Budgie

Recent owner of a 2006 GS450H. Had a RX400H a few years back and loved the hybrid experience so it feels good to be back. I've attached a photo of the top middle armrest interior which is my car (maybe all cars) has this weird plastic device. I initially assumed it was to do with a phone charger but I can't see any connections on it. The bottom part extends out a little. Just curious if this is a standard Lexus fitment and if anyone knows what it is. Cheers

Hi, wanted to check on a couple of things I've noticed with my RX400...Appreciate any comments.. 1) Slow speed wobble in steering wheel. At low speeds around 25 -35 mph I notice if I let go of the steering wheel it tends to shake gently from side to side. I wondered was this a function of the electric steering? At higher speeds there is no evidence of balance issues or steering wheel shake. 2) AM radio. I enjoy listening to 5Live in the car but have noticed the longer the radio is switched on tuned to AM the reception noticeably deteriorates. Changing to FM and back to AM makes no improvement. 3) Vibration in centre console (one marked open and close). Road bumps can make the doors of this console vibrate against each other. Looking for a way to damp the vibration without leaving the console half wedged open. Overall really enjoying the RX and the daily challenge of trying to max my mpg on any return journey (best to date 38.1). Thanks

Hi all. I've recently purchased a 2005 RX400h and I guess since purchase temperatures have been sub 10 degrees. Was commuting today and it was unseasonably mild, up to 14 degrees. I noticed straight away how much quicker the car would move to battery only mode, especially at higher speed and heavier throttle. In some parts of my commute where I can never get it on battery only (although I try) it easily ran without engine power. My home to work has a fair bit of downhill but I still got my all time record of 36mpg. Today on various commutes around town still averaged 32mpg. I can only guess the higher temperatures helped, looking forward to the summer already... On a side note just installed an iPod kit from Ipodcarkitdirect. It was the Dice Silverline one chosen after a fair bit of research. Really really pleased with the integration. Had a few false starts as the seller confirmed I could navigate using the touchscreen. I spent some time trying to do this but discovered if you cannot access media on the touchscreen (assume this was the cd versions that couldn't play DVDs on the front screen) then the system won't be on the touchscreen as it doesn't create a new interface. Not a deal breaker as it keeps that space for nav etc. On the radio LCD display I can browse by artist then album within artist. You can start from A or reverse from Z so it is reasonably fast to select tracks if you have a large mp3 collection. It also displays the album or song playing. It was on sale at about £97 so good value as well. Apparently some cars won't show text I think with my own testing the iPod used may be part of this. Installation very simple plenty of threads on how to remove the radio. My advice would be to utube removal of rx stereo as it really helps watching the trim getting removed, if only to see how easy it is. Recommend a magnetic 10mm socket as you WILL drop 2 bolts which are recessed deep. Well I did....took a while with a magnetic rod and torch to find them I'm sure they would have rattled and driven me mad. When refitting don't bother with the 2 difficult bolts, they aren't needed. You don't need to make extra connections for power and the leads are long enough to locate to the glovebox. The only negative comment I have is on the Mark Levinson stereo itself which I think is very average. Another side note, my side bars from direct4x4 just arrived. Xmas present from the wife, ordered by me and paid for by me. :winky: Installation instructions really poor so one for the holiday.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160572741772?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 I bought the key above which folds making it look a bit more modern. Sadly the actual size is pretty bulky (imagine 1980's mobile phone)but in my opinion it looks a bit more up to date and the original transponder fits inside. I now use it as my main key. The length of the blade was longer than OEM, the first time I bought one the locksmith filed the top to make it the same size. Whilst it worked I discovered that the bulk of the casing meant it was difficult to remove the key as you need to push it in slightly whilst removing. I bought another blade and got it cut keeping its longer length. Outcome it works great. Some posters noticed the transponder was further away so did not allow the car to start. I find this is true but as the blade folds I just turn car on with blade semi folded so the transponder is closer to the ignition. Not bad for £7.99 with free shipping, delivery time also much quicker than quoted. FYI the locksmith I used didn't appear to have any special cutting tools ie laser, just normal key cutting equipment.

Hi, can I check how you are performing the procedure. I have tried pushing the locking button (for all 4 doors) on the drivers door for 5 seconds, then releasing it, nothing happens.

I have tried this on a 2005 RX400 but can't seem to get the autolock feature to work. Can anybody clarify whether this means my car doesn't have the facility or I just need to visit a dealer to program it. Its the first car I have owned in a long time that doesn't autolock the doors when driving and I have kinda got used to having it. Unfortunately my wife was involved in an attempted car-jacking recently so I do want to make sure the doors are locked when she is driving. Her own car has this function so it would be easy to forget to manually engage the locks when changing cars. Perhaps I am not following the instruction properly, I am using the central locking switch on the drivers door that controls all the door locking not just the individual drivers door lock. Thanks.

