Les Lex 2018

Google search : extra beeps unlocking Lexus. Lots of people with that problem, Wayne. Some talk of sticking door actuators. So not all doors locking or unlocking per the program. I'm surprised that he didn't look at the computer and check the readout for an error code. Either way It can't be normal. Reason: the computer is monitoring / reacting to the process of unlocking the vehicle. A programmer would never program the computer to arbitrarily decide to change the number of beeps because he feels like it. It's the program telling you that something unexpected has occurred. Lexus has access to computer flow charts that would tell them every reason for changing the number of beeps. The hard part is getting them to take the complaint seriously and actually look it up. It took Toyota about a year to research a problem where their manual was wrong (not updated when the model was updated). As a result, me not being able to use a needed USB function. They sent me a nice check for the time and effort needed to find their error.

Go to the net and watch a few Police chases where you will hear a sound from the engine when he tromps on the gas following a sharp curve. That's the same sound coming from my RX and most likely yours. Depending on the air intake air filter design, the sound being emitted is coming from the intake valves opening and closing which gets transmitted from the intake manifold thru the throttle valve, then thru the air filter and out the air scoop up front. That particular sound that I am hearing is perfectly normal. If an air filter could be designed like a muffler, you would not hear that sound. I kind a like the sound. If that does not make sense, Chrissy, take your dealer's mechanic for a ride.

Lane keep assistance (LKA) is not reliable especially around curves. I tried it a few times on the 18 RX. Don’t like it and don’t use it on the 2020 RX. The wife gets excited when I take my hands off the wheel. But if I used it the way it weaved within the lane, the Cops would have pulled me over for sure. I’ll try to test the 2020 and report back. The entertainment system's radio tuning display is incongruent. I did not see that problem. MP-3 music was great. The climate control display is not the most intuitive. You are right, a lot of functions went to software and made in complicated. The dual climate control segregation could be better buffered for the front seats. I thought it was fine. Carplay is not available. Do the post-2018 models have wireless navigation app interfaces like Carplay and music streaming? Yes for Carplay.. With all my 6000 tunes on one USB, I do not use streaming. 360-degree view. Is this feature available for the 2022 model? You have to play the “Package” game to get that. Hard to find…. The parking radar was and is so perfect that all you have to do is watch for the warnings. Try to hit a post with the 18 and 20. It stops you dead in your tracks. Same for backing out or lane changes. No need for 360 view. Ride quality on rough roads (as is common in Houston) could be better. As a comparison, the ride quality in a RAM 1500 truck on rough roads is smoooooth. A Lexus luxury vehicle should not be bested by a pickup truck for heaven's sake. You have the concept somewhat wrong. You can’t please Car and Driver with handling by designing a SUV that rides like a 6000 pound Lincoln Continental. The use of thin 20 inch tires guarantees you a stiff ride of sorts. If you put 500 pounds of cement bags in the cargo area, the ride would be improved. The Ram is heavier than the RX. You can't compare the two. Go with 18 wheels rated for comfort if that’s your thing. But it will hurt your resale value. i.e. Don’t fiddle with the O.E.M config. Software updates. Does Lexus offer continuous over-the-air updates like Tesla? Never needed one. For comparison, can anybody offer a personal experience of the RX350 vs Tesla Model Y? No, the Y has been declared io be somewhat less than reliable? Thanks for asking...

