Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Unfortunately for me, my wife had to have the leather, of course if she is getting leather, I had to have the nav system. Before long we had to sell the house, and send the kids to the poor farm. But, whatever it takes to keep food on the Lexus dealers table!!
The "Service Expert" was real quick with me and started a very good dodge / weave. "Look, some of the people out there don't even change their oil for 12,000 miles! I mean the fact that Toyota / Lexus even made this amazing offer to repair damage from poor maitenance just shows you how loyal they are and what a great company they are"! I fired back: "Then why is there a "sudden" spike in sludge problems with the very same V6 3.0 liter motor in both Toyota and Lexus and not showing up on any other cars (to this degree)? If what you're saying is true, then there would also be an equal number of sludging problems with the other motors made by Toyota, right? I mean I don't read about ludged motor problems from Ford, Honda, Chryster, BMW (etc.) If all cars have the same problems - people would never go without an oil change for fear of the inevitable $15k new engine bill! There just something wrong with this story!! (I barked)"
Anyhow, he kept trying to pacify me and did say that the people there (at the dealer) thought that this particular motor does work real "hard" all the time and that it probably just requires that the oil be changed regularly and religuosly. (gee - I've had cars with much smaller motors that really worked hard and I've never even heard of this problem before! Take a Saab 9000 turbo for a hard, fast drive and tell me which motor is working harder! Not buying it!) But - he is a very good service guy and a very loyal fan and employee of Toy/Lex so I've got to give him that!
Longe story short(ened) - the motor is fine. He did say that the volume of oil that came out - and the volume that went in were equal which is one thing where sludged engines will show differences in the ones they've seen / heard about.
Still don't have any idea about where this is all going to lead. But I wouldn't be surprised to see something about a "fix" from Toyota soon. Let's hope.
In the mean time - I'm dedicated to changing out the oil and filter every 4k miles. At least I'll know that I've done my part!
And so it goes
Which is a very important part of the relationship with your dealer. By shutting up you basically pick the lesser of the evils (having to take the "line" and making him feel he "got you"), but it's just a little concession to make to keep the peace for future dealings (can you say marital politics?). I did the same thing after my tech was done, as any further scrutiny won't have done anything but aggravate him - the opinion about him is formed though, and it ain't good.
Longe story short(ened) - the motor is fine. He did say that the volume of oil that came out - and the volume that went in were equal which is one thing where sludged engines will show differences in the ones they've seen / heard about.
Makes you wonder whether he really measured how much came out...could ya call and ask...?
Tarik
If Toyota wanted/expected to sell lots of top end HLs then they might as well discontinue the RX.
A top end HL price doesn't NEED to compete with ANY RX price, the HL is clearly aimed at the low end of the SUV market.
Over there on the Toyota lot, there might not be so many, esp of the higher end HLs. So the sales guys have more of an advantage ("better get this one NOW, cause I've got a customer on the other line WITH CASH IN HAND, BEGGING!!!! but you're here right now and I'm not gonna tell the sales manager about the other guy....") and (maybe, in theory) are a little more high pressure (oh, surely not). So I can see a scenario such as tprice describes unintentionally (from the standpoint of BIGDADDY CORPORATE TOY/LEX) coming to pass. Toyota and Lexus in the US are entirely seperate divisions. There shouldn't be any such crossover of price points, but obviously, there will be. Surely, Toy/Lex had to have forseen......or did they?
Guess this is good news for savvy shoppers of $35k sport-utes........
They also carry paper towels (cures Lexus' endemic windshield defrost problems) and local maps (cures Lexus RX Navigation System problems).
Finally, you can probably find bags of sand to carry in your RX to cure the AWD shortcomings - just "Dump 'N' Drive."
You know...better yet...just check the Home Depot parking lot for old Town & Country AWD mini-vans that are up for sale and find out if the owner will take your RX in an even trade....
Problems Solved!
I don't think the Highlander has a A/C filter. Maybe someone on the HL forum would be kind enough to look in their owners manual and give you an accurate answer on that.
$15/3 $5 each.
It wasn't the money, it was the opportunity to best Lexus out of $100, well maybe only $85.
I wonder what people are paying for replacement wipers (inserts). Does the Highlander use the same blades? I wonder if it would be cheaper purchasing from the Toyota dealer versus Lexus dealer.
BTW, What should one have done at the 10,000 mile service besides, oil change, tire rotation, and torque drive shaft flange bolts?
Thanks for you help!
Go to AutoZone and buy the Bosch Micro Edge Excels.
Kick-[non-permissible content removed] blades.
Bill
That is much more likely to happen from a clogged filter than a "home brew".
You can actually build a better, more efficient and freer flowing, "home depot" filter than a factory one by using more filter material accordian style.
The Bosch micro excels are available at most Target stores.
Bill
The other concern is a "clunk" that is heard when first backing out of the driveway and taking off in drive. I know I'll never be able to get the dealer to duplicate it. If anyone knows the likely cause of this clunk (or can point me to the right message thread) I'd appreciate, because the car has got to go in anyway.
Thanks.
I surely hope you have no saying in electrical questions within NASA, and the condescending statement regarding someone else not understanding the purpose of a fuse is a farce. Where do you suppose the possible current overload originates? Maybe it has to do with a fan motor's inability (due to external influences) to spin at its nominal speed? Geez, that's electrical engineering 101...
Willard's right!!!
