Lexus RX 300

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Comments

  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Delphi's technical expert says the odor is really only present for some (brief?) period of time once the A/C system is turned off and given enough time for the condensate to evaporate. Apparently it's only then that you really get to smell the effluent left on the evaporator surfaces by those little buggers.
  • jeffmust2jeffmust2 Member Posts: 811
    I have a black/black '01 RX and there is NO clearcoat.

    According to my detail guy, this is the only Lexus model in black that does not have a such a clearcoat.

    I don't know why this is but the advantage, according to Mr. Detail, is that there is more layers of black paint vs. other colors that substitute the final clearcoat layer instead of another color coat.

    I've had lots of black vehicles and in several of them the clearcoat becomes "crazed" with spider-type lines and it eventually separates from the underlaying paint color; as you can imagine, this becomes a major headache if it happens out-of-warranty.

    Also, on clearcoat vehicles, you have to be very careful when using any wax or polish that is the least bit abrasive - if you damage the clearcoat, game over. So the black RX has an advantage of all those black paint layers to detail out surface problems.

    Hey Willard - how's that for content, dude?!

    By the way, that stuff on the printing press was written by other people and I thank Host Steve for reminding me to give credit where credit is due.

    Personally, I read several books a week on the engineering theories behind AWD and HVAC systems in past and present day motorcars and trucks.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    I was under the impression that most black cars didn't have a clearcoat, for the reasons you stated.

    Steve
    Host
    SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Welcome aboard! We're glad you decided to step out of the shadows and invite all "lurkers" to do the same - it's quite painless and we're interested in hearing what you have to say!

    tidester
    Host
    SUVs; Aftermarket & Accessories
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Excellent content, well stated.
  • dearadeara Member Posts: 9
    I'm a new owner.I just bought a fwd '02 rx300. I need some help in deciding whether to tradeup from the goodyear "integrity" tires to the bridgestone "dueler h/l or h/ts" or the Michelins. I live in Southeast Penna. I drive about 15 miles daily and about 50-100 miles on the weekends.I'm a mature(as in age)driver and don't drive in snow or other harsh weather. Please help!
  • bobfloydbobfloyd Member Posts: 32
    My 2000 RX has 18,000 miles. I don't have any problem with Integrity tires. I do mostly local driving with a few highway trips mixed in. In the south I have no need for upgrades yet. FYI.
  • pschiffepschiffe Member Posts: 373
    I've got about 45K miles on the OEM Goodyear Integrity tires on my 99 RX and have had no problems. Rotated every 5,000 as recommended, expect to get about 50K miles and will then probably go to the Michelin Cross Terrains. The 99 had a steel spare wheel, so the rotation was only using the four primary tires, the spare has never been touched. If you rotated using five tires, they presumably would last even longer.

    Pete
  • fantomfantom Member Posts: 211
    Call all the tire places you have locally and see what they will give you on trade-in value for your stock tires. Hopefully you've only got a few miles on them. Go with the best drive out price.

    You can also advertise your old tires in the local paper. Putting on Bridgestones (my first choice) or Michelins will make your next 50,000 miles a lot happier. I swapped out all 5 Goodyears for Bridgestone Dueller HL's, mounted and balanced for $300.

    The faster you do this the better. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Automotive magazine I picked up just today says new 03 RX will also come as a hydrid (gas/electric). Anyone know of any details on this?
  • wayn1wayn1 Member Posts: 69
    HI all. Sorry to ask this question again. I've read awhile back that someone disconnected their DRL's because of the "soot" problem. I would like to know how to do this and how hard is it? Please email me or tell me how to do it on here. Well I went to my Lexus dealer in the Boston area this week and showed him the bulbs. It was the first time that he has seen this and I was the first person to mention this also. We looked at the new cars in the showroom, all were clear. Then we looked at some customer's cars and used cars, all had the tan soot in them. He had no idea why this happened. He replaced my bulbs with new ones and said he would talk to a Lexus Rep. about my bulbs. We will see what happens. I will keep you informed on what happens.
  • jiaminjiamin Member Posts: 556
    Don't remember which light is DRL but guess the high-beam one? My 00 RX's high-beam bulbs got "soot" too. The soot is on bottom side of the bulb. However, will soot cause any problem? If not then I don't care.
  • mrrogersmrrogers Member Posts: 391
    headlights during the daytime that that would overcome the soot problem?
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Disconnect the voltage dropping resister mounted on the bottom of the battery support plate.

