RX in NC

Yep, the answer is "never". If you want your fluid checked, you better learn to do it yourself. Besides, I would never pay the Jaguar dealership charges to work on our car - they are astronomical. I rode the remaining 7 months of factory warranty like a race horse after I purchased the car. This resulted in more than $3,000 worth of warranty work done to the car to get it ready for me when the warranty ran out. So I've been fortunate....

Yeah, our 2005 Jaguar S-Type has the German-built ZF 6-speed transmission with no dipstick and no fill tube. Want to check your ATF? You have to put the car on a lift, raise it, use a special tool to remove the transmission pan fill hole plug, and stick your finger in there to get an idea of how the fluid is doing. Absolutely nuts. When I bought the car in December 2008, ZF ATF was selling for $55 per liter - the car runs 10 liters. ZF ATF is now down to about $23 per liter at some online retailers, still ridiculously expensive. When you want to change the fluid, you have to pump it in with a hand pump while the engine is running with the car up in the air. Again, absolutely nuts. The car is pushing 51,000 miles. ZF Corporation says the fluid is good for at least 100,000 miles, but I won't wait that long to change it. But what a major production (and expense) it is to change this car's ATF. It's been a great car, but I really hate dealing with the ZF unit in it....

I did a drain-and-fill on my wife's 2004 RX330 AWD yesterday as part of a routine service that included an oil-and-filter change, some fuel injector cleaning, and a tire rotation. The vehicle currently has just over 105,000 miles on it, and this is the third ATF drain-and-fill I've done on it since we purchased it in January 2007.... While this RX330 AWD transmission is certainly better than the first-generation RX300 AWD transmission, it still needs fresh fluid from time to time. Don't believe what your owners manual says - there is no such animal as "lifetime" ATF. I change our RX330's ATF every 30,000 miles and while the old fluid isn't completely worn out-looking or smelling, it certainly isn't still pristine dark red, either. I've stuck with Toyota Type T-IV ATF because it is inexpensive, not because I believe it is the only fluid to use because Lexus says so. Every drain-and-fill I've done has been consistent - right at 3.8 quarts out, and a fresh 3.8 quarts in. No transmission issues until last week when my wife reported a couple of very minor slips while driving in city traffic. I expect yesterday's drain-and-fill to clear up that issue. Time will tell.... So don't take your RX330 ATF for granted. Pick a change interval and stick with it. It's cheap and easy if you do it yourself. All you need is a 10 mm Allen wrench, 4 quarts of ATF, and a drain pan. Using my electric jig saw, I cut a 2-inch by 2-inch hole in the plastic undertray just below the transmission pan drain plug so I don't even have to remove the undertray to do my drain-and-fills. You don't even have to jack the vehicle up. Takes all of 30 minutes, and most of that time is just waiting for the last drop of old fluid to hit the pan....

Getting to and changing the three rear spark plugs in my wife's previous 2000 RX300 AWD was practically impossible for me. I have huge hands and there was just no way for me to get my hands to that center rear plug along with my socket wrench extensions and universal. Fortunately, my small-handed neighbor up the street saved the day for me when I changed those plugs in October 2006. He had that center rear plug out and the new one in place for me in less than ten minutes. I sold that vehicle in late January 2007. Good riddance - I don't miss it one bit.... For those of you who haved changed RX300 plugs and also the later RX330 plugs, is there more working room behind the three rear plugs in the RX330, or is it the same nightmare set-up as the RX300? My wife's 2004 RX330 AWD is approaching 105,000 miles and while I won't even think about changing those fantastic Denso iridium plugs until at least 120,000 miles or more, it's never too soon to find out if I'll have sufficient room this time to get at them....

Our first set of Alenzas went nearly 55,000 miles before a similar situation to yours (a large screw destroying one tire beyond repair) caused me to replace all four tires last October. Yes, the Alenzas were getting noisier, but ALL tires get noisier as they wear. You've got to keep them at proper psi (on our RX330, they do best at between 36 and 37 psi for both treadwear life and reduced noise). I think the Yokohama EnVigor may turn out to be a great tire as well, but they are so new that at this point there is very little longevity data on them so we just don't know yet. I'll wait and let other folks guinea-pig these tires before I decide whether I will buy them.... So I wound up putting another set of Alenzas on the RX last October. If they turn out to be similar to the first set, they should do at least 60,000 miles if my wife doesn't run over another big piece of debris in the road....

It is usually the HVAC system's servo motors hunting for position. Most folks describe it as a "bubbling" sound. Search this forum using "servo motor noise" as your key phrase and you'll find plenty of information on it....