Which NX is a better choice for the money - the NX 450h hybrid, or the NX 450h+ Plug-in hybrid? The h+ costs roughly 11 to 15 thousand dollars more due to the addition of the added battery pack. The h weighs in at 4,475 lb which is 364 lb lighter than the h+. So the h+ when driven without charging from a charging port gets poorer gas milage than the hybrid due to the extra weight. The h+ battery holds the equivalent of one gallon of gasoline, since it will go 37 miles on a charge and would get 37 MPG if the battery was not charged and the engine was used instead. A Level 1 charger (typical in a garage with a 110V wall outlet) will replenish your EV’s battery with about 4 to 5 miles range per hour, or 10 hours to complete the job. I estimate that at 1200 Watts draw, the electricity will cost about $1.20 and will replace a gallon of $3.75 Premium gas for a net saving of $2.55 a day, when used. But, that kind of power usage daily will push me into a higher utility rate for electricity. And the most you can save on a commute is a gallon of gas because you can’t charge the h+ on the way to work. So if you have to drive more than 18 miles oneway to work, the remainder of the difference is running at about 37 MPG / engine only where as the h is getting better MPG cause it is lighter. And will it effect my homeowners insurance rates due to the inclusion of a bigger hybrid pack? I’d have to ask the agent. I’d require a 135 degree, Rate-of-Rise Temperature detector above the vehicle tied to a contact close on a wireless sender to the Alarm system and programmed to the Fire port to dial the Fire Dept. in case the battery pack overheats and burns. Parts cost only is about $100 if you DIY and already have an alarm system. Finally, I have a hard time believing that someone would pay about 14000 more for basically the same functional packages and then mess with plugging and unplugging it constantly, just to save a few dollars a day just to make up for the higher car payment. Penny wise and pound foolish? Conclusion: If a slightly faster Quarter mile is what I absolutely got to have, then the h+ (if it ever gets here) would be the logical pick.

Maybe not, But... The 2020 RX added a button in the back hatch, next to the button that closes the hatch. So the RX unlocks everything when I open the hatch. IF I press the [Padlock closed] icon button next to the original [close hatch] button, it locks everything and closes the hatch all at one time. That button was not on my 18 RX.

Good information to know about the UK, John. All warrantees have fine print of course. But, in general, drivetrain warrantees do not cover engine and electrical here. Even Bumper-to-Bumper warrantees do not cover everything, especially maintainable items like spark plugs, etc. I got a drivetrain warrantee on a well used Caddy Seville. It developed a clanging sound when I put it in gear. Dealer gladly put it on the rack and fixed the problem (labor cost at my expense). Reason? A bolt had come loose on the transmission. Had the bolt come out and the transmission failed, they would have had to cover the entire expense, no deductible. The Devil is always in the details.

Most dealers sell older vehicles "AS IS" so there is no implied warrantee. If her shop mechanic is not experienced enough to pinpoint the cause of the power variation during a test drive, he can put it on the Dynamometer, and plug it into the diagnostic analyzer. If the diagnostic verifies there is a serious problem, Then you go thru the process of elimination: plugs out of spec, gummed up injectors, too rich or too lean due to computer /sensor loop adjustments, Air Filter? Lots of elements in the drive train to inspect.

Regular gas is fine, but if an engine has been ran consistently on cheap gas that does not have the same level of high-detergent additives that Exxon and Shell and other premium brands use, then over time, the injectors get dirty. So you would need to get the injectors cleaned. Let a shop like Firestone check it out. It could still be something else like timing, or emissions sensors. That's a very complicated system you have there. Nice to get a second opinion...

I'd talk to Firestone or find out about cleaning the injectors before going to Lexus. Six year old RX possibly driven on cheap "stop and rob" gas?

Hi Cynthia! Based on personal experience, here is my take on hybrids... You need to study the Hybrid reliability track record of each manufacturer individually before you buy. Looking at resale value is a good indicator when comparing H to non-H vehicles of the same model. That's a given. Study the type of battery technology they use. Some types wear down or out faster than others. A hybrid battery wearing down (but not out) just decreases your MPG but does not need to be replaced. What bugged me about the Camry H was that if the hybrid battery completely failed the car could not be started and you could have a $ problem after the warrantee runs out. Study up on Murphy's law: The added complexity of the hybrid vehicle, including motors, electronics, battery cooling systems, will have to be dealt with somewhere down the line by someone. Hopefully not you! If you don't intend to keep a new hybrid for more than the unusually long warrantee period, then don't worry about it. I didn't. But (big if) - If you don't buy a hybrid or plug in now and you keep your vehicle for like 6 years, you could take a loss at trade-in simply because it's considered to be a gas guzzler in a market flooded with high MPG / new and used hybrids. H-Bat factories are popping up everywhere now, so there is a war on to abandon non-hybrid vehicle production. Ask Elon...

That's a 97,000 dollar car, Dave. They have none in stock in Hsv, either used, new or certified. Must be a real popular ride...