    Premature failures. Anyone handling a halogen bulb knows not to handle it directly as the small amount of oil from your fingers will result in premature failure due to light blockage.
  • kmhkmh Member Posts: 143
    I prefer the Bridgestones H/L's because they seem to do better in wet weather as opposed to the Goodyears. Ride is comparable, though.

    But I must admit that the Goodyears seem to wear longer than the Bridgestones.

    Just my two cents.
  • mooretorquemooretorque Member Posts: 241
    Driving with low beams on would not help soot on the DRL bulb since it remains lit. The DRL bulb is not the high beam bulb, but a seperate bulb in the high beam housing.

    And may I extend kudos to Willard who, as far as I can tell, was first to mention this problem oh so many moons ago??!
  • suvshopper4suvshopper4 Member Posts: 1,110
    How are those H/L tires as far as noise?
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    mooretorque, don't know about your 99 RX but my 01 does/did use the high beam (HID for low beam) bulb for DRL. That's the main reason it caused me a bit of concern when I first noticed the sooting.

    Kudos accepted with grace and gratitude.
  • fantomfantom Member Posts: 211
    kmk....While the Integrity is not a loud tire, I believe you'll find the road noise more subdued with the Bridgestone Dueler HL, and about equal to the Michelin CT. I have found the overall road comfort of the Bridgestone HL and the Michelin far superior than the Goodyear Integrity.

    The Integrity and Dueler HL have the same treadwear rating so should last a long time. The Michelins always wear great and will probably outlast the other two.

    Finally, it is my belief that the well advertised Michelin name benefits from a self congratulatory halo effect at places like TireRack. Probably no different than we do with our RX-300's.
  • shus226shus226 Member Posts: 9
  • wayn1wayn1 Member Posts: 69
    Thanks for your help. I will look for this resistor this week. I also want to put a switch in so I can either have the DRL's on or off. Any comments on a switch would be helpful. Thanks again.
    To moretorque, the DRL are the same bulb as the high beams.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    I try to always remember to to turn on parking and headlamps (HID, not much power) since I disconnected the DRLs.

    Since the RX factory fog lamps are useless I've been thinking about getting a set of those dual mode PIAA fog/driving lamps, replacing the "driving" bulb with the european DRL bulb and wiring those into the DRL circuit and then setting up the fog portion so I can have true fogs, amber tint and operation without headlamps.
  • mrrogersmrrogers Member Posts: 391
    If you run your high beam headlights during the daytime, would that solve the soot problem? As an added benefit, Car and Driver magazine once said that running high beam headlights during the day light makes it difficult for the lasers that some police departments are using to catch speeders.
  • mooretorquemooretorque Member Posts: 241
    Willard, you are, of course, correct. I was confusing the GS with the RX in posting regarding a seperate DRL bulb. Maybe its the radon oozing from the ground beneath my house or the first stages of West Nile (plenty of skeeters here in Arkansas).

    Sorry, all, for posting misinformation.

    Interestingly, no failures of high beam bulbs in wifey's 99, which is now over 4 years old with 47k on it.
  • tariktarik Member Posts: 344
    If you run your high beam headlights during the daytime, would that solve the soot problem?

    Well, from a technical perspective it actually would, as the high beam lamp is then supplied with its full share of voltage for which it was designed. I guess, it would also make it somewhat difficult for oncoming traffic not to get blinded. If you want to appear to fellow drivers like you're driving a Saturn, buy a Saturn.

