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Comments
20,000 miles between oil changes is just not reasonable, Amsoil Miracle Oil or no Amsoil.
And good luck with the court case. Sounds like you had less than 10 hours of labor and a cost of what, $500-750? A small claims action, at best.
Hey Gimp - in the end, I guess that YOU didn't get it.
Is it due to tire pressure being too low? What pressure do you recommend? Would outside temperature make such a big difference?
Compared to many other, earlier, designs the RX300 has a more carlike, softer, almost cushioney, ride. You could think of it as today's replication of a 1972 Ford Country Squire Station wagon.
More tire pressure will undoubtedly help matters but converting to 17X8 wheels and michelin XC will help even more.
Them Pirelli Scorpion STs..
Bill
Whether you do or not, what's the opinion on the deflector as far as reducing wind noise?
Appreciate any pertinent advice!
For me to remove the spoiler will cost big $$$, so adding the deflector is an inexpensive experiment.
I haven't looked into this before but why did you go with the Benevento instead of the Lexus deflector? Or is there any difference?
Has anyone made that suggestion to Lexus?
It would probably eliminate the interior noise from the pressure buffeting and make it much easier to "air out" the high level of humidity.
Before I get to the tires, I'd just like to give this guy a good shout out of props as he is one of the wonderful reasons Edmunds is such a kewl place for info. A few months back, I had a RAV4 and you offered great advice about the trade in value. Your knowledge was very helpful and mucho appreciated!
Now...the tires...You tellin' me they make Scorpions in the right size for the RX?!? Be still my heart. Santa's gonna need a big bag! (And if they're not the right size, what do the spacers do to the suspension/ride?)
I've been hoping for this, so don't let me down! Does anyone out there run these tires right on their RX now?
17" wheels and tires give me more of the ride "feel" I expect in an SUV, didn't care much for the former "wallowy" ride feel.
Spacers and wheels together give me a 3" wider stance and that can't hurt.
Bearings aer inexpensive when the time comes.
I suggested the Scorpions to someone who had mentionedthe 17X8s..
I mean, if youre looking for performance... NOBODY does it better than Pirelli, but thats just my humble opinion.
You know guys... if you really want grippy and stiff tires...
Get Avon Turbospeeds in 235-65VR16... That's a Rolls-Royce/Bentley size and would be a "plus 0" for an RX..
But I thinkyou can do a lot better for the $1,000 those suckers cost per set.
Bill
As far as "high" rpm before the oil is warm, 5W30 will flow quite well even at "cold" engine temps. Your biggest source of engine wear occurs in the first couple of seconds after startup while the top end of the engine is depending on residual oil film before the oil pump has "caught up". This is true regardless of temp. As far as your driving habits, keep your foot out of it for the first mile or so. Assuming you aren't terrorizing the neighborhood school children with the old "Death Race 2000" scream through the 'burbs, that shouldn't be unreasonable.
I'm so sorry about this off-the-topic but I like the environment here much better.
Especially in California. That's gotta be near invoice... If that includes moonroof, cd, leather (The big and crucial options.. dont buy an RX without them)then it is a very good deal.
Bill
Senthil
David
If you have a NON 2001 RX, your going to have to ask some of the other folks here, I think the 2001 is the only one with the harness factory installed even without the tow package...
Jfetter
I'd like to know where you bought the hidden hitch. I found one from eTrailer.com. the hitch is $99.95 (a good price to me) and the wiring harness is $13.70
Also, how well does it fit? Overall look is good like factory installed?
Thanks
So, the RX00 transmission really was designed this way. Live and learn.
Primarily motivated by fear, I have been VERY cautious about hitting the gas pedal before it warms up,anyway. Perhaps all will be well. I have been naive enough to believe in better film strength and lubricity for API level of service SJ oil, so that is what I have always used in all of my cars [once SJ came to exist, of course. I dimly remember when SF or SG was the highest, but the brain is the second organ to go . . .]
hirpm, I, too, remember the days of SF. Early 70s, I was pumping gas and driving a Toyota Celica GT. Also driving other things, which, as you pointed out, don't work as well any longer.
