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When I had my Jeep, there was a tooth/gear deal that you had to change. Is it the same with a Lexus?
If you decide to not do anything, will the car be going faster or slower than the speedometer reads?
Second I don't know how this affects the warranty on the rear suspension. I tried to talk to Lexus about the offsets of the stock wheels and got nowhere because they do not recommend changing them. I know they are 16s with a 6.5 width. To tell the truth, I feel the stock setup causes the vehicle to be a bit hyperactive in corners and when it is windy. And it is ugly.
I understand that it looks like there is no way a larger tire will fit in the back. Supposedly you can put a 235x70x16 on the stock rim with no problem. I have no idea what they were thinking when they designed this other than to keep you tied to them. I was skeptical when I first started researching this. I stuck my finger between the strut and the rear stock wheel/tire and there was almost nothing there.
The key to doing this is the offset of the new wheel. Everything that I saw says it will take up to a +40 offset. This will cause the tire to stick out a bit, but nothing horrendous. The new wheels have about 1/2 inch clearance from the top of the strut, and about 1/8 inch from the body of the strut. If you look at tirerack.com,put in the RX300 for a tire upgrade it will show you 255x55x18 as a replacement for the stock rubber. My personal opinion is not to do spacers. I think that just causes problems.
This change will cause the speedometer to be off about 2.2% which translates to you doing 61.5mph when you think you are doing 60mph.
I will post the pics as soon as I can of my girl and I mounting and will run RX over holes to see if they rub
You're right about the setup of the wheels and tires being difficult to replace. Even finding a shop to mount them might be tough. I think a place like Sears 'goes by the book'.
Did you use a national chain or a local specialty place for your work?
I got the same response last time I asked Lexus about upgrading--must keep same size.
I can see by your description that a big part of the problem with the current wheels is their large offset. By decreasing that, you gain more width for the tire.
And this car screams out for wider, performance styled tires.
Again, thanks for the response, and that little 'innuendo' at the end. I caught that.....
Wheel bearings will likely fail sooner than normal due to vehicle weight being off-center of bearing. Sooner = 120k miles instead of 250k.
Good news...
Better handling, more stability, etc, all around.
Don't know about older model RXs, but the 2001 we drive has the roof rack but no protection strips on the roof itself - so, depending on the size of the cargo unit, it can scratch that lovely non-clear coated black paint right off.
Purchased some of that web-type rubber material with the waffle pattern holes thru it; it's used for a variety of things including shelf liners so items don't move easily. You can get it at supermarkets in a roll form in their hardware aisle.
Anyway, it worked great to protect the roof finish from the cargo bag - not a scratch after a 1000 mile trip.
During which the Nav and climate control system worked great, Willie.
Within the last year or so I have changed out the pollen filters on a 95 LS (20k mile interval), a 00 GS3 (8k miles), and an 01 RX (15k miles). None of the Lexus filters were even close to being clogged.
What gives?
Now I know that Lexus strives mightily to reduce the blower speed to achieve QUIET, and I also know that one of the reasons they can do that is the Lexus products do not allow much atmospheric "leakage", very little "outflow" of stale cabin air.
Using previously "conditioned" airflow, recirculated again and again, allows them to keep the cycling of the A/C compressor fairly low and thus their MPG numbers artificially high.
But the airflow outlet ducts for the 911 are even smaller than any of the Lexus products of which I am familiar. Maybe the difference is that Porsche keeps the blower speed up fairly high, creating a higher level of outlet flow due to air pressure.
Or maybe the actual exhauster airflow for the 911 is into an aerodynamic low pressure area, unlike the Lexus products wherein the "exhauster" outlet is always within an aerodynamically created high pressure area, under the rear quarter panel.
My wife and I have both noticed that we become drowsier on long trips in the Lexus vs the 911, do you suppose the excitement of driving the 911 keeps us wide awake or is it the low oxygen content along with the comfort and quiet in the Lexus? Or maybe some of each?
Has anyone used a CO2 sensor in their Lexus to see just how bad things get on a long drive?