    Tarik
  • jiaminjiamin Member Posts: 556
    My understanding is that it's illegal, at least in some places, to keep high beam on while driving. I almost never use it except when I really want to see details at night and there is no oncoming cars. I know someone got ticket just for keeping high-beam light on.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    mooretorque says his wife's 99 RX isn't showing any soot on the HB bulbs after 47k miles. Both the Canadian and the US RXes run the HB bulbs in series in DRL mode, it's only the US version that has a resister in the ciruit to drop the voltage even further.

    In the GS there was an option to bypass the resister for Canadian use. I wonder if the early RXes didn't use the resister? Could it be that simply bypassing the resister would provide enough heat to initialize the halogen recycle process?

    Anyone have the shop manuals for the 99 RX and can look in the elctrical section and see?
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    As an added benefit, Car and Driver magazine once said that running high beam headlights during the day light makes it difficult for the lasers that some police departments are using to catch speeders.

    That may or may not be the case but I'd be very surprised if it were true. Lasers are highly monochromatic and the amount of light the headlamps emit within that extremely tiny band of wavelengths is minuscule.

    tidester
    Host
    SUVs; Aftermarket & Accessories
  • tariktarik Member Posts: 344
    I don't even think this should be an issue, as those fools who ride around with their high beams on constantly will be pulled over, speeding or not.

    Re DRLs, BMW pulses the high beams to illuminate them for use as DRL, would that eliminate soot?

    Tarik
  • mooretorquemooretorque Member Posts: 241
    I should have been more clear; we've had no high beam bulb failure in 47k but there is a faint tinge of soot present. Willard, when you initially reported this phenomenon, I inspected HER bulbs and, indeed, there was a very slight accumulation.

    It apparently does not accumulate to any significant degree with time or I'd expect either hi temp failure or at least diminution of light output as result of thickening deposits.

    And thank you, Tidester and Tarik, for discouraging further light pollution by continually operated high beams; even in daytime they are quite annoying. jiamin is correct in that it is illegal in many areas to operate high beams (usually within any city limit).
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    At 12k miles the glass encapulation was actually beginning to melt, sagging toward the filament. Seems extreme compared to your wife's 99 so I suspect something to be different.

    Didn't we, in the US, go through a phase of folks complaining about DRLs being too bright? Was the resister added to overcome these complaints.
  • kmhkmh Member Posts: 143
    Tire noise on the H/L's are not bad at all. I'd say it's comparable to the Goodyears. And to add, I like the bit firmer ride on the H/L's compared to the Integritys, IMHO.
  • tariktarik Member Posts: 344
    My '99 has a fuse #1 (in its individual pod towards the front of the engine compartment), which is designated the DRL fuse. Although I have never tried to see if removing it would turn the sissy lights off, I wonder why you went through the more complicated task of diconnecting the resistor.

    Tarik
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    turned on the high beam indicator.

    Oops, that was on the GS.

    Can't remember now, buy I'm lazy enough that if a simpler solution were available I would have taken it. DRL fuse removal also disabled something else?
  • pschiffepschiffe Member Posts: 373
    As questioned by wwest in post #5782 above, I have the shop manual. Relay Block No. 3 contains:
    DRL Fuse
    DRL No. 2 Relay
    DRL No. 3 Relay
    DRL No. 4 Relay
    I don't see any mention of a resistor in the location diagram or troubleshooting section, however; there is no wiring diagram per se. That is contained in a separate publication "RX300 Electrical Wiring Diagram Manual" Pub. No. EWD337U.

