teuchter66

Indeed it has, but all I got was a phone call just before closing, won't be ready until Saturday lunchtime. Didn't get a chance to talk to a technician just a receptionist reading from the report. Also said the pads were 80% worn and I did query this as the discs and pads were replaced at 54000, now done 69000. I will ask when I pick it up, and yes I do use the parking brake every time I park so it ain't from lack of use.

Just heard back from Lexus - parking brake is apparently seized. Hope they're going to replace all the cables, etc going to cost me £667. John

Still think it's the brake pads rather than the drive train, but just to make sure it's going into Lexus on Thursday. Whatever it is, hope it's not too expensive!! John

Hi I get a noticeable clunking sound coming from the rear of my 05 RX300 SE-L when I change from Reverse to Drive within a couple of yards of starting off. Feels like the parking brake or the pads not releasing but I'm not sure. In normal running it's not too bad, just a slight knock, but if I've parked in my drive for 3 or 4 days, reversed out 20 yards to the street I get a horrendous clunk as I move off forwards. It then settles down and I have no problems driving or braking. Any ideas, next service not due for 3 months. John

Thanks to you all, guys Managed to source a Koyo all-metal replacement locally, and got a friendly local mechanic to fit it for me. Bleed valve changed position from original so had to drill a 20mm hole in the top bracket and improvise slightly to get it fitted snugly but all done for well under half the dealer's quote. john

My 2005 RX300 has been slow to heat up for the last few days, and yesterday I noticed steam coming from the radiator and the front bumper soaked in coolant. When I got a good look at it today I added about 4 litres of water to the radiator and took the car for a run to heat it up. On returning I found a hairline crack on the plastic to the left of the core at the front running downwards from an inch below the top of the rad with tiny bubbles coming from it. The crack is midway between the core and the foam cushioning and up to 4 inches long in total. Leaving the car to heat up a bit more the bubble stream eventually turned to a jet of steam presumably as the water level dropped. I topped up again with another 3 litres and repeated the exercise but this time the header tank remained full and the temperature / pressure did not get high enough to force anything out of the crack. Never having any experience of plastic radiators before I was wondering if Radweld (or a raw egg) would help, or if it was likely that the rad is unrepairable and will eventually split from top to bottom. I am getting a bit old to source and fit a cheap replacement, and I understand that Lexus would need around £700 to fit a OEM replacement. Any thoughts?? John

Jon No, I just entered the 4xxxx key code on the online form. Free postage, only extra was the VAT. It's all in the link, or Google it if you don't like following links. Perhaps I was just lucky having the key code for a second-hand motor. John

After trying a number of local locksmiths to cut a blank key with no success, I found this company on Google and decided to give it a try. I had a key tag in the 40000 range so arranged for them to supply the key for £5.13 plus £2.00 extra for cutting, total £8.56 including VAT. Arrived in 3 days, swopped the innards and worked first time which is more than can be said for the 'spare' I got from the seller when I bought the car. Local dealer wanted £103 just for the key. Shell feels at least as good quality as the original. http://www.keytrader.co.uk/Vehicle-Keys/Car-Keys/TOYOTA/Silca-TOY48-Toyota-Lexus-3-Button-Replacement-Key-Shell-TOY48BRS8.html?keyword=toy48 Doesn't actually mention my '55 RX300, but from the pic my keys looked more like a TOY48 than a TOY40 and as a Scotsman and an Aberdonian to boot it was worth a chance for under a tenner. John

Hi I was thinking along the lines of a separate set of alloys, but was concerned to get a set of genuine Lexus RX 18x7JJ rims but had no luck so far. For the present I've settled on fitting 235/55/18 Michelin Latitude Alpins which I sourced for £590.76 delivered from Camskill and had them fitted cheaply locally. Local tyre company quoted me £259 a corner fitted. Will still look out for a set of rims but happy to pay £10 a corner in the meantime John

I've recently fitted a Traffic DVR (actually a spare galaxy S2 smartphone with a recorder app) to my RX300. It sits in a neat suction holder in front of the rear-view mirror and is quite unobtrusive. Whilst recording the battery does not last long but I don't like driving with a cord coming down the windscreen to the cigar lighter nor do I fancy the work involved in running a wire behind the headlining and the fascia. The best solution for me would be to take a feed from the inside rear-view mirror, so does anyone out there know how to dismantle it to gain access as nothing seems obvious to me. Thanks

Interesting website Bri My iphone 3gs works well with my 2005 RX300, but as the tool notes I can't sync my phonebook. However, tool says phonebook should sync with my galaxy SII, but didn't work for me, I had to use an old Nokia and transfer contacts one at a time. John