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Lexus RX 350 Servicing question.
Hi:
Do you service your Lexus RX350 by miles or time? I don't rack up enough miles...about 10,000 a year. So for the first year, I did the servicing at 6 months (the car had 3000 miles), then at 12 months (the car had 6000 miles). It's 18 months now and the car has 10,000 miles.
Does it make sense to go for the recommended 18 months or 15,000 miles just because my car is 18 months old or should I wait for the car to put on 15,000 miles?
Please advise since the Lexus dealer charges $200 for the servicing!
Thanks,
K
Do you service your Lexus RX350 by miles or time? I don't rack up enough miles...about 10,000 a year. So for the first year, I did the servicing at 6 months (the car had 3000 miles), then at 12 months (the car had 6000 miles). It's 18 months now and the car has 10,000 miles.
Does it make sense to go for the recommended 18 months or 15,000 miles just because my car is 18 months old or should I wait for the car to put on 15,000 miles?
Please advise since the Lexus dealer charges $200 for the servicing!
Thanks,
K
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This discussion has been closed.
Comments
The engine also has to breathe through an air filter, so check your owners manual for intervals.
Either filters are easy items to inspect an/or replace yourself if you are so inclined. I don't know if the RX350 is the same as the RX300, but here is a link to a helpful site from an owner, which offers his own info on the RX300. It's likely your RX350 is similar to the prior generation.
http://rx300how2.home.comcast.net/~rx300how2/cabin_ac_air_filter.htm
You may save yourself a little money by buying replacement elements for the cabin filter and/or replacement engine filter and doing it yourself. They are available from various online sources (I think in addition to Lexus there is aftermarket Denso, Bosch, and other sources, or just ask for the factory part online or in person at the Lexus parts counter. Some folks get satisfaction out of doing it themselves and saving a few $, but if you're not a DIYer, you may just want to pay the dealer to do it.
I bet if you learn to check/change it and see it yourself, you will have cleaner air to breathe.
As a separate question, if we change oil/filter at Toyota dealer, does lexus still honor warranty with the serivces done at Toyota delaer?
Thanks,
The following was in my email archives....
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Response (Richard Hollingsworth) - 10/27/2004 09:41 AM
Dear Mr. West,
Thank you for contacting Lexus Customer Satisfaction regarding the 2005 RX 330. We appreciate your interest in this vehicle.
Per our technical department, the 2005 RX 330 does not have a viscous coupling LSD. The vehicle has adopted a full-time all-wheel drive system. We are sorry for the misinformation.
If you would like to discuss your concerns further, you can also reach the Lexus Customer Satisfaction Department at 1-800-255-3987, Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Pacific Time.
Sincerely,
Richard Hollingsworth
Lexus Customer Satisfaction
Customer (Willard West) - 10/26/2004 04:59 PM
The current 2005 RX330 e-brochure indicates that the 2005 AWD RX330 has the viscous coupling again.
Is this actually true or is this a typo?
Willard West
I used to do oil change by my own for my 97 camry and plan to do the samething to my 07 RX350. I checked both underneath and upper part on my RX350 the other day and unable to find the location of oil filter. Can you give some advice here? Many thanks!
The filter is practically invisible mounted immediately under the front side exhaust manifold.
Thanks again!
I was wondering....I have a 2005 Lexus Rx330 and I did not get the 30,000 mile maintenance service I was suppose to have done to it. My car is now at 33,230 miles. Should I still take it to get the services maintenance done?
Yeah, you need to get some maintenance done pretty soon, assuming you've been following some standard maintenance intervals thus far. At a minimum, get an oil change. You don't need to get everything listed for the 30,000 mile check in the owner's manual, and Lexus will charge you a lot for that service (figure between $500 and $1000 depending on the dealer). But you can get by with just the oil change, tire rotation, new air filter and maybe a coolant flush and a brake pad/rotor check and save yourself a lot of money. And you don't need to use a Lexus dealer for this, any reputable car service business can perform the work. If you feel like you must use a car dealer, consider a Toyota dealership - they'll know your engine very well and they'll cost less than Lexus. Of course they may not provide a loaner car or wash your car or serve you Starbucks coffee like Lexus will. Good luck.