Well, I could almost enjoy driving anything. As long it's not German (long story), weighs between 4 thousand and 5 thousand pounds, is no bigger or smaller than an RX350, is not a Ford, Chevy, or Dodge, gets typical MPG for the weight, not a van or a truck, and has all the same gadgets like Blind Spot and cross-track, auto lights, brights, wipers, Radar lock-on, auto-brake on stops, weather Radar, Range calculator, USB for tunes, heated and cooled seats, Nav, access to a person via DCM or Satellite access, TPM readout, Location tracking and vehicle status to the iPhone, and uses Regular gas.

Awesome “TRACK” record there, Dave. I am envious! Based on what we now know about the 2023 RX line coming next year, I will give serious consideration to the RX350h. Don’t like Turbo charged machines. The 350h will be a LI ion charged, 2.5L 4-banger pushing 239 HP and estimated at 36 MPG. My real target is the 2024 where most of the “Bugs” are worked out of the next generation hardware and software, which of course is on a different platform and probably uses a different drive train. It's a Hybrid but not a muscle car. Thanks for the tips, Dave...

Let's talk about the Zero to Sixty thing, Dave. There are several problems with fast SUVs. Being retired, there is no longer any good excuses for being in a hurry to get somewhere. Streets are getting so congested that I have yet to impress anyone with my drag racing capabilities. Granted, the 60 to 80 passing gear numbers is more important for drivers on two lane roads. Spec sheets don't talk much about that though. Secondly, with Lexus Enform, all my driving habits are monitored, scored and recorded. Any time I feel like pressuring my Insurance company to lower my rates, I just sashay in and show them my cell phone app's driving record and talk about competitive rates. The reverse side of that coin is this… I have a sneaky suspicion that if I have or get some hot-dogging (rubber off the line) Hybrid that runs like a scalded tail ape, that my rates are going to go up substantially. My daze of blowing off 289 Mustangs with a 302 Maverick (or you in a 302 Cougar) are long since over. The days of Muscle Cars is "generally" over in the U.S., but as you indicate, the Engineers with Super Charged Lithium batteries seems to have brought them back, intentionally, or by default.

Excellent analysis, Dave. After owning a Hybrid for 4 years I have found what you say to be very true. I loved the Camry Hybrid, but for my driving range, it was an expensive novelty. Lexus needs to find a way to put a regular gas engine in an RX. Feds needs to get real about their rebate policy. And those states with dumb tax H and plug-in penalties need to do the same. There is no doubt that people like you have found the sweet spot in the H market. Hybrids are booming in areas like yours. Lexus does not seem to be pushing them in my area. Maybe they are sending them all to California. Did I mention that when I lived in Granada Hills, CA in the 60's, my 302 V-8 Ford maverick got 11 MPG... Loved those V-8 fords.

RX 350 MPG = 20/23/27 Federal 2020 !Removed! RX 450H MPG = 31/30/28 Delta MPG = 7 MPG Miles/yr = 12,000 RX 350 @ 12000mi/23MPG = 522 gal. 522 x $3.00 regular/gal = $1,565 RX 450H @ 12000mi/30MPG = 400 gal. 400 x 3.79 premium $/gal = $1,516 Delta cost = +$49/yr. hybrid saving But wait… Alabama registration tax for hybrids is $100 initial + $100/yr. or $133/yr for a 3 year turn over. Actual saving = 49 - 133 = -84 per year loss to drive the hybrid. But wait, the cost of the hybrid is about (like what?) $3,000? more than the RX 350. In three year a trade will only leave half that value in. Loss of an additional 500 per year. But wait… The higher property value on the H makes the property tax higher than for a 350. Grand total loss for the Hybrid is 584+ dollars per year just to fly the Hybrid emblem. Note - If you are retired and only drive 6000 per year, you (Alabama) is paying the same Hybrid tax as the 12,000 mile drivers, meaning less wear on the highways, but you get to pay the same as everyone else. But wait, from what I read, if you think you qualify for any rebates from the government, a lot of retired folks will not have the taxable income to use the bulk of the rebate as a write off. That puts big companies and the high earners at the head of the table in costing out the bidding of the rare hybrid. They can justify a higher bid when competing with the retired folks for a deal. Dealer here has only one in stock vs. about six 350s. They will not even post the price. They do post prices for the 350. OK, now what did I miss in this shake-out that makes me wanna go out and deal for the only H on the lot??? NOT!

