NeoN

great article, very informative, you must have spent years locating a tech article that lexus actually releases!!

they used to be on ebay, but it seems as if they took them off. They're sold by a company called "dealsofsteel" - i looked on their website, dealsofsteel.com, and it seems they're not available there anymore either. i would contact them to see if they have any left. I have one on my rx350 and it's very nice. It just makes a bit of noise on the highway and it vibrates like hell.

This is the link where it used to be on their website. http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...showtopic=32304

Just checked, the website doesn't even sell a grill guard for an RX330 let alone an RX350/400h. Anyone know where else I could possibly look for one?

Thanks,

Check out this tread for the RX headlight adjustment. There is a similar one on the IS forum. The computer input is adjustable. I haven't tried it yet but will soon.

http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...showtopic=41386

I recently adjusted the crap out of my low beams, they are insane now, I should probably adjust them back down a bit as they are aimed a bit too high, although I want to test them out on the highway to see if they aim downward after I exceed speeds of 40 mph.

Hey,

I was referred to the RX350 Forum by the Hybrid guys, I wanted to add a Chrome bumper guard to the front of my vehicle (RX400h). I found a few on ebay but they were black not chrome(stainless steel). Can anyone help me out here?

Thanks,

-Brett

First of all I never allow anyone to put gas into my tank because I don't trust them to be careful.

. . . . . . . . .

.

You'll really freak then if you ever have to drive through Oregon. Funkie rule they have (maybe other states too?) sez only the station attendant is allowed to re-fill the tank. Talk about job protection.

New Jersey has the same law. When I leave Long Island I start out with a full tank and don't stop for gas till I get through New Jersey

yea i live in jersey and regularly pump my gas, the attendants don't stop you just tell them your car is special and its of utmost importance and you have a court order that you can pump your gas, throw some big words at them like arraignment and reconciliatory obligation and they will get most likely get scared and leave you alone.

anyone??

I think the main reason the gas engine is on so much during warm-up is just that, it's warming up so it can provide heat to the cabin. I expect it will run somewhat less in the summer. With a 3.5 mile commute, even if you only get 14 MPG, over the course of a year it ain't squat.

If they had a "switch" which allowed us to govern the use of the electric hybrid drive, most people would abuse it by trying to push MPG to unrealistic levels and would damage the hybrid/electric drive system.

We're driving a 4000 lb SUV with a darn good amount of power. An average of 25+ MPG (for most people) is a huge improvement over any of the competition. AND our emission levels are almost nothing.

I actually tried this "pulse" technique last night and got 17 mpg on the way home from the train station, impressive it works, I'm going to try this more often in the morning and we'll see what works. I'm still on my first tank of gas by the way

anyone know how to turn off the DRL 90 sec shut off delay? can we adjust that to 30 or 60 seconds?

There is a CBEST setting that the dealer can change which controls the delay for the headlights after you remove the key from the ignition and open the drivers side door. I have mine set to zero so that my headlights go off immediately. Since I park in well lit carport, I have no need for light when I get out of the car. If I had a garage, I might want 30s or a minute to get over to the garage light switch before the lights went out (but then most door openers have a built in light too...)

Now whether this setting controls the DRL or not, I'm not sure. Since mine go off when I open the door, I'm not sure if that is always the case or if its tied to the headlight timer.

so your saying its impossible to adjust this ourselves?

One other topic related to rain and DRL I forgot is that people assume (myself included) that if you have DRL it isn't necessary to turn on the headlights in the rain. It took me a while to realize that even with DRLs the headlights should be turned on in the rain because the tail lights are off. So turning the headlights on in the rain may help prevent you from getting rear ended in the rain. Maybe this has been brought up before but if it hasn't I would like to make a suggestion for all the people that think it isn't necessary to turn on the lights on in the rain because they have DRLs it is a good Idea to do so to make your self more visible to a driver in the rear.

anyone know how to turn off the DRL 90 sec shut off delay? can we adjust that to 30 or 60 seconds?

All-electric, plug-in vehicles are not "greener" than our hybrids. Most electricity is created from carbon emitting power plants, most of those are coal burning. So if you think that plug-in electric vehicle has zero emissions, think again.

heh, I actually got 14 mpg today on my morning commute 3.5miles @ 28 degrees outside lol, with a cold engine its impossible to get good MPG!! I wish this car had a function you could press on the dash for electric only power or at least make the electric motor run 70%/ 30% Gas engine. I would love if someone came up with a "chip" or add-on switch so we could accomplish these feats, trade-off power for more MPG, I would pay $$$

As the Lexus roadside assistance technical person explained to me, the system actually shuts down before the ICE battery is really completely discharged, somehow to protect the drive battery. I'm not so sure that a larger or deep cycle battery will change the computer algorithm that controls this.

