billygarrett

Hi Linehill in Worcestershie. Roy here in Warwickshire, next door... The flat batterryproblem on the RX series is as old as the hills... I have had mine just over 4 years and have been plagued with this problem from the start. If you check on the forums you will pick up many pointers from myself and other users. Alas we have not solved this problem... Maybe this will be helpful... My RX300 was purchased for summer use only. ie pulling our caravan throughout the UK and Europe.. Cannot fault it. It is a superb tow car and apart from the battey problem , has been trouble free. Shortly after buying it ( and storing it in a well heated garage over the winter,) I realised it would not start... In this case Lexus were very good. I bought the car from Lexus Oxford with the first initial equipment battery fitted ( a poxy 40 ampere hour Lucas). Lexus arranged for me to take the car to Lexus Coventry as we live in Stratford... Lexus Coventry changed the battery to a NEW LEXUS 70amp hour battery which was the largest and only battery one could fit in the RX frame... Problem solved (nearly) now the car is able to stand for between 3 and 4 weeks .. After that no start on the button is possible..... As I was employed in a tech position with Chloride for around 26 years, I think I know a little bit about batteries..... This is not really a battery quality problem. In a nut shell the 70 amp battery on an RX 300 or 400 series is just not up to the job of coping with the very high ' Hotel Loads' which discharge the battery when it is stood... There is virtually no problem with starting in the summer months when the car is used every couple of days or so.. I have today ordered the latest state of the art ACCUMATE charger/conditioner.. Google Accumate Charger and Conditioner and let us all know what you think ! I will put some postings upon the site if I can find any improvements. Money won't solve this one if you find a 90 ampere hour battery like ambulances fit ( and our 3 series BMW) you still will not be able to shoe horn it into the tight battery tray.... If anyoner out there has found any improvements with this problem I would love to know how to improve this dreadful design problem Hi, As mentioned in several previous threads, I also have been plagued by flat batteries in my RX400h But my problem is that I sometimes leave the key in the ignition switch for too long, maybe 3 hours, and when I go back the battery is flat. The reason I think is that the solenoid which tilts the steering wheel is drawing power all the time. My solution is twofold: 1. I always carry a small jumpstart box in the boot which is on permanent charge through the "lighter" socket. This has saved my bacon numerous times!!! ( I am starting to remember to remove the key!!) 2. I have a small security battery connector, which disconnects the battery completely when I loosen or remove the nut on the top of it. I can use this if I am leaving the car for more than 2 weeks while on holiday etc. I believe that Lexus should fit Leisure batteries for Hybrids which don't need high current to start. but allow a longer slow drainage time, but nobody wants to listen to me!!! Cheers Billy I forgot to mention that the downside of disconnecting completely is that all windows and bootlock and radio have to be re-initialised again, but now that I know about it is no problem (but a bit annoying!!) Hi Billy, Happy New Year. Nice to hear from you again... Like me you have tried almost everything with the flat battery problem.... As we live (hopefully) in a secure area and we have another car parked behind the Lexus, not only do I never lock the car. I NEVER leave the key in ever.... RESULT still a flat battery after around 3 weeks parking... Over the last few weeks of freezing weather, this period has gone down to 2 weeks..... In a nutshell the RX does require a deep cycling leisure battery to increase the time frame down to discharge condition when the car is stood... There has never been an issue (unless someone pops up on here and tells us otherwise) with engine starting... when the battery is well up to charge my car always start at the first time. When I bought mine (2nd hand) it had a bluetooth car phone hands free phone system fitted... As the kit married up easily with my Nokia phone I have left it in... Testing the car the other day it appears as though the bluetooth is live all the time and not through the ignition... Dont want to remove it but I am considering it. If you get a minute can you briefly go through the procedure of resetting the radio, windows, locks , alarm etc when you shut off all the power with a cut off switch on the battery.... Cheers Roy Hi Roy And a Happy New Year to you :) To initialise the windows just go to each window and if you look carefully you will see the little led light flashing on the switch. So open an shut it by holding the switch up while it shuts and the light will stop flashing. Done! You may need to send it up and down a couple of times though. Then test them from the drivers door. repeat performance for moon roof. Re boot, just lock and unlock car doors by remote or by switch on drivers door. I am afraid you will have to retune the radio manually! I hope this helps. Billy