My wife's 2004 RX330 AWD (built in Japan) had the front rotors warp while the vehicle was still under factory warranty at about 43,000 miles. I found out that there was a TSB for this problem which replaced the warped rotors with a supposedly re-engineered better set of rotors, so I had it done under warranty. Now the vehicle is pushing 105,000 miles and the rotors have been fine. Replaced the rear brake pads at about 78,000 miles and the front brake pads at about 84,000 miles, and all rotors were fine. Decided not to turn them since they were so clean and scratch-free. Researched brake pads and decided to go with Wagner ThermoQuiet pads (with a lifetime warranty) on both axles and have been extremely pleased. The OEM pads were good, but the Wagner ThermoQuiet pads are better. Completely silent, and not a speck of brake dust....

Sounds like your compressor clutch is beginning to fail. You should be able to replace the clutch assembly without having to replace the compressor. I suggest you have it checked out by a reputable A/C shop in your area to confirm the issue. Clutch assemblies are relatively inexpensive. Hope that's what it turns out to be for you. I assume that when your A/C compressor is running, it cools the vehicle normally - correct?

In a word, gravity. When your vehicle sits in the garage or driveway, most of the ATF drains down into the pan. That is why the vast majority of vehicles' ATF dipsticks always read too full when the ATF is cold. Once you're out driving, the ATF warms up and spreads out to do its job - lubrication.... From what you've described, I'd say that your current fluid level is pretty close to where it should be. Continue to check it periodically to be sure.... And yes, these RX transmissions shift harshly when cold. Takes 3 or 4 miles to warm them up properly regardless of the outside temperature. One of my pet peeves against these vehicles....

It's been happening with my PC as well. Started about two weeks ago. Some days it happens, other days it does not. I e-mailed the LOC helpdesk, they replied that it could be my security software being paranoid. They asked what software I was running so they could investigate, I replied with the information they requested, and I've yet to hear back from them. Very frustrating.... We've made no software changes to our PC since late October 2009 when we upgraded to Windows 7. We have absolutely no issues with the many other websites we use frequently - only this one. On the days when I get the warning, I don't bother with trying to use this site....

I assume you have 16-inch wheels. If so, the best bang-for-the-buck tire for your vehicle is the Firestone Destination LE tire. 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, great in the rain and light snow, and relatively quiet. Had a set on my wife's previous 2000 RX300 that did more than 55,000 miles with absolutely no problems and they never hydroplaned even in the nastiest storms. Had a set on my daughter's 2000 Grand Cherokee with the same results. Three weeks ago I put a set of them on my 1999 Dodge Ram in size P265/75R16, much larger than what your vehicle requires. I bargained with the local Firestone store and got my cost down from retail at about $600 to $487 by asking for a buy-3-get-1-free deal. They agreed. Throw in the $50 mail-in rebate they were offering, and my final cost dropped to $437 balanced, mounted, and out-the-door. No one else could come close to that, including tirerack.com and Discount Tire.... My experience with these tires is that they are an outstanding product for the money. Work your best deal for a set with your local Firestone stores. When you call, ask to speak with the manager. He has far more leeway to deal than the regular reps do. If he won't work a deal for you, then call another local Firestone store and try again. Most cities have at least a handful of stores. Our particular area has at least 6 or 8 to choose from. I found the best one years ago, wrote down the manager's name, and always deal with him now. He saves me significant money every time....

Sounds like the classic moonroof drain leak. Your moonroof drains have become clogged with dirt and debris. The solution is to blow them out with compressed air. Very common problem on all vehicles with moonroofs and a relatively easy fix. Dealers do this all the time, sometimes at no charge....

And you need to recognize my post for exactly what the hell it is - my opinion. I have a lot of BMW experience in my extended family from the 750i on down to the X5 series. Not trying to *BLEEP* on your parade at all. I've tried to help you in your endeavor, believe it or not. I suggested that you stay with your current line-up until you finish serving your Chicago sentence. When you said no, I suggested another 4Runner since you've been pleased with your current one. Again, just my opinion. It's your money, it's your choice, do whatever you want. But don't tell people to "lighten up" when you ask for suggestions or opinions.... By the way, our S-Type is doing just fine. Still the best bang-for-the-buck touring sedan we've ever had. It does two-thirds of my wife's annual miles, while the RX330 does the other one-third essentially as our dog-hauler. Still think that it should have been a Subaru Outback instead.... I do indeed wish you luck with whatever you decide to do with your fleet. And I promise you - you'll get no more suggestions, feedback, or advice from me on this subject, or any other, in the future....

