wwest

No, you didn't, but they sure did.

If the surface under both tires is slippery enough then both tires will spin with very little engine torque.

Went to the Seattle auto show today and dropped by the Toyota desk. Asked about the hesitation problem I've been reading about on the internet and another individual was pointed that would know the answer. He got on his cell phone and contacted someone he said would for sure know the answer. Came back and told me that "it's to provide smoother, less noticeable shifting". I'm not kidding, that's what the man said.

Went to the Seattle auto show today and dropped by the Toyota desk. Asked about the hesitation problem I've been reading about on the internet and another individual was pointed that would know the answer. He got on his cell phone and contacted someone he said would for sure know the answer. Came back and told me that "it's to provide smoother, less noticeable shifting". I'm not kidding, that's what the man said.

Booyah, You could have been describing the LS400 with VSC/TRac for all that matters with the limited testing you did. I'm quite sure the LS would perform just as adequately and/or as well in the conditions you describe. Now, how does it do getting up or down a 5% grade covered with snow and ice? I can't recall any of those close in to Anchorage but I'm quite sure they can be found reasonably nearby. And by the by I just learned that the BMW X3 has a DSC (VSC equivalent) manual cutoff switch so that the engine isn't dethrottled in the circumstance you describe. But they do caution that in the cutoff mode the brakes are still used for right/left torque apportionment so there is a possiblity that this braking will be "masked out" to prevent overheating the brake rotors if the driver persists with wheelspin for an extented period. But even so, with X-drive you would still have active front/rear torque apportionment. Maybe next year's Toyota/Lexus new "features".

NO.

Both Positraction and LSD are designed to provide traction to the opposite side of the "axle" from a slipping wheel vs an open differential which by default routes all available (limited by) traction to the slipping wheel. Most modern day DSC, VSC, PSM, systems will have the very same result by applying moderate braking to the slipping wheel. But you're right in that LSD or positraction will allow you to spin both drive wheels whereas VSC, Toyota/Lexus, will quickly dethrottle the engine rather than overheat the brake rotors. With BMW's DSC, and Porsche's PSM, you caqn disable the dethrottle function in favor of allowing wheelspin but in BMW's case the virtual LSD will eventually be disabled to prevent brake overheating. Don't know about Porsche.

No positrac.....NOT! For the Later LS models equipped with VSC the rear brakes are used differentially to simulate positraction/LSD. Much better than positraction or LSD. If you can learn to use the throttle with a light feathery touch!

Prior to VSC both rear brakes were applied simultaneously upon wheelspin. With VSC it only brakes the slipping wheel.

I have driven an X5 several times over the years but the RX always caught my eye instead. I drove the 04 X3 back when, and I drove the 05 (2.5L, auto) just yesterday and found myself wishing it was a RWD biased RX330. It seemed heavier than its stated 4000lbs, and the stearing seemed stiff. Typical BMW, in other words. I initially made my decision based on the X3's seeming ability to be a wheels on the ground motorhome tow vehicle and the availibility of european delivery.

Doing my homework, research, before placing my X3 order I came across some interesting tidbits that may be helpful to Toyota/Lexus AWD owners. BMW recommends turning off the DSC, Dynamic Stability Control, during maneuvers such rocking back and forth to get unstuck in a mud "wallow". Turning it off prevents the dethrottling of the engine so one might actually get out of that mud. On the other hand it also says that in this mode, DSC off, the brake modulation for left/right torque apportioning might result in an automatic "masking out" of the brake application capability to prevent brake overheating due to allowing high rates of wheelspin. Next year's "feature" for Toyota/Lexus AWD systems?

The OEM system has a height sensor at the rear axle (no front sensor) which is an input to the leveling ecu mounted in the dash just above the stearing column. The ecu has an input which prevents leveling above ~15MPH. Major task to retrofit.

98 waqs the first year for the optional HID, VERY desireable.

You MUST use the home/office address where they recorded the sale.