TSB (Technical service bulletins) also lists a similar complaint made (TSB # SU002-99) on a 1999 RX 300 from front suspension. Available on web.
If the dealer is still uanble to diagnos the problem, refer them to dealership where I had my RX fixed. Arlington Lexus in Palatine, Illinois-July, service manager-Rufus)
Hopefully, you should not have to go thru the same hastle as I did.
I have made a complaint to LEXUS, as well as all the dealerships I took the car to re: the disappointing, false information or the lack of experience, and the non-seriousness of customer’s complaints at these dealerships.
GOOD LUCK!!
Thanks for the reply. One more little question: Does the hidden hitch stick out a little beyond the rear bumper? If it does then I'd like it more. One time when my wife was driving and came to a stop, the car behind her didn't stop in time and hit RX300's rear bumper slightly (been repaired perfectly since it was just a little). Therefore I'd like the hitch to serve also as a bumper protection.
After spending $40k for a fully loaded RX, saving a few bucks wasn't worth the risk to me and I'm sure many others.
-Craig
For my garage opener (Lift Master - very popular), the stated instructions in the manual are incorrect. I tried it a dozen time, and then varied the method to see if I could figure it out. No luck.
While I was at the dealership for the free 5k service, someone else was complaining to the service manager about programming the Homelink on her '01 RX. So I joined the conversation, saying that it just doesn't work when following the instructions in the manual.
The service manager then explained what to do, which was quite different than the manual. When I got home, I did what he said, and on the 2nd attempt, it worked like a charm. I then programmed the 2nd garage door on the 1st attempt.
Silly how Lexus can't get a relatively simple process correct in the manual.
As for stating what needs to be done, I have no idea anymore. This was about 8 months ago.
-Craig
I don't think so.
And not all aftermarket products will improve the looks/handling/performance.
Examples:
o Extra wide rims/tires - look silly and rub wheel well
o "bus" rearview mirrors - can be seen in those lowered Toyota Corolla/Honda Civics - look absolutely ridiculous
o Chrome exhaust tips - no performance, rust easily
o "smoked" headlight/taillight covers - nuf said
o "stick on" window covers - those that wrap over the top and front of the windows so that one can open the windows a crack when raining - very tacky
o K&N filter - Lets more dirt through the filter and into the engine than the typical air filter
I can go on and on...
-Craig
All of you know that I would be one of the first to impune Lexus if they were at fault.
Well, on the other hand they are somewhat at fault, in that the manual does not exactly make it clear, doesn't "read" clearly, that you are NOT finished programming just by completing the first step described in the manual.
The bit where you hold your liftmaster remote near the homelink only serves to "tell" the homelink which of several radio frequencies your liftmaster remote and opener uses.
Now, just as your manual says, you must put the opener in "learn" and "teach it" an additional (in addition to the liftmaster remote you just used in the previous step) "rolling" security code.
The air conditioning evaporator, heat exchanger, was coated with a fine porous nylon film into which was embedded an Anti-microbe chemical.
Apparently it was an effort by Lexus to eliminate or at least retard the growth of mold and mildew spores in the damp and dank environment of the A/C plenum area containing the complex and dense evaporator structure appropreate to a luxury sedan.
Over the past ten years I have noticed a great number of posts on various automotive forums on the internet complaining of a "musty smell" or the "dirty sock syndrome" emanating from the vehicle's A/C outlets. There also seems to be a great number of posts regarding the frustration of dealing with windshields that suddenly fog up or cloud over, especially in the early morning. I myself have been VERY frustrated over owning various Lexus models over the years, Bill Gates' 90 LS, my 92 LS, a company 95 LS, a 2000 GS300, a 2000 RX300 AWD and a 2001 RX300 AWD. ALL having the propensity to spontaneously, completely and totally unpredictably, suddenly fog over the entire interior windshield surface.
