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Kennemax

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  • Lexus Model
    2007 RX-350

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  1. Try this link. http://www.crutchfield.com/p_541PODCBL5/Pe...able&tp=122 BTW, you got a "great price" on the adapter.
  2. That's a very good price. Are you able use the Navigation screen for the scrolling/selecting songlist/playlist? The installation video is here and product details here http://www.peripheralelectronics.com/?ProductId=276 Yes, the adapter will utilize the Nav screen if you have one. I don't but it displays/and utilizes radio controls on head unit/display and steering wheel controls as well.
  3. googs: Yes, I installed this adapter recently and am very happy with its performance. Here is my post from a different thread: "I installed an adapter made by Peripheral Electronics, Model PXAMG, see http://peripheralelectronics.com/ It retails for $169.95, but can be had for much less. I was lucky enough to find one on closeout at Circuit City for $89.95. Crutchfield has them and also check Amazon. Had to buy an updated cable for another $30 from Crutchfield due to the fact that Apple changed the interface connector related to charging. See http://www.crutchfield.com/p_541PODCBL5/Pe...able&tp=122 I must say it works great and allows me full control of the Playlists, etc. that are on my IPod, from either the radio and/or steering wheel controls. I do not have a Nav system. Sound quality is terrific.....every bit as good, possibly better, than CDs. This unit also has an AUX input that allows another accessory such as an XM and/or Sirius unit to be played through the head unit as well. I did the install myself and found it to be very straightforward. I mounted the unit (approx 4" x 3") in an area directly behind the radio using velcro. Connecting cables for IPod and AUX were just fed over side/back of glovebox. I connect the IPod there and leave it in the glove box since it can be controlled via the radio controls. WARNING: For all of you DIYers like myself. The head unit is secured with 4 10mm bolts. The two bottom ones are easily visible and can be removed without difficulty. The upper bolts are recessed and hard to see. You will need to position your head on the seat to get a look at them. IMPORTANT: Get a magnetic insert that will fit in your 10mm socket. Otherwise, you will lose the bolts in the console and you will likely not be able to retrieve them. Worse yet, if you are not careful in withdrawing you socket when removing the recessed upper bolts, it is easy to snag the edge of the socket on an overhanging edge of the radio faceplate, and it too will drop into the console, not able to be retrieved ! So proceed carefully. I was able to purchase a set of socket magnet inserts at Sears, but ended up cutting away the plastic insert surround to allow better contact between the magnet and the bolt. Hope this helps and good luck to all who attempt the install. Believe me, the hardest part is getting up enough confidence to remove the holding bolts for the head unit ! Just proceed carefully. P.S. To get access to the holding bolts, you must remove two trim plates: 1. the one around the shift lever.....just place your fingers along the font edge and pull up; 2. the little one that holds the lighter and the seat warmer controls.....just pull out directly.
  4. I installed an adapter made by Peripheral Electronics, Model PXAMG, see http://peripheralelectronics.com/ It retails for $169.95, but can be had for much less. I was lucky enough to find one on closeout at Circuit City for $89.95. Crutchfield has them and also check Amazon. Had to buy an updated cable for another $30 from Crutchfield due to the fact that Apple changed the interface connector related to charging. See http://www.crutchfield.com/p_541PODCBL5/Pe...able&tp=122 I must say it works great and allows me full control of the Playlists, etc. that are on my IPod, from either the radio and/or steering wheel controls. I do not have a Nav system. Sound quality is terrific.....every bit as good, possibly better, than CDs. This unit also has an AUX input that allows another accessory such as an XM and/or Sirius unit to be played through the head unit as well. I did the install myself and found it to be very straightforward. I mounted the unit (approx 4" x 3") in an area directly behind the radio using velcro. Connecting cables for IPod and AUX were just fed over side/back of glovebox. I connect the IPod there and leave it in the glove box since it can be controlled via the radio controls. WARNING: For all of you DIYers like myself. The head unit is secured with 4 10mm bolts. The two bottom ones are easily visible and can be removed without difficulty. The upper bolts are recessed and hard to see. You will need to position your head on the seat to get a look at them. IMPORTANT: Get a magnetic insert that will fit in your 10mm socket. Otherwise, you will lose the bolts in the console and you will likely not be able to retrieve them. Worse yet, if you are not careful in withdrawing you socket when removing the recessed upper bolts, it is easy to snag the edge of the socket on an overhanging edge of the radio faceplate, and it too will drop into the console, not able to be retrieved ! So proceed carefully. I was able to purchase a set of socket magnet inserts at Sears, but ended up cutting away the plastic insert surround to allow better contact between the magnet and the bolt. Hope this helps and good luck to all who attempt the install. Believe me, the hardest part is getting up enough confidence to remove the holding bolts for the head unit ! Just proceed carefully.