Hi Linehill in Worcestershie. Roy here in Warwickshire, next door... The flat batterryproblem on the RX series is as old as the hills... I have had mine just over 4 years and have been plagued with this problem from the start. If you check on the forums you will pick up many pointers from myself and other users. Alas we have not solved this problem... Maybe this will be helpful... My RX300 was purchased for summer use only. ie pulling our caravan throughout the UK and Europe.. Cannot fault it. It is a superb tow car and apart from the battey problem , has been trouble free. Shortly after buying it ( and storing it in a well heated garage over the winter,) I realised it would not start... In this case Lexus were very good. I bought the car from Lexus Oxford with the first initial equipment battery fitted ( a poxy 40 ampere hour Lucas). Lexus arranged for me to take the car to Lexus Coventry as we live in Stratford... Lexus Coventry changed the battery to a NEW LEXUS 70amp hour battery which was the largest and only battery one could fit in the RX frame... Problem solved (nearly) now the car is able to stand for between 3 and 4 weeks .. After that no start on the button is possible..... As I was employed in a tech position with Chloride for around 26 years, I think I know a little bit about batteries..... This is not really a battery quality problem. In a nut shell the 70 amp battery on an RX 300 or 400 series is just not up to the job of coping with the very high ' Hotel Loads' which discharge the battery when it is stood... There is virtually no problem with starting in the summer months when the car is used every couple of days or so.. I have today ordered the latest state of the art ACCUMATE charger/conditioner.. Google Accumate Charger and Conditioner and let us all know what you think ! I will put some postings upon the site if I can find any improvements. Money won't solve this one if you find a 90 ampere hour battery like ambulances fit ( and our 3 series BMW) you still will not be able to shoe horn it into the tight battery tray.... If anyoner out there has found any improvements with this problem I would love to know how to improve this dreadful design problem Hi, As mentioned in several previous threads, I also have been plagued by flat batteries in my RX400h But my problem is that I sometimes leave the key in the ignition switch for too long, maybe 3 hours, and when I go back the battery is flat. The reason I think is that the solenoid which tilts the steering wheel is drawing power all the time. My solution is twofold: 1. I always carry a small jumpstart box in the boot which is on permanent charge through the "lighter" socket. This has saved my bacon numerous times!!! ( I am starting to remember to remove the key!!) 2. I have a small security battery connector, which disconnects the battery completely when I loosen or remove the nut on the top of it. I can use this if I am leaving the car for more than 2 weeks while on holiday etc. I believe that Lexus should fit Leisure batteries for Hybrids which don't need high current to start. but allow a longer slow drainage time, but nobody wants to listen to me!!! Cheers Billy I forgot to mention that the downside of disconnecting completely is that all windows and bootlock and radio have to be re-initialised again, but now that I know about it is no problem (but a bit annoying!!)

Hi Linehill in Worcestershie. Roy here in Warwickshire, next door... The flat batterryproblem on the RX series is as old as the hills... I have had mine just over 4 years and have been plagued with this problem from the start. If you check on the forums you will pick up many pointers from myself and other users. Alas we have not solved this problem... Maybe this will be helpful... My RX300 was purchased for summer use only. ie pulling our caravan throughout the UK and Europe.. Cannot fault it. It is a superb tow car and apart from the battey problem , has been trouble free. Shortly after buying it ( and storing it in a well heated garage over the winter,) I realised it would not start... In this case Lexus were very good. I bought the car from Lexus Oxford with the first initial equipment battery fitted ( a poxy 40 ampere hour Lucas). Lexus arranged for me to take the car to Lexus Coventry as we live in Stratford... Lexus Coventry changed the battery to a NEW LEXUS 70amp hour battery which was the largest and only battery one could fit in the RX frame... Problem solved (nearly) now the car is able to stand for between 3 and 4 weeks .. After that no start on the button is possible..... As I was employed in a tech position with Chloride for around 26 years, I think I know a little bit about batteries..... This is not really a battery quality problem. In a nut shell the 70 amp battery on an RX 300 or 400 series is just not up to the job of coping with the very high ' Hotel Loads' which discharge the battery when it is stood... There is virtually no problem with starting in the summer months when the car is used every couple of days or so.. I have today ordered the latest state of the art ACCUMATE charger/conditioner.. Google Accumate Charger and Conditioner and let us all know what you think ! I will put some postings upon the site if I can find any improvements. Money won't solve this one if you find a 90 ampere hour battery like ambulances fit ( and our 3 series BMW) you still will not be able to shoe horn it into the tight battery tray.... If anyoner out there has found any improvements with this problem I would love to know how to improve this dreadful design problem Hi, As mentioned in several previous threads, I also have been plagued by flat batteries in my RX400h But my problem is that I sometimes leave the key in the ignition switch for too long, maybe 3 hours, and when I go back the battery is flat. The reason I think is that the solenoid which tilts the steering wheel is drawing power all the time. My solution is twofold: 1. I always carry a small jumpstart box in the boot which is on permanent charge through the "lighter" socket. This has saved my bacon numerous times!!! ( I am starting to remember to remove the key!!) 2. I have a small security battery connector, which disconnects the battery completely when I loosen or remove the nut on the top of it. I can use this if I am leaving the car for more than 2 weeks while on holiday etc. I believe that Lexus should fit Leisure batteries for Hybrids which don't need high current to start. but allow a longer slow drainage time, but nobody wants to listen to me!!! Cheers Billy

