Kara

hi, I have a 2001 RX and the check engine light came on at about 30K. I took it to the dealer and he said it was the temperature sensor. He replaced (still under new car warrenty). The next day, the light came on again. Took it back, turned out the thermostat (or whatever goes with the temp sensor) was faulty too. The computer diag didn't specify whether both parts had to be replaced or not. Hope that helps, Kara

That is a bummer <_< I will talk to my dealership about it soon. Before I knew what was causing the problem, they said they can do research in some national database for service issues. Now that we know the cause, maybe the search will be more effective. And now that I know what is causing it and when to expect it, it doesn't bother me as much anymore. I guess I just think of my Lexus having a personality quirk during summer months :D I get these surveys every now and then from Lexus. I will definately point this out. I'll keep you posted...

Great information, crash! Thanks!! I will run those tests and hopefully be able to reproduce it for the service tech. The conditions that cause the symptoms sound right on...I suspected it was temperature related. Rob, sorry to get back to you so late! I did do the measurements, but it is not what you expected....maybe that is good news? I wasn't sure if I was measuring from the right spots. My measurements were 40 mm in the front (from where the groove in the track starts to the front tip of the front base), 45mm in the back (from where the groove in the track ends to the back tip of the rear base), and 210 mm apart (back tip of front base to front tip of rear base). For reference, if you stand next to the vehicle on the driver side and look at the front bar base, the front tip of it aligns exactly with left edge of the rear passenger windshield. Does that make sense? Then, if you measure the back tip of the front base to the front tip of the rear base, it should measure 210mm. Let me know if that helps.

Sure, no problem. I have never examined how the roof rack is configured...I'll take a look this evening and take the measurements and let you know. Kara

Rob, I'd be very interested to hear if the pad helps. If it does, I may ask the service people to contact your dealership's service to see exactly what they did for you. I picked up my car on Saturday, and the service tech said something about the sunroof cover not being on a tread and that might cause it to make noise. I didn't really understand...he didn't offer a solution for it, but he did oil the sunroof tread, which did not make the problem go away. When my car was in service, I had a '03 ES300 as a loaner. My husband was driving it and he said he heard the same noise. <_< Thanks, Kara

Rob, When you say strange, do you mean that the clicking you hear in your RX is not random and does not vary in loudness? Thanks for info. This is very helpful. I think I'd be nervous about them taking it apart. They might mess something else up. I bought my car in January, and this noise did not start until last month (June). So maybe it is weather related. Kara

Thanks crash, I'm glad to hear I'm not alone. Have you done any research into it? Talked to the dealer? I know it is just an annoyance. I just have such high expectations of the car.

hello fellow Lexus owners. I purchased my first Lexus, a 2001 RX300 in Crystal White, in January, and I am absolutely enamored with it I have wanted one since they first came out in 1989. I can say I have become a loyal customer, and hope my next will be a brand new one. Anyway, the car has suddenly developed a unusual ticking or popping noise in the cabin. It is very random and I cannot detect where it comes from. It is sometimes subtle, and sometimes loud. I may have narrowed it to the sunroof cover. It seems that when it is closed, the noise does not occur. But as soon as I open it, the noise occurs. Unfortunately, I can't reproduce it on demand, so the dealer hasn't heard it and doesn't know what it could be. Anyway have the same experience?? Thanks, Kara