  5. Just a follow-up to my earlier post. I took my car in on 1/28/09 and got it back on 2/12/09. They replaced the evaporator core. A chat directly with the service manager revealed that only "some" of the 2007 RX-350s had this problem. My dealership has repaired several of them. He did confirm that Lexus' supplier did, in fact, redesign the part. The problem was/is caused by a chemical reaction between the copper in the electrical brushes in the fan assembly interacting with the coating on the interior of the core which caused the coating to flake off. He inferred there was no health hazard. The dash seems to have been put back together well (and secure) with no apparent rattles and/or dings, which had concerned me greatly. Due to the fact that they had to remove the center console around the shift lever along with the dash yielded an extra bonus for me. I had previously dropped two 10mm sockets into the console trying to assess the difficulty in removing the radio for an IPod apdapter install. They retrieved them both ! I was lucky in this regard. So hopefully, the redesigned part will actually "solve" this problem once and for all. Good luck to all and you should feel comfortable in going forward with this warranty repair.
  6. Took my 2007 RX-350 into dealer on 1/28/09 for several warranty items, one of which was the "white dust" issue which is the topic of this thread. Thought I better get it addressed before the warranty period expires....since ours was a CPO and had mileage on it, we were nearing the mileage limit on the warranty period. On the following Tuesday, 2/3/09, I heard from the service consultant who inferred that the "white dust" problem was due to an "aftermarket" cabin air filter that I had installed. (I had replaced the factory one with another less expensive model, but only a couple of days before taking the car in. The dust buildup had been occurring for a long time before this.) I explained this to the advisor and sent him back to the drawing board and asked that he check with Lexus Hq for any information on this problem and told him about what I had read on this Lexus owner's forum. After I did not hear back from him, I called him on Friday and learned that they had ordered a replacement heater evaporator core, which has been reported on the forum as the source of the problem and would probably start the job today, Monday, 2/9/09. When reading some of the last posts on this issue, noticed that one owner had the part replaced and the problem came back after awhile. So I am concerned that they have not ordered the supplier to change the design and do not look forward to the possibility of having to go through this again downstream. They have to completely remove the dash to get to this part. I called Lexus Customer Assistance today and asked the advisor whether the design of the part had been changed. He was familiar with the problem and although he would not confirm it absolutely, he inferred that the part design had not been changed ! He kept telling me "not to worry", go ahead and have the part replaced and if the problem reoccurred downstream, Lexus would take care of it. So here we go, dash will be removed, part replaced and we'll see what happens. Hopefully, everything gets put back securely. I am reluctant to do this, but am concerned about breathing this stuff. I think Lexus is walking a thin line on this one because they do not want to do a full recall. Forum members......let's keep each other current on this one. I'll do my part.
  7. Took my 2007 RX-350 into dealer on 1/28/09 for several warranty items, one of which was the "white dust" issue which is the topic of this thread. Thought I better get it addressed before the warranty period expires....since ours was a CPO and had mileage on it, we were nearing the mileage limit on the warranty period. On the following Tuesday, 2/3/09, I heard from the service consultant who inferred that the "white dust" problem was due to an "aftermarket" cabin air filter that I had installed. (I had replaced the factory one with another less expensive model, but only a couple of days before taking the car in. The dust buildup had been occurring for a long time before this.) I explained this to the advisor and sent him back to the drawing board and asked that he check with Lexus Hq for any information on this problem and told him about what I had read on this Lexus owner's forum. After I did not hear back from him, I called him on Friday and learned that they had ordered a replacement heater evaporator core, which has been reported on the forum as the source of the problem and would probably start the job today, Monday, 2/9/09. When reading some of the last posts on this issue, noticed that one owner had the part replaced and the problem came back after awhile. So I am concerned that they have not ordered the supplier to change the design and do not look forward to the possibility of having to go through this again downstream. They have to completely remove the dash to get to this part. I called Lexus Customer Assistance today and asked the advisor whether the design of the part had been changed. He was familiar with the problem and although he would not confirm it absolutely, he inferred that the part design had not been changed ! He kept telling me "not to worry", go ahead and have the part replaced and if the problem reoccurred downstream, Lexus would take care of it. So here we go, dash will be removed, part replaced and we'll see what happens. Hopefully, everything gets put back securely. I am reluctant to do this, but am concerned about breathing this stuff. I think Lexus is walking a thin line on this one because they do not want to do a full recall. Forum members......let's keep each other current on this one. I'll do my part.
