energyman

Very handy to know. Our main key fell apart yesterday and luckily we have a spare. Our grey valet is about somewhere. Don't like not having that back up key! Thanks for that.

Thanks Chris. I'll give it a go in the morning. I'll post the result.

Hi, I'm looking for some help. I've had my old 2005 RX400H for about 8 years and I know it's old but it still drives like a dream. It's too good to change. When I first bought it the sliding cargo cover was missing and recently I decided to source one. The list price from Lexus was around £720.00 so a cheaper alternative was secondhand and I managed to get one from the States at a reasonable £160.00 sent. It seems to be in great condition. However this is the rub. I slid it into position and pulled it out in the side grooves, but it won't retract back into the housing. My big problem is that the whole thing is stuck in position and won't release from the car. No matter what I seem to do with the two sliding buttons on each end, it won't let go. It's a real pain. Has anyone any ideas? I'm getting a bit desperate. Many thanks. Energyman.

I had my inverter changed last year for nothing, which was fantastic. This was done at Norwich. I don't know if Dingles Toyota by Norwich Airport will do the recall work; because when I rang them last week they are still servicing Lexus models and have a full parts service. Might be worth a try. Energyman.

What the Parts chap said to me, intimated that apart from car sales, business would be as usual. Don't know about recalls though. Regarding the inverter I was so lucky that my RX400H was just under the 5 year limit when I took it in for something else and they actually brought it to my attention and renewed it. No cost. Brilliant! Especially as there is a £2500.00 parts cost alone.

Hi everyone, If you're Norfolk folk you've probably received a letter telling you that Lexus Norwich no longer trades up here. Just gave the old number a ring in case they still had some parts available and good news, Dingles Toyota have taken over and are still servicing Lexus and still have a parts department. Why didn't Lexus say that in their letter. They said all future dealings would have to be with Cambridge or Ipswich, which are miles away! Dingles.Tel.no. 01603 480000

Hi, this is quite normal for 400H. You get used to it. It's the constant velocity transmission (CVT). The slipping clutch syndrome! Feels like you're over revving and using up a lot of unnecessary fuel.I posted a similar query when I joined the forum and got an incredibly detailed reply from a very informed member. Settled my nerves for me and baffled me at the same time.

There's just one thing I personally would check out. When I took my 400H into Lexus Norwich last month for a caliper issue, they informed me that the inverter on the engine had a major problem and needed to be re-newed. The part price was !!£2500.00!! When they managed to bring me round and put me in a chair, they then informed me that they would check the vehicle warranty. Luckily it was covered; 5 years or 100,000 miles. Phew! That was close. It's five years old in October with 91,000 on the clock.Might be worth sticking it on a diagnostic machine.

Boy! let me pay for the aspirins. Fantastic concise explanation. Really eased my mind, thanks. I'll leave Lexus servicing alone!!

The experience you describe is "normal" on a 400h, due to the use of a CVT (constant velocity transmission), rather than a regular torque converter type gearbox. I'll try to keep this simple! Instead of "gears" there are two pulleys through which runs a steel belt. Each pulley can expand or shrink it's diameter. So at low speed the engine pulley is small & the drive one is large to give the engine (or front electric motor) the appropriate "gearing" to move the car. At higher speeds the ratio is reversed, the engine pulley is large, the drive large, to generate the effect of a high gear. (A look at the way a bicycle with derailier gears will make this easier to understand). In effect you have one infinately variable gear. When you accelerate the load causes the ratio to shift back towards a low speed setup (but not that far) to allow the engine to maximise it's power delivery. Although it sounds like the engine is over revving or (as you descibe) the clutch is slipping what is actually happening is the engine is deivering the power you demand as a constant & the transmission is seemlessly adjusting to match that to the road speed as you accelerate. Yes, it does sound odd, but it is very affective because with not steps in the power delivery to change gear you have constant smooth acceleration, which only relents when you ease off the power. It requires a different technique to get the best from & practice is the only way I'm afraid! Much like gaining great mpg figures from the Hybrid drive chain as a whole, the more you give, rather than demand, the higher the returns. This explantion is, I hope, sufficient to make things a little clearer! It also highlights two more small items. 1. Why there is a power meter instead of a rev counter. The latter would be pointless, over revving is impossble because the CVT & management electronics prevent this, the maximum rev points for power & torque are unenccessary because there isn't any gears to require them as gear change points & in this setup knowing how much power you are pushing through the transmission is of more value. 2. The B setting on the gear shift. Because in a Hybrid the engine shuts down in over run mode you don't have it available as engine braking when descending hills. If needed this can be restored by selecting B & thereby over ruling the engine's normal shut down mode & allowing it to provide some retardation, although this may not be as much as with a regular gearbox/torque converter. There you go ........ now where did I put those asprin tablets...... it's amazing how much your brain just does when driving..........

When I'm accelerating passing another car my automatic box seems to be slipping, just like the feeling of a slipping clutch on a manual gearbox. Any ideas, anyone? It seems to over-rev before picking up speed. Is this normal? I've only had the car about 5 weeks and I'm not absolutely 'au fait' with how it should feel. Thanks Chris.

