billygarrett

In cold weather my engine starts immediately I turn the key to "start" it to the "ready" position. I wonder is there a simple way of heating the engine without a major cabin installation? My 1988 Saab 9000 had an optional mains electrical heating element (like a kettle) which I fitted into the side of the engine block. It was on a time switch and I always had a preheated engine in the mornings for the last 18 years! Not any more with my double price Rx 400h :(

I have been asked to post my opinon of my new car, so here goes: Well, it arrived 3 weeks ago :) I am very pleased with it. There are just 2 small faults. The n/s front foglight doesn't work. The dealer sent at my request a new bulb as I said I could probably fix it myself. But I think the fault is that the connector was left off when they installed the parking sensors. Also the trailer connection socket doesn't appear to work for the lights on the trailer. Hopefully I can easily fix it. If not, the dealer said he would send someone down from Newcastle to fix both problems. I am very pleased with their customer service:) It is much the same as 2006 apart from: HYBRID badge on both rear door trims 5.1 sound system Plays MP3's and DVD films when stationary Better maps and control systems Faster GPS engine. Improved Blue tooth phone system Seems to run better but maybe the other 400h was faulty! Parking sensors work properly, but it took them over 1 week to get right. Can't think of anything else just now. A lovely car. I am very pleased with it. However I was a little disappointed to find that the Homelink garage door opener to be fitted on the sunv isor, is NOT on my model, but will be fitted to models supplied form January onwards. But I can't have everything and I believe it can be retrofitted if I want it. But I don't know how much it will cost! I wonder will there be any other new features.... I had an IS200 on loan for 1 week and hated it! It kept sliding and getting stuck in the mud out here in the countryside. Sorry. Rear wheel drive is no use to me! Regards Billy

Thanks I will have a go and see how I get on. Billy I have just tried this out and it worked perfectly. Thank you. However I didn't realise I had som many obsolete phone numbers.!! Now I wil have to go through them and delete the dead ones!! BUT, I made a test call and the reception at the other end was badly distorted, so I will have to check out the settings in the hidden menu :( BR Billy

See documentation by Williz on this topic in thread further down the list on this Forum around 25 Oct. BR Billy

Glad you liked it :) Thanks

Mmmm a bit tricky to describe. They are approx 7 or 8 mm above the edge or crease in the bumper approx in lline (or a bit below)with number plate. They are at approx 40 degrees from the centre of the fog lights (underneath to left and right towards number plate) or you could say they are between the 4 and 5 o'clock position on l/h side and between 7 and 8 o'clock on the r/h (drivers) side. (UK offside) Does that help? BTW they are very sensitive and loud. I turn them off when not required as they pick up some pclose passing traffic. I intend to put some tape over the beeper when I find it (the beeper) as it is very loud. Billy

Thanks I will have a go and see how I get on. Billy

Can someone tell me what a K700I is! Tried everything with my P990i and no good. Local garage confirms that P990i is not compatible. Spoken to Sony about this who reccomend downloading their latest software to the phone. Still on the case My K700 Sony Ericsson works perfectly on my 400h now that I changed the phone's profile to "in car" This shows up briefly when I switch it on. But I can't figure out how to transfer my phone book :( Billy

Hi Rillo I can only answer Q5 as I didn't receive the car till yesterday. They are mounted on the front bumper in line with the number plate and equally spaced. They seem to be working ok now but I don't know the part number. Billy

Tank yo. However, I can't answer any of your questions as it is brand new one and I haven't even seen it yet !!! Big disappointment, but at least my dealer, Tom is doing his best and wants to fix it before I take delivery. I would rather that than have a fault on it! BR Billy Tank yo. However, I can't answer any of your questions as it is brand new one and I haven't even seen it yet !!! Big disappointment, but at least my dealer, Tom is doing his best and wants to fix it before I take delivery. I would rather that than have a fault on it! BR Billy Sorry about typo. It should read: Thank you. However, I can't answer any of your questions as it is brand new car and I haven't even seen it yet !!! Big disappointment, but at least my dealer, Tom is doing his best and wants to fix it before I take delivery. I would rather that than have a fault on it! BR Billy HI MATE IF THE CAR IS BRAND NEW ASK THE DEALER TO CHECK IF THEY HAVE BEEN INITIALIZED PROPERLY BECAUSE THE SENSORS FIT A FEW OTHER LEXUS'S AND TOYOTAS SO YOU HAVE TO PROGRAM THEM FOR THE CORRECT VEHICLE Thanks. I will ask him. Cheers Billy Well my lovely new 2007 400h arrived today and I am absolutely delighted with it. They finally got a set of front sensors that work on the 3 rd attempt. They solved it by getting a SINGLE set which is supplied to fit on the front ONLY rather than a DUAL set for both front and back. It seems there is a difference between the 2 types. How about that for a mystery? :) It plays DVD's (when parked) mp3's cd's etc The GPS system looks different but I haven't had time to play with it yet. They also fitted a REMOVABLE tow bar, which saves me cracking my shins on it!! My only disappointment is that the Homelink Garage door opener isn't fitted until Jan. Depending on cost I may have it retro fitted if it is available sooner. Bed time now Goodnight all. An extra hour in bed tonight :) Happy Billy:)

