RXrat

Cars with the rain sensor option have a control panel mounted within a plastic housing approx 4 x 4" up behind the rear view mirror. Non-sensor equipped cars show a standard mirror mount approx 1.5 x 1.5. The 4 x 4 housing contains a plug than can be removed from the inside panel, disabling the feature. The wiper control arm will continue to allow manual selections of the wiper speed, the intermittent frequency, washer activity, etc.

Pictures, pictures, please! Disabling the AUTO feature is probably the best option. The original system is just too funky. I had an Audi A4 with AUTO wipers which ran perfectly. I think Lexus needs to spend some time with German and Hungarian engineers who have the Audi and MBenz systems working as they should.

I too have always been a bit pro-active regarding the inevitable battery failure. We had replaced our RX300 battery as it approached the 4 yr mark, with a battery from AutoZone which at the time received high marks from Consumers Reports. Sold as a 6 yr battery, it failed suddenly after less than 33 mos, stranding my wife in freeway traffic. The car was towed to a local repair shop we use, where an Interstate Battery was fitted. Unfortunately, because the old battery was not available to return to AutoZone (and why would I want another similar battery) their warranty turned out to be meaningless. Based on this incident I will continue with Interstate batteries when the '10 RX350 shows signs of needing a battery...probably do that next Spring if the OEM survives the winter. IF/when that battery should fail, at least I have a shot at some recovery on the warranty.