2) Sunroof - it has open & close controls and tilt controls. I have found these difficult to operate as when the switch is engaged to close if you keep holding it then reopens. Just finding it difficult to time it right to full close. Both switches operate the sunroof either opening or tiling it is just I expect when closing it would fully close then stop, not start to reopen. Discovered the fix for this it just needed to be reset making it 1 touch open & close as it was designed to be. If you disconnect the battery (or run it down like I did), the sunroof will have to be normalized. You can tell if it needs to be normalized if the sunroof doesn't close properly when you use the tilt switch. If you have to kind of guess where closed should be you need to normalize it. To normalize, push and hold the 'slide' switch toward the front. The sunroof will tilt (even though you are using the 'slide' switch) up and down then slide open and close. After it closes, release the switch. The sunroof will now work normally (i.e. it will know where it's supposed to close when you use the switches).

I might be misreading this, but you don't (or at least in my 2001 RX) have to hold the button in for the duration of the closing action. Once it starts moving I can release the button and it'll open/close and stop when it reaches whichever direction I'm sending it. If my sunroof is tilted up and I want it open fully, I have to hold the button in to get it to close then carry on holding it to get it to start opening back, but I don't have to hold it all the time. Can't remember exactly off the top of my head what mine reads at, but I don't think 4-5mph at, perhaps slightly above, motorway speeds is out of the ordinary. Just in case, it might be worth checking the tyre sizes you're running in case they're different from standard fit, but I still don't think it's overly high. Stating the obvious, but smooth and steady with plenty of forward planning which is also the best technique so you can hopefully avoid getting stuck in adverse winter conditions. How did you get on with the SL around your regular roads when the winters were bad? If you managed most of the time, I'd be inclined to say you'll manage all of the time in the RX. As long as you don't make the error that some do and assume that 4x4 = invincible you'll do fine. I was going to say unstoppable, but then realised the irony that driving like a loon in the winter really does make you unstoppable The SL in last years snow didn't make it from the garage to the gate Even in anything but dry roads traction can sometimes be an issue. Where we live can pick up some snow, neighbours have just bought winter tyres and if I wasn't such a tight arse I would probably do the same. Stopping would be my main concern as my route to work has a long steep drop on the way over high ground. However the wife in a TT quattro managed just fine. Read this post on a US forum today http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=58930&st=0&p=379201&hl=learning&fromsearch=1entry379201 I tried it and it does seem to push more driving onto the battery at lower speeds with light throttle. Probably this is well known within the forum. After trying it today and then doing some town driving I noticed my battery charge level reducing considerably for the first time since getting the RX. I was able to drive through town on battery only for much longer than before. Interesting!

Congrats on the new car! I find this a pain too but unfortunately it's NOT back-lit! I'm thinking of modding the housing though and putting a couple of LED's behind this area so that at least the button surround lights up. Many thanks this has saved me the pain of rummaging behind the dash for a blown bulb. If you ever do your mod appreciate an update on how you got on.

Hi, just purchased my first Lexus, a 2005 RX400h SEL. I bought it primarily for the winter but will probably end up using it more often and keep my main car (SL) for sunny days only. Initial impressions are very good especially on economy although anything would be better than the SL for fuel consumption. I paid £8.5K for it which almost seemed too good but all the checks were okay. I have a few questions which I thought I would post and hopefully get some feedback on: 1) Noticed the small driver side controls for exterior mirror adjustment, folding mirrors and petrol cover opener have no backlight at night. Interested if is this normal or more likely a blown bulb which I can get sorted next service. The switch for the power rear door is backlit as well as window controls etc. 2) Sunroof - it has open & close controls and tilt controls. I have found these difficult to operate as when the switch is engaged to close if you keep holding it then reopens. Just finding it difficult to time it right to full close. Both switches operate the sunroof either opening or tiling it is just I expect when closing it would fully close then stop, not start to reopen. 3) Speedometer reading v GPS reading. At higher motorway speeds the car reads about 4-5 mph more than actual GPS speed. At lower speeds it is around 2 - 3 mph out. I know most cars read high just though that 4mph difference seemed high. 4) Ipod integration. Been reading up on this as plan to fit a kit. Dice or Vaistech seem to be the preferred. Question is do both these kits allow you control using the touch screen nav unit. The Dice seems to offer browsing by artist, then album within artist which I like but I can't see if it uses the touchscreen or just the radio 1 line display. 5) Driving in snow or ice. I'm aware the RWD is electric only so interested in observations on how the RX copes in snow and ice. My tyres are not winter ones and I am considering buying 4 snow socks. Wondering whether these would be needed or does it manage snow and hills okay. 6) Economy - any particular driving style to maximise economy on hybrids. Many thanks for any replies