Tank yo. However, I can't answer any of your questions as it is brand new one and I haven't even seen it yet !!! Big disappointment, but at least my dealer, Tom is doing his best and wants to fix it before I take delivery. I would rather that than have a fault on it! BR Billy Tank yo. However, I can't answer any of your questions as it is brand new one and I haven't even seen it yet !!! Big disappointment, but at least my dealer, Tom is doing his best and wants to fix it before I take delivery. I would rather that than have a fault on it! BR Billy Sorry about typo. It should read: Thank you. However, I can't answer any of your questions as it is brand new car and I haven't even seen it yet !!! Big disappointment, but at least my dealer, Tom is doing his best and wants to fix it before I take delivery. I would rather that than have a fault on it! BR Billy HI MATE IF THE CAR IS BRAND NEW ASK THE DEALER TO CHECK IF THEY HAVE BEEN INITIALIZED PROPERLY BECAUSE THE SENSORS FIT A FEW OTHER LEXUS'S AND TOYOTAS SO YOU HAVE TO PROGRAM THEM FOR THE CORRECT VEHICLE Thanks. I will ask him. Cheers Billy

Tank yo. However, I can't answer any of your questions as it is brand new one and I haven't even seen it yet !!! Big disappointment, but at least my dealer, Tom is doing his best and wants to fix it before I take delivery. I would rather that than have a fault on it! BR Billy Tank yo. However, I can't answer any of your questions as it is brand new one and I haven't even seen it yet !!! Big disappointment, but at least my dealer, Tom is doing his best and wants to fix it before I take delivery. I would rather that than have a fault on it! BR Billy Sorry about typo. It should read: Thank you. However, I can't answer any of your questions as it is brand new car and I haven't even seen it yet !!! Big disappointment, but at least my dealer, Tom is doing his best and wants to fix it before I take delivery. I would rather that than have a fault on it! BR Billy

Hi I have new 2007 model 400h awaiting delivery to me after fitting of the parking sensors However, the front sensors keep beeping at random Despite changing the kits twice it is still playing up. My dealer is really trying hard to sort it but it still will not work properly. Does anyone else have experience of faulty parking sensors on the 400h? Billy

Hi Willi That looks good now. Glad it is all completed now. I hope our members will find it useful as they have been wanting this for so long :) Thanks Billy hope you will enjoy your new car and we will get a detailed report of all new (model 2007) fetures and functions. i spoke to lexus europe today and the garage door opener they promises for september can be ordered now. do you need that for your new car? rgeards willi Thanks Willi. BUT my bad luck has struck again! :( They were bringing the car to me and got a short distance when the rear sensors started beeping intermittently!! So they turned around and took it back. They are going to replace the entire system tomorrow and try agin to deliver it tomorrow evening. Fingers crossed! Yes , if the car doesn't have the door opener I will need to order one. Regards Billy Hi Willi I am told the door opener is not available till January. Are you sure you can get them? Re my new car it was actuallythe front sensors. Despite changing the kits twice it is still playing up. Tom is really trying hard to sort it but it still will not work properly. Does anyone else have experience of faulty parking sensors on the 400h? I will copy this to the other thread as it is reall y off topic. Sorry.