Just recently I noticed an aftermarket product designed to combat the formation and growth of mold and mildew in the automotive evaporator plenum environment. It's description and purpose is worth a read...
http://www.airsept.com/eed.html
But how do you go about eliminating the mold (possibly even TOXIC mold) and mildew growth and eliminate the extremely hazardous circumstances of windshield fogging, spontaneous are simply repetitive early morning occurances?
My recommended solution to you Lexus owners is much less expensive to implement and will take about ten minutes of your time twice a year.
As wintertime approaches, once the average overnight outside temperatures have declined below about 55 degrees F, remove the A/C compressor clutch control relay and store it away for safe keeping to be reinstalled the next spring when the actual need for A/C cooling returns.
The A/C indicator on your dash will flash on and off, indicating that the A/C compressor is not turning in synchronization with the engine. You can use that flashing as a reminder to reinstall the relay when the time comes, or you can cover it with a small piece of electrical tape if it annoys you.
With no moisture (well, virtually none) being accumulated on the evaporator vanes during the cold winter months when it will not readily evaporate away during the night, you will not have need to worry regarding mold and mildew growth.
And guess what?
A REAL bonus, there will be NO "surplus" moisture available to coat the interior surface of the windshield when you first start the vehicle up in the cold early morning hours.
AND... You are now free to use the defrost/defog/demist function without fearing the return of the dreaded moisture TIME BOMB.
If the A/C compressor were working in this mode it would cause a great deal of moisture to be accumulated on the dense and complex evaporator surfaces and now you would be TRAPPED in the defrost/defog/demist mode FOREVER. Or at least until you can somehow remove the condensed moisture from the thousands of square inches of evaporator surface without having it evaporate back into the incoming airstream and start the initial defrost/defog/demist process all over once again, and again, and again.....
Now you will rarely have need to defrost/defog/demist the interior surface of the windshield or windows. But when you do the proper procedure will be the old time tested , and well proven one, activate the defrost mode, but simultaneously turn up the heating setpoint to lower the relative humidity enough to accommodate a "state change", the moisture condensed onto the windshield is in a liquid "state" and you need to "boil" it off, change it to a gaseous "state".
In a Lexus, once the cabin atmosphere has acclimated to the system setpoint, say, 71 degrees F, the climate control system airflow temperature to the interior surface of the windshield temperature level will be, predominantly, about 66 degrees F, and with four full grown passengers it might be as low as 50 degrees F. When you switch the mode to defrost/defog/demist, there is NO input to increase the airflow temperature level to the windshield, so you must do this manually.
The old saw, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" still holds true.
Lexus correctly uses the A/C compressor, "an ounce of prevention" to PREVENT fogging of the windshield, but they neglected to remember the "pound of cure" once the windshield condensation is fully formed as a result of the windshield itsself having been CHILLED to the dewpoint of the surrounding atmosphere.
Once condensation has formed on a cold interior windshield surface it will take more than a "pound of cure", it will take something on the order of a "sledgehammer" to force a "state change" in the chilled liquid held to the windshield by its own viscosity.
HEAT!
Tarik
The dash will light up like a Christmas tree and any passengers along for the ride will complain reminding you to replace the removed seats. To remedy simply place large pieces of electrical tape over their mouths.
And guess what?
A REAL bonus, there will be "NO ONE" able to speak but yourself.
Or find me someone who has experienced these problems and still isn't interested in a "fix", or simply doesn't care, and I'll quit.
As I have said before readership on these boards out-numbers written comments, pro and con, by about 30 to 1.
Until then I know of no better way to get Lexus (and/or Toyota) to pay attention to what I consider a serious design flaw, or flaws, than to continue to "publicize" those flaws.
And guess what, all you naysayers get even closer to having a perfect Lexus.
