unlike our experience with the V8-powered VW Touareg — there's plenty of power, but the manner in which that power is delivered is less than perfect."
About the bird poop blemishes, I was informed today that they were not very deep into the clear coat, so they were able to buff it out. When I first brought it in, they couldn't figure out how a bird dropping could eat its way into the clear coat so quickly. They had heard of some extreme cases where it happened when the poop was left on for as little as a day and a half, but never for less than eight hours. I hope that they didn't leave any swirl marks on the hood. I'll be scrutinizing it very carefully tomorrow, when I pick it up.
They also said they were putting in new bumper brackets to remedy the gap on the passenger's side. Again, they couldn't figure out why the original brackets had loosened or dropped down. I chose not to tell them about the low curb I'd gone over, as there was not a mark anywhere on the underside, or topside. There is no way that such a small bump should cause the whole right side bumper to drop a quarter inch, IMO. Anyway, they are replacing them under my warranty. I suppose they must have been defective to suffer metal fatigue, so early on. Will post tomorrow, after I get my car back.
My RX was built in Canada and I had the trans klunking. The dealer told me that the Lexus fix (TSIB for Trans klunking; I forget the actual number) had been factory installed so the problem must be something else. As it turns out, they were wrong; a real sharp tech that worked on my car looked at the pics for the TSIB and determined that it had not been done at the factory. Heres how: remove the lower panel from the front of the car that allows access to the oil filter from below (only a couple of screws); its the flexible panel that goes across the lower front, and look at the trans cooler (serpentine coil) thats mounted to the frame right below the radiator. If the coil is bolted directly to the frame without any grommets or spacers between the mounting clip and the frame, then you dont have the fix and thats probably your problem! Mind didnt, even though Lexus swore that my fix was done at the factory. It has something to do with a hydraulic shock/change in pressure during decelleration that causes this coil to "clunk", so they put in grommets/spacers, as well as re-congigure the coil a bit to take the hydraulic load. As soon as the TSIB was done, the klunking went away and never returned.
Hope this helps.
But I'll check with this year's (05) team managers for TEAMSEATTLE(.com) just to be sure.
Mine was built Nov 03. The TSIB (TC002-04) is dated Feb 26, 2004 and only specifies RX's built in Japan. It doesnt say anything about the Canadian cars.
The dealer told me that all the Canadian cars already had this fix, regardless of when they were made. He ran my VIN and said "see, your car does not need the TSIB; and if I do the TSIB anyway Toyota wont reimburse me". It turns out they were wrong, the fix hadnt been done. He even had to send my original parts to Toyota to prove it so he could get his money.
Even if yours was built Apr 04; I'd still check it out. If the dealer does the check for you, make sure that he prints-out the TSIB and shows you (pg 2 of the TSIB has pics of the parts) that your car has the fix.
About the bumper, the technician told me that there is less they can tweak now, with these new bumper brackets. Apparently, the RX300 brackets were easier to work with and more modifiable. When they brought the car out to me, it was obvious that the gap on the right side was much smaller, but it was still not as tight as on the driver's side. I pointed this out and asked if they could possibly make the gap between the bumper and right fender even smaller. They said they'd try. For the next twenty minutes there was some banging from somewhere in the service department and I shuddered to think what they were doing to my poor RX.
During this time, I went to look at a service loaner RX330. I noticed that this RX's gap between the left side fender/bumper, and right side fender/bumper were also uneven! The gap on the passenger's side was larger than the gap on the driver's side. I am wondering if other RX owners have noticed if the gap between the front bumper and the right and left fenders are even all around, of there is a difference between the left side and right side. If so, this might be a quality control issue, or a sign of future problems with weak bumper brackets.
p.s. what did you decide about the remaining bird poo?
if it's any consolation, when i clayed my car today, i found a bunch of paint chips!! and not even a month into ownership yet! /sighs.
The other day I used your description for checking if the TSB was on my vehicle and much to my surprise, it was not installed. Since I had the under side shield off, I cut a piece of rubber off an old chunk of garden hose and made a grommet to go under the clamp. Worked like a charm. No more clunking.
I have a free oil change coming up at the dealer in a few months and I'll inform the service manager of my findings. Thanks for your post.
Sorry to hear about your paint chips. Seems to be a problem with the lighter colored cars. Apparently, the new paint is more environmentally friendly but less durable.