  8. How hard would it be to modify the factory radio to add an auxiliary input, to accommodate an iPod or some other mp3 player? There is an aftermarket item made by USA SPEC, Model PA-12 (I believe), that is compatible with the factory unit. It supplies both an IPoD interface as well as a stereo auxilliary input which can be used by an XM or Sirius tuner. They can be had on eBay for $149.
  9. My wife and I bought a CPO 2007 RX-350 a few weeks ago. I am a "rattle and random noise" freak, I'm sorry to say, so hear goes. We have two issues.....one has been identified and one still remains. First one is the rattle/vibration coming from the back of the vehicle while driving over rough spots in the street. I traced it to the spare tire cover under the car. Even though the spare is pulled up tight against the underbody, the protective plastic cover that covers the bottom side cannot be pulled tight against the spare........that is, I haven't found a way yet. I took a piece of corrugated cardboard and stuffed it in one of the openings in the cover, thereby insulating the cover from the tire itself. That took care of the problem. The other problem is a sound that I believe is coming from inside the front right passenger door. When I come to a quick stop, or, conversely, when pulling away from a stop, I hear what sounds like a loose screw or perhaps a bolt rolling around inside the door compartment. I will have the dealer check it on my first service. Hope this helps, if either one of these issues are one of yours. This forum is a great tool for owners ! :)
  10. daddy: I too have suffered from sciattica before. Here is an exercise that has helped in the past and I am now again on this same routine. Do the following at least 2x a day if not more...definitely in the AM after you get up. 1. Sit on a chair or stool that is at a height that is as close to even to the distance between the bottom of your foot to the underside of your thigh when seated. 2. While seated, take your right foot and pull your right leg over the top of your left knee such that the area right above your right ankle is resting over the top of your left knee. 3. Then with both hands, press in a downward motion over the inside of your right knee. 4. Hold this pressure for at least 30 seconds or more. If you are doing this exercise correctly, you will feel the muscles in the right upper thigh and right buttock area stretch, thereby stretching the sciattic nerve as well. Repeat this every day and hopefully you will see improvement. I will keep you posted on how things go with this issue. Thanks for your prompt reply and Good Luck ! :)
  11. daddy: Boy, do I have empathy for you! My wife and I traded our 6 year old RX300 in a couple of weeks ago for a "CPO" '07 RX-350. With the 300, I never had "any" driver's fatique. The seats were tremendous!.....firm support without being harsh. Well now.......this 350 is a totally different story. I too am suffering from the same issues that you have posted. I can't find a comfortable position for this seat bottom. I am constantly fiddling witht he controls and shifting my seating position trying to alleviate the pressure on the back and sides of my thighs. I am 6"!" tall and about 215 lbs. Just for the record, when we test drove the car at the dealership before making the buying decision, I did notice some differences in the comfort (or lack thereof) in the seats. Just for my own information, I measured the seat bottom dimensions and comparted them with the 300s. If my memory is correct, the seat bottom cushion's width in the 350 was 1" less, and the front to back depth was 1.5" less. Doesn't seem like much, but boy did it make a difference for me! I am having major buyer's remorse at this point and very disappointed that I didn't do my homework on this before making a buy decision. Every other aspect of the car is great and a major improvement over the 300......but if you can't find a comfortable driving postion, all of these things don't matter. BTW, my wife does not have any issue with the seat comfort. I am exploring the possibility of getting an auto upholstery shop to craft a different seat bottom and pricing for same. I would have them flare out the side bolsters more to add width and also to add a little more depth by extending the front edge of the seat cushion to give more support there as well. I just can't see living with the seats the way they are and don't want to sell the car and take a loss, not to mention paying the CA state tax all over again on a different vehicle. Oh my aching legs.....esp. right leg as you mentioned. Now to vent.......Lexus must have changed seat vendors and went with the lowest bidder!.....as these seats are the worst seats of any in all of the cars I have ever owned! :cries:
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