JBPRX400h

Just received something from Japan, need a few sentences translated.. can anyone help ?

Try using Google language tools for reasonable translation

JBP400h

I have an RX400h and there is no over ride for the traction control:

Why is this?

Also, what are these cars like in the snow? Does the 4wd kick in and help? I know today would be a good idea to find out, but I only drive in these conditions when absolutely necessary.....

Have just returned from a trip from Milton Keynes to Aberdeen to visit our daughter at University.

Set out on Monday with snow falling heavily. First road up our estate was a doddle. (Company Vecta really strugled earlier same morning.) Journey to Aberdeen took only 9.5 hours including an hour stop for lunch.

On the Thursday, although it was chucking it down with snow in Aberdeen, we decided to go for a day's skiing at Glenshee. Took B roads out of Aberdeen to avoid traffic. No problem with snow covered roads. Did however see a sad looking RX300 that had had a collision with a BMW!!!

Got to Glenshee with no problems and was directed by the car park attendant to parking place in snow covered car park only to find front wheels had dropped into the drainage gully at the edge of the car park. Reversed out no problems. Think a front wheel drive car would have got stuck in that position.

Left Aberdeen on Friday morning in yet another blizzard but left snow behind us. Got bak to Milton Keynes and yet more snow 9.5 hours later.

All the journeys left us feeling relaxed and stress free. Had every confidence in the car.

However, I also think a lot depends on how you drive in slippery conditions. When the roads are like they have been any vehicle is a potential leathal weapon in the wrong hands!

Overall, very satisfied with the handling in the conditions.

JBP

PS Forgot to mention 30.6 MPG over 1350 miles!

Hello there i am going to replace my GS300 with an RX400H, i know this might be a stupid question but could somebody please tell me if an RX400H will fit into a standard size garage, ie. Height wise is my main concern, i have a standard garage with henderson up and over door and am a bit concerned if it will scrape the top , width wise i dont think its wider than the GS, but height?

If somebody could advise it would be much appreicated please.

Thanks

Phil

Don't forget to watch out for hitting the ceiling with the rear hatch if you open it inside the garage!

My RX400h is now 3 1/2 years old and I have the following symptoms:

On the odd occasion when I am making phone calls in the car with the doors locked and the ignition on (NOT in the READY to drive position - just key turned slightly), after a while the satnav screen flickers.

I ususally just drive away and all is fine.

Yesterday, this happened and my screen functions froze on the disclaimer page and became inoperable. I couldn't use the functions UNTIL after I drove a while all but the climate functions were operable.

This morning the same again, I can use all but the climate and menu functions to check battery power.

Could this be a/ A fuse b/ a connection gone wrong c/ something more sinister ?

Any ideas before I call Lexus ?

Obviously I am now out of warranty so will have to test the JD Power #1 customer service facility.

Many thanks

Gazman :zee:

The screen flickering could be a sign that your "starter" Battery under the bonnet is nearly flat.

I was working on the drive one day 2 years ago shortly after I had bought the car and had the radio on for a few hours when all of a sudden the radio began to cut out and the screen started to flicker on and off. I started the car straight away (ie with the ready light on) and went for a drive and all has been well ever since.

Hope this helps.

JBP

As above mate, it is quite a clever system in that the seat base will 'roll back' a little too as the backs fold down to give a nice even flat surface. And if your car has the 40/20/40 split configuration then you can fold down the seats individually and according to your needs. Very easy to do and one of the best systems I have seen!

(Sorry I can't get you a picture - its bucketing it down ATM)

All as above plus the passengers in the rear can recline their seats a bit as well (at least that is so in the 400h)

I was wondering just how far the RX400H could be taken off road, I realise that it's not an off roader as such, but given its size etc I was wondering just how far it had been pushed. I have done some seaching on the tinternet but so far haven't come up with stories relating to this topic. So a challange to you all, how far have you pushed yours? it would be interesting to see how far it could go. (Sainsbury's or Tesco's car park is not really far enough).

I was flicking through this month's copy of Top Gear Magazine in the Tesco "reading room" when I came across a comparison article about off road driving.

The article compared 3 "soft roaders" in the first part of the test which, although it didn't say exactly what the conditions were, seemed to imply that it was a rough and muddy track with some failry steep entry and exit slopes.