If your chips are in the bumper or lower hood area, you can have InvisiShield put on by the dealer. It's a clear film that is barely visible when applied, but will protect your bumper, hood, and even side view mirrors. It costs about $500, installed.
silver lining of this dark grey cloud is that snow looks great after the claying and polishing. after 2 coats of zaino she looks better than when i took her off the lot! and no hard rubbing like ordinary waxes just light wiping! i'm really glad my boredom led me to check out the thread. we did the hubby's car (actually i tested it out on his first =P) and he was pleased too.
You have me intrigued with Zaino. What exactly did you have to do and how long did it take? Do you know if it works on boats? Thanks.
Steve, Host
Toyota/Lexus screwed up the transaxle. In case you haven't complained to your dealer, or their distributor, the customer service policy is stick it to the customer because it's "normal". Perhaps when many of the cars are fixed by owners or off the road, they'll fess up, like they did with the oil sludge problem?
Til then, enjoy the Toyota experience.
1. wash your car with dawn (yes the dishing washing detergent!). this strips your car of previous waxes 'cause zaino bonds to your clearcoat.
2. if you want to prep your car/boat for an ultra smooth finish, clay the car. (in case you're totally clueless like me, this is like a big piece of puddy you rub up and down your car to pick up contaminates like brake dust, etc) this can take 15mins up to 1hr depending on size of car and analness of clayer =P (i had to redo a few places on snow 'cause hubby didn't do it to my satisfaction)
3. wash the car again. (to rid the car of clay lube)
4. polish car. this step may vary depending on which products you choose and how many coats you want to do in x amount of time. there's a cheaper but more troublesome base where you apply a coat of base and then the polish over it but with this base you can only do 1 coat a day. the base coat doesn't have to be applied every time. just once every 10 coats of polish or 6months - 1yr depending on garaging conditions. the faster base (called zfx. the slower but cheaper version is called z1) is actually an additive in the polish. with this you can do up to 3 coats a day. the fast version dries in 30mins or less. the slow version's drying time depends on climate conditions. the actual application process is super easy. to put some on the applicator, you wipe it on and let it sit. that's it! no hard rubbing! and it comes off just as easy.
5. there's a quick detailer product called z6 that has antistatic properties to it that's supposed to help repel dust. you spray a little on and then wipe it off. it also makes the car just a little shinier.
the whole process with snow (wash, clay, wash, 2 coats of polish, then quick detailer) took me and my hubby about 4hrs. but we were sore from doing the whole process with his car just 2 days before. while tired from the whole process, he tells me that what others in the thread said is true. a lot less effort than waxing. we took his car back to see his dad after 1 week (we live in riverside where it's really dusty. it's pretty much desert area!) and he was astonished. told us it looked really good.
i hope this has helped. if you have any more questions let me know. personally i'm really glad to have found this product. i was worried about sun being under the sun so much and having nowhere to take her to wax. now i can do it myself! (all except the roof which i leave to my hubby. being 4'10, doing snow's roof is too much of a challenge for me)
My next conquest is to fox the annoying "ticking" noise from the fuel injectors, which I notice especially in the Winter. I'll keep looking for a TSIB for this problem, hopefully Lexus will issue one.
The RX isnt a bad SUV; I'm just not sure its worth over $40K. Too bad they dont make a BMW or Benz SUV thats the same size as the Lex; probably would have bought that instead.
Also don't know if you ever had a balky mechanical choke before fuel injection, they were mechanical linkage and would hesitate (generally at the worst possible moment)
I also would like to get them to ride in my brothers Surburban.
Baded
why doesnt lexus do something? the reason i bought one was because of their so called "high quality, LEXUS Experience"! this is crap and i am tired of it. FIX THE SHIFTING PROBLEM....NOW
i know someone from the company reads these postings!!
I lost.
But now here we are in 2004 and Lexus has finally given the RX330 the capability needed to prevent windshield fogging via an owner seelcted c-best open.
The RX now has a c-best option which the owner can have the dealer set which allows the windshield to be continuously warmed, hopefully kept above dewpoint, during the cool or cold months.
It seems Toyota and Lexus do not really admit design mistakes even when it puts their owner's live's at stake.
Top 10 Tips for Improving Your Fuel Economy
Steve, Host
wallie502 Apr 22, 2004 9:41am
Any updates Wallie?
Steve, Host
How many different c-best thingies are there?