My New Rx400H

[wackyjim]

Hi Guys.

Took the plunge today and bought a 2006 Rx400h which hopefully I should get in the next couple of days once the dealer gives it a good service. Also in the coming weeks I'll fit some winter tyres and fit a detachable towbar for my daughters horse trailer however since I got home from the dealers I've thinking about the cold winter days ahead especially the frosty mornings and the frozen windscreens, with my old jeep I just popped out fired it up put the blowers on full blast for 15 minutes before jumping in and driving off in a nice warm cabin but can you do the same with the Rx400h?...I'm a hybrid newbie and this might be a silly question so sorry in advance

[steve2006]

Interesting question Jim one I would also like an answer to, there must be some kind of auxillary heating system when running on electric only but can it be activated "on the driveway" so the car is clear when setting off.

[RXJasonRX]

Hello i don't see why not i've got an rx 400h myself and i've just started it up as normal so it says :ready , on the display and just set the blowers on for a little while. i can't see any problem there like most cars. I wouldn't go leaving it unattended with the keys in. Enjoy

[steve2006]

There you go question answered within 30 minutes, cheers Jason

Here you go Jim, put the details in and have a preview of the owners manual :)

http://drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers/info/my-lexus/resources/submit-owners-manual-search;JSESSIONID_LEXUSDRIVERS=fjVJJNhf9QxJ5LMDJ4HQvcGSM022xmtwBpNylrLndnJgNQ193QhK!-31090767?section=om&keywords=&searchType=&model=RX400H&year=2006&x=41&y=9#

[wackyjim]

Thanks Jason and Steve feel a lot happier now was a bit worried about this

[ColinBarber]

Interesting question Jim one I would also like an answer to, there must be some kind of auxillary heating system when running on electric only but can it be activated "on the driveway" so the car is clear when setting off.

Not with the RX400h, it uses the petrol engine for heating as there is no electric heater. In the winter it is one reason why the engine runs a lot more than in the summer which drops your mpg.

If you turn off the climate control, until the engine naturally comes up to temperature, and just use your seat heaters to keep warm you will notice an improvement in mpg - not too good if you need to clear the windscreen though.

[wackyjim]

Thanks for the replies...one more question does the Rx400h have a built in trailer stability (anti-sway) for towing I can't see any reference in the owners manual ?

[Boxbrownie]

Shame you so far away....I got my set of 18" winters for sale sometime soon......now using 17" on my RX.

[nelmo]

Thanks for the replies...one more question does the Rx400h have a built in trailer stability (anti-sway) for towing I can't see any reference in the owners manual ?

I've never heard of any car with that - the system is normally on the trailer/caravan itself, not the towing vehicle.

[wackyjim]

Sorry Nelmo that's not the case most SUV's capable of towing have trailer stability linked to the car's ECU but I believe Lexus who don't actually recommend towing with the RX have omitted this capability

Edit; Even Skoda provide this on their saloon cars...disappointing omission for Lexus considering it's a safety issue.

http://www.skoda.co.uk/models/HotspotDetail?HotspotName=New%20%C5%A0KODA%20Superb%20-%20Trailer%20Stability%20Assist&WebID=ae96cdca-03f5-4650-9cb4-7f88289cf501&Page=technology

[wackyjim]

Shame you so far away....I got my set of 18" winters for sale sometime soon......now using 17" on my RX.

That's a pity

[Mr Pants!]

I have am Alko tow hitch, keeps my caravan straight and true.

I did not know that Lexus recommended against towing! Mine seems to sit quite nicely on the road.

I also fit winter tyres to mine, in the snow its a dream.... When leaving work I watched many colleagues digging their cars out, whilst I just drove out.

In terms of heating, when there is demand the engine runs until you have warm air, so no issue there.

I fitted one of these to mine - http://www.optimate.co.uk

I have only had it twice happen to me, but you can't jump start a Hybrid, well you can, but when you get down the road and the engine goes off you are stuck, so they have to be trickle charged. I find if I don't use the car for 14 - 21 days the car Battery seems to die on me. I took it to lexus and they replaced the Battery and its still the same. they said its due to my short journeys and then leaving it standing. So when on holidays I just hook up the optimate.....

hope this helps, if I think of anything else I will share.