yes got thr sunroof aswell one of the things i pressed to get the windows going was the seat back, tilt under the steering wheel. the seat still tilts even if the switch is in or out. regards You could get a battery security disable switch that disconnects the battery by unscrewing a large nut/knob or removing it altogether. It just means you neeed to reset your windows etc, but it might be worth it! I keep a portable jump start box in the car as this has happened many times, esp if i leave the key in the ignition switch. I have just had a new battery under warranty as I was fed up of it going flat!!! Lexus agreed it was faulty!!! Billy

Thanks John However, I love my RX 400 and have sunk too much dosh into it to change it now. Besides I am not keen on the smoke and particulates from diesel, but that is another argument :) Cheers Billy

Thanks for replying Rob. According to the links I sent most people say it doesn't affect their cars, but I wondered which materials on the 400h would be affected... It seems a very low amount in 10 gallons.... Cheers Billy

I guess the quick answer to that question is "no" ? BTW, for those who are interested, my 2006 RX400h mpg ranges from 29 to 32 depending on weather temperature. It has now done approx 24,000 miles If I drive it REALLY hard it drops to 27 which is the lowest I have ever got. The highest has been 50 over a 20 mile journey, but that was driving very carefully on country roads with minimum traffic. Now I wonder what would happen if I put in a little acetone... BR Billy Nobody has any comments on this?

I guess the quick answer to that question is "no" ? BTW, for those who are interested, my 2006 RX400h mpg ranges from 29 to 32 depending on weather temperature. It has now done approx 24,000 miles If I drive it REALLY hard it drops to 27 which is the lowest I have ever got. The highest has been 50 over a 20 mile journey, but that was driving very carefully on country roads with minimum traffic. Now I wonder what would happen if I put in a little acetone... BR Billy

I haven't tried it yet, so I would be interested to hear peoples views on this: http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Ace...a_Fuel_Additive and these links: http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:A... http://www.pureenergysystems.com/news/20... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news... http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/news/20... http://www.lubedev.com/smartgas/additive... Does the RX400h have a bladder in the tank like the Prius does? If so could it be damaged by acetone? The main warning so far is watch your paint work!! Thanks Billy

Hi Willi.At last I finally got around to doing the camera wash modification. However, I did a cheap version! I simply installed a length of fish tank tubing (from a local shop) and left off the relay switch. I got the other bits for free from a scrapped car in a local scrapyard. It seems to work ok but I might need a taller nozzle. Thanks for the details of how to do it. BR Billy

I cannot understand where they get their figures from!!! If you look at your service schedule, the service consists of replacing the pollen filter (approx £30) Labour, approx 60 seconds as it is behind the glove tray ( and can often be cleaned. See your manual), Oil and filter, approx £40 + Labour of 15 mins to change the filter and drain and refill the oil, as the front panel UNDER the engine has to be removed. OK say 30 Mins max for a slow mechanic + various other visual checks. I agree that approx £70 to change brake fluid seems reasonable and should be done as scheduled. I was brought up in a family garage business and a service of this type was dead easy and inexpensive. Accordingly, I do these 20 k services myself (apart from changing brake fluid) every 5k miles and get a local mainstream garage to do the services at the required intervals PURELY for warranty purposes. NOTE: Eu regulations say you do not HAVE to go to a main dealer for servicing as long as it is a bona fide good quality reputable garage. Today's prices would have been be well under £100 for such a simple service which does not require changing plugs, points, greasing joints, changing gearbox oil, and changing brake shoes or pads. I could understand the price charged if it included parts and labour for these items, but I don't believe it does!!! Go on then, I guess someone will violently disagree, but I do not intend to say any more as I have rabbited enough on the subject BR Billy

