Long Time Lurker, New Rx400h Owner

[BillyShaft]

Hello everyone!

I have been lurking around here for some time and decided to join up after my wife and I decided to purchase a used 2006 RX400h. We decided that this was like the "perfect storm" time to buy a hybrid...gas prices are low, all the early release 400h's are coming off of lease and the economy has people not buying cars.

Having owned both a 1999 and a 2003 RX300, it is amazing to me how much more advanced and comfortable the 400h is...

Anyway, just wanted to say hello and hopefully I will be able to contribute a bit to the forum.

~Brian

[RX400h]

Welcome, Brian! We were one of the first group of owners here in San Diego when the 06 came to shore, back in April of 2005. Even when compared to a new RX350, the RX400h really shines as far as fuel economy and seamless transmission feel. Make sure you check your cabin and intake filters every 15,000 miles or less. That's normally when I change ours. and they are fairly used up at that point.

Anyway, enjoy your RX and have a great Christmas holiday.

Dave

[RXREY]

Welcome Brian. I was one of those that bought their 2006 new and it was a lot of money. I love my 400h and the only thing that bothered me were the many little rattles but if you look at my many posts on this matter I fixed them all. They were all silly and easy fixes but I was still surprised that Lexus didn't catch them before I did! My car is silent now and feels like a million bucks. I LOVE it! Happy trails, Rey

[SOMEONE ELSE'S GOT MY NAME]

Welcome brian. Good to see you saved a boat load of $$. The best we could do was wait until the end of '06. We wanted to unload our Range Rover before the warranty expired, as well as during a lul in gas prices. whew! dodged another bullet. Anyway, glad to have you on board.

[BillyShaft]

Thanks guys!

I remember seeing the new RX400's when they first came out and I was WAY jealous. I felt ripped off driving my old beater RX300 but my lease had another year and a half on it so I couldn't make the switch...

From what I understand, Lexus did not want to trickle out the RX400h and stockpiled a couple months worth of production prior to release. I imagine that prices for the RX400 will stabilize back up after the initial swarm of lease returns gets absorbed by the market. I feel extremely fortunate to be in a position to buy right now.

...the only thing that bothered me were the many little rattles...

Man, I need to talk to you RXRAY! I only have one annoying-as-heck rattle at about 70 mph from what sounds like the back seat and it sounds like a tin pan rattling. In my mind's eye I imagine it is a thin sheet metal cover over the traction batteries that has come just a little loose, but I am probably wrong. I will certainly check your posts as I am sure that I am not the only guy with this rattle.

[RXREY]

Thanks guys!

I remember seeing the new RX400's when they first came out and I was WAY jealous. I felt ripped off driving my old beater RX300 but my lease had another year and a half on it so I couldn't make the switch...

From what I understand, Lexus did not want to trickle out the RX400h and stockpiled a couple months worth of production prior to release. I imagine that prices for the RX400 will stabilize back up after the initial swarm of lease returns gets absorbed by the market. I feel extremely fortunate to be in a position to buy right now.

...the only thing that bothered me were the many little rattles...

Man, I need to talk to you RXRAY! I only have one annoying-as-heck rattle at about 70 mph from what sounds like the back seat and it sounds like a tin pan rattling. In my mind's eye I imagine it is a thin sheet metal cover over the traction batteries that has come just a little loose, but I am probably wrong. I will certainly check your posts as I am sure that I am not the only guy with this rattle.

You can call me Rey... About your rattle...have you checked the privacy screen latch locks? They are the little spring loaded tabs at the rear hatch area. I don't use my privacy screen so when I first had that rattle it drove me nuts until I realized that the tabs had to be pushed in so as to not have contact with the shut rear hatch...or you can also put felt pads over the contact points on them. See if that's what it is. Let me know if that did it. The other thing that it might be is the rear seat backs. When not being sat on, I always have the rear seats pushed forward. The rear seats have a backing that loosens and tightens depending on the seat position so when the seats are pushed back the seat back tightens and at certain speeds it vibrates against the main seat frame and when they are pushed forward the seat back loosens and ,voila, no sound. OK, that's it for no. If this doesn't do it let me know and I'll give you more. I have fixed about 8 different rattle points and I mean it, my car is silent at any speed! I HATE any kind of sounds and it was OK with past cars but I wasn't going to accept it from a 50K Lexus! Rey in L.A.

[katzjamr]

there is another well known rattle on the inside curve next to the rear hatch on the drivers side, your dealer will be able to fix that with a piece of sail cloth inserted behind the panel. this should be no charge. you can have someone ride in the back and push on that area and the privacy screen latch locks that rey mentioned. also the middle arm rest in the back can make a rubbing sound, and check for a metal clicking sound as the front. passenger seat belt clip rattles against the door pillar when it is not in use. the dealer also did something to my rear hatch on one visit that stopped a rattle, i tried to time these repairs with lube intervals and they never charged for the repair. how many miles and what do u have for tires on that 400h? get the 3m almost invisible plastic on the front bumper and hood, and on the head lamps, they are all rock collectors big time. the headlight assembly is over a grand (each) to replace if there is damage. also the dealer has a kit that prevents theft of the lights that can be installed no charge. (not sure if that applies to second owners) it takes a coupla hours and bumper cover adjustment.

[BillyShaft]

Wow guys, that is great info!

I discovered the rear tonneau cover rattle on the test drive, and the dealer told me that when the cover is closed, the rattle stops...great solution. I think I will use some felt pads I have around the house to solve that one per your suggestions.

I think the one I am having that sounds like a tin pan must be the seat positions in the back. I think I will roll them forward an inch or so and see if it goes away like Rey was saying. Does the rattle also depend on the reclining position of the rear seat? Or only the front/back position?

I am fully with you Rey...I can accept (and even expect!) rattles from my Rubicon or my F150 hoopty, but not from the Lex.

Katz, we bought the RX400 with 37k miles and they had just put on a brand new set of 5 Bridgestone Duelers on it. I am pretty sure those came stock on my 2003 if I remember correctly, and I wasn't partuicularly happy with them especially in the snow. On my 2003 I replaced them with Michelin LTXs and those handled fantastic in the snow.

I was seriously considering the 3m cover from the front, because like you said, the front of our 2003 RX300 got trashed with chips. There is a concrete plant near my house that keeps a copious supply of gravel spread on the roads and highways for our driving pleasure. I just hadn't gotten around to researching what people said about the clear bra yet.

I am also intrigued by the idea of having the headlight assemblies theft-proofed...does it make the car look any different?

Thanks for the suggestions guys...I will be going on a rattle-killing safari as soon as the global warming lets up so l can get out of my snow filled driveway. :P

~Brian

[katzjamr]

i think there are some braille like dots u see on a small part of the headlight cover after it is installed. the dealer charge for the 3m cover is usually double what u can find at a shop that specialises in that product so do shop around, and ask the guy how many 400h he has done.