Ezzie

I’m leaving my 2005 Lexus 400h for 3 months in Greece, on private land. Do I disconnect the starter battery? I have an excellent power pack for when I return at Christmas if that makes a difference. I didn’t disconnect last year and the battery was as dead… is disconnection a better option? I’d presumably leave the car doors unlocked?

For those interested in the efficacy of using the hybrid batteries for charging phones etc without driving the car.… happy to report we switched the car to ‘on’ and charged battery packs, phones and tablets for several hours every day over the 3 days we had no electricity. As suggested all auxiliary equipment was switched off. We took the car for a spin on Day 1 but realised not needed. I was very pleased the old Lexus came to our rescue… only thing I couldn’t charge was my laptop. Minimal petrol use too. Best Ez

Thank you Spoc 66… I have charged my phone and iPad so can stay updated on the tragedy that is the storm damage where I stay in Pelion… no apparent issues as you suggested. Much appreciated, Ez

Morning all, RX 450h 2006… I’m currently in Pelion with no electricity and soon no water… I want to charge my power pack to keep my phone alive… I’ve switched the car on and plugged in to do this, just wondered if I’m a) compromising the starter battery and b) how long can I run the engine without driving? The roads are blocked so driving would be a problem. Rather urgent so appreciate advice soonest Best Ez

Thanks .. I’ve tried twice and now it’s an official appeal… I checked 4 cars for sale on Auto trader… all 05 or 55, all compliant… I think another poster has it right, it must be a database issue…

Thank you! I won’t… 👍

Thank you! I’m going to appeal and use CV the info I have here to challenge their decision (again)… If you’d prefer I didn’t use your reg please let me know, and I won’t of course. Ez

This just gets weirder… it’s definitely the ULEZ penalty and I put my 55 reg in RL55NRX and it is not compliant… I put the PUX one in, and it is.. I resent paying £180 out of principle having bought a hybrid to do my bit… it doesn’t make any sense…

Looking for any members with a similar issue to mine… my 2005 RX400h was ULEZ compliant (it is Euro 4 according to everything I read), until my last trip to London; as it had been compliant the last time, I didn’t check on TfL. Received 2 penalty notices as a consequence of the trip, it is (they say) no longer compliant. I’ve sent two letters to argue the toss but to no avail… Lexus just direct me to TfL (not helpful!)… Anyone else in a similar position? Thanks Ez

Thanks, good thinking… it’s going to the garage tonight and I’ll chat with the mechanic… I’ll suggest using the OBD. Sounds like it’s going to cost me a pretty penny 🙄 Thanks again…

Thanks for the reply, makes sense. Mines working but not cold enough… Interested to hear about your Saab 900, I just sold a Classic Saab 900T16 convertible and have kept the Monte Carlo Classic 900S. I also had a 2nd gen 900 bought with non working A/C. Took it to a refrigerant specialist who also happened to love Saabs, so he rebuilt the A/C system for the price of parts! I’ll never forget that generosity…

The car is having the condenser replaced (thank you forum for helping with this) but I think my compressor is noisier than I remember… has anyone else noticed it’s generally noisy (it’s a 2005 BTW)… and anyone replace this… was it a big job? Cheers Ez

Thanks Dave, appreciate the time you took to help… All the ‘chilly’ best, Ez

Hope it’s ok to follow this up… may I ask… where did you source your condenser? My garage warned me at last year’s service the condenser may not hold but the system did hold pressure, until the hot weather (typical)… I need to replace… I had a new radiator 5 years ago so I won’t need to replace this… thanks, Ez

I’m South Lakes, anyone have any recommends in Cumbria or Lancs. I’ve used A1 Autocare Centre on the Wirral previously (excellent) but a bit far to go at the moment... thanks

Fantastic help, thank you. I’ve been under the car this morning with the mechanic. I showed him the drain holes as above. Nothing is coming out of any drain holes under the sill so I’m sure now it’s the receiving well for the drain tube that is blocked (the drain tube is not blocked, water flows freely). I will send the mechanic pictures of the fix from inside the car, removing plastic sill cover, then plastic cowl on nsf footwell, and then getting in via the hole to get any debris out...

