lenore

At 30k miles I don't feel this is necessary. Look at your maintenance book and see what is required.  I am sure those are probably not required.

So far no issues, but at this mileage the vehicle is pretty much not work much even though it is in excellent condition.  I figure drive it till it dies, if the battery goes I would consider replacing with aftermarket repairer with warranty.  No car payment is king.  Thank you for your service, I am a 8 year Navy Veteran.

Yes 237k miles is crazy, and I am not happy about it.  Iridium plugs are the best I have ever seen in my life.  I started this journey on cars back in 1965 and remember plugs only lasting 10k miles.  With unleaded gas and alloys like iridium there is no end.

The plugs were due at 120k miles, But if you want to know, I have 237k miles on my original plugs, I have planned to replace them for about a year, but family things have stopped me.

I have the plugs and the procedure sucks as you have to remove the intake manifold to get the rear plugs.  I would like the newer features of collision avoidance, etc.  As for smart key, I could take it or leave it.  funny I had to make a 300 mile emergency trip yesterday, and man I still love this car, I find it the best car I have ever  owned and I have had British cars, german cars, Hondas, Fords, Chevrolets, Toyotas, and an RX300.  The Rx400h is a beautiful, powerful, and long distance favorite.  Good luck in your quest.  Also in my state, keeping the old one going is cheaper registration, wise and not having a car payment is king.

First welcome aboard, do you have any codes or check engine light?  If so the knock sensors will cause the engine to run in limp mode.  They have to be repaired.  Tech cleaner will not fix your problem.

Oh man, you are going to miss that car, everyone that had one likes it better than the newer ones....

Usually the mileage difference is about 1 mpg.  AWD will give the car much more stability in wet roads.  Welcome aboard, so are you thinking of getting rid of your RX400h?

I am on four different sites, two Lexus, one Toyota, and one Ford.  Your question about causing leaks is asked in every forum, Yup could be,  but after wrenching on Cars for over 50 years I more than suspect that the leaks were there before, and the switch to synthetic just accented it.  But I will give you this one, but friend I am not here to fight, just to provide info just as you did.  But welcome to our forums, and may I suggest the Club Lexus forums also.  You will find a wealth of knowledge between these two sites on the Lexus.  We come on these forums to help people as well as get help from a data of owners that have experienced these problems and have come up with solutions.  Hope you have a great weekend.

Agree totally, except on synthetic, The question of leaks has shown to not be a problem.  You can also stretch changes to 7k with no issues, and purchase at Walmart cheap.  I Fully support use of synthetic for better lubrication and its ability to reduce sludge.  Thank you for the great advice, I hope to see you share more, we all benefit from our knowledge base.

12 hours ago, paulsRX300 said:

I know about the sludge engine thing. My question is why did it take 125,000 miles to destroy the engine? If I buy another engine how can I be sure it will not happen again?? This really makes me sick, I'll have $10,500 into this 2001 RX by the time I'm done with it. I could have bought a 2008 instead.

Time is the enemy on this engine, I first hand saw what happens to my neighbors highlander with same engine.  His wife only drove short under 3 mile trips daily, the engine never warmed up to proper operating temp, He also used non synthetic oil, when we took the engine apart there was gobs of tar like sludge throughout, the oil pan was the worst, it had blocked the oil pump strainer and caused the failure.  I personally had the RX300 (1999) and never experience this problem even after 14 years of ownership until I sold it with 189k miles.  But the key was I used synthetic and kept up the maintenance.  At the time I was using Castrol Oil German formula.  First oil change after switching even the crust came off where you add oil...I apparently has great detergent properties.  On my RX400h I used Mobil 1 and Penzoil synthetic.  I am at 235k miles. Sorry for your failure.  If you take the front valve cover off which is easy, you will know whether you have sludge or not...my neighbors car was terrible under that valve cover.  Lexus made changes later in the valve covers to help the sludge issue.  Good luck friend, sorry for your problem, We all have those terrible experiences, but remember these are mechanical beast, and they need attention.  sometimes more than other engines. 

I am happy for you, remember that engine had particular sludge problems and using high quality synthetic oil, and keeping up the maintenance will give you long life. 

The engine could have had sludge.  Quite prevalent with that year and not using high quality oil.  Once the sludge build up no amount of good oil is going to clean it out.  Also possible because of sludge in the oil pan the pump starved and no oil was going to cam.  There is also screens on the VVTI cam solenoids that could have plugged up causing oil starvation.

Apparently a lot of compressors don't have a water filter on the air outlet.  Nitrogen wont help, as air is already 80% nitrogen.  Poor equipment maintenance is the fault. 

Could be a bad brake light switch on brake pedal, or maybe it is loose.

On ‎1‎/‎25‎/‎2019 at 1:59 AM, Fast Rev said:

Thanks so much.

I could not find another one.

The issue I have is that when I had my car serviced, I was told that the filter needed to be replaced.  I had just replaced the filter myself the week before.  The dealership also wanted $140 to replace the filter.  I paid $9.00 for the filter and it took me 5 minutes to replace it.  I cannot see how they can justify that cost and they blatantly lied to me.

