RX in NC

The driving force behind changing brake fluid is moisture working its way into the system. If your seals are good and moisture cannot seep in, your brake fluid will last a long, long time. But if moisture gets in, your master cylinder's seals will eventually leak. Pay attention to the condition of your fluid. Look at it as part of your weekly oil level and tire pressure checks. As it darkens in color, you may eventually decide to change it....

I did have to remove the battery, and it was indeed a counterclockwise twist of about 35 degrees. To my surprise, the bulb was burned out. Went with a twin-pack of Sylvania Eco-Bright 9005 halogens. Using a coupon from Advance Auto Parts, cost me about $25 for the set of two bulbs. Wound up replacing the passenger side bulb as well when I saw how dim it was compared to the new one. Had to move the wiper fluid fill tube out of the way to get to the passenger side high-beam assembly - just one bolt. All things considered, an easy job....

Has anyone had to remove their driver's side high-beam bulb assembly to rectify a failed no. 9005 bulb or perhaps just a bulb loose in its socket? While doing a pre-check of all systems last night prior to taking the vehicle in for our annual North Carolina Safety Inspection requirement, I saw that the driver's side high-beam was not working. Hard to believe that a high-beam bulb would ever burn out as little as they are used.... It appears that I have to remove the battery in order to gain enough working room to be able to pull the high-beam assembly. Anyone figured out how to pull that assembly without removing the battery? And does the assembly twist out, pull out, unscrew out, or what? Never had to go after a high-beam bulb before on any vehicle, so I'm not familiar with this particular process. As usual, our owners manual says "in the event of a faulty bulb, proceed directly to your Lexus dealership for repairs".... Thanks for any guidance that anyone can provide here....

I care so much about depreciation that I refuse to purchase ANY vehicle until it is at least two and preferably three model years old. In my most recent transaction during the depths of the latest recession in December 2008, I managed to steal what was originally a $50,000 vehicle new for my ridiculous low-ball offer of $17,000. The car was in like-new condition with only 18,000 miles on it and a complete service history. Best vehicle deal I've ever done, and we're still enjoying that car very much (2005 Jaguar S-Type).... So for me, not swallowing the bulk of the depreciation along with a minimum cost-of-ownership calculation is crucial....

Must be a relatively new policy. We've had recalls/campaigns done in years past and never received a free tank of gas for those....

Thanks for all the responses, guys. The mirror is still functional, just discolored. No way am I paying new retail prices for a new mirror. I'll wait to see if it worsens to the point where the mirror becomes useless. If it does, I'll attempt to source one from a salvage place.... Think I'll also contact my local Lexus service manager. She was very good to us over the years with "goodwill" repairs to my wife's previous 2000 RX300. Worth a conversation with her to see what she can do.... Thanks again, and happy holidays to all....

Has anyone out there had an outside mirror turn discolored and hazy? I assume there is a fluid inside the mirror that is the culprit in the situation. Just noticed it today. The passenger side outside mirror is affected, but the driver side outside mirror appears normal. I searched this forum using "discolored mirrors", but no matches were found. Hoping someone has experienced this issue and can shed some light on the topic.... The affected vehicle is my wife's 2004 RX330 AWD which has been reasonably trouble-free during the not-quite four years that we've owned it. Just turned 107,000 miles this morning....

Where I live has nothing to do with it, pal. This is all about residual contaminant build-up in the throttle body after tens of thousands of miles. Happens to ALL vehicles regardless of location. Notice I emphasized "proper cleaning". That is absolutely crucial. Before undertaking any throttle body cleaning, one must do some thorough research to find out what components need to be removed, what solvents (if any) can be safely used, and exactly what procedures to follow when doing the actual cleaning. It's not rocket science, but it does require some research. And if there are gaskets in place between the throttle body and the engine, replace them - do not reuse them. They are usually just a few dollars, and new gaskets can make a huge difference. The primary culprit in ruining most throttle bodies once they get a little age on them is moisture in the system. It only takes one degraded gasket to allow just a tiny bit of moisture inside. And once moisture is present, all hell can break loose including the engine shutting down into limp home mode.... So do your research and learn about your throttle body before you undertake the cleaning procedure. And be sure to refresh those gaskets while you're at it....

ANY vehicle with more than 50,000 miles on it will benefit by a PROPER cleaning of the throttle body. The caveat is that you need to know how to do it correctly, and that varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. All of our vehicles' engines have always performed better with improved MPG after I've thoroughly cleaned the throttle body, usually for the first time at 50,000 to 60,000 miles....

Return the car to your broker as soon as you possibly can and get your money back. If you did the research, you would already know that the 1999 and 2000 RX300 models are by far the most problematic of the RX series. Too many weaknesses to list here, but I have first-hand knowledge because my wife's previous 2000 RX300 AWD was the worst vehicle I've ever had in more than 40 years of driving. More than $9,000 in warranty work done to that pig while we owned it. The 2004-and-newer RX330 is a much better vehicle. Lexus apparently learned from their mistakes and ponied up to improve everything from the transmission to the exhaust manifold to the strut system to the various sensors that were so prone to early failure.... Don't waste any more time or money. Get a full refund, learn from your mistake, and move on....

In this economy I'm just going to sit tight with what we already have in the stable. A truck (1999 Dodge Ram), an SUV (2004 Lexus RX330), and a sedan (2005 Jaguar S-Type), all healthy and running great. As long as I keep up with the maintenance, our transportation bases should be covered for a long, long time unless gas goes to five bucks a gallon....