Tom

Update!!

Yesterday, I ventured into Advance Auto parts and purchased the Optima Group 51R Yellow Top Deep Cycle battery ($149), installed the battery in less than 5 mins and put everything back together. Installation was a breeze, I didn't have to change the posts like another member stated I would have had to do. The battery works fine, everything booted up OK, I had to re-initialize the windows, (can't use the drivers' 4-window control unit until you manually activate each windows' controls (eg. sit in the back seat and use the buttons back there 1 time- fully up and down). Then your window functions will now work properly from the drivers' controls. I'll let you guys know what happens down the road, if the battery ever dies again and if the battery charges up quickly if it does decide to die on me.

I believe the battery is listed at 500 CCA, and 650 CA (cranking amps @32 degrees)

Demand More from Your Vehicle?

The YellowTop is one of the only true dual-purpose batteries available. It is commonly used in any application that demands cranking power and heavy cycling. Trucks with winches, cars with high-demand audio systems, commercial trucks and equipment all rely on this battery to provide ultimate starting and deep cycle power.

Benefits and Applications:

* Dual-purpose

* Deep cycling and cranking power all packed into one battery.

* Longer life

* Lasts up to 2 times longer than traditional flat-plate batteries.

* More power in the initial 1, 3, 5, and 10 seconds of the starting process than comparably rated conventional lead-acid batteries.

* Higher reserve capacity

* Constant performance quality, which keeps your battery running at the same level even as it's being discharged.

* Optimal starting power

* More power in the initial 1, 3, 5, and 10 seconds of the starting process than comparably rated conventional lead-acid batteries.

* Longer shelf-life (lower self-discharge)

* Ideal for seasonal use, fully charged it can sit unused for up to 12 months at room temperature (or below) and still start a vehicle.

* Vibration resistance

* 15 times more resistant to vibration than traditional lead-acid batteries.

* Leak-proof

* Mountable in almost any position

What does everyone take of the "More power in the initial 1, 3, 5, and 10 seconds of the starting process than comparably rated conventional lead-acid batteries." Isn't our battery used just to start up the engine every 3 seconds? It doesn't run the P/S and A/C right?

We are getting less mileage with cooler temps (40s - 60s) - the engine runs more to keep at operating temp - premium has consistently added 1.8 to 2.6 miles per gallon - we have 24,000 miles on our RX400 and have averaged a true 24.3 mpg - we use middle grade as a compromise for fuel unless heading up into the mountains.

My wife drags our overall (15,500miles) mpg down to 26.0 using regular. Ours is AWD. Part of this is from Montana winter driving too. Mostly though it's So. Cal driving. When I was the primary / solo driver I could regularly get 30mpg ... using pulse driving I learned with the prius. My wife though, opts for the cheep gas. I'll see if I can get her to consistently use primium and see if that makes a difference.

what do you mean by "pulse" driving?

Pulse and glide driving is where you accelerate past your desired speed then coast down to below your desired speed and repeat this technique to maximize your fuel ecomny. The following link has more info: http://www.metrompg.com/posts/pulse-and-glide.htm

Great article, too bad this doesn't work for my daily 3.5 mile commute.

Has anyone had any experience with pulse driving? Any tips or tricks for RX400h drivers?

I can't recall the part number, but it's made by Optima, and it was designed for the Mazda Miata (sp?). It's not a simple swap out, unfortunately. The next trick is to change out the +/- terminals on the battery leads as I believe Toyota/Lexus deliberately used smaller than standard size posts . . . specifically so folks like you and I would have to go back to the dealer when you need a new battery.

are you kidding me? what a pain in the !Removed!, those *BLEEP*s. I did some research today, advanceautoparts.com came up with a group 51R yellow top optima battery only 450 CCA? What a weak battery in the first place but I'm surprised I can't get a decent upgrade for it, not too much room to expand either. I'll see what the shop has today when I go to buy the battery and i'll let everyone know how it works. ]

Someone stated on a previous post that the battery isn't a deep cycle and needs to be trickle charged, is this true? I've left my charger on 2amp slow charge all day and haven't seen any progress in 8 hours, im not sure of the exact voltage level of the battery but I can check when I get home, I hope it was accecpting my charge, considering its brand new! Anyone try a type 2 or 3 charge cycle? 2 or 3 is more deep cycle batteries for boats, etc...

I was honestly surprised my car just shut off when the battery died, no warning, nothing! I couldn't start it up, I was *BLEEP*ed the battery that came with the car is so pathetic, I wish there was room to upgrade.