Hi Martin, That is serious money in anybody's language. Have you had it done? Or has the problem gone away? Wouldn't a good sraying of WD40 do any good? I've had a good look at mine and the cables are nice and dirty so heaven knows if salt and water has got itself in there. There's no protection for the cables/connector whatsoever. I think I'll make a shield myself to try and keep it from getting any worse. It's all very well having a posh black plastic cover over the ABS pump and power steering reservoir but not much cop if the important bits are going to get soaked. Would the extended warranty have covered this huge bill? Hope you're getting somewhere with it, Alan. Hi Alan I had a similar problem with my first RX 400 immediately after buying it in Sept 2006 and Lexus replaced the car after 6 months. Great service! But now I am worried from seeing these posts. Can you tell me how to find the ABS pump and cables/connectors so I can check them out? Do you have any pictures / service info? Thanks Billy

Sorry. I can't help but point out that the output that matters is the voltage and it should be between 12 and 13.8 volts. The hybrid electronic system will only take what it needs so it doesn't matter if it is capable of 20 amps or more. As long as it is high enough to kickstart the electronics,3 amps or 6 amps or more, that is all that matters provided it is approx 12 volts! And despite the resounding silence to my last posting , I still say it should have a leisure (e.g. caravan) battery capable of a safe deep discharge! Regards Billy

Indeed, it appears every system I have seen so far includes "flashlube" for this particular vehicle.....which is a good sign I guess? Try to get the hang of this forum larky so here goes! Drove my 2003 lexus rx300 for just over a month and so far enjoyed every minute. I have spent almost 6 months finding out about this car(a bit sad realy drove my partner mad) the good the bad and the ugly but so far I havent found any of this as a 4x4 type vehicle it is very comfi etc even getting 23 to the gallon just trolleying around not bad at all. Any way talking about the fuel my ultimate intention before buying this car was to convert it to lpg. phase 1 locating the spare from under the car. this I have done by manufacturing a bracket fixed at one side in the boot so it is now stud up on it's side thus still giveing enough room to fit the dog carrier and suit cases ready for the cornwall and scotland tour etc Phase 2 the convertion now then I have had 3 quotes with all saying theres is the the best umm now Normally I would go for the mid price. But before this Im gona ask in here for any feed back on any convertions already done. Regards Steve ps If any one's interested in the spare wheel bracket for the boot let me no and I will post some pici's on here (my rx is with spare origanaly underneath). Has anyone done this LPG conversion on an Rx400h? If so is it successful?

I agree entirely! I have found it most embarassing having to explain to frinds and family why my £45000 car keeps letting me downn while there cheap old jalopies don't cause them any problems!!!!

The lights were set to auto. As I indicated in my earlier post, I didn't bother to take any special precautions to save the battery as I fully expected it to be flat on my return. Just to say, I parked my car in my garage for 3 weeks while I went to Florida. When I got back last week it was completely flat!!! Fortunately I had my battery charger/200amp booster close by and could start it immediately. Yesterday, I left the key in the ignition switch for approx 1 hour in the "off" position and had a flat battery on my return, thanks I think to the steeering column tilt solenoid. I had to get a jump start from my friend. My next mod is to install an alarm to remind me to remove the key entirely as I have done that trick several times and I am fed up of it!!!!!! I am convinced the battery should be of the caravan leisure type which ids suitable for low current drain over a longer period. Regards Billy

Are you people aware of Hymotion's plug-in rechageable add-on battery which will be available next year for cars such as RX400H? It is being launched in USA early 2008 but we need it bringing to the UK too. You can register your interest at: www.hymotion.com with no comittment to buy. They tell me that unless there is a lot of interest in the UK, it wil stay in USA and Canada :( So do please register your interest and lobby your dealer to become an agent. They say 500 mpg is possible but I will settle for 100+ mpg!!! Comments? Billy Garrett

Is it feasible or wise to convert the 400h to LPG? If so where in North Yorkshire could it be done? Billy