Also be aware that the AWD in these vehicles is extremely front-biased, probably as much as 80 to 85% most of the time. If you need true 4-wheel-drive for your intended purposes, the RX is very mediocre in this particular ability....

The P0300 code points to misfires, with the last digit of the following codes indicating which cylinder the misfire is occuring in. Judging by your post, you are experiencing misfires in cylinders 2, 4, and 6. Usual cause is indeed faulty coil packs as pointed out by Lenore, but other potential causes could be vacuum leaks, failing spark plugs, and failing bank sensors. Given the age of your vehicle, I would bet that your coil packs are beginning to fail....

I had our local dealership perform this "ALG" campaign/recall on my wife's 2004 RX330 AWD yesterday. The recall includes a new brake master cylinder cup seal, fresh brake fluid, and get this - a full tank of gas. Part of the Toyota/Lexus continuing efforts to recover from all the bad press earlier in the year....

The best bang-for-the-buck tire we had on my wife's former 2000 RX300 AWD with 16-inch wheels was the Firestone Destination LE. The tire is based on the same technology as the Bridgestone Alenza at less than two-thirds the price. 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, great wet traction, relatively quiet - they really deliver for the money. I put a set on my 1999 Dodge Ram pickup in June and they do just as well on my full-size truck as they did on the RX300. I would run them on my wife's current 2004 RX330 AWD, but this vehicle has 18-inch wheels and the last time I checked, the Destination LE is not built in 18-inch sizes. So I run Alenzas on that vehicle.... Another tire winning high praise is the Yokohama Avid ENVigor. It was just introduced in March so there's not a great deal of data on it yet. But the tire-testing outfits love it and so do most of the customers who've bought it thus far....

The problem with most class action lawsuits is that the lawyers get 75% of whatever dollar figure the judge decides upon, then the actual harmed consumers get the crumbs that are left over....

If you had done your Jaguar research, you would have known not to purchase any pre-2005 model. By 2004/2005, the reliability issues had been resolved and you get about as good a bang-for-the-buck deal as there is. I bought a 2005 S-Type with 18,000 miles in December 2008. Two years later at 52,400 miles, the car is performing flawlessly. Granted, I purchased the Jaguar Technical Information Services CD off Ebay and spent many hours learning how to do the necessary maintenance procedures myself, but that's what it takes if you plan to keep a semi-exotic car in pristine condition yourself. We bought it as a sleek and comfortable highway cruiser to drive back and forth between North Carolina and Florida, and it has performed that role flawlessly. Best overall car we've ever had in more than 40 years of driving. But if you cannot do-it-yourself, a Jag is not for you.... Glad you're enjoying your GS but if that car is anything close to being as fast as your former XKR, there was something seriously wrong with it....

Exactly! Except I'm on my front porch holding a crossbow, not a newspaper! You should see those little whippersnappers run....

Man, Steve is now counseling in full paternal geezer mode. Make sure you call him a whippersnapper, and be sure to wear your suspenders and carry your newspaper when doing so! Glad to see you've officially joined the club. Gotta love it....

This type of leak is usually traced to a clogged moonroof drain line. Over the years, the lines get clogged with dirt and debris. The rainwater usually winds up inside the vehicle underneath the floor mats. There are four drain lines. Blow them all out with compressed air and make certain they are all still properly attached to the drain nozzles just underneath the moonroof. Dealers are well aware of this issue, and so are most upscale body shops. Sometimes dealers will do it for free if you have a good relationship with them....

Talked to Lexus Corporate today about this issue. Gave them our VIN and they confirmed that our RX330 will be included in the recall (they call it a "campaign"). Letters will go out to owners in early November, so all of you 2004 to 2006 RX330 owners should be on the lookout.... The "campaign" code for this service is "ALG". The main seal (Lexus calls it a "cup") in your master brake cylinder will be replaced along with new brake fluid in your system. It should take about two hours of their shop time. Since it is indeed a recall, there is no charge to you. So don't let any unscrupulous dealer steal from you....

Yep, the planetary gear assembly is the primary culprit in these RX300 transmission failures. For those of you who may be considering an RX, don't get one older than the 2004 model (the first year of the RX330). The 330s are built better in a number of ways than the 300s, including the transmission. We've had both - my wife's 300 was an absolute dog while her 330 has been a much better vehicle....

Just read that the 2004 to 2006 RX330s will be included in this recall. Called our local Lexus dealership, and they are still awaiting details from Lexus Corporate. Was told to expect a letter in the mail pertaining to our vehicle by mid-November. In the meantime, check your brake fluid level and pay attention to the feel of your brake pedal. When master cylinders are on the verge of failure, the brake pedal usually develops a spongey feel to it....

News flash - this isn't fraud. This is just an example of the hyped-up, heavily-marketed, overrated, and underperforming system that Carfax is. The vast majority of car buyers out there believe that Carfax is the gospel truth with each and every detail that ever happened to their car. Bullsh!t. Carfax is a mediocre product that has built its business and reputation solely on high-dollar advertising. Don't buy into it. Do your own due diligence on any car you are interested in and always remember that Carfax is nothing more than one more tool in your toolbag. Now relax and just drive your vehicle. As has previously been pointed out to you, the longer you keep the vehicle, the less of a factor this issue becomes when the day arrives to dump it....

Agreed. After the factory warranty expires, a number of S-Type owners switch to Mobil 1 or Castrol when they decide to change their ATF. I've researched this topic quite a bit this year, and I'm leaning towards Castrol. Time will tell....