The RX400h came out quite favourably with no real adverse comments and made its way through with no drama. (They did mention that the handbook says the car is not designed for off road driving, though.) The BMW X6 was critisized for being too harsh on the throttle causing it to lose grip. The Audi Q7 was critisized for being too cumbersome and for crashing its front and rear on the ground when the entry and exit angles were too steep for it.

However for real off roading you do need something designed for the job!

JBP

As you might be aware with my "buying advice" thread i have had massive problems with an RX i bought from Lexus Lincoln. I have now after 200 phone calls and numerous visits to a different dealer got a full, if not protracted refund.

But there is one final problem that should worry you all. When i bought the car it had 52,588 miles on it and just over 58,000 when it was returned. Just look at this advert for my car now it's back on their forecourt and look at the mileage.

http://listersgroup.co.uk/Used/Vehicle/Lex....0_SE-L/1018554

Police on the way

It's also listed on the "official" Lexus website

CLICK HERE!!

Model Lexus RX 300 3.0 SE-L 5-Door SUV

Registration PA03CNK

Date May 2003 (03)

Mileage 52,902

Colour Brechin Slate

Interior grey sussex leather

Transmission Automatic

Fuel Petrol

Price £12,990

JBP

The grey key does all the functions of the black so I am ok for now, just wish the damn thing would make an appearance

I think the grey key is the "Valet" key and does not operate the glove compartment so you can leave personal items etc in there whilst the car is in for service.

I currently have a 54 reg RX300 SEL from new and will be looking to change. Can anyone advise real world economy from the hybrid and other advantages / disadvantages over RX350 or when the new RX will be launched and any info on it?

Last September we drove down to Assisi in Central Italy a round trip of 3000 miles. This was a mix of motorways, main roads, town driving and local running about for a week whilst we were there. The journey included a spell on the German autobahns at 100+ mph (max 120mph just to see what the car was like - very impressed!), down through Switzerland and over the St Gotthard Pass (so plenty of up and down in the mountans - again very impressed!), Italian autostrada where the average spped of the traffic seems to be about 90mph! and, as I said, a week of local tootling around followed by the reverse journey home. The average fuel consumption for the holiday was 31.5MPG. (This was with the outside temperature mainly in the upper 20s)

Last Sunday we drove over to Felixstowe and back from Milton Keynes in the falling snow and freezing temperatures - a round trip of 240 miles with an average fuel consumption of 27.4MPG.

Just popping up to the shops and back in the winter with a cold engine gives about 15-20MPG.

Best average consumption to date was a drive from Norwich to Milton Keynes 2 weeks ago (outside temperature about 10 - 15 degrees) using ordinary country roads where possible and a very light foot giving a figure of 35.1MPG!

To sum up - it all depends on the type of journey, the length of your journey, the outside temperature (and whether or not you have the cabin heater on or off), and most importantly your style of driving!

Overall we have been very impressed with the fuel consumption, especially as there is no compromise with the performance of a vehicle of this size and comfort.

Hi all,

I am just on the process of buying an RX 300, my first Lexus ever, and I am really excited, but one of the questions that came to my mind was, How much will I spend on maintenance and services every year?

The one I'm buying's got 32K miles on the clock, does anyone know when the "BIG" service is and how much would the 40K/50K/60K services cost?

Also, I have quoted an insurance for 1K, does that sounds reasonable?

cheers,

Antonio.

Try Alastair at A-Plan Insurance on 01635 521 818. I found they were very good and very competitive.

John

Personally speaking I wouldn't let the needle fall that far below into 'R' region - wont be doing the fuel filter any favours and straining the fuel pump as you dredge up allsorts of nasties from the depths of the tank. yes, OK sometimes its necessarily (cheap fuel across the border) but really, not something I would choose to put my Lexus (or any other car for that matter) through every time or frequently.

Not criticising folk, just contributing my 2p worth.

It's a popular myth that you dredge up all sorts of nasties from the bottom of the tank if you run it near to empty.

The fuel pick up pipe must be at or very near the bottom of the tank or how else does the fuel get into it even when the tank is only half full or 3/4s full or 7/8ths full? Even if some sediment was picked up there are fuel filters in the pipeline and anyway a Lexus tank doesn't get dirty, does it?!!!!!