Home Depot finest furnace filter, dismembered. Probably loaded with anti-bacterial agents that give off CO2...
Willie's Porsche models, the HVAC filter =
actually purchased from Porsche dealer, or another "MS" (McGyver Special)? Unknown.
As for "...has anyone used a CO2 sensor in their Lexus to see just how bad things get on a long drive?"...personally, I'm just happy to be able to see out the windshield thru the fogging and, at the same time, try and keep our RX or LS on the road when it rains without a decent traction control or 4WD (RX) system.
Heh, heh, thanks for this Tuesday primer, I needed that...
Tarik
I found a couple of websites that has em on sale for $225, free ship, http://www.rackwarehouse.com/thule-boxes.html.
http://www.bicycle-source.com/thulracac.html
It gets kind of costly compared to just buying a cargo Bag, cause you need to get, The load bars @ $40, and you may want to get the Cargo Net @ $26, and the Waterproof pouch @ $125.
It looks really nice on the RX though, and adds much needed cargo.
If you want to save some $$ Target has the 15ft Water proof Bag on sale this week for $59
Wouldn't want to get tipsy.
I personally hate recirc mode and will disengage it early sometimes. It does help cool the cabin quicker, and will help block out unwanted exhaust from an older car in front of me, but other than that, give me 'fresh', smoggy air...
Notice how your balloon stays inflated?
Absent a reasonably large exhaust path and a neutral or low pressure area at the exhaust exit, or an over-riding high pressure within the Lexus, that's what the air in your Lexus will be like after an hour or so of driving.
The shop manual for my 92 LS clearly indicates that the fresh/recirc inlet air damper is continuously modulated in auto mode to determine the optimum "mix" level. On my 92 I have physically measured the mix level to be greater than 50% recirc with the "fresh" indicator still on. I know the RX does the same thing but haven't checked the levels.
I suspect that this has all come about because Lexus runs the A/C system continuously to coat the evaporator and thereby suppress the horrid mold and mildew odor. If the A/C compressor were to cycle continuously as a result then the MPG would be severely affected and so Lexus solved that problem by using pre-conditioned air for as long as possible.
I have been asking/enquiring/exploring since I bought my 92 in 91 and discovered the continuous A/C use anomally. Why the A/C system is run below the temperature, 55F, wherein it is of any usefull value but so far I have only heard one explanation.
A Porsche factory representative told me it was to keep the evaporator coated with a thin film of moisture thereby suppressing the odors from the formation of mold and mildew colonies.
If anyone has a better explanation I am certainly open to more input.
You will notice even Lexus admits this shortcoming by advising you to roll the windows down for a few moments in the above conditions.
If the Lexus exhauster were of sufficient size (none are), or Lexus were willing to discomfort you slightly by running the blower at high speed for a brief period to force the hotter air from the interior, then the facade of a period in recirc would be needless.
And all of that is true without even bringing up the issue of MRT. The longer the car sits in the hot sure the higher will be the temperature of the materials within the car.
And that could also account for hitting defenseless deers that are legally crossing the road in (what else?) a Deer Crossing Zone.
WW - Have you done a LOT of blowing into "balloons" while driving or just after you've been pulled over?
http://forums.mbnz.org/forums/r170/vthread.asp?messid=68241
Text reproduced here
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I use recirculate mode any time the temp is above 100 degrees, which is 100 days per year in Phoenix. However, recirculate mode has the disadvantage when the A/C is on because it causes more condensation and thus, more mold/mildew to build up in the A/C condensor. This is what causes the rotten/vinegar/dirty-laundry smell from your A/C vents. If you use recirculate mode often, you should switch off both the A/C and recirculate mode about 1 minute before you shut off the car so that it dries out the A/C condensor.
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There are products on the market that automatically start the blower motor up to move this water vapor out of the A/C evaporator core and plenum about an hour after system shut down.
Also, I think most manufacturers have recommended for years that you open the windows to help cool an extremely hot cabin. I don't think it's fair for you to accuse Lexus of shortcoming when it's just plain, common sense to open the windows to relieve the heat inside the car.