OK, now here is why questions on the web about timing chains and belts get confusing answers. My 2020 RX 350 War. Manual does not mention a timing belt at any interval. But on page 72 (Explanation of maintenance items), it states: TIMING CHAIN - The timing chain requires no periodic maintenance. Thanks for the pic, Dave. For us EE guys, lot of this mechanical stuff is Greek. But I do remember my disgusting Ford Splinto had a timing belt strapped to the side of the engine. Or was that on the Chevette? i.e. America's failed attempt at making Econ-boxes to compete with a Honda. Never did happen, but they keep trying...

Thanks, Dave! How do you get to this belt?

If you google the question of what the older Lexus RXs have, the general answer is that it's a timing chain. I suspect that the belt answer comes from people confusing belts on the outside of the engine with a timing belt they used to put on the outside. Don't go forgetting that the Hybrid uses less engine running hours than a regular engine. I had the Camry Hybrid and I could spend 15 minutes in line at the Burger King and never run the engine. So I would gladly derate 167K miles to 75% of that, or 125,000 miles "equivalent" miles. There is no way around that. With the new NX plug-ins coming out, the engine will get even less usage if people keep plugging them in instead.

Kirk Kreifels feels that we are only about 12 months away from a landing.

Well, Griogio, anything is possible. So, two things, I require a Carbon Monoxide detector in the bedroom 24/7/52 incase the RX gets started. Secondly, the iWatch constantly send alerts if anything changes in the RX status that I didn't order. So I would know if anyone was fiddling with the RX. Now, could a hacker defeat both the App and the RX Software at the same time? I'm sure Lexus has a Security team that tries to defeat the system and then fixes the back doors when they find them. But that's probably falls under a general topic somewhere else. I'll check it out.

The 2020 and most likely the 2022 has a free subscription of 3 years for Lexus Enform. I log in on the iPhone. You can lock or unlock the RX from somewhere else. You can check all your windows thru the app and close or open them. The app tells you all door and window status. Oil level and gas level is listed. Trouble status is listed. Milage and distance to empty is there. You can start the RX remotely. A map shows you where the RX is located and where it's been driven last few times, etc. etc. Lots of good stuff...

Ok, well, I put my FOB in a small metal tin can and closed the lid - Faraday effect? Placed it on the passenger floor. Unable to lock the door with my hand on the handle sensor, so that will take care of that problem. With the can outside of the vehicle, I tried to lock the drivers door and it clicked one time but did not lock. That's the RX telling you, you don't have your FOB on you so I ain't locking no doors, period. Took the FOB out and I can lock it. Put the FOB back in the can and I am unable to unlock the RX with my thumb on the handle. That's saying you can't prove you are the owner of this RX, so don't go away mad, just go away... Took the FOB out of the can and I can unlock the RX. What blew my mind was that I could still start the RX with the FOB inside the can sitting on the console. How do you explain that one? Speaking of FOBs, I often go thru the procedure to follow if I get Car-Jacked: Keep the FOB on you in a zippered pocket if you have one like on cargo pants. But not is a purse. If, and more like when, someone tries to jack you - turn off the RX immediately and say "The keys are in the ignition, take my RX, it's all yours, and then run like hell, haha... Hopefully you'll have done the 100 yard dash before the idiots figure out you been lying...

Correction on line 4: the MPG should be 23 MPG combined, and not 25 MPG. Result: The 2020 did meet Government tested milage. Only the computer estimation was off.

The 2020 RX has both. I see where a lot of folks complain about the touch pad, but once you get used to not pressing on it while scrolling around, it will not select the wrong icon, which is what it's been doing to me. Problem is, as you know, while you are moving the cursor around, you have to keep you eye on the screen, and eyes are not on the road. With the touch screen, you take a quick glance at the icon you want. Go back to eyes on the road. Then you can quickly reach over and punch the icon you located in step one. I find that a bit safer driving than trying to use the touch pad. Once you master one-button Voice Command, you can keep both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. And, no, I have no insight into what Lexus will be changing next, except what you find on the internet.