On my new RX400H the low fuel warning light comes on when the fuel gauge is indicating about 7/8ths empty. If I fill up immediately I can put in 45 litres of fuel but the manual says the capacity of the tank is 65 litres ! Anybody know at what point on the fuel gauge you are actually nearing running out ? I assume I can can let the needle drop below empty towards the 'R' on the gauge if I want to use the residual 20 litres of fuel but the stern warning in the manual about the consequences of running out have deterred me from testing this out. The inexplicable absence of a 'miles left in tank' indicator does not help here....

Here are some more recent figures. I think the maths is correct. Make of them what you will but don't blame me if you run out of petrol!!!!

Assume average fuel consumption of 30 Miles per gallon

I travelled 18.10 miles after reserve light came on before filling tank to the brim

This equates to 0.6 gallons used after reserve light came on assuming 30MPG

It took 53.38 litres to fill up tank to brim

Total tank capacity 65 litres

Therefore there must have been 11.62 litres left in tank at time of filling up

This equates to 2.56 gallons left in tank at time of filling up

Therefore there must be 3.16 gallons left when reserve light comes on (Petrol left in tank plus petrol used after reserve light came on)

This would give 94.78 possible miles till empty after reserve light comes on assuming average consumption of 30MPG

What happens when you run of fuel in a Lexus hybrid ? The manual suggest some sort of apocalyptic end of world event......has anyone experienced this ?

And JBPRX400h, what was your fuel gauge reading when you filled up that time in Luxembourg and how much fuel did you manage to put in ?

If I remember rightly we had travelled about 40-50 mles after the low fuel light came on and the needle on the guage was pointing directly at the E (or is it R?). Just checked back in the receipts and found we put in 59.08 litres which would seem to indicate there was another 6 litres left in the tank but that is very hard to judge as it is difficult to brim the tank. It is very slow putting in the last few litres because the petrol pump keeps shutting off.

Lucky old Luxembourg. Petrol about 82p/litre!!

A further update to the fuel guage thread.

Last night the needle was pointing to the top of the line next to the R on the fuel guage (not quite as low as it was in Luxembourg) and it took 56 litres to brim the tank which means there was still a theoretical 9 litres or 60 odd miles left.

What happens when you run of fuel in a Lexus hybrid ? The manual suggest some sort of apocalyptic end of world event......has anyone experienced this ?

And JBPRX400h, what was your fuel gauge reading when you filled up that time in Luxembourg and how much fuel did you manage to put in ?

If I remember rightly we had travelled about 40-50 mles after the low fuel light came on and the needle on the guage was pointing directly at the E (or is it R?). Just checked back in the receipts and found we put in 59.08 litres which would seem to indicate there was another 6 litres left in the tank but that is very hard to judge as it is difficult to brim the tank. It is very slow putting in the last few litres because the petrol pump keeps shutting off.

Lucky old Luxembourg. Petrol about 82p/litre!!

A further update to the fuel guage thread.

Last night the needle was pointing to the top of the line next to the R on the fuel guage (not quite as low as it was in Luxembourg) and it took 56 litres to brim the tank which means there was still a theoretical 9 litres or 60 odd miles left.

What happens when you run of fuel in a Lexus hybrid ? The manual suggest some sort of apocalyptic end of world event......has anyone experienced this ?

And JBPRX400h, what was your fuel gauge reading when you filled up that time in Luxembourg and how much fuel did you manage to put in ?

If I remember rightly we had travelled about 40-50 mles after the low fuel light came on and the needle on the guage was pointing directly at the E (or is it R?). Just checked back in the receipts and found we put in 59.08 litres which would seem to indicate there was another 6 litres left in the tank but that is very hard to judge as it is difficult to brim the tank. It is very slow putting in the last few litres because the petrol pump keeps shutting off.

Lucky old Luxembourg. Petrol about 82p/litre!!

On my new RX400H the low fuel warning light comes on when the fuel gauge is indicating about 7/8ths empty. If I fill up immediately I can put in 45 litres of fuel but the manual says the capacity of the tank is 65 litres ! Anybody know at what point on the fuel gauge you are actually nearing running out ? I assume I can can let the needle drop below empty towards the 'R' on the gauge if I want to use the residual 20 litres of fuel but the stern warning in the manual about the consequences of running out have deterred me from testing this out. The inexplicable absence of a 'miles left in tank' indicator does not help here....