The problem has always existed in automobiles since the inception of automotive A/C. But it has become a lot more commonplace and thus a much greater, more acknowkedged problem, since the change-over from freon to R-134a.
R-134a is not nearly as efficient as a refrigerant as was (R-12{?}) freon. Automotive manufacturers are making up for this loss of efficiency in many, a myriad really, of ways.
The A/C evaporator core has become much more complex, more heat exchanging surfaces, more contouring and dimpling of those surfaces, etc. If they had actually set out to design a device to hold a huge mass of water for extended periods instead of designing a more efficient heat exchanging device they likely still could not have done a better job.
So, now we have an A/C evaporator which is not only an outstandingly great heat exchanger, it is also an absolutely excellent SPONGE.
But now what more can we do to overcome the loss of efficiency? Oh, I know, the longer we leave a bottle of milk in the refrigerator the colder it gets, right.
So how do we reduce the rate of flow of air through the chilled evaporator vanes to so low a level that we gain the absolutely highest level of cooling of that airflow humanly possible?
We seal that passenger cabin much like you would a refrigerator, very little, or possibly no cold conditioned air escaping and the entry airflow from the hot outside world can be reduced to a minimum.
Lexus flaws: automatically changing the system to recirc ("closing the windows") when the interior is heated by the sun is counter-productive, it has exactly the opposite effect of telling you to open windows.
It is very possible, as you say, that you do not have a mold and mildew odor problem, it depends greatly on certain conditions and as I'm sure you already know Lexus has now at least partially allevaiated the problem by adding a pollen (food) filters in the A/C inlet ductwork.
I'm in for $13.34.
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Edmunds is a great site, but it's sad that some people just take advantage of it. They don't understand that it's a board, and not a chat room, and when you post your opinion on an issue, it's there forever in the thread, and doesn't need to be repeated ad infinitum, ad nauseum.
If someone could print out this board from the first to the last post, they will find a portrait of a very sad and deranged individual, who has a daily obsession with bashing the RX - going on for years now. It's about the saddest thing I've seen on the net.
Where else can you find information based on this level of logic?
- Brings suit against Lexus for supposed design flaws in '91 LS400 climate control system, loses suit, and buys more Lexus vehicles with same "flaw." That'll teach 'em.
- Constantly compares drive system of a non-off-road vehicle (RX) to a vehicle designed to go off-road (Jeep)
- Proclaims the virtues of a Chrysler Minivan over the RX. Enough said.
- One of two people in the world that hate Lexus Navigation system (the other makes maps for a living).
You should be praising his hilarious posts and eagerly awaiting the next, as I do.
Where else can you have so much fun for zero cost?
I continue to buy Lexii because I firmly believe they represent the best overall value on the market today, build quality, reliability, etc.
Two.
My sincerest apologies to those of you who don't like hearing me denigrate the product line over and over again.
BUT..
"The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection"
or
"The Passionate Pursuit of Perfection"
Both make a rather bold statement.
I began my career in QC at Boeing in 61.
Today my company manufactures a product, both hardware and software based. I know from experience that it is extremely hard to "get it right" the first try. It becomes even harder if you don't get feedback from your product's installed customer base, or you don't listen to that feedback.
I was encouraged recently when the "sludge" letter from Toyota/Lexus stated that their response was in some ways the result of all of the adverse publicity they were seeing on the various internet forums.
I don't remember his/her name now, but there was someone on this very post complaining about the problem and everyone, including me, tended to disparate his posts because he was outside the norm, using an oil filter that supposedly didn't require oil changes. Although T/L acknowkedged that sludging was not strictly related to the lack of oil changes I will still always believe in them on a regular basis.
So, do you want the 03 RX model, and all future Lexus designs, to be improved significantly or not?
There is clear evidence that both the mold and mildew problem and the windshield fogging problem can be fixed quite simply. Delphi has already introduced a sensor set that determines when the windshield is approaching the dewpoint and can automatically adjust the climate control system to compensate, long before you become aware of an impending problem.
