pauljcl

I do not pretend to the expertise of lenore and blk_on_blk, but I was always told that blue smoke was oil, white smoke water. A little white smoke if engine is starting and cold is often OK. Do you check your oil, does your car use a lot of it? Do you check your water / coolant level? Does it go down, are you losing coolant? If the answer is 'no' to both those questions, you may not have a problem at all....

I had the same problem (quite) a few years back on a new MB: door was badly installed, and needed to be re-installed at the correct angle etc... This implies loosening the hinges where they meet the body and they rotating the door a little as well as 'lifting' it a little). It is important to do it because otherwise, over time, the seals wear out. [You can usually see where they are improperly rubbing when the door is closed]. It is a bodywork job, part science and part art. Dealer problem, not yours.

I found everything I needed on the Edmunds site. Great! I remember having looked (and found) the codes when I purchased my own RX350 a couple of months ago, but I couldn't remember where!

Perhaps you should try to register on the Lexus Owners Website. They should send you a free manual upon request. The site to register is: https://auth.owners.lexus.com/lexusowners/a...ssl/OwnersLogin and the search throughout the site is easy once you are registered. Good luck!

Yes, I'm with you there. I believe Lexus should have included the ability to change many of the settings by 'code' for the owner via some of the buttons such as the info. buttons. I do not have experience with many other car-makers, but unfortunately BMW has the same approach: any change of settings must be done by the dealer (and here in Miami Braman Motors - which I highly recommend avoiding - wants to charge $60 per change of settings EVEN ON A NEW CAR!!). So, in a way, Lexus dealers are kind to offer change at no cost. But not all changes are available: for instance, I would like to 'delete' the automatic re-setting of the avge. fuel consumption whenever you refill the gas tank. The old RX300 had a continuous 'avge' irrespective of refills, and that made a lot more sense, particularly since you can 'reset' the counter/computer whenever you want.

A couple of people I know have 'moved' from run-flats to non-run-flats+donut spare (takes more room) and they are very pleased with the results. They say: better comfort, better road-holding, longer life, and no need to change tires when they get a puncture. Otherwise, inasmuch as the Michelins (or any other brand) match the specs. (incl. speed rating) of the original tires, you're fine. You can read the comments of owners at tirerack.com. Good luck! [i would assume that too much wear on the inside of the tire indicates an alignment problem].

All of the glasses that I have ever replaced snapped in, but I have never replaced an RX mirror glass. I you tilt the glass all the way down, you should be able to look in past the edge and see what the attachment is like. popping the old glass is the easy paty. Put a rag on the edge of the mirror to keep from chipping the paint and pry with a large flat screw driver or pry bar. It should pop out, but go easy. If it is held in like most are, the next part is a little harder. Lube the parts that snap together with a small amount of white grease. With the mirror still tipped out, make sure the parts are lined up to snap into place. With a small amount of pressure on the center of the glass, tilt the mirror so that it is parallel with the mirror flange (neutral) Use a folded up rag on the center of the mirror for cushioning. Push straight in with the butt of you hand. If it is designed like most are, it will snap right in. Be careful though, it's easy to break. Good Luck! I believe the mirror is heated. There should be more to it than just snapping it out... disconnecting heater wires?

In my 2009RX350, this is set by the dealer as part of the various 'settings' you can choose. The 'lock doors when in D' and 'unlock doors when in P' seems to be the default.

I didn't know they EVER needed adjustment, except if broken. I assumed that they were hydraulically adjusted (vs. (e.g.) shims) automatically, like most if not all modern engines for the public? No, they have shims. OK - Thanks!

I didn't know they EVER needed adjustment, except if broken. I assumed that they were hydraulically adjusted (vs. (e.g.) shims) automatically, like most if not all modern engines for the public?

There are 'indicators' (small lit 'slits') on many buttons, inc. window switches etc... They are not always noticeable as they are not very bright, even at full (max) setting of dashboard lights, unless in a really dark environment. On my RX300, the passenger side window light was 'out' - seems it cannot be fixed by itself, is part of the switch, and you need to buy a new switchplate with switches etc... - so we let it go. You should go to a Lexus dealer and see whether they have a used Lexus RX300, and check the inside lights to know what is/is not illuminated, and then you can compare with your new purchase. Good luck!

Just wondering why the fuel pump is running hours after the vehicle has been shut off? It is a pump but it's actually evacuating any gas vapors in the tank as I recall. It's covered in the hybrid manual, I expect it's also in the regular manual. The hybrid also has a few other similar sounds right after you turn it off. Yes: I read something similar in the RX350 Manual. Don't quite recall the precise info., but it mentioned that - some hours later - a 'noise' could be heard... At the time, I thought that was weird.