Just a thought. On my company diesel Vectra the low fuel light comes on when there is about 1.5 gallons left (about 50miles) but then starts to flash when the tank is very low (10 miles left?) Does the low fuel light flash on an RX400h when the fuel is about to run out? Does anybody know? Do Lexus know? (I haven't asked them yet!)

In the summer we were travelling down through Belgium late at night when the low fuel light came on. Was going to fill up in Luxembourg anyway as petrol is so much cheaper there but thought we had better put a couple of litres in in Belgium just in case. However, sod's law dictated that there was not another service station before we crossed the border! Managed to make it to the first service station in Luxembourg though without running out but don't know how close we were. Wouldn't want to do that again. Doesn't make for stress free driving!!!!

Just got my 2006 RX400h but got a few queries:-

1. The side mirrors are so dark at night i cannot see out of them when reversing.

Before i hit something or someone can anyone tell me how to make them usable and lighten them.

The camera is very good but i need to see the sides as well.

2. Unfortunately i did not get an owners manual can you tell me if you can download a copy.

3. I am really pleased with the car but i am not getting more than 24 mpg over a tank. Is this correct.

I am driving short journeys of about 2 to 4 miles in town.

4. My next job is to get a towbar fitted. the lexus garage in cheltenham is quoting £1100 fitted for a detachable type. Is there any cheaper installers.

Thanks for your assistance

The link for the LOC USA is http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showforum=79 and the links to the manuals are right at the top pinned under "Important Topics"

Regards again and enjoy your 400h

Just got my 2006 RX400h but got a few queries:-

1. The side mirrors are so dark at night i cannot see out of them when reversing.

Before i hit something or someone can anyone tell me how to make them usable and lighten them.

The camera is very good but i need to see the sides as well.

2. Unfortunately i did not get an owners manual can you tell me if you can download a copy.

3. I am really pleased with the car but i am not getting more than 24 mpg over a tank. Is this correct.

I am driving short journeys of about 2 to 4 miles in town.

4. My next job is to get a towbar fitted. the lexus garage in cheltenham is quoting £1100 fitted for a detachable type. Is there any cheaper installers.

Thanks for your assistance

1) There is a push button in the middle of the bottom of the interior mirror that turns off the dimming.

2) There was a link somewhere, possibly on the USA LOC forum.

3) That is probably about right for short journeys in the colder weather as the engine has to run more to bring the catalytic converter up to temperature and also to provide heat for the heater (and your comfort!) You will notice a marked difference in the summer. On motorway runs you should be getting 30-35 MPG even in the cold weather.

4) Good luck with the tow bar

Hope that helps.

Bought my '05 Rx400h in May this year. What a great car.

Took a trip down to Assisi in Italy in September. 1,200 miles each way. Arrived at destination fresh as a daisy!

However, Last Saturdy night I arrived home and when I went to turn onto the drive - no power steering!!!!! Big effort and straining muscles but managed to park on the drive.

Rang Lexus Milton Keynes in the morning (Sunday) They arranged for car to be picked up that lunchtime. Went with it on the recovery vehicle and was loaned a GS450h. (Interesting comparisons!) Had phone call Monday afternoon to say car was ready to pick up. Sean said it was faulty sensors in the power steering but they had replaced the complete steering rack under the warranty. (£3,000 worth of parts!)

How's that for service? Well done Lexus Milton Keynes.

OK, 18000 miles and time to start thinking about new tyres on the front.

I have access to a good discount on Avon tyres but the nearest size they do is 255/55R18 as opposed to the standard 235/55R18. Has anybody fitted 255's and are there any problems (with clearances etc)?

The 235/55R18 seems a bit of an oddity and not everybody stocks them so, if not the 255 Avons, what are the current tyres of choice for RX400h owners (and the best place to get them)?

If you go to LOC USA forum you will find a recent thread about tires (sic)!!!

On the last but one posting there is a comment from someone who has fitted 255/55R18s to his 400h

Hope this helps