GM has already adopted an aftermarket device to help alleviate the formation of mold and mildew with the A/C plenum.
Both of these are relatively simple and inexpensive solutions.
Mechanical LSD has already given way to PSM, VSC, etc. Why shouldn't we ask, encourage, Lexus to adopt the simpler, less expensive, faster reacting Sequoia AWD system to the RX?
GPS/Nav is clearly in it's early stages of developement for automotive use, if we don't step up and tell the manufacturers what we see wrong with their systems what will be the modivation for change? Otherwise portable GPSes, where there is free and open competition, will get better adn better, leaving "captive" GPS devices in the dust.
So maybe you're not having the particular problem I happen to address, but would you please look around and be sure it isn't a valid complaint before you unthinkingly encourage Lexus to ignore their own motto?
You say "we". I don't see you as a part of the "we" of which you speak. In this and many other forums, you are a singular, twisted voice whose reality is not based in fact.
"We" are not "the manufacturers". "We" are the consumers. Please direct your "horrid" opinions elsewhere. Try "the manufacturers" directly.
And please do not try and parry by saying something like "the manufacturers read these forums". Please just address "the manufacturers" directly.
"We" are tired of your repeated, "possibly even TOXIC", ranting.
Park your RX in the garage, leave the engine running, close all the garage doors and windows, get back in the RX and take a nap.
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
You were trying to remember GimpyRX. 25,000 miles without changing his Amsoil (he happened to be an Amsoil dealer).
Got a head gasket leak or a leak somewhere and had (supposedly) antifreeze in his oil. Developed sludge; had a local mechanic clean it out for a few hundred bucks and derided Lexus as the Demon Car Company ever after because they wouldn't pick up the tab.
Not even the Syn Obsessed posters in Town Hall recommend 25k oil extended changes. I don't think any of the Sludge posters had antifreeze in their sludge so Gimp was kinda unique.
As for your crusade to help Lexus Find the Light, perhaps you could try a new tack - trade the RX in for that new Land Rover with the ugly front end, take a digital pix of yourself in front of it (with a deer over the hood for effect?) and send it to the Lexus CEO under the heading, "Lexus Will Never Fog Me Again!"
I'm sure that would have an excellent chance of getting their attention for your complaints.
I have no doubt that the X5 remains the best of this lot, but the price and the name simply keep me away from there.
As was said, this has gone on for too long.
The monopolizers are those that love to pontificate. STOP THEM for the benefit of all the others.
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
"Let's change the subject."
Your post #3912, 1-5-02 - (on humor, give & take)
"Let's try to keep it adult - PLEASE!"
Your post #4667, 3-11-02
"It no longer is a ...good forum. I miss the interesting varied content we used to have."
Well, you've been lurking for at least 7-8 months now - and not a single post from ya that isn't critical of other posters or this board in general.
How about introducing a TOPIC or posing a QUESTION about the RX instead of just knocking other people including the host?
Just a thought, of course.
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
All it takes is a resister between the high beam voltage supply and the RX's level sensor.
Need to figure out what works out best for U
Mr. Wwest, keep offering your opinion. I'm sure I get a few feathers ruffled when I pepper you with questions, but it's obvious to me (especially in your last post explaining your position) you offer a wealth of knowledge and it's up to me to decide what I want to accept and reject. I've always respected the fact you haven't allowed people to quiet your voice.
You're never vulgar or rude. I can't even remember once you responding back with a mean tone to the class clowns who goad you. (I love you class clowns, too!)
As to the moderator, keep on chooglin'. You be doin' fine.
Just my .02. I like this place just the way it is.
I'm relatively sure that the limitation isn't due to lack of structural rigidity at the crossbar mounting points. So if you really want to put more weight on top you might want to look, first, at a way to re-enforce the strength of the crossbars.
And thank you ravl, I really did need that.
When we finally get that new search engine maybe I can refer people to past dissertations....
It would be a waste of money to buy the plan. You already get 4 years and a bunch of miles (can't remember the exact amount.) If something's going to break, it'll be in warranty. Again, JMO.