Good luck to you. Unless you want to significantly increase the amount of time that you spend working on your vehicles yourself, I think you're making a mistake. From previous postings, I was under the impression that you want to decrease your maintenance time and expense, not increase it. But, to each his own. And again, good luck....

Simple - just look underneath the vehicle for the drive train extending from the transmission to the rear axle. If it's there, you have the Lexus "pretend" version of all-wheel-drive....

Just three words: do it yourself....

For a vehicle that old with the A/C still working but inconsistent as you described, the first suspect is the compressor once any r134a leaks have been ruled out. If you get lucky, it may turn out to be just the compressor clutch assembly. Get a mechanic's stethoscope and listen to the compressor housing while the engine is idling with the A/C system set to maximum cool. If the compressor sounds like a cement mixer full of gravel through the stethoscope, it's on its way to the graveyard. Often a dying compressor still sounds normal until you put a stethoscope on it....

It ALWAYS makes the best financial sense to pay cash for a car. That's all I've done for the past 20 years or more. Make your best deal on a 3-year-old well-cared-for vehicle coming off a lease and pay cash. Wins hands down every time.... If your wife won't consider an Outback (mine wouldn't either when I sold her 2000 RX300, although it was exactly what she needed for hauling our dogs), then get another 4Runner. You're happy with yours, it fits the bill for winter driving, and you have two similar vehicles to maintain. There were times in the 1990s when we had two Jeeps and it always worked out perfectly for us. Two 4Runners would do the job for you....

I'll say it again - just keep driving what you already have while you do your jail sentence in Chicago. Once you relocate to a better climate, that's the time to swap vehicles as well....

Contact the Florida Attorney General's Office, Consumer Complaints Division, and submit a case against this dealership with all details and documentation as you described them here. You may be able to do this on-line, or the Attorney General's Office may have to send you the correct forms. Either way, be sure to do this. It works, and it forces the dealership to have to deal not only with you, but with their State Attorney General's Office. It reflects poorly against their record and they typically jump right on these complaints in order to keep the negative publicity to a minimum....

Sorry pal, but you're dead wrong. Toyota has suffered from a culture of deception and secrecy for years, and it took these so-called gas pedal and floor mat issues to bring it out into the open. Sounds as if you need to go back to the January/February timeframe and review the circumstances as they unfolded. Toyota executives (beginning with Mr. Toyoda himself) would not have been profusely apologizing, promising culture changes, and agreeing to millions of dollars in fines without so much as a whimper if this entire saga was nothing more than a supposed smear campaign....

I've talked about this before, but the family vehicle from my youth that I miss by far the most is our trusty 1966 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser station wagon. That thing was a rolling living room with a 455 cubic-inch V8, glass panels all along both sides of the roof (in the days long before sunroofs were common), and room for six dogs and a small pony inside. The third row of seats faced rearwards and that was my exclusive domain in those days. I felt like I was a block away from my parents and sisters whenever I was entrenched back there.... I wish I had that Vista Cruiser today in pristine condition. It would be an absolute blast. The only problem would be having to constantly deal with people trying to buy it off me....

You've already wasted enough of your valuable time trying to resolve this situation through the proper channels at Lexus. Call your state's Attorney General's office and ask for the Consumer Protection division. Explain your situation to them, they'll have you fill out some paperwork, then THEY will contact Lexus in your behalf, on your state's official letterhead. Lexus will be given 15 or 20 business days to formally respond to your Attorney General's office. By the time they respond, I bet that your vehicle will already be placed into the proper customer profile screen area at Lexus Corporate.... There's no excuse for Lexus to treat you like crap after you have continually followed the proper channels. Let your Attorney General's office get involved, and Lexus will change their tune in a heartbeat and begin treating you like royalty.... I know this works. I have used this exact approach for three different problems I've had with various businesses and vendors over the years, and I'm batting a thousand as a result. Sometimes it takes five or six weeks, but I always get the resolution I'm due....

We've had neighbors and friends who've enjoyed their Volvo Cross Country AWD station wagons and kept them for a long time, like 6 or 8 years with not too many issues or problems. You know their reputation for safety and longevity, so good luck if you decide to chase one. I wholeheartedly agree with buying a used one, maybe just coming off a 3-year lease with plenty of factory warranty left so you can shake it out thoroughly at Volvo's expense, not yours.... In any case, good luck finding exactly what you want and keep us posted....

nc211, You're sounding like you need an economics refresher course.... The economy still sucks, you have another baby on the way, you barely do enough miles these days to call yourself a driver. For Pete's sake, man, just keep the car you're currently in for a while and save the cash for your perpetual Pampers, baby formula, and Happy Meal stash.... A decent set of tires for that GS will be a whole lot less money than trading cars right now....