Here is the chart for Optima Yellow top Batteries

MODEL NUMBER D34/78 D75/25 D34 D35 D51 & D51R

PERFORMANCE

Voltage 12v 12V 12v 12v 12v

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0F 750 650 750 650 500

Cranking Amps @ 32F 870 810 870 810 625

Reserve Capacity 120 98 120 98 70

Capacity (C/20 Rate) 55 48 55 48 41

Internal Resistance (ohms) .0028 .0030 .0028 .0030 .0046

PHYSICAL SPECS

Length 10" 9 5/16" 10" 9 5/16" 9 5/16"

Width 6 7/8" 6 13/16" 6 7/8" 6 13/16" 5 1/16"

Height 7 13/16" 7 5/8" 7 13/16" 7 5/8" 8 15/16"

Mimimum Weight (lbs) 43.5 37.8 42.9 36.4 26

Type Post/Terminal Dual SAE & GM Dual SAE & GM SAE Post SAE Post SAE Post

BCI Group 34/78 75/25 34 35 51 & 51R

After turning the car off, the battery should be at least 12-13 Volts. 11.4 is not good, perhaps something is drawing current that should not.

Any aftermarket alarms, stereo's installed.

Time to have the Lexus techs check it out.

hey im having the same problem, I've already drained my battery in the first week of ownership while tuning my amp that i had installed, anyone know the correct battery group for the rx400h? I wanna try and purchase an aftermarket deep cycle battery so I don't run into this problem again.

anyone know the correct number of turns for adjusting the headlights?

Ok, well I would like to respond to this post, although i'm still on my first tank of gas in my RX400h...

I mainly drive the car to the train station, its about a 3.3 mile trip each way. 35 mph max, stop and go traffic, cold car, etc. I leave my car in the garage at night if that helps at all. My gas mileage has only been 18-19mpg for this trip so I was a bit worried if those figures would improve or not. Does anyone think that after break-in my mpg figures will improve? anything I can do to improve my mpg on my own? I've filled my michilens to 37 psi all around and try and drive as gently as possible. However, I took a trip down the highway at 75 mph and got 37mpg for a 10 mile stretch of highway, I was impressed!!

over and out,

-Brett

spoke to the dudes today, they said they are in the process of developing a system for the 08' RX400h, the lockpick 3 does NOT work with the 2008 RX400h. Anyone know anywhere else we could a nav hack from?

Hey I tried searching for the proper break-in period for the RX400h, and to no avail, found nothing. I was just wondering if anyone could help me out with some tips on breaking in my RX400h, certain do's and don'ts, should I use 87 or 93? should I baby it? drive normally? drive it like I stole it?

called again today, left another message, well see when these guys call me back.

We are getting less mileage with cooler temps (40s - 60s) - the engine runs more to keep at operating temp - premium has consistently added 1.8 to 2.6 miles per gallon - we have 24,000 miles on our RX400 and have averaged a true 24.3 mpg - we use middle grade as a compromise for fuel unless heading up into the mountains.

My wife drags our overall (15,500miles) mpg down to 26.0 using regular. Ours is AWD. Part of this is from Montana winter driving too. Mostly though it's So. Cal driving. When I was the primary / solo driver I could regularly get 30mpg ... using pulse driving I learned with the prius. My wife though, opts for the cheep gas. I'll see if I can get her to consistently use primium and see if that makes a difference.

what do you mean by "pulse" driving?

Got the LP 2 for our '06 so that's no help. But do the phone # !! I often wonder why folks let their selves get exasperated over the email thing, when the phone # is right there on their web site. <_<

im having the same problem, their email response sucks! i just called them and they claimed they would call me back, we'll see how long this takes.

The car does come with XM, its XM ready and the dealer installs the tuner and the antenna. It will operate seamlessly with the radio interface.

I think the Vais unit is the same (I have one of these coming for an iPod) but you get the added benefit of the aux in.

so your saying the car is XM Ready but needs the dealer Varis add-on right? This runs $300-$400 right?

Hey, recently picked up my RX400h, I was wondering where to purchase a bumper guard/grill guard for the rx400h, I found a couple ones made by Waag that all come in black but none in stainless steel, anyone know where I can find one in stainless steel or have any pics of it in stainless steel?

There is also another manufacturer, rampage, who makes a bumper grill guard in stainless steel for the rx400h, has anyone purchased this or has an experience with it whatsoever? All feedback is greatly appreciated,

-Brett

i turn on my heated seats for immediate warmth, i can often use them on cool mornings instead of any other cabin heat and save 2 to 3 mpg in the process.

you lose 2-3 mpg using the heat??

im picking mine up from ray catena this weekend so i'll let you guys know how that goes.