Hi Willi That looks good now. Glad it is all completed now. I hope our members will find it useful as they have been wanting this for so long :) Thanks Billy hope you will enjoy your new car and we will get a detailed report of all new (model 2007) fetures and functions. i spoke to lexus europe today and the garage door opener they promises for september can be ordered now. do you need that for your new car? rgeards willi Thanks Willi. BUT my bad luck has struck again! :( They were bringing the car to me and got a short distance when the rear sensors started beeping intermittently!! So they turned around and took it back. They are going to replace the entire system tomorrow and try agin to deliver it tomorrow evening. Fingers crossed! Yes , if the car doesn't have the door opener I will need to order one. Regards Billy

Hi Willi That looks good now. Glad it is all completed now. I hope our members will find it useful as they have been wanting this for so long :) Thanks Billy

it seems there is not much interest after all our hard work !!

hi! yes this a problem. originaly there are 15W lamps installed. lamps with more power are to big to be installed. i have experimented with 35W hallogene lamps. there light is OK but they become to hot and damage the lamp-sokets. the only solution i can see is to change from normal bulbs to LED's. but this is a comlete design change and i had not time to do it. beside that the reflector design is wrong and most of the light is a absorbt from a plastik part inside the reflector. so the easyest solution will be to install a separate reverse light under the bumper. or you hit the brake with the left leg when you go reverse. the brake light is bright and you can see much more. regards williz I also have aproblem with this. Is it possible to install a switch that would switch on the brake lights manually? Or is it possible to connect them to the reversing light switch.? Alternatively the rear fog lights could be used I guess?

Thanks. That is good news :)

I had them dealer fitted both front and rear to my 2006 400h. They both also had switches. The front sensors worked ok but the rear ones gave a warning tone even when there was nothing there. I believe there was a faulty batch so I hope my new 2007 model (Due in 2 weeks) will be ok.

I believe we are still on target for mid October. I don'think there is a new name for it. Just ensure it has the ne revised satnav the same as the new RX 350 and you should be OK. I believe mine is on the boat now and I have my new registartion number!! :) It should be here when I get back from hols in NZ in 4 /5 weeks :) :) Billy

I take it that changing the phones profile to "IN CAR" hasn't worked? :( Sorry!

The RAC gave me the best deal, approx £300 last Sept but it depends where you live. I am out in the Yorkshire countryside :)

billy i think you description is correct. but we should keep in mind that in modern cars many computer systems are in the "stand by " mode when the ignition is turend off. if not it would take verry long to get the system up and running. if you do a cold start with the navigation system of the RX400h it takes about 2 minutes to get ready. it is booting from DVD drive and runs through some screens where input is needed and then it comes to the point where it is normaly when you turn the ignition on. also the security system is working and so are many others. this all consumes current. so i think we pay with battery draining for the immediate "ready" after tunrnig the ignition key. williz *** point Willi. Thank you. So this confirms my thoughts that the 400h needs a slow drainage "leisure" type battery, don't you think?

Hii Roy, Sorry for delay in replying. I didn't get a notification of your message. Thanks for the update on the 2 battery systems. As I understand it, there is no conventional starter motor (or alternator) on the 400h!!! It is started by the main drive motor/generator which is driven by the big 280 volt drive battery. So I don't think there is much amperage required from the 12 volt battery to start it as long as there is enough voltage for the control systems... Please correct me if I am wrong :) Billy Hi Billy, I think we have opened a 'hornets nest' here.... Whilst I was involved for around 30 years with Chloride supplying automotive batteries to the European Vehicle manufacturers, there was nothing around like the RX400. I've been retired now for a good number of years... Now, I just have to find out more info on the RX400 system... If anyone else out there can throw any technical info on this subject, I am sure this will be very much appreciated.. If you think for a moment, all the bulbs (and/or LCD's) must be 12 volt..., the engine starter battery must be 12 volts, the radio/CD/tape player/ alarm system etc etc all must be 12v.. These must come off the enginestarting battery.. I cannot see a 'taping' of the 280volt battery being made to start the engine (could be wrong here) I will start digging info on this and post accordingly.. In the meantime anyone having a problem with the standard RX300 cars, keep your eye on the light on the sun visors... This can still be left on when the ignition key is withdrawn from the dash... ifthe panel is not closed completely.. I think this is what dropped me in it.... regards Roy Hi Roy. Thanks for the tip on visor lights. That would never haver ocurred to me. Well I wait to be stand corrected on the starting system :) I agree that all those items are 12 volt driven by the 12 volt battery. I may be wrong, but as I understand it the 12 volt battery is charged by the 288 volt battery, via special circuitry. So when you "start" the car nothing happens apart form the supply of power to charge the 12v battery until you are moving at a speed that needs a boost from the engine which is started by the generator working in reverse as a motor and starting the engine. So then the generator recharges the 288 volt battery. When you are stopped in traffic, the engine stops, but the 288 v battery continues to recharge the 12v ("auxiliary" battery. Can some one please confirm or correct this?!! Cheers Billy