Tarik
Fuses are designed to protect a whole electrical system. Blower motor/wires/computer chips/...
tidester
Host
SUVs
Discovered yesterday afternoon that some ingrate ran a key down two feet of the front passenger-side quarter panel of my SilverSport RX. What a bummer. It's only 6 months old, too.
The scratch is deep, down to the primer in some parts and metal in others. In addition to being ugly, it ought to be repaired.
Does anyone in the Bay Area have a good recommendation on who could do this the best? (Should I consider the dealer, or go elsewhere?) Any thoughts on how much it will cost?
Thanks,
-jse
I have bought the manufacture's service manuals in the past, but the prices are getting beyond reasonable!! For example prior service manuals cost: 89 caddy $ 180, 92 nissan $200, 97 infiniti $300 (gulp!!), 2002 RX300 over $400 (and still not available).
The Alldata database appears to be a better solution as it only costs $30, and includes the TSBs, but I have not had experience using it.
Fuses and CBs in you home are rated to limit the current flowing to a wall outlet for which there is, will be, an unknown load. In that case a major part of the equation is wire size.
Most fuses in an automobile have a known maximum load, in this case a completely stalled dc motor for which the stall current is quite definitive.
http://www.cookscollision.com/cooks_home.html
My comprehensive deductible was $250 and the total came to $435 which seemed reasonable to me.
Good luck
Grr.....
Now Im pissed off for the night >:(
That sucks.
Bill
(who is Jewish)
BTW, I received Lexus notice of proper maintenance to avoid engine sludge. That makes me concerned more than before. I don't know if some day I'd trade it for another car. My RX has been driven low mileage, about 16 miles everyday. 20 months now and it's got 11K miles. If I stick to time interval for oil change, I don't even see the oil gets old at all, absolutely no color darkened; if I stick to mileage interval, then it may take one year before next oil change...
VSC: Did not have enough snow here in New England to test it, or I am chicken to push it when conering. I am sure it is a safety option for suv. I buy it because this option.
Water proof front driver & pass glass: Help to increase the visibility when driving under the rain. It is a plus to me
Xenon head light: Yes, this is a great when driving at night. It is a big help for those who wear glasses. Totally different night driving experience compare to regular halogen head light.I buy it because this option.
Navigation: I do not have it. I rather stop at the rest area to read the map then look at the navigation while driving (not safe). Wife only drive locally.
Sludge: Not happy to hear it. Decide to switch to Mobil 1 synthetic oil and change oil by myself. Just did it at 9000 miles.
Sludge is an issue you may take into consideration. Make sure the dealer warranty on the engine or you may buy extend warranty since the car is 1999. Check record to see if the previous owner has all the record to show the car been service from the lexus dealer.
Or you may wait for 2003. Rumor... the RX will have a new engine 3.3 liter for this model year. I am not sure abou that.
Good luck
If you do get a new 01 or later be sure and get the VSC, TRAC and HID.
Also, I bought a GS430 from Magnussen Lexus and had a very good experience there, would someone agree or recommend my friend go elsewhere?
Cost benefit of new 02 vs used 99 caused me to choose the 02. Excellent 99s were going for in excess of 29k. Beater 99s were going for 24k (outrageous)! New 02s going from 37k.
The Nav system is nice, and the state-of-the-art for built-in systems, but it needs alot of improvements before it is ready for prime time.
Sludge issue -- on the 99 have a valve cover pulled, and look inside, no sludge, no problem.
As far as I know the sludge did no real harm to the engine, we would clean it up/off, do repairs as necessary, put the engine back together and drive another 50k.
So...
I suspect the Toyota/Lexus sludging problem is localized to some "hot spot" area where a build up of sludge can slightly restrict the further flow of oil and now the oil that does get to the hot spot gets heated to an even higher level. Soon the area is severely restricted and you have an engine failure.
Bottom line is I simply wouldn't trust a simple looksee under the valve covers, I would insist, adsolutely, on seeing solid maintenance records unless it were a dealer "Lexus certified"
Grr.....
Now Im pissed off for the night >:(
That sucks.
Another Bill
(who is a thoughtful, intelligent human being who will never be able to understand the stupidity and ignorance of so many other human beings.)
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Mike
Let the gouging begin, and continue.
Toyota doesn't recommend brake fluid change outs, ever, get the message?
I have a 2002 RX300 4WD. Only get about 15MPG. Is this normal? I live in OR so it is not all that cold. Any advise will be appreciated. Thanks.
Ray
Thanks
These vehicles have a very poor AWD implementation, much less "robust" than the JGC's fulltime AWD, and due to poor suspension clearance snowchains cannot be used on the rear.
While the T/L owner's manual recommends the use of snow chains ONLY on the front, Toyota/Lexus is on record admitting that this can be, potentially, an extremely hazardous configuration.
It is NEVER a good idea to have more roadbed traction on the front vs the rear, and chains on the front with none on the rear takes this to extremes.
Take a long hard look at the ML320, the X5 or if you can do without HID, VSC and TRAC, even the MDX.
Other than a higher price and poor back seat leg space, the ML looks stellar.
If you should decide to go ahead with a used RX (or HL) the only way to protect yourself from the possibility of engine sludging is to see the previosu owners unimpeachable maintanance records or buy T/L certified.
As far as I know, 2001 is the only year to have the SS made. It's a head turner, for sure.