    Pete
  • mooretorquemooretorque Member Posts: 241
    Willard, there was indeed a time when GM products ran DRL/high beams at something like 50% of full brightness (I remeber a detailed post regarding lighting by Daniel Stern over at CL under the "Driving Experience" forum that has been long MIA)and the complaints were legion. GM has since dimmed their DRLs and other mfgrs have obviously paid heed to the voice of the consumer.......

    probably no sooting with those voltages, though.....
  • exc3exc3 Member Posts: 4
    I have purchased a RX300 and am very happy with it. I am trying to get a service manual for the SUV and have priced volume one at 106.70 and volume two at 126.70. This is very expensive. Does anyone know where I can get this cheaper? Is it available on CD? Thanks.
  • karen_tnkaren_tn Member Posts: 22
    Everything is expensive. That is the only bad thing I can say about Lexus so far.
  • bentwrenchbentwrench Member Posts: 27
    You might try contacting www.irontoad.com. They are a dealer who sells Lexus parts at a discount over the internet. You will have to pay shipping, if they have it, but it may still be cheaper. Also, no state sales tax.
  • pschiffepschiffe Member Posts: 373
    I paid $190.00 for both volumes for my 99 back in 11/99 from Autonet Performance & Accessories, Inc.:


    Autonet


    Pete

  • toydrivertoydriver Member Posts: 227
    The RX has been out now for about 4 years. I'm wondering if anyone has over 100,000 miles on one.
    150K ? I'm just curious if the drive train on these babies can be expected to last that long.
    (I'm the proud owner of a '99 AWD with 45K and a '01 FWD with 33K.)
  • rx989rx989 Member Posts: 1
    Hello Everyone. I am the owner of a 99 RX300 and I had a question about changing out the headlights. I recently purchased the 01 HID Headlights off Ebay and took them to the dealor for install. Now the dealer states the wiring harnesses are different and has to void the warrenty to try and install them. Does anyone know of a way to install them??? I know I could do the installation but I dont have a service manual to identify the wires. Please Help!!!!!
  • emc3emc3 Member Posts: 39
    My wife drives a 2001 RX300 which I drive once in a while. There is an irritating rattle in the glove box which goes away when you push "in" on it a little bit. I see there is a TSB on glove box rattles but I'm 80 miles from my dealer. Has anyone else noted this rattle? If so have you found a way to quiet it or know what the dealer does to repair it?

    Thanks in advance...
  • levyroblevyrob Member Posts: 22
    On Saturday, my 2000 RX300 would start but immediately stall. Even after giving it some gas, the car would always stall once the gas pedal was let up. The Lexus Care guy suggested removing the gas cap for 20 seconds and trying again, but this did not work. I decided to let the car rest for a day, but it still stalled. Then, on Monday, I tried the gas cap trick one more time and the car finally stumbled to a start and idled normally (if not a bit roughly).

    Any ideas on what the problem could have been? For what it's worth, my wife filled the tank earlier that Saturday before parking it in the garage.

    And any advice on the dreaded glove box rattle is appreciated, too. I've tried to fix it with rubber pads and bending the latch, but bending the latch is scary and makes the door stick.
  • jiaminjiamin Member Posts: 556
    Something could be related:
    I heard the term "vapor lock". In summer the high temperature turns water (there is always some) in gas tank into vapor and when it's too much the gas will not be continually pumped into engine. My gone 86 Sentra suffered from this. Within almost 6 years my gone 96 Maxima didn't start twice but after giving a little gas it started immediately with no other problem at all.
  • wayn1wayn1 Member Posts: 69
    Hi all. Now that I disconnected my DRL's on my RX, does anyone know how to do the same on a 99 ES 300, my wife's car? I looked under the battery tray and the resistor is not there like the RX. Thanks.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Is most commonly caused by a "bubble" of gasoline in the fuel line, generally near a "hot spot", a place where the fuel line runs very close to the exhaust pipe, for instance.
  • bentwrenchbentwrench Member Posts: 27
    Due to the nature of the fuel transport system, from fuel tank to injectors, in a fuel injected engine, I can not see that the vapor lock which we used to experience with carburated engines would likely occur.
  • fasterthanufasterthanu Member Posts: 210
    rx989: You might want to ask someone at Club Lexus for help with installing the HIDs. They're a very adept crowd.

    Love my lil Lexus ...
  • jxu1jxu1 Member Posts: 4
    Any good reasons to disconnect DRL. I would like
    to know and may do the same.
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