Thanks very much, fluff! Ruth What I don't understand if all his is true, why is it not a problem while the cars are some weeks on the high seas from Japan and then in storage for a few more days... I can't imagine them going round starting up all the cars on the ship :)

I am not sure how similar the 300 is to the 400h but: If you look at this, it should help: http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/ind...ost&id=2094 Also I addded this to a posting. I did succeed in getting the radio out after spending ages locating the 2 "hidden" bolts (10 mm socket). They are located on each side of the radio approx 100 mm fromm the front face and very high up so you need to get your head as low as possible so you can just barely see them. I loosend them with a socket and was in serious danger of dropping them. So I used my long "pickup" gadget with 4 claws to grip the bolts and screw them out. I was very relieved to see them come out without dropping them!! Without this gadget or a similar magnet tool I would definitely have dropped them inside. So when I got to the plugs in the back of the LCD screen unit, I found to my disappointment that the connections were different from that shown in our instructions pdf. Hi Rick. Did this help? Billy

I am not sure how similar the 300 is to the 400h but: If you look at this, it should help: http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/ind...ost&id=2094 Also I addded this to a posting. I did succeed in getting the radio out after spending ages locating the 2 "hidden" bolts (10 mm socket). They are located on each side of the radio approx 100 mm fromm the front face and very high up so you need to get your head as low as possible so you can just barely see them. I loosend them with a socket and was in serious danger of dropping them. So I used my long "pickup" gadget with 4 claws to grip the bolts and screw them out. I was very relieved to see them come out without dropping them!! Without this gadget or a similar magnet tool I would definitely have dropped them inside. So when I got to the plugs in the back of the LCD screen unit, I found to my disappointment that the connections were different from that shown in our instructions pdf.

If you look at his, it should help: http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/ind...ost&id=2094

Regret that Superguard does nothing whatever t add to scratch/chip resistance. It does make it look nice after washing. Indeed I have just reached stalemate with Lexus sheffield over the issue of what I believe is poor quality paintwork on my 2005 RX300 which at 2000 miles looks bad. D I live in the countryside in North Yokshire. My last car was peppered with stone chips. Having spent £43k on my RX400 I decided to protect it for a cost of £500 last february. So far it is unscathed.... I got it from http://www.rhinoprotect.co.uk/index.html and the came from Hrathrow to fit it. Bargain. Tell Charles and Phil I sent you :) Regards Billy Garrett

You are lucky Toyota man will do it. My local Toyota dealer in York told me they were not allowed to service Lexus, but I was allowed to go to any other reputable garage to get it done!! He recommended one down the road!!! Apparently it is EU regulations that servicing can be done at any good garage.

Hi Brian You seem to have exactly the same problem as I did. But the RAC were unable to cancel mine and I had a warning tone screeching at me making it unbearable to drive. However it didn't show any code number as far as I can remember. Lexus Newcastle were very helpful but it ended after 6 months with me REJECTING the car and they persuaded Lexus to replace it with a brand new one in September with which I am very happy. ( I am now a bit nervous as it is the same age as yours). Does your model play DVD's on the front screeen? They thought the fault was caused by water getting into the system where I had the roof rails removed, but I doubt it and even more so now if you have the same problem I would reject the car if I were you. Do let me know how you get on. Billy Thanks for your response. My model does not have the DVD facility. I have the car back with me now. The Service Manager at Twickenham assures me that the car has been throughly checked and there are no faults. If the fault occurs again, they say they can do better diagnostics if the fault has not been cancelled (by the RAC), as they can then recover better information on the fault condition. I am in the process of writing to Lexus GB to say that I am not happy with the situation, particularly, as the problem will in all probability recur as the car ages. Regards Brian Well the good news is that mine must be the new 2007 model so I shouldn't have that problem again! The bad news is that yours may be the 2006 model that I had and it will probably occur again!!! Lexus spent 4 or 5 months trying to find the fault and gave up and gave me a new car. I believe Lexus UK still haven't found the intermittent fault ( they think it is water damage) and may have to scrap the car!!! My dealer agreed that it was dangerous to have it on the road as it happened to him and the power steering went off!!! Foruantely I was either stationary or moving off when it happened to me! I have to say the customer service from Lexus Newcastle was first class. They provided me with a replacement quality hire car for several weeks, which must have cost a fortune and collected and delivered the cars. It is a 200 mile round trip to Newcastle! But now I am a very happy bunny :) Billy