MD
Not a "flush" or "drain & refill", but a regular transmission fluid service where they "drop the transmission pan and inspect". They will look for indications of wear based on the amount of fine debris they find on the magnetic pan. Hopefully there will be little smudge on it. Good to know on any transmission, especially like the slushboxes used on an RX.
This will change 50-60ish percent of the fluid in the system, because some parts of the system hold fluid, and that's good for another year. I wouldn't wait more than two years in between transmission fluid changes. Low mileage is usually from short trips causing more wear. However your trips might be easy on it, and maybe not. It's always better to change transmission fluid much more often than than the service interval, especially on a FWD Lexus.
I concur on checking the intervals yourself from your manual, and getting a quote at a trustworthy (if you can find one) Toyota dealer for the items you want done, first. It always seems less expensive if you pull your manual, do your homework, and get quotes first. I've found the Toyota dealer in the north San Fernando Valley to qualify; they always treat me well as long as I call the same service writer I've always dealt with and get the quote first.
Toyota dealers can't help you with warrantee service, except to let you know something needs attention that could be covered under warrantee (mine was a common premature transmission problem).
Pete
5,000-Mile Or 6-Month Intervals
Use 5,000-mile or 6-month intervals if you primarily drive your Lexus under any of the following conditions:
- Driving on unpaved or dusty roads
- Towing a trailer or using a camper or cartop carrier
- Repeated trips of less than five miles in temperatures below freezing
6-Month Intervals
Use 6-month intervals if you primarily drive your Lexus under conditions less strenuous than those listed above.
Pete
I'm more familiar with BMWs and maintenance is included for first 4yrs/50,000. I thought it was included with a Lexus purchase as well, but from what I'm gathering from this forum it isn't. Someone mentioned they pre-paid for maintenance... anyone recommend what a good price is and for how long are the contracts?
Pete
Bruce
The air filter housing is located next to the battery, kind of between the brake fluid reservior and the big engine cover. Just went to change mine (for the first time) today - found absolutely nothing in the owner's manual. It's a little bit of a pain to get the filter out - need to loosen a couple of bolts, and remove a sensor connector, and then you have to wiggle the top cover (measures about 12" x 6" x 6") to gain access to the filter element. Then you have just a little bit of room to get the filter element out.
Putting in a new element and putting it all back together is a little bit of a pain too.
Been working on my own cars for 35 years - this is the most "inconvenient" air filter I've come across. Not impossibe though - it helps to cuss a couple of times.
Anybody has the similar problems or know solutions for this?
Thanks!
would you be able to post some pictures of how you change the air filters? i am not very handy. also, could you please describe how to change cabin filter? thanks a lot
I was happy to read someone else has been through this.
I am just going through this with my 2008 RX 350 now.
Never ran into one I couldn't figure out !
Looks simple. but......
Bolts dont seem to loosen at all. Is there a trick to them? Do they come right out ?
Looks like lift end closest to drivers side first after bolt issue.
Is there a safe place to put a small screwdriver to pry open the lid?
Please and thank you. :confuse:
I'm pretty sure the bolts were captive - they don't come all the way out. No special trick to loosening them, but they might need a little snap to get them to break free.
You are right about lifting the right (driver's) side first, then the left side has a tab that fits into a groove. I did not need to use anything to pry the cover open, and I would try to discourage that unless there is no other choice.
The whole thing is not especially complicated, but there is not very much room to get the filter element out.
I took some photos in response to ac2000's request back in January, but I couldn't figure out how to post them. They would have shown that it's not all that complicated. Just need to be really careful about disconnecting the sensor. Good Luck!
Pete
I certainly think that it is wise to avoid those fast oil change places. Many of them have been charged with fraud after investigations revealed some service work was charged for but never done on many vehicles. They try to sell you everything from filters to tranny flush, to differential fluid changes. I would recommend either a Lexus or Toyota dealer for all your service. Oh Yes, I believe that in your warranty or owners manuals there are coupons for one or two free oil and filter services.
Check with your dealer about these.
Cheers,
JB
If you can make an appointment and wait while they drain and drop the pan, a good tranny shop will show you any sludge accumulated on the pan/magnet and any debris in the filter or screen. Type IV fluid usually has to be ordered ahead, they usually use Dex/Merc.
Or maybe I'm too picky.
Pete
$3 can of "cleaner", run the engine for 10-15 minutes on YOUR gas, $97 profit.