chesterman

Chris, I think the "emergency cord" you refer to is for the fuel filler cover.

Good post. Thank you for sharing the knowledge.

Not yet had any problems with my "sun" roof, (fingers firmly crossed). When listing criteria before purchase I specified silver finish and black interior as being the most user friendly, ( I am not a fanatical car cleaner). However when looking at/sitting in many 400`s over an extended period we both commented on how dark the interiors were on those with the black leather & carpets. This is no doubt exacerbated by the privacy glass in the rear. SWMBO finally made the stipulation that if it was to be a black interior then it must have the sun roof to raise the interior light level. Result ! Happy wife and I still don't have to spend all my time cleaning the dam thing. I do make a point of cleaning out the roof recess and squirting water down the drains when I do finally acknowledge the need to clean the car. Just my thoughts.

Hi Rayann, Some years ago I had a similar unfathomable problem with the wipers on my Volvo V70. A process of elimination brought me to the tension of the wiper arm against the screen. No reason why it should have changed, it just did ! Took it all off, cleaned it up and re-assembled, (with a new blade,) and all was well. Just a thought .

Yes. Large (fits your wheel stud socket) recessed bolt head under circular cover within the tool tray below your rear cargo area floor. Anti-clockwise lowers the spare wheel to the ground. Clockwise raises the spare into its under body recess and then holds it in place. Hope that helps.

Hi William, Bought mine in May last year despite having read extensively through forum posts and become almost paranoid about the battery issue and leaks ! Immediately after purchase I fitted the recommended Bosch battery and AA solar panel connected via OBD socket which I leave plugged in whenever the car is not in use. (The socket is located on right side of drivers foot well facia panel below knee height, a torch is useful when first looking.) Whilst mine has never been left for 6 - 9 weeks without use, a week or longer is pretty routine and I have never had a problem with starting. However, being paranoid, I also carry a 900 Ah battery booster/tyre compressor pack in the back of the car,(permanently plugged into the 12V socket,) which I know will enable me to re-energise the battery if all else fails. No issues with leaks either ! Complex cars and they do have their own problems but so worth the precautions to deal with them. Enjoy.

I think you may be referring to the inability to enter a destination whilst in motion ? As I understand it, this is a safety feature and cannot be overridden, though later versions were indeed more user friendly. Hope that helps.

I am sure I have read elsewhere on this forum of at least one member who experienced a leak through the rear fixing point of the roof rails. His solution, as I recall, was removal, clean, renew gasket & sealant. Hope that helps.

+1. I think it would be a serious mistake to take a complex vehicle such as a RX 400 on such a trip. I do not doubt the ability of the vehicle but, as Rayaans has quoted above, the additional stresses on the components would inevitably lead to failure of something which, with the most capable mechanics, would be difficult to replace/repair outside major population centres. It could well end up costing you far more than the price of a more available, sturdy, standard off road vehicle. Just my opinion.

Hankook also. The Dynapro HP2 in my case. £110 per corner fitted, via black circles, in July this year. Very impressed to date. Excellent grip under all conditions, (no snow or ice yet,) quiet and comfortable.

When I enquired about an interim service I got a lot of vague double talk and reassurance but very little in the way of information. It was like pulling teeth but I finally established that the "essentials interim service" being offered was an oil & filter change followed by an inspection of other service items, which if required would cost extra !!! So that's £200 for an oil change and we will let you know how much more !!! Sorry !

Having read several horror stories concerning battery issues on this forum before ever buying the car. I immediately fitted a new 12V battery, purchased, and use daily, a solar charger and carry a battery booster pack in the car. Yes, paranoid I know. But just because I`m paranoid does not mean they are not trying to get me ! Anyway, the witchcraft worked and no battery issues since purchase.

Your re-gassing of the air con should certainly be good for more than 3 months, (years more like). Whilst the equipment available now is much improved, you will appreciate that it is only as good as the operator. The YTS trainee in a "national tyre place" has no more understanding of the complexities of your air con system than I do. You could go back and ask them to try again, with ample justification, or bite the bullet and take it to someone who actually knows something. hope that helps.

Cannot answer for Nokian but when researching tyres in the last few months I e-mailed Michelin regarding the Cross Climate for my RX 400, (18" wheels). They replied that whilst they intended to expand the range there were no current plans to produce it in the size I required. I finally settled on a set of 4 Hankook Dynapro with which I am very pleased. Hope that helps.