False....!! The factory air filter is typically about 93% efficient, meaning at WOT and maximum RPM the engine would suck 7% more air if the input were NOT filtered at all. 7%, keep that in mind. The aftermarket filter marketeers, K&N, etc, tell us that their filter is up to 200% more efficient than the OEM product. Basically that means a gain of 3% additional airflow, but ONLY at WOT and max RPM. A 3% gain for a base 300HP engine is a net of 10HP for a total of 310HP. Your best bet IMMHO is to find someone to modify your intake system so that with WOT the engine computer "thinks" the incoming airflow is COLDER, more dense, that it actually is. Within the intake there is a thermistor, basically a resistor that changes resistance with temperature, that "tells" the engine computer the temperature/density of the incoming airstream. The computer tries to maintain the proper fuel/air mixture ratio and the above would result in a slightly greater level of fuel in the mixture and thus improved HP. The modification should only be enabled at WOT to prevent the ecu from "learning", during non-WOT operations, to correct the mixture via the downstream oxygen sensor.

Your headlights are actually an air pump. Headlamps on, air gets HOT, expands, partial evacuation of air volume occurs. Turn headlamps off, interior air volume cools, contracts, pulls more (dirty??, HUMID??) air into headlamp assembly. FIX...new headlamps.

The letter from Lexus/Toyota acknowledging this problem and extending the warranty beyond the standard made it fairly clear that the developement of engine sludge in this series was NOT due to the owner's failure to change the oil & filter on a recommended or scheduled basis. As a matter of fact the new warranty coverage is not in any way dependent on proof of regular maintanance. Additionally Lexus/Toyota has stated publically that an engineering change was made on later versions of this engine in order to prevent future problems. Absolutely NOT saying regular maintenance procedures shouldn't be followed. BUt I would say that you should ignore whatever a dealer says in favor of the schedules in the owners manual. The recommedation for the new Porsche series is now at 15,000 miles.

By design, the cruise control is disabled if ANY brake light has failed.... Don't have any idea why. In most cars the battery negative terminal is connected directly to the engine block and then from the engine block to the car body. Most often from the rear of the engine block to the car body at the firewall. If that firewall connection get coroded......and then wet.....

RH

Immediately upon purchase I upgraded my 01 AWD RX to 17x8 wheels and michelin cross terrain tires. Installed 1.5" wheel spacers all around so the rear suspension no longer interferes with wide® tire and I can, and have, used snowchains safely, on the REAR ONLY!

Try this...... As you slow to a stop, at just about the time you would release the clutch for a manual transmission, slip the gear level into first. I suspect that in this case the transmission will actually shift into first and now you will be able to accelerate away for a full stop rapidly. Not saying the design feature is justified, just something to try for those of you so very frustrated about this. And of course more information to take to the complaint department.

Try this.... As you slow to a stop, at just about the time you would release the clutch for a manual transmission, slip the gear level into first. I suspect that in this case the transmission will actually shift into first and now you will be able to accelerate away for a full stop rapidly. Not saying the design feature is justified, just something to try for those of you so very frustrated about this. And of course more information to take to the complaint department.

So..... Watching the tach..... Is the tach a direct reading of engine RPM or is it driven by an an output from the engine ECU?

Recently you submitted a question to the Lexus Customer Satisfaction Department. We will assume your issue has been resolved if we do not hear from you within 120 hours. Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you. You may also update this question by replying to this message. Because your reply will be automatically processed, you MUST enter your reply in the space below. Text entered into any other part of this message will be discarded. [===> Please enter your reply below this line <===] [===> Please enter your reply above this line <===] If your issue remains unresolved, please update this question here. Subject No Summary Discussion Thread Response (Richard Hollingsworth) 10/27/2004 09:41 AM Dear Mr. West, Thank you for contacting Lexus Customer Satisfaction regarding the 2005 RX 330. We appreciate your interest in this vehicle. Per our technical department, the 2005 RX 330 does not have a viscous coupling LSD. The vehicle has adopted a full-time all-wheel drive system. We are sorry for the misinformation. If you would like to discuss your concerns further, you can also reach the Lexus Customer Satisfaction Department at 1-800-255-3987, Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Pacific Time. Sincerely, Richard Hollingsworth Lexus Customer Satisfaction Customer (Willard West) 10/26/2004 04:59 PM The current 2005 RX330 e-brochure indicates that the 2005 AWD RX330 has the viscous coupling again. Is this actually true or is this a typo? Willard West

Failing CV joints give early indications at lower speeds during "hard" turning. "Hard" turns are almost never made at higher speeds.