I would have talked to the manager at that point, asking what is going on.  I never let them get away with shady work ethics.

Yes the brake actuator has been a issue for some, Lexus treated me like crap when mine made noises, they said since it did not throw a code, I am out of luck.  Mine has not failed with codes yet, and I do not look forward to that repair.  As for the rest of car it is truly one of the best I have owned.  The Toyota highlander hybrid is better on fuel economy by a couple of miles per gallon and does not require premium fuel.  I also believe it has more room and offers a third row seat if needed on some models.  As for the hybrid, yes I would do again.  The Prius is an outstanding vehicle, but it is not as tall for road view.  I would not hesitate going for Prius if it meets your needs.  The Toyota Camry hybrid is awesome. The Avalon hybrid is the largest of Toyota sedans and is spectacular in all ways.  Tough deciding and I understand, I find getting in and out of the RX very comfortable with my bad back and old age.  My 93 year old Mother in law has difficulty, but she is only 4 foot 6 and cant lift her legs well.  My wife being 5 foot will not get anything except RV as she likes the height.  Good luck....You cant beat the Toyota/Lexus brand for reliability....

11 hours ago, the analyzer said:

I am hoping to purchase a used RX400h AWD.   What can anyone recommend or share or advise?  Should miles matter more than year? I know all maintenance matters.   I am currently driving a mint 1990 Toyota 4RNR, 131,000mi. I have LOVED that vehicle.  I have NEVER had any prob. with my 4RNR which I purchased used with 40,000mi over 30yrs ago!!.  I live downtown  in city and drive couple times a week.   I want easier city car as when I do drive (Seattle) I sit in traffic!   Also, am getting (gasp) older and the 4RNR is a little bit of a climb in. The back window keys down then open tail gate etc. And want better cupholders. LOL.  Also, I keep my car nice and to find perfect little parts (like new cupholder) its difficult on this truck.    I did pimp it out with Apple car play and backup camera!!   Lots of peeps say Im crazy to sell 4 RNR because I barely drive.  That I dont need a hybrid etc etc.   I like <2010 models as I agree with the newer being stodgy and ya, want Hybrid cause I sit in traffic.  I dont want problems.  Ive heard brake actuators can be prob.  This is not easy for me as I dont want to regret this.  I have several people interested in my 4RNR.  I also want either light blue or champagne or dark blue color with tan beige inside.   Want well cared for car like Ive cared for my 4RNR. Yep probably  a unicorn Lexus!!  Ive asked my mechanic and he says IF Im selling 4RNR I wont be happy with anything but lexus because of my standards. I have also been told to stay away from BMW etc.  Am I better off buying from dealer (ug) which put crazy high prices on them or private?  Does anyone recommend getting additional maint. package?  But then again dealer is involved???  Help!!!  I saw Deb W posts and like the feedback and have lots of common questions. Thanks ALL

I shopped dealership for 6 months on same RX400h and they were terrible to deal with.  Ended up going to Carmax and getting a trade in value on my old RX300 and they were busy, so I started looking on their computers for RX400h while waiting.  Found exact same LEXUS Rx400h as the one I was trying to buy from stealership located about 1.5 hours away at another CarMax, and $6000 cheaper than best price from Dealership (Lexus).  Got my estimate for my RX300 (better than dealership) and went home and told wife about car in Modesto, CA.  Ending up driving there that afternoon.  Car was everything advertised.  and $6000 cheaper.  Bought it that day and drove home with both RX300 and RX400h.  Ended up selling RX300 on Craigslist for more than both CARMAX and stealership price.  Yippee.   Love my RX400h, best automobile I have owned in my life.  I would highly recommend Carmax, they treated me like Gold, and offered extended warranty if you want it.  Entire experience was outstanding.  Look for a 2008 RX400h as that was the last year of  that model and had everything on it.  Good luck.  Look at my Avatar and you will see both cars parked next to each other. 

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Oh OK maybe they changed the material. 

That is crazy, the gasket is a crush aluminum washer.  Oh well, we will see.

Did they clean the area where is was originally leaking?  Also did they clean the under panels?  Maybe just more residual. 

My Toyota Solara Convertible 2006 had navigation, and somebody on Toyota Forums discovered a input to it.  I made my own plug and wired a backup camera and It worked like a champ.

I haven't but have installed two in a Ford F150 and Toyota Solara.  If you are handy it can be done easily, or take to Best Buys and have it installed.  I cant remember whether the LS430 has a navigation screen, if it does I am sure someone has done it.

Struts are discussed all the time, but my choice is KYB struts and OE mounts....Have put them on RX300 and RX400h and a GMC Yukon....Love these struts. the knock noise is probably broken mount, but could also be a damaged stabilizer bar mount....

17 hours ago, pj8708 said:

Thanks Lenore!!

I hope Santa is good to you and yours. Will you see a new Lexus in your garage?

Merry Christmas to all!

Paul

Probably not soon, I am trying to stretch my dollars and make the RX400h go over 300k miles....time will tell.

Well, haven't said it yet this year, Merry Christmas to all, both new and Old.  Be safe, and feel the love.