The promised update on the Hankook Dynapro Tyres after 600 miles. Very impressed. Grip is excellent in both dry and wet conditions, (very wet on occasions,) including motorway speeds. The car feels much more "planted" than on the previous Bridgestones, albeit the front two were pretty well worn. They are certainly quieter than the Bridgestones and to my ear, not intrusive at all. Whether as quiet as the Michelins I cannot comment, never having driven the car on anything else. No signs of wear yet and no opportunity to test snow/ice performance ! To date I am very pleased and consider them to have been excellent value.

Hi Willy, On my previous Volvo S60 I experienced something similar a couple of years ago. Local garage, whom I have used for years, diagnosed perished rear tyres despite them having several mm of tread remaining. I was sceptical but trusted their judgement, (they did not sell tyres,) and had them replaced. No further issues and a dramatic transformation. It may not be your issue but do not dismiss the possibility. I also purchased my RX recently and with two tyres close to the limits had to make a decision about which to replace, with what and when. Having read several times that 4 wheel drive vehicles can be very sensitive to different tread patterns and even tread depth, I have elected to replace all 4 rather than just the two. Whilst I had settled on the Michelin Latitude Tour, (thanks to the numerous contributors on this forum,) I could not source them at a reasonable price, many providers being out of stock ! I finally decided on Hankook Dynapro HP2 RA33 via Blackcircles. £110 a corner fitted, highly rated and with some snow/ice capability according to the reviews. To be fitted on the 24th and I will of course report back on their performance in due course. Just my thoughts for whatever they may be worth.

Thank you Steve and in particular Colin, (your depth of knowledge is impressive sir). It would not have occurred to me there was only one sensor ! I think you have saved me many fruitless hours and much frustration. So back to the beer !!!

Since buying my RX I have been working through a list of potential problems, gathered from posts on this forum, for which my thanks. To date: Aux battery replaced with 45 Ah. Solar charger connected via OBD. Power pack installed in rear. Moon roof drain holes checked/cleaned. Roof rail mounts & tail lights/valance checked for leaks. Rear callipers were done by Lexus 12 months ago. Chose the hottest day of the year to check the headlight level sensors !!! Rear N/S actuating arm was corroded/immobile. Removed, cleaned, freed & lubricated. A relatively straight forward job with the rear N/S wheel off. The sensor itself was well sealed and clean. All replaced with a generous coat of grease, which I appreciate will need a further application each year but better that than a £400 bill !!! And so to my question. Where on earth is the front sensor ? I have had both front wheels off and cannot see anything attached to the front suspension which would perform that function ! Has anybody found this sensor and can explain its location/appearance, (photograph even better). Car back in working order, I am sat in front of a fan with a cold beer to plan my next foray. Any thoughts you may have of items to be checked would be welcome, (when it gets a little cooler) !!!

Thank you Colin. Two option there which I will investigate further.

I also am a newby. Purchased mine last month after 12 months searching on & off. Superb transport. As with most things you get what you pay for. Older cars with low mileage do appear periodically but prices can be eye watering. More recent cars with high mileage come up more frequently, many in the London area. A full Lexus service history was a must for me and given that I believe the mileage is less significant but those miles are on all the components and may be all too evident. (I travelled widely and looked at some real dogs !) Patience is the key. Good luck in your search.

My thanks for your input to date. Nice to know the fuel tank pressure issue is normal/designed in as opposed to I`m about to explode !

A good evening to all. I have been visiting now for over a year gathering information regarding the RX 400H, for which my thanks for all your views which were a great help in both the initial buying decision and in sorting the wheat from the chaff. Having "surfed" hundreds and crawled all over dozens, armed with this collective knowledge I took the plunge earlier this month and am now the proud owner of a (57) SE on 84K with an immaculate dealer service history. 600 miles later and still trying to fathom out all of the options it presents, I am very impressed even as a 20 year Volvo veteran, (V70 & S60.) I have in the past relied on a Haynes manual for each of my cars. I am aware that no such manual exists for this model but is the Harrier/300 manual applicable to the purely mechanical aspects of the car ? If not and short of buying the US workshop set for several hundred pounds, what resource is available to us mere mortals ? Does any member know whether the fuel tank is vented and if so by what mechanism ? I would think it must be but nothing is obvious. Reason for asking is I have noticed when first unscrewing the filler cap at fuel stops either an inrush or release of pressure ! Any comments welcome and looking forward to future exchanges.