Jaystar 77, can you tell me where the drain holes at the front and back exit from the car to the ground? I know my passenger side drain is blocked and the car's at the mechanics. He can't find any drain holes so any guidance would be excellent. I'm going to him tomorrow morning to see if we can bottom it out... Apologies I've posted on a couple of threads to increase the chance of a response... I'm so frustrated, every time it rains [I live in the Lake District!], I'm cussing the darn car...

... a picture would be even better!

Apologies, I'm posting on a couple of relevant threads. I've isolated the passenger side drain hole is blocked and my mechanic has the wheel arch cowl off to clear the 'exit' but he can't find where it comes out! I've read every post I can and believe it's a slit, rather than a hole with a drain pipe sticking out, but if anyone can tell us where exactly, I'd be most grateful!

Can anyone tell me where the passenger side drain hole is on the body please ie where the water dribbles put from.... My mechanic has the wheel arch cowl off and can't find it... I believe it is a slit rather than a hole, but where is the blooming thing???

Oops, I think I’ve just replied to another thread.... not the one I originally posted on... oh well.. Thank you chaps, I didn’t put email notification on so after a week of various attempts to bottom this, I’ve come back to the forum to post again, only to find your replies. Ok, I popped a coat hanger gently down both front drains. The driver side released immediately and water now flows through to the ground. The passenger side is not so happy, a drop or two makes it, and I can see the water puddling on the extreme right of the passenger floor carpet footwell. So it is blocked most likely at the end of the drain pipe. I also removed the rubber bungs on the undercarriage and managed to get water out there too, but the underside of my carpets at the front remain sodden, the top of the carpets, thanks to my water vac, feel slightly damp but not wet. The rear carpets in front of the back seats are also mildly damp, and all dampness is pronounced in areas on the passenger side. There was, initially, water in the boot, under the plastic stowaway tray, so I mopped that up, and none has returned since despite pouring rain. I first noticed water ingress several months ago during a monsoon like downpour... the passenger side front window pillow A? was really wet where it meets the roof, and the passenger side front floor was soaked. I cleaned it all up and it seemed fine, but now think it has been leaking ever since but only in very heavy rain, and therefore not really noticeable. Im taking it for an MOT tomorrow (it’s under a tarp at the moment) and will get my garage to gently blow some compressed air on the belligerent drain hole. At the weekend, I’ll try to find the rectangular slits on the undercarriage near the sills to see if I can dig out any crap (assuming the air doesn’t help). Like many before me, it seems pretty poor such a luxury car could have such a big problem. I’ve been pretty worried the batteries could be affected (that’d be the end of it if they were). Just hope I get it sorted with the air. If anyone had any other thoughts, please let me know. Vicmeldrew, I have read every thread I can find, here and abroad... it does not fill me with confidence that I may solved the problem yet.... Thanks again, E

Sorry to resurrect this thread, but I’ve water ingress and eliminating the ‘easier’ options. Chestermans comment: I’ve checked a schematic for the sunroof, found the front drain holes but not sure how I find the rear drain holes... sunroof in ‘tilt’? and can someone explain the ‘gently, gently’ comment... what must I not do! Thanks for any advice.

Again, thanks. Looking like a trip to a Lexus inde for me ☺️

Thanks for the replies guys. I didn’t think it would straight forward... when you say ‘slacken the parking brake’, I presume it means at the disc and not just release the parking brake? Ez

2005 RX400H - how difficult is it to replace a bearing, new disc and pads on this car? I have a good mechanic but he’s probably not worked on a car like this. Is it more complicated due to regenerative breaking than a non regenerative? Thanks in advance, Ez