Ethanol kills your mpg, but otherwise, except in older cars, does no harm. It has been mandated in FL (10%) and has made all cars less efficient. On some older cars, it can have a bad effect on some rubber or metal hoses becuase of oxidation problems that are exacerbated vs. pure gasoline, and on boats the issues have not been with the motors but rather with the gas tanks: the ethanol has damaged (diluted) fiberglass tanks, and the residue has clogged the motors. Most cars, even six years old or more, have been 'programmed' to accept up to 10% or 15% ethanol.

Speaking for myself, I would do what Lexus requires (at a Lexus dealer or elsewhere) and be comfortable that warranty items will not be denied...

I guess you'll end up doing what I did: try out a lot of cars/SUVs, decide which one(s) you can live with (both in attractiveness and repair history/reliability), then try to get the best deal for one of those. At this point in time, and depending on your money situation, buying new with a (very) large discount may make financial sense for some vehicules. In the SUV field, there are some super deals on new / one year old (2008) models. The dealers know that they have a short time only to get rid of them beofre they become unsaleable, and they 'give' easily. Since one has to live with the car/SUV for awhile, it makes sense to base the decision on liking the car/SUV

Check out on-line offerings at the dealers (incl.in other States]. I would guess a 06Rx330 with 25K miles should go about 25-26K dollars: a new RX350 (2009) goes - with the Lexus 'support' - for - say - $34K. An '06 - not even a 350, still a 330 - in the best of ases cannot be at less than a 30% discount to new (?). On the 'offered' side, Lexus of Kendall (www.lexusofkendall.com) in FL is offering a 2008RX350 with 14.5K miles at $30.8; a 2007 RX350 with 25K miles at $29K; another 2007 with 29K miles at $27K; and a 2006 RX330 with 34K miles at $25K one with 29K miles at $27K.... all this before any negotiation.

That is not the case for the factory default settings (on my RX350). Remote hatch button works whether the dorrs are unlocked or locked. In fact, the manual stresses the need to verify/re-lock the doors after the hatch closes because this does not automatically re-lock the hatch. [i have not checked whether remotely opening the hatch also unlocks the doors. I do not think it does].

I was told that if your VIN has the letter "H" in fourth place, it is an AWD. Perfect...mucho gracias You might want to go to: https://auth.owners.lexus.com/lexusowners/a...ssl/OwnersLogin where you can register your ownership (with Lexus). Gives you access to their manuals, and also (I am told) to an extra manual at no cost if you need it. No downside.

I was told that if your VIN has the letter "H" in fourth place, it is an AWD.

Neat. Good to know. Thanks! [And I'm sure you're glad too!]

Indeed. Congratulations. Enjoy!

I tried it. Good 'feel' but motor is nervous and the one I tried was a little 'jerky', both in the suspension set-up and the response to change in the accelerator position. I felt it was a car that should have priced 15% lower than it was... To me, the EX35 felt a little like a nicely set/handling VW, with good power. Didn't like the dash though and, yes, the space is restricted. I didn't try - but wanted to - the Tiguan, until I found out that AWD and luxury edition was unavailable here in FL. [CAR magazine just showed a new European version called "R-line" which is more luxurious]. When all is aid and done, the combination of luxury, reasonable performance and space (and - agin - discounted price) favored the RX350. A lot less fun thatn the EX though. The MB GLK is OK size-wise, but I can't get excited at the Teutonic grace it displays. Let me know....

You are still under warranty, I assume, so the dealer will have to fix it again. I also have read that a problem evidenced during warranty, fixed and re-fixed unsuccessfully, qualifies in certain states for re-fixing at no cost to you until they get it right (?)

There is a thread elsewhere where someone seems to have a problem with the sensor. I advised replacement (or repair) because I believe it is unfair and dangerous to shine HID headlights into incoming trafiic's eyes, but another writer believes one should simply save the money and 'fix' the headlights at an agreable height. Again: I do not believe that replacing the sensor will solve the rear noise problem.

Yes, hard to beat the combination of 'luxury feel' and price, and I hope the fundamental issues of engine seal/transmission etc.. have finally been resolved. I had tried the EX35 - a little too flashy for me, but mainly a little too small inside. Real fun to drive though, and they were giving $8K off the unsold 2008 'Journey' model. I would have gone for it... then Lexus came with the $10K off... My partners' father had a Ford 500 (AWD?) with the CVT - didn't mind the transmission (but he used to work for Ford, so he is biased in their favor)... Of all of them, though, the old RX is most 'real'. Yes, it's slow; yes, it can't get out its way on turns; yes, many things, but it was (is) a great concept and I still enjoy it. It's too bad it had the design flaws it had. After 6 weeks with the new RX350, I think - at the price - that it is very good value. Lexus is still continuing their 'support' 'til 3/31; no-one seems to know if they will extend it thereafter. It's got to be cannibalizing the new 2010 sales though, and several dealers are now 'out' of the 2009s. Good luck on your decision - let me know what you do!