kenhall

This is the YouTube video I referred to above.  Access to the control unit only requires removal of the Battery cover, not the whole Battery.

Another RX400h video with power steering failure was diagnosed with a blown fuse located on the control unit.

This “relay switch” is located under the HV Battery and according to a YouTube video I’ve seen, access to it means removal of the rear seats and Battery. Hence Lexus labour cost of this work will be substantial.

My experience is similar, living near the Irish Sea coast, however I believe that road salt is a bigger cause of corrosion than wind borne sea salt.

My last two MOT passes in January ‘23 and ‘24 both had advisories for rear subframe corrosion.  When the weather is more amenable I plan to pressure wash the subframe and then spray it thoroughly with Lanoguard.  I hope I won’t get chased by any sheepdogs!!.  If you have smelled Lanoguard you will know what I mean. Lanoguard is obviously derived from the greasy by product of the wool scouring process.

Sorry my mistake - should have read further 🙄!
D2S and D4S are NOT interchangeable as they operate at different voltages.

The 3x price factor was for a higher output version of the D2S compared to the standard one.

This US(?) post on the Facebook RX group may be of interest. According to my RX400h owners manual D2S HID bulbs are used for the headlamp dipped beams.

A quick search shows that D2S and D4S bulbs are interchangeable, with the same light output, but the environmentally friendly mercury free D4S typically costs 3x the cost of the D2S.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/298564897176011/permalink/2016830915349392/?

The other possibility of course is the dazzlingly bright LED option!!

I did this job on my 400h recently to replace a badly rusted rear disc + pads (partly caused by salty winds from living near the Irish Sea) and didn’t take any extra precautions. Removing one of the caliper slide pins was a problem due to some corrosion and the rubber grommet on the end becoming dislodged. The other frustrating part of the job is adjusting the handbrake shoe clearance by poking a screwdriver through the drum to turn a star wheel which you can only locate by feel.

I had a similar windscreen washer problem on my Honda Civic and after buying a replacement I removed the old pump via the wheel arch access method. The fine plastic mesh strainer on the pump inlet was totally blocked with gunge. After cleaning it and giving the tank a good flush out the old pump worked fine.

Hi Dave, I too experience the corrosive effects of wind driven Irish Sea salt living in West Cumbria.

When I repaired my seized rear wiper I took the opportunity to clean up this nut, while it was off, and gave it a couple of coats of black paint.

I had my windscreen well starred and cracked today by an unknown missile so it will be a full replacement job.

Has anyone got any experiences of RX screen replacement by Autoglass?

I had the same problem a few years back and managed to clean up and free off the seized rusty shaft followed by liberal application of oil and grease. Motor was fine. No problems since.

Brake actuator pump motor faulty? Normally this motor runs intermittently to maintain the brake accumulator pressure and is barely noticeable when operating.

Suggest you try hids-direct.co.uk.

There are three mild steel clamps where the two manifolds come together into one. On my RX these clamps had badly corroded and were starting to split apart, however without any obvious leakage. I’ve replaced them with stainless clamps.

For those of us who, for whatever reason, choose not to drive the most up to date Lexus model but instead rely on the well established reliability and longevity of older models it is a shame that better corrosion protection is not given a higher priority for new Lexus vehicles sold in the UK.  The effect of winter road salt can be readily seen even on vehicles only 2 or 3 years old and can sound the death knell for older otherwise reliable vehicles with, for example, excessively corroded subframes.

Obviously no manufacturer wants it’s vehicles to last indefinitely, but there must be a happy medium to be achieved somewhere.

Hi Barry,

Your last paragraph sounds like a sensible plan to me.

Regarding my RX400h workshop manual, it is an electronic PDF copy of the official (2006?) Lexus version which I purchased from a third party seller online soon after purchasing the car in 2016.

After six years I’m afraid I don’t remember the purchase details.

(Briefly) According to my RX400h manual the procedure for bleeding the front brakes using the intelligent tester requires the brake control (ECB) to be disabled first by removing the two motor control relays. The brakes are then bled conventionally (engine OFF). The relays are then replaced and any DTCs cleared using the tester.

Presumably Techstream will also cover the same procedure.

If the leakage is due to a corrosion pinhole on the pipe then perhaps a skilled aluminium MIG welder could seal it up, followed by a pressure test. The pipe would obviously have to be removed and thoroughly cleaned up beforehand.

The other possible leakage path could due to the O ring fitted to the flange spigot. The O ring should have been renewed when your new condenser was fitted.

I don’t claim to be an air con expert but have replaced a couple of corroded / stone damaged condensers on a Citroen C4 that I previously owned.

2 hours ago, ntl said:

That's disappointing. What sort of steering system does the XU30 RX400h use? Are we talking an expensive fix?

My RX400h has the later electric motor assisted steering rack and associated electronic control with some parameters adjustable using Techstream eg centring. Assistance is high at low speeds and becomes lower (firmer) as speed increases.

Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe that earlier RX models used a more conventional hydraulically assisted steering rack which might explain some differences.

Another casualty here:

Toyota / Lexus design may be technically brilliant but they have a complete lack of common sense when it comes to specifying corrosion resistant vehicles for use in countries such as the UK where winter road salt is used or is it sneaky planned obsolescence?

My (some time ago, during a transmission fluid change) recollection of inspecting this presumably high voltage cable to the rear motor is that it has a short outer exposed shielding section of braided copper (?). The braid was showing obvious signs of salt corrosion and was therefore given a thorough spray of  Waxoyl to help prolong it’s life.

I wonder if the mechanic who inspected Oldstoat’s RX saw a similar thing and assumed the worst?  Surely if HV cables were becoming exposed then a fault code of some kind would be logged.

These reasonably priced Heyner wiper blades have performed well on my RX400h:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142412640744?hash=item21287471e8:g:HNQAAOSwyiBhZVyM

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255254244063?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&utm_source=LexusOwnersClubUK&utm_medium=ForumLinks

I see someone bought this subframe for £120 delivered- anyone on the forum?

There is a decent looking RX400h subframe for sale on eBay from a Lithuanian seller for £120 +60 delivery (or offers). They made me an offer of 10% off (£12).

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255254244063?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

If I was in your position and keen to keep the RX long term then I would go down the route of corrosion proofing the used subframe after stripping it back to bare metal ( don’t know if hot dip galvanising is a possible option) and then performing a swop with the corroded subframe.

The official method:

24001100.pdf

Hi Peter,

The rear wheels have to be removed and you will find the small (10mm?) rubber bung between the wheel studs.

If you are prepared to remove the drums / discs temporarily (brake calipers have to be moved out of the way) you will get a better picture of the work required. Also you can check if the star wheel adjuster is free to turn and lubricate it’s threads if necessary. The remaining brake shoe lining thickness can also be checked although they wear very slowly.

I will try and post some explanatory pictures later.