[wackyjim]

^ Thanks for the reply, can you hook up something like this emergency pack to restart a Rx400h? http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Automotive/d60/Starters+Chargers/sd3219/6+in+1+Power+Station/p35983#item_detail

[Mr Pants!]

You can, but the issue is that when you drive down the road and stop at a junction the engine goes off when you go into hybrid mode and you will need a jump start again.

I think the only way is to trickle charge over a number of hours.

Sent from my Iphone using Lexus OC

[wackyjim]

Ok got you....but what a potential nightmare :tsktsk:

Edit: Just had a thought...say you got it jump started ,if you then put on the headlights or the air con at full blast would that prevent the car from going into hybrid mode if you had to stop for any reason?

[Mr Pants!]

Yes hence the optimate, I have laid in a tidy cable that I just plug in when I need to, I only use it if I know the car is going to be parked for over 10 days

Sent from my Iphone using Lexus OC

[wackyjim]

^ See my edited post

[Mr Pants!]

Interesting idea.... Not tried it.

Sent from my Iphone using Lexus OC

[ColinBarber]

You can, but the issue is that when you drive down the road and stop at a junction the engine goes off when you go into hybrid mode and you will need a jump start again.

I think the only way is to trickle charge over a number of hours.

Sent from my iPhone using Lexus OC

what ????

The engine isn't started by the 12v aux Battery.

You can use an emergency pack to get the vehicle into 'Ready' state. From there the 12v aux Battery is being charged by the hybrid system. The petrol engine doesn't come into play.

[Mr Pants!]

Mine must be broken then and Lexus Reading don't know what they are talking about as I jumped started mine, got down the road and ended up stuck again, had to call the RAC.

I was advised there is no link between the hybrid batteries and engine Battery.

Sent from my Iphone using Lexus OC

[ColinBarber]

I'd advise you don't use the dealership again then.

The engine doesn't have a starter motor so the 12v Battery cannot turn over the engine, one of the hybrid motor/generators is used to for that. The 288 volt hybrid Battery current is passed through the inverter which converts it 650 volts AC to power that motor. In addition the inverter contains a DC/DC converter to supply 12v for the main vehicle electrical system and charge the 12v Battery.

I can only assume your Battery had completely collapsed and was causing a system error. During the 5 years I had my 400h I flattened the Battery three times, in all cases I just quickly connected a 12v pack across the Battery to get the system 'ready' and drove off to work without any further problems.

[wackyjim]

Hi Colin. I see there are all sorts of power packs on the market from £50 right up to £300 so if the car Battery doesn't actually start the car then presumably a cheap 300amp power pack would be more than enough?

[ColinBarber]

Hi Colin. I see there are all sorts of power packs on the market from £50 right up to £300 so if the car battery doesn't actually start the car then presumably a cheap 300amp power pack would be more than enough?

yes, the smallest one should do. I've used a small 6 Ah scooter Battery and even just a Battery charger connected across the Battery as only a few amps will be needed. The biggest power draw is if you forget to turn off the auto lights and it is dark.

[Mr Pants!]

Thanks Colin when this next happens I will look more into it...

So why do we need to jump start at all?

Sent from my Iphone using Lexus OC

[ColinBarber]

So why do we need to jump start at all?

Essentially because the 12v Battery isn't needed to start the engine it can be much smaller to save weight, space and cost. I think Toyota went a bit too far with this.

Whilst the standard 38 Ah Battery can probably last around 4 weeks and have enough charge to bring the system into 'Ready', once it has aged a bit and gone through a deep cycle or two its capacity is reduced and that standing time may only be 2 weeks or less.

If you replace the Battery every 5 years, and replace it with a Bosch 45 Ah Battery then you shouldn't experience problems unless you are regularly leaving your vehicle unattended for weeks at a time and deep cycling the Battery - in which case you should fit an Optima deep-cycle Battery.