Thanks for your reply and help. I suppose, I thought that maybe a marque such as Lexus, in these modern times, would be using some form of galvanised or treated body shell that could withstand a stone chip. I've had plenty of Bmw's and Audis over the years and they never suffered with the same problem.

I recently bought an RX400H SE and I noticed when I was washing it the other day that the chrome on the radiator grill surround was de-laminating, if that's the right word. Also there are a few stone chips that are actually starting to show signs of rust! Is there anybody out there with a similar problem? My 400 is on an '05 plate and has it's 5th birthday in July'10. Does the 5 year warranty cover this sort of body problem? I would have thought that you should expect that the steel being used to be able to withstand this sort of thing.Any suggestions before I confront Lexus? Thanks Chris.

I think further investigation would be prudent before I fit it. I think a call to Lexus servicing might be a good idea. Thanks for your thoughts and input.

Over the last few years I've seen friends try these chips on numerous different marques/models with varying results. On Diesels they can provide some improvement, but the petrol options seem to be succesful on the economy front. If you look in the motoring press you'll see there are now two kinds for Diesels, one for power, one for economy. Now if the originals from the same supplier offered both why do they need two varieties now? Bottom line, you can have performance OR economy, not both. Even a Diesel miser such as a VW Bluemotion will gobble fuel if you go pedal to the metal everywhere. I'd take the quote of the chip offered not affecting Lexus warranties with a HUGE pinch of salt! First the USA warranties are different to the UK's (WHY?) & second if it's true a Lexus agent will be able to confirm it with a phone call. Any problems you have will fall back on the chip supplier & (speaking as vehicle importer) you will very quickly find that the warrnties they supply will be subject to USA law & therefore not applicable here, leaving with the choice of footing the bill, trying to persaude Lexus that the chip wasn't the cause of the problem or litigation in the USA..... Finally, there's an old adage, "it it seems to be too good to be true, it probably is"!

I have just purchased from the states a performance chip that is specific to the RX400H. They say that in no way will it affect Lexus warranties and could improve MPG by up to 15% and performance as well. When I asked about fitting it, they implied that anyone who could hold a screwdriver and a pair of pliers would be capable of doing the job.This was really cheap, 25 dollars with free dispatch to UK. Now having my doubts. Any thoughts?

Sorry for delay in getting back. Been away. Actually got mine from a dealer. Just out of interest, the car returned 35.6 mpg. yesterday. Can't believe how economical it's turning out to be. Have you had any luck yet? The dealer I bought mine from isn't specifically a Lexus dealer but buys 'One owner' cars from Lexus Main dealers on a regular basis. He's based near Buckingham , Oxfordshire. regards Energyman

Thanks. I think I will just have to see if each car has the reversing camera as the supply of SE seems to be much greater than SE-L. Energyman did you get yours from a dealer or a private seller?

"Verdana"][/font I don't know how, but I managed to lose the black gloss trim around the triangular quarter light rear window. Now wouldn't you think that would come as a separate item to the glass. Oh no, you have to buy the whole window! £68+vat. Actually the price was a surprise, not as bad as I'd thought; but still taking the mickey considering I only need the trim. Anyway, I managed to source a scrap one in exc.cond. from Parts Gateway for £39.inc del. Very pleased. Does anyone out there have a luggage cover/roller parcel shelf in Oakham Beige they want to sell? I'd be very interested. regards to all. energyman. This is a postscript to my original post: Received the whole window glass today including the trim I wanted from Parts Gateway. Exactly as they described, in great condition. Have just removed the trim from the glass (2mins) and fitted it to my glass. (5mins). Very happy. Lexus quoted to take out the whole window glass and trim and replace with new, £348.00 Total cost DIY £39.00 If there's anyone out there who needs the glass with no outside trim, feel free to ask. Just pay postage. This is for nearside rear triangular window.

Hi, I took delivery of a RX400H SE last week. It's on an '05 plate and cost me just under 15K. 86,000 on the clock, but that didn't worry me because like you, we won't be doing starship miles in it. I can't praise the car enough. With the SE I have the reversing camera and satnav. Multi function steering wheel. It's the SE-L with the Ice Pack that has the headrest screens.Unless you have to keep little'uns happy, not really necessary are they? You should get quite a low mileage car with your budget. The finish and quality is fantastic as you can imagine. We are getting a combined mileage around 32 miles per gallon. Pretty good for a 3.3 ltr. engine. Boy, can they fly as well! I know we haven't had it long enough to get a proper picture, but so far really pleased. Hope this helps, energyman.

I am literally in the process of part-exchanging my Audi A4 avant for a RX400H on a '55 plate.The dealer has been quoting much better consumption figures than you lads are saying. Does the rest of the advantages of the 400 in your opinion outweigh the worse than expected mileage figures. I would really appreciate some honest replies, before I shell out £16K plus. Regards Energyman.