Barry7

I'm currently looking to change my car (2012 RX450h) and have seen a few F Sport 2018/19 with active suspension and my question is how does this suspension work, is it air suspension or electronic dampers, and has anybody had any issues with this set up? Also coming from a non F Sport vehicle am I likely to find this a more harsh ride? Thanks in anticipation.

On 9/3/2019 at 10:01 AM, Gliderpilot said:

There's a button on the steering wheel that pages through the centre display to give you fuel consumption etc. If you press and hold it for a few seconds it brings up a separate menu where you can disable easy access partially or fully.

I forgot all about this, thanks I have just set up a few bits and bobs.

1 hour ago, Herbie said:

That's because this trick doesn't work for series 3 RXs, only series 4 from 2015/16 onwards I believe.

That will be why then, my one is a 2012............ Thanks though............... back to the cake tin!

Press and hold lock button and press the unlock twice. Then tried opening the door while the fob was in my hand. Opened as usual...........??

Just tried several times with my key fob, but unfortunately it still transmits. Must be doing something wrong?

I was told that the OEM tow bars fitted to the RX450h Gen 3 was actually a Westfalia one. So they maybe in the process of making one for your car.

If it needs replacing, it needs replacing. It will not get any better, and what if it lets go when you are miles away from home late at night? The dealer should replace as a preventative measure, and if the warranty claim is refused, it is down to them to fight Lexus, not for you to worry on every journey for the next six months.

Take it back and insist it is changed under warranty. If they refuse, advise Lexus of your concerns that the dealer is trying to drum up unnecessary work, until they realised that you were covered by warranty, and Lexus would reject the claim.

What will happen in six months? Self healing water pumps, if you have got one, I want one! 

I managed to do the plug change on my RX450h. Its not easy, but its also not terrible. I used the video posted as a guide and took my time. No draining of coolant required. It feels like a lot of work when you start taking the wiper motor out, but that is easy and makes so much room, also it seems a bit much to take the inlet manifold off, but again makes the whole job so much easier. I did my one a while back, but I recon first time it will take about four hours total, it took me longer because I messed around cleaning all the inaccessible bits and bobs, like the tart I am! 

I did post some pictures before, so I will try and find  them again.

Go on give it a go, if I can manage it, anyone with a bit of spannering skill can!

I read on the forum, somewhere, about a way of resetting the hybrid system that  achieves better fuel economy but have searched and searched and now cannot find the post.  Could somebody point me in the right direction and also confirm if it works on the RX450H as well as the older versions of the RX.  Thanks in anticipation,

I have had the Michelin Cross Climate fitted for about a year, and I was amazed at the way they cut the road noise. So much so, I have had a set fitted to my wife's Yaris with the same effect. Highly recommend!

Could it be that the connector is just on the opposite side of the car, due to left and right hand drive? Obvious I know, but some times its the easy answers that are missed.

2000kg ain't that small, its the 90kg nose weight you have to be careful of!

I had a Witter tow bar fitted to my 2012 RX450h, I don't know if this is totally different to your model but it may be worth giving Witter a call direct, as they may have one on the way or may even use your car to design and make one for the later model. I did this with a replacement brake line manufacturer for a motorcycle. When I spoke to Witter technical a few years back, they were very helpful. Good luck.

Just to confirm, this was auto high beam, not just auto lights.

Maybe I was doing it wrong but the only way I could get it to set, was to turn the high beam on and then press the auto high beam button that is mounted low down on the right side of the dash. You also had to hold the button for a few seconds before it would set. I have used auto high beam on Mitsubishi Shoguns and you just turn on the system and flash the headlights.....done.

As was kindly arranged by the owners club, I took the advantage of having a 24 hour test drive. I chose to try the NX as this could be my next step from the RX. This was arranged with Lexus Sidcup, who didn't seem aware of the offer, but were good enough to honour it anyway.

The car was a blue NX300h F sport 18 plate with 10k on the clock priced at £37,500

Having come out of my RX I was expecting the NX to feel a bit cramped and under powered. How wrong was I? Very nice inside, smaller, but still very nice, with plenty of power and pleasantly smooth.

The plus points:

Active cruise control. My first experience of this and I think it is fantastic.

Fuel consumption, 40 mpg over 175 miles of varied driving  

Styling

Lane keep assist

Illuminated door handles, looks very cool when unlocking car at night!

Lock via powered boot door - can shut the boot and lock the car with the press of one button

Sat nav instructions repeated on dash

Sequential indicators

The Negative points:

Because this was an F Sport, did not like the driver or passenger front seats, too hard

Suspension too firm - again probably due to being an F Sport

The silly switch to turn on sound of exhaust through the speakers, this seemed too "boy racer" for a Lexus

The silver trim around the information screen constantly reflected on the wind screen - a big distraction

Information centre control via the touchpad - far too sensitive (even on the lowest setting) to use whilst driving

Automatic High Beam was good, but very difficult to set, not intuitive or logical.

Lack of internal storage space - in comparison to the RX at least

In summary, I would definitely consider getting an NX to replace the RX at some point, but it would have to be a Premier to maintain the luxury of the RX, and I would like to see the touchpad replaced on future models as in my opinion it was not at all user friendly.  Definitely worth considering if you want to downsize but not good enough to coax me out of my RX at the moment. 

The YouTube vid I followed is http://www.howtoautomotive.com/videos-2/2018/5/24/how-to-replace-the-spark-plugs-on-a-2010-2015-lexus-rx450h-hybrid?rq=rx450 Take a look and then tell me if I took too long to do the job........ I think I did ok!

Well I can't say this was easy, but today I replaced the spark plugs on my RX450h. It took me about six hours, having watched a You Tube video on the subject, I could have done it quicker but was having a good clean up as I reassembled  it. I think it would be a four hour job if you just got stuck in.

I have just completed a 1500 mile holiday travelling to and from and around Ireland and got an overall consumption of 34.6mpg, not too shabby considering the type of driving and the amount of stuff plus three passengers being lugged about.

I had this problem when I first owned my RX450. The car was 3 years old with 25000 on it, and the 12v Battery had failed. The car only requires this Battery to power up the hybrid system and auxilaries if this Battery is low the ready light will not come on. I removed the Battery and tested it, I then advised Lexus Sidcup and they retested it and then replaced under extended warranty.

Just renewed my warranty, at under £90 a month for a year and two years cover I thought it was worth it. I am an ex-mechanic but with today's technology it makes it very difficult to do major repairs yourself, and it will cost you a grand at Lexus for any decent repair that needs doing. Just think of it as insurance, and if you don't claim you have had trouble free motoring for two years.

As for your intermittent problem, I would think it is likely to be a multi plug that is not connected properly. I have had this sort of problem on a few cars I have worked on in the past (usually French), and found that by checking up behind the dash and pushing the multi plugs together, one of them would click where it had not been pushed fully home, either at manufacture or after a repair. Hope this helps.........

Nothing showing for my 2012 RX450 either!

Well......... any news?

I agree with Tump, no probs with jump starting a Hybrid as long as you follow the above procedure.

When my aux Battery failed I jump started it to get it to the dealer, and asked them to check that all was OK after the event. I did use a Battery pack to do the jump start though as I know using a running vehicle can cause voltage spikes that can damage any electronic system!

I was having a look at the handbook (page 515) and found a set of fuses on the positive Aux Battery terminal, one of these is the main 180 amp fuse for all electrical components, just wondering if the car park people may have either blown this or disturbed it while trying to get the car going...........

Good luck, and let us all know how you get on please!

Sorry just realised you have got a 2006 RX400 so the handbook will be different, but the fuses should still be there.....