Lexus, of all people, believes in "The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection", remember?
Jiamin - I do not recall how far the hitch sticks out, but it looks like it sticks out about the same as the factory installed hitches that you see driving around. Installation of the hitch was pretty easy (MUCH easier with 2 people)!
David
I find Mr. West's post very timely and coincidental to my observations from the past few days. Even before I read his post, I was wondering why this was happening. I found the info a bit long winded, but timely and useful. I'm not removing any relay switches. I'll reach over and choose when the a/c will be on and off. The defense I use against odor is to make sure fresh air has a chance to hit those coils before stopping the car.
I've never tried the trick ofspraying Lysol into the intake, but it sure seems like it would work well.
I took the RX in for its 5000 mile service, excessive brake noise in slow, tight turning (drive thru food turns), an overspray problem that occured on my windshield (it was quite visible only two times per day--sunup and sundown.), excessive door rattle coming from 10:00 speaker volume, and rattle in the rear passenger side seat belt. (Whew!)
They installed a brand new windshield, serviced, insulated the doors for the speaker noise, insulated the seat belt area, washed and spiffied it up, life is looking good. So far, I'm satisfied.
The husband, being the Mr. Wunnerful that he is, calls the dealer and tells them to install this grossly overpriced license plate wrap (smoked badge "Lexus" to match my badging on black SS--very sweet looking, btw). He says to make sure it's installed so when I pick it up, it's a done deal. I get in the RX, and it's sitting on the passenger seat. I say to myself "They can't install it for $50.00 frickin' bucks?!? Then, as I'm driving down auto row, I look out my driver's window and there's that frickin' overspray that they replaced my windshield for!!! I immediately do a U-ee and head back. Fortunately, this time, the overspray was fresh enough that it was removeable. It was allowed to bake into the windshield when the car sat on the lot before we bought it. My service writer worked on cleaning up this overspray, saying the only thing he can think of is "armorall" (note to self... be sure to tell them NOT to use armorall around *MY* car.). Then, he radios one of the guys and I hear "Where's that black plate surround I asked you to install?" I tell him it's on my seat and was wondering why it couldn't be installed for $50 (frickin') bucks. He takes the RX back and has them install the new plate.
At this point, satisfaction was achieved, but there was still a nagging amount of dissatisfaction.
In the course of the few minutes I left the dealer, I had the distaste of the plate fiasco, then the hideous overspray on my window and car.
I go to get gas, and being the anal retentive that I am, proceed to make sure we saw all of the overspray. As I'm wiping down the vehicle, I notice the rear view mirror has been kissed.
I take the vehicle back (again!) immediately to show him the new problem. It wasn't logged on the walk around and I don't remember seeing it before the vehicle was taken in. They will get a repair shop to repaint the mirror for me with a loaner car available. Again, satisfaction, but still not satisfied.
My question to you is, how would you rate this? For the most part, everyone has been charming and what you expect from Lexus service. But, the bumps along the way made for some bad taste in my mouth. I must once again surrender my car for the day.
Do I get the "whine with my cheese" award, or is it fair for me to think I deserve something in return if they want an excellent rating from me? We all know how important those surveys are. In good conscience, I don't know if I could do that at this point. Reasonable, or not?
Apologies to West for the "longwinded" comment. Doesn't seem right after this one I just typed.
:^)
They gave me the pat "the whole industry is feeling this because of constraints on using asbestos in the brake lining." How true is this and does anyone make squeal proof brake pads?
I contact my dealer for info on factory hitch. Somebody will call me soon. Right under the spare tire compartment I see a black, rectangular box for the wiring (was told in this forum), but I didn't open it yet. Is that what you are looking for rxguy?
The latest versions (my 2001 RX)of the Lexus climate control system turns it ON automatically, without illuminating the A/C indicator, when you activate the front defrost function.
So the only way I know to turn it off and keep it off is to